Reuters
Applied Aerospace & Defense, a private equity-backed government contractor, is pursuing a US initial public offering with an expected valuation of up to $3.59 billion. The filing reflects an investor push into defense-related aerospace as geopolitical tensions keep demand expectations elevated.
Reuters
• David Jeans
By Reuters: As U.S. kamikaze drones guided by Elon Musk’s Starlink network began to make visible gains in the war against Iran, senior SpaceX officials reached a conclusion: The Pentagon should be paying more for access to their satellite Wi-Fi network.
AeroTime
• Clement Charpentreau
By AeroTime: Thales carried out the first firings of its X-Fire ground-based long-range strike launcher on May 20, 2026, advancing France's FLP-T program.
Air Data News
• Ricardo Meier
By Air Data News: Phase-out of first-generation Hornets aligns with transition to all-F-35 force; AV-8B Harrier II set for final operational flight U.S.
FlightGlobal
• Greg Waldron
By FlightGlobal: The Marine Attack Helicopter will provide firepower to South Korean marines, including an air-to-air capability. The Korea Aerospace Industries Marine Attack Helicopter (MAH) is entering its final development phase following an extensive test campaign.
politico.eu
• Nicholas Vinocur, Zoya Sheftalovich
By politico.eu: A recent increase in incursions into Baltic airspace has bolstered interest in what Kyiv has learned in more than four years of war with Moscow.
AeroTime
• Stephen Pope
By AeroTime: A guilty plea in a US export-control case shows how aircraft parts allegedly moved to Russia through shadowy brokers and intermediaries.
Air Data News
• Ricardo Meier
By Air Data News: Standard procedure restores fleet readiness after tanker destroyed in accident earlier US Air Force (USAF) is pulling a KC-135 Stratotanker out of long-term storage at the Davis-Monthan boneyard in Arizona to replace a tanker destroyed in a crash earlier this month, military officials confirmed.
Associated Press
• Efrem Lukatsky, EVGENIY MALOLETKA
