Helicopter   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Workforce & Skills Development  
FlightGlobal • Ryan Finnerty

Bell and M1 advance as Lockheed dropped from Army's Flight School Next rotary‑wing trainer contest

The U.S. Army has advanced three bidders into the demonstration phase of its Flight School Next program to replace Airbus UH‑72A Lakota trainers, with Bell and M1 Support Services among the finalists and Lockheed Martin eliminated, moving the effort closer to a contract award.

Also: Aviation Week and Defense Daily
2026-04-07T15:07:12.535522-07:00
Satellite   Space Defense & Militarization   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Cybersecurity (Cyber Threats & Protection)   Defense Policy  
Reuters • John Irish, Tom Balmforth

Ukraine alleges Russia supplied Iran with satellite imagery and cyber support to refine strikes

By Reuters: Russian satellites have made dozens of detailed imagery surveys of military facilities and critical sites across the Middle East to help Iran strike U.S.

Also: DefenseNews.com and moderndiplomacy.eu
2026-04-07T00:11:55.543409-07:00
Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
Bloomberg • Anthony Capaccio

Pentagon Proposes $2B for Lockheed’s Classified AIM-260 Air-to-Air Missile

By Bloomberg: Lockheed Martin Corp.’s new AIM-260 air-to-air missile program received a $2 billion boost in the Trump administration’s proposed budget, a sign the classified weapon could see accelerated production and be deployed soon.

Also: Bloomberg Law
2026-04-07T14:12:42.839712-07:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   Middle East   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
FlightGlobal • Ryan Finnerty

USAF to Deploy K1000 Solar-Powered Ultra-Long-Endurance UAV to Middle East for ISR and Communications Relay

By FlightGlobal: Having previously demonstrated a flight endurance of more than 75h, the uncrewed K1000ULE is meant as an airborne communications retransmission node or a platform for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.

2026-04-07T10:47:19.733741-07:00
Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Asia-Pacific (APAC)  
Air Data News • Ricardo Meier

Indonesia moves toward receiving KF-21 prototype as Jakarta weighs fighter options and ends Boeing talks

By Air Data News: South Korea has agreed to transfer one of the six KF-21 Boramae prototypes to Indonesia, advancing the long-delayed joint fighter program between the two countries as the aircraft nears the end of its development phase.

Also: Aviacionline
2026-04-07T08:59:30.307332-07:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   Military Aircraft Procurement   Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Defense Policy  
AeroTime • Clement Charpentreau

US Army conducts first launched-effect of Anduril Altius 700 from AH-64E Apache

By AeroTime: An AH-64E Apache launched an Anduril Altius 700 medium-range drone at Yuma Proving Ground in the first launched effect deployment from the attack helicopter.

Also: aviationnews.eu, defenceconnect.com.au and united24media.com
2026-04-07T07:26:15.258756-07:00
Supply Chain   Europe   M&A   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
Reuters

UK's Senior agrees to $1.9 billion takeover by aerospace investor Tinicum and Blackstone

By Reuters: Senior Plc agreed on Tuesday to a 1.4 billion pound ($1.9 billion) takeover proposal from a consortium comprising Tinicum and Blackstone , potentially ending months of pursuit of the British aerospace and defence supplier.

Also: Financial Times
2026-04-07T06:26:43.950116-07:00