MRO   Helicopter   Europe   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Policy & Regulation   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Deals   Textron  
Aviation Week • Tony Osborne

Bell Textron launches Ukraine subsidiary to support long-term helicopter assembly, maintenance and repair

Bell Textron says it has created a Ukraine-based subsidiary, Bell Textron Ukraine, and is preparing to open a dedicated office as part of a long-term industrial cooperation plan. The unit is intended to support local helicopter assembly and maintenance and repair activities for the country’s defense industry.

2026-04-17T10:45:15.785400-07:00
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: The Northrop jet is the first uncrewed fighter prototype to officially feature a Pratt & Whitney engine. Military airframer Northrop Grumman has selected a business jet engine from Pratt & Whitney to power the company’s new YFQ-48A Talon Blue uncrewed fighter jet.

Also: defence-blog.com, Defense Daily and 3 more
2026-04-17T15:16:11.915042-07:00
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
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
Satellite   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Budgets & Spending   Space Defense & Militarization   Policy & Regulation   Defense Policy  
Breaking Defense • Michael Marrow

Air Force secretary eyes multi-year deals for satellites, aircraft

By Breaking Defense: Pentagon officials are seeking lawmakers’ authorization to buy weapon systems through multi-year deals “across the board, not only with munitions, but actually with the production of aircraft, with the production of spacecraft,” said Air Force Secretary Troy Meink.

2026-04-17T15:37:14.693819-07:00