Today In Defense
Last Updated: Monday, Dec. 1, 2025, 6:01 AM PST
2025-12-01T06:01:02.283308-08:00 2025-12-01T06:01:02.283308-08:00 (2025-12-01T06:01:02.283308-08:00)
Vertical Mag
Ascent of the drones: How uncrewed aircraft systems are changing tactical aviation
By Vertical Mag: Tactical aviation’s first foray into uncrewed aircraft systems and air-launched effects (ALE) during the air mission commander course.
Vertical Mag
• Airvolve Press Release;
Airvolve signs $20M deal to deliver 40 Airlift‑U500 autonomous hybrid‑electric tactical cargo aircraft to India
By Vertical Mag: Airvolve’s Airlift-U500 is a hybrid-electric, autonomous vertical take-off and landing aircraft designed for rapid tactical resupply, casualty evacuation, and operations in challenging or hard-to-reach environments.
FlightGlobal
• Greg Waldron
South Korea establishes ministerial council to steer indigenous KF-21 fighter engine development
By FlightGlobal: South Korean government ministries have established a consultative body to coordinate the country's development of an advanced indigenous fighter engine, aimed at powering future variants of the KF-21 aircraft.
FlightGlobal
• Exclusive partner Honeywell
Turkey’s Baykar claims first UCAV beyond-visual-range missile kill
By FlightGlobal: Turkish manufacturer Baykar claims its Kizilelma unmanned combat aircraft has achieved an aviation first by successfully engaging a target drone with a beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile.
AeroTime
• Clement Charpentreau
Senator alleges Airbus Germany delivery failures sparked FCAS rift; Dassault seeks stronger governance ahead of Phase 2
By AeroTime: A French senator says Airbus Germany failed to deliver FCAS sub-assemblies, prompting Dassault to seek stronger governance as Phase 2 talks near.
Reuters
• Yimou Lee
Taiwan airline Apex Aviation seeks role in 'whole of society' defence with surveillance flights to counter China
By Reuters: Flying over the blue waters off Taiwan's east coast, a light aircraft equipped with a powerful U.S.-made radar slung under its belly tracks Chinese warships, collecting data its operator is keen to provide to Taipei's security forces.
Reuters
• Andrius Sytas
Lithuania to reopen Belarus border after balloon incidents
By Reuters: Lithuania will reopen its border crossings with Belarus, ending a closure imposed in response to airspace disruptions by smugglers' balloons, the Baltic republic said on Wednesday.