China   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Asia-Pacific (APAC)  
Aviation Week • Chen Chuanren

China Conducts First Flight of New Tactical Airlifter, More Than a Decade After 2014 Concept

Aviation Week reports: China appears to have flown a new tactical airlifter, more than a decade after the concept was first unveiled in 2014.

Also: Air Data News, The Aviationist and defence-blog.com
2025-12-16T06:56:21.199702-08:00

Today In Defense

Last Updated: Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025, 7:47 AM PST

2025-12-16T07:47:10.196424-08:00 2025-12-16T07:47:10.196424-08:00 (2025-12-16T07:47:10.196424-08:00)

Helicopter   Supply Chain   Europe   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
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Breaking Defense • Tim Martin

German Navy Receives First NH90 “Sea Tiger” Anti‑Submarine Helicopter

By Breaking Defense: "The North Atlantic and the Baltic Sea is our playground where we have to fight against enemy submarines, and this is our major role — fighting enemy submarines," Germany's Cpt.

Also: FlightGlobal, Janes, Shephard Media, Naval News and 4 more
2025-12-16T06:05:47.758387-08:00
Europe   Military Aircraft Procurement   Orders   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
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Airbus

Airbus delivers first H160 for the Gendarmerie Nationale

By Airbus: The first Airbus H160 helicopter for the French Gendarmerie Nationale was handed to the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA).

Also: Vertical Mag
2025-12-16T05:17:34.396707-08:00
Europe   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Policy & Regulation   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Export Controls & Trade Compliance  
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Reuters • Florence Loeve

Dassault CEO casts doubt on FCAS future, urging Germany to reconsider reliance on U.S. arms imports

By Reuters: The head of Dassault Aviation raised doubts on Tuesday over the future of a troubled Franco-German-Spanish fighter programme, saying it partly depended on whether Germany was willing to rethink its reliance on U.S.

2025-12-16T02:10:15.322394-08:00
Event   UAV Development & Drone Programs   Europe   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
Unmanned Airspace • Kylie Bielby

Rheinmetall showcases counter‑UAS capabilities at Finnish GBAD Demo Days in Lohtaja

By Unmanned Airspace: Rheinmetall has successfully demonstrated its capabilities in counter measures against small unmanned aerial systems (c-sUAS) at the Ground-based Air Defence (GBAD) Demo Days at the firing range in Lohtaja, Finland.

Also: AeroTime
2025-12-16T03:16:26.404127-08:00
Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Asia-Pacific (APAC)  
FlightGlobal • Craig Hoyle

C-130J 'uniquely positioned' for India's Medium Transport Aircraft need, Lockheed Martin says

By FlightGlobal: Lockheed Martin is confident that its C-130J is best placed to meet the Indian air force's Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) requirement, with the US company highlighting its existing relationship with the nation's defence industrial base.

2025-12-16T03:33:07.282993-08:00