UAV Development & Drone Programs   Middle East   Airports   Accident   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
Reuters

Unmanned drone damages runway at RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus after UK clears US use of bases against Iran

British and Cypriot officials said an unmanned drone struck and damaged the runway at RAF Akrotiri overnight, causing limited damage and no casualties. The strike came hours after the UK cleared US use of its bases to target Iranian missile sites, heightening regional tensions.

Also: Sky News, India Defense News, The Guardian and 4 more
2026-03-01T22:11:38.405811-08:00
Middle East   Accident   Aviation Safety & Regulation   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
AeroTime • Clement Charpentreau

USAF F-15E Crashes in Kuwait in Reported Friendly-Fire Incident; Crew Ejects and Survives

By AeroTime: Social media footage suggests a US Air Force F-15E crashed in Kuwait in what is reported as a friendly fire incident. Both crew members ejected and survived.

Also: airlive.net, defence-blog.com, newsable.asianetnews.com, news.ssbcrack.com, UK Defence Journal, Air Data News and defence-blog.com
2026-03-01T22:11:41.246223-08:00
Supply Chain   Europe   Military Aircraft Procurement   Orders   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Workforce & Skills Development  
FlightGlobal • Dominic Perry

Leonardo AW149 selected for UK New Medium Helicopter programme — 23 to be built at Yeovil in £1bn deal

By FlightGlobal: Leonardo Helicopters has finally been declared the winner of the UK's £1 billion ($1.34 billion) New Medium Helicopter contest, which will see a reported 23 AW149s built at its Yeovil plant in southwest England.

Also: Reuters, Aviation Week, miragenews.com, spacewar.com and UK Defence Journal
2026-03-01T05:34:42.656693-08:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   Europe   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
AeroTime • Clement Charpentreau

Sweden: Russian ship Zhigulevsk launched drone near French carrier Charles de Gaulle during transit in Swedish waters

By AeroTime: Sweden says the drone disabled near the French carrier Charles de Gaulle was launched from the Russian vessel Zhigulevsk during its transit in Swedish waters.

Also: UK Defence Journal and seawaves.com
2026-03-01T02:21:16.394192-08:00
Accident   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Asia-Pacific (APAC)   Defense Policy  
AeroTime • Clement Charpentreau

Taliban says Pakistani jets entered Afghan airspace and attempted to bomb Bagram airbase

By AeroTime: Taliban officials say Pakistani military jets entered Afghan airspace near Bagram and were driven off, as blasts were reported over Kabul amid border fighting.

Also: ANI News Agency and 3 more
2026-03-01T05:06:26.516211-08:00
Helicopter   Europe   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Export Controls & Trade Compliance   Defense Policy  
AeroTime • Clement Charpentreau

French NH90s Back Belgian Forces in Boarding and Seizure of Sanctioned Russian Tanker

By AeroTime: Belgian forces, backed by French Navy NH90 helicopters, boarded a sanctioned tanker in the North Sea, the ship is now in Zeebrugge for seizure.

Also: ANI News Agency and defencetoday.com
2026-03-01T02:52:27.520415-08:00