UAV Development & Drone Programs   AI   Europe   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Airbus  
FlightGlobal

Airbus Helicopters developing an uncrewed H145M variant for European militaries; more details due in 2026

Airbus Helicopters is developing an autonomous, uncrewed European variant of its H145M light-twin — a derivative of the H145-based 'Lakota' connector developed for the U.S. Marine Corps — targeted at military customers, with further technical and procurement details expected later in 2026.

Also: Aviation Week
2026-02-26T10:05:47.796381-08:00
Aircraft Carrier   UAV Development & Drone Programs   Europe   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
AeroTime • Clement Charpentreau

Russian drone approaches French carrier Charles de Gaulle in Malmö; Swedish forces deploy countermeasures

By AeroTime: Russian drone approached French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle while docked in Malmö; Sweden armed forces used countermeasures against the drone.

Also: Naval News, lemonde.fr and defence-industry.eu
2026-02-26T05:30:43.612039-08:00
Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Export Controls & Trade Compliance   Defense Deals   Defense Policy  
justice.gov

Former U.S. Air Force Pilot Arrested in Indiana on Charges of Illegally Providing Defense Services to Chinese Military

By justice.gov: Former U.S. Air Force officer and pilot Gerald Eddie Brown, Jr., also known by the call sign “Runner,” 65, a U.S. citizen, was arrested today in Jeffersonville, Indiana.

Also: Stars and Stripes, defence-industry.eu, ANI News Agency, newsable.asianetnews.com, news.ssbcrack.com, defensemirror.com, interestingengineering.com, spacewar.com, defensemirror.com and news.ssbcrack.com
2026-02-25T17:13:42.309920-08:00
Hypersonic   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
Bloomberg • Gerry Doyle

Report: Moscow’s Missile Shield Could Blunt European SLBMs, Pushing NATO Toward Hypersonic Response

By Bloomberg: Russia’s anti-missile defenses around Moscow may be enough to blunt an attack by Europe’s submarine-launched ballistic missiles, increasing pressure on the continent to develop new hypersonic weapons at a time when its leaders fret over the reliability of the US as an ally.

2026-02-26T00:07:20.330098-08:00
AI   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
FlightGlobal • Ryan Finnerty

USAF to pick first Collaborative Combat Aircraft — uncrewed fighter and autonomy software — by year-end 2026

By FlightGlobal: The US Air Force will select a winner for its first Collaborative Combat Aircraft increment by the end of 2026, choosing both an uncrewed fighter design and mission autonomy software provider as the service accelerates towards production of autonomous tactical jets.

2026-02-25T17:45:45.497795-08:00