Defense News

aviation Hypersonic Europe ESA

European Spaceflight • Andrew Parsonson

ESA’s INVICTUS hypersonic aircraft program clears first major review; next review expected in October 2027

The European Space Agency’s INVICTUS hypersonic aircraft program has passed its first major review, marking a milestone in the program’s development. The next review is expected in October 2027; the available report does not specify further technical findings or schedule details.

Also: The Aviationist

2 Sources

2026-10-27T08:04:59.159362-07:00

aviation UAV Development & Drone Programs

DefenseNews.com • Ben Murray

Building a power layer for the robotic battlefield

By DefenseNews.com: Chariot Defense looks to provide power solutions for a modern, drone-driven military force when traditional methods fail.

1 Source

2026-10-27T08:40:40.460175-07:00

Military Aircraft Procurement Asia-Pacific (APAC)

AeroTime • Jean Carmela Lim

Australian F-35As trained with Five Power Defence partners in Singapore

By AeroTime: Royal Australian Air Force F-35As flew mixed formations with Singapore’s F-15SG and F-16 fighters during Exercise Bersama Lima 2026 at Paya Lebar Air Base.

2 Sources

2026-10-27T07:34:25.648360-07:00

aviation ATC Europe Military Aircraft Procurement Airport Infrastructure & Air Traffic Management Thales

NEW

Reuters

Romania selects Thales for civil and military radar systems

By Reuters: Romania's defence ministry has selected French military equipment maker Thales to provide ‌radar systems, supporting both civil and military airspace surveillance and approach and landing operations, the company said on Tuesday.

2 Sources

2026-10-27T09:04:30.750248-07:00

UAV Development & Drone Programs AI Bayraktar

FlightGlobal • Lizzie Rix

Baykar completes at-sea flight test of Kalkan VTOL UAV

By FlightGlobal: Latest flight test continues progression of the Kalkan. Turkish manufacturer Baykar’s latest vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) UAV has completed its first at-sea flight tests.

2 Sources

2026-10-27T07:05:11.517483-07:00

UAV Development & Drone Programs AI

Breaking Defense • Breaking Defense

The new must-have capabilities for drones

By Breaking Defense: The must-have drone capabilities shaping modern defense, including the technologies and features needed to meet evolving military mission requirements.

2 Sources

2026-10-27T06:04:55.541625-07:00

Europe ESA Commercial Space Space Defense & Militarization

Payload • Douglas Gorman

OSMOS X Tapped to Lead EDF-backed Tactical Capture Consortium

By Payload: The European Defence Fund tapped French OTV startup OSMOS X to lead a coalition studying how countries can respond to threats in orbit.

1 Source

2026-10-27T06:05:38.897759-07:00

Military Aircraft Procurement Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs) Defense Policy Boeing

Breaking Defense • Michael Marrow

USAF should buy newly designed air refuelers to meet China threat: Report

By Breaking Defense: Although there’s a “temptation” to keep buying KC-46s, a plan to procure 75 more of the Boeing-made tankers should be an “upper limit” followed by a new, longer range tanker, the Hudson Institute’s Timothy Walton told Breaking Defense.

FlightGlobal

USAF needs blended-wing-body tanker for war against China: think tank

Aviation Week

Think Tank Study Urges USAF To Buy Blended Wing Body Tanker Fleet

5 Sources

2026-10-27T05:04:43.725365-07:00

ESA’s INVICTUS hypersonic aircraft program clears first major review; next review expected in October 2027

Building a power layer for the robotic battlefield

Australian F-35As trained with Five Power Defence partners in Singapore

Romania selects Thales for civil and military radar systems

Baykar completes at-sea flight test of Kalkan VTOL UAV

The new must-have capabilities for drones

OSMOS X Tapped to Lead EDF-backed Tactical Capture Consortium

USAF should buy newly designed air refuelers to meet China threat: Report

USAF needs blended-wing-body tanker for war against China: think tank

Think Tank Study Urges USAF To Buy Blended Wing Body Tanker Fleet

Romania selects Thales for civil and military radar systems

Building a power layer for the robotic battlefield

Australian F-35As trained with Five Power Defence partners in Singapore

ESA’s INVICTUS Hypersonic Programme Clears First Major Review

Baykar completes at-sea flight test of Kalkan VTOL UAV

The new must-have capabilities for drones

Astroscale proposes fleet of 'bodyguard' spacecraft to protect satellites from orbital attacks

Exosens Q3 revenue rises 23.5% on stronger demand, capacity ramp-up

Air Force Sends ARRW, Its 1st Hypersonic Missile, into Production

China could field directed-energy weapons in orbit by late 2020s, U.S. intelligence says

Ukraine says Starlink restored after 10-day disruption as allies seek alternatives

Philippines grounds SF-260 fleet after training collision kills four pilots

Cosmos 2612’s close approach to ICEYE-X36 raises questions about NATO’s response to Russian space operations

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

More in Defense

US Air Force plans US$1 billion Nellis complex for F-47 operational testing

Canada receives first two F-35s as full purchase remains under review

Britain’s Final Plan To Kill Argentina’s Super Étendards Attack Jets

Air Force Plans $1 Billion Campus for Testing F-47 at Nellis

Musk accuses Ukraine of violating Starlink terms with deadly drone strikes

Philippines probes fatal SF-260 midair collision that killed four PAF pilots

Airbus to hold talks with BAE over role in GCAP fighter jet programme

#SpaceWatchGL GRAY SPACE – COSMOS 2612 vs ICEYE-X36: Washington Spoke. Where Was NATO?