MRO   Helicopter   Sikorsky   Supply Chain   Europe   M&A   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Policy & Regulation   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Deals   Textron  
Aviation Week • Tony Osborne

Bell Textron creates Ukraine subsidiary to support long-term helicopter assembly, MRO

Bell Textron has set up a Ukrainian unit, Bell Textron Ukraine, and plans to open a dedicated office as a hub for its future activities in the country. The subsidiary is intended to back local helicopter assembly and maintenance and repair through a long-term partnership with Ukraine’s defense industry.

2026-04-17T10:45:15.785400-07:00
China   Military Aircraft Procurement   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Asia-Pacific (APAC)  
FlightGlobal • May Lee

China’s AEW&C fleet is growing, but can it survive modern warfare?

By FlightGlobal: The KJ-600 features an IRST sensor and air-to-air refuelling. Source: Chinese social media Beijing is making significant progress with new airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, even as doubts grow about the survivability of such platforms in modern warfare.

2026-04-17T19:45:21.193767-07:00
Space Force   Commercial Space   Space Defense & Militarization   Industry Leader Profiles & Interviews  
SpaceNews.com • SpaceNews Editor

The Space Force’s ‘commercial first’ strategy in action with Col. Tim Trimailo

By SpaceNews.com: In this episode of Space Minds, Mike Gruss talks with Col. Tim Trimailo on how the Space Force is working with industry. They discuss what the service wants to see from new companies, how they’re casting a wider net and what’s driving this need for speed.

2026-04-17T17:42:41.533122-07:00
Museums   UAV Development & Drone Programs   AI   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
FlightGlobal • Ryan Finnerty

Pratt & Whitney PW500 engine will power Northrop Grumman YFQ-48 autonomous fighter

By FlightGlobal: A single Pratt & Whitnet PW500 business jet engine will power Northrop Grumman's YFQ-48A prototype Northrop Grumman The Northrop jet is the first uncrewed fighter prototype to officially feature a Pratt & Whitney engine.

Also: defence-blog.com, Defense Daily and 3 more
2026-04-17T15:16:11.915042-07:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   AI   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact  
DefenseNews.com • Cristina Stassis

Air Force unit executes test of Anduril’s semiautonomous combat drone

By DefenseNews.com: Airmen operated Auduril's YFQ-44A jet-powered combat drone, which could someday fly alongside piloted fighters.

Also: AirForceTimes, c4isrnet.com and Military Times
2026-04-17T12:59:53.196480-07:00
Satellite   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Human Spaceflight & Space Stations   Space Policy & International Cooperation   Space Defense & Militarization   Policy & Regulation  
Breaking Defense • Theresa Hitchens

Lockheed Martin nabs $105M ground system contract to support next-gen GPS

By Breaking Defense: The upgrade to be performed under then new contract would allow Lockheed Martin's AEP ground system to replace RTX's long-troubled OCX program for future GPS IIIF birds.

Also: Satellite Evolution and indiastrategic.in
2026-04-17T15:37:15.080655-07:00
Air Cargo & Freight Logistics   Europe   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Budgets & Spending   Asia-Pacific (APAC)   Defense Policy  
FlightGlobal • Greg Waldron

Canberra looks to replace C-27Js with 'commercial' type

By FlightGlobal: Canberra aims to replace its fleet of Leonardo C-27J tactical transports, although it intends to maintain the airlift capacity to serve Pacific neighbours.

Also: AeroTime, Scramble and The Aviationist
2026-04-16T23:24:31.483594-07:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   AI   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
Breaking Defense • Sydney J Freedberg Jr

Northrop Grumman’s Talon IQ testbed hot-swaps AI brains mid-flight

By Breaking Defense: “While the aircraft was flying, the software was queued up so that we could have different companies’ behaviors take control of the platform and fly [it]," said Dan Salluce, Northrop’s senior director for aerospace systems.

Also: Janes
2026-04-17T15:37:14.670447-07:00