Airports   Airport Infrastructure & Air Traffic Management   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Asia-Pacific (APAC)   Defense Policy  
al-monitor.com • Mar, Uditha Jayasinghe

Sri Lanka refuses landing for two US combat aircraft carrying eight anti-ship missiles

Sri Lanka told parliament it denied U.S. permission for two combat aircraft to land at Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport March 4–8. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the jets, coming from a Djibouti base, would have carried eight anti-ship missiles and framed the move as neutrality policy.

2026-03-20T08:06:28.799541-07:00
Aircraft Carrier   Middle East   Europe   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Cybersecurity (Cyber Threats & Protection)   Defense Policy  
lemonde.fr

Le Monde Uses Strava to Track French Carrier Charles de Gaulle in Real Time, Exposing Operational-Security Flaw

By lemonde.fr: As the Charles de Gaulle and its strike group approach the Middle East, Le Monde identified a French sailor using the Strava fitness application in the Mediterranean Sea.

Also: thelondoneconomic.com, The Independent, Times of India, BBC, UK Defence Journal, ANI News Agency, indiatoday.in, TechCrunch and 4 more
2026-03-20T05:00:14.144377-07:00
China   Safran   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Policy & Regulation   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Export Controls & Trade Compliance  
Reuters

US House Panel Asks Pentagon to Review Safran’s China Joint Ventures Over National‑Security Concerns

By Reuters: A congressional committee chair has asked the Pentagon to review Safran's joint ventures in China, saying the French aerospace company's commercial ties with Chinese companies raise concerns in light of its U.S.

2026-03-20T08:34:07.808880-07:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   Dassault Aviation   Middle East   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Deals  
AeroTime • Clement Charpentreau

French Rafales reportedly shoot down ~60 Iranian 'Shahed' drones over UAE, raising MICA cost and supply concerns

By AeroTime: French Rafale jets reportedly shot down around 60 Iranian drones over the UAE, exposing the cost of using MICA missiles against Shahed threats.

2026-03-20T06:59:42.625199-07:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   F-16   Middle East   Military Aircraft Procurement   Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Export Controls & Trade Compliance   Defense Deals   Defense Policy  
FlightGlobal • Greg Waldron

US approves up to $16.5 billion in weapons sales to UAE, Kuwait and Jordan amid strikes on Iran

By FlightGlobal: The US government has approved more than $16.5 billion in potential weapons sales to the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Jordan, including air-launched munitions and advanced missile-defence systems, as strikes against Iran continue.

Also: Aviation A2Z, Aviation Week, Unmanned Airspace, f-16.net, defence-blog.com, Army Recognition and Janes
2026-03-20T00:29:25.116006-07:00