Middle East   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
aerospaceglobalnews.com • Joanna Bailey

A-10C Warthog gains probe-and-drogue refuelling in the Middle East, plus Angry Kitten EW pod

The US Air Force has deployed A-10C Warthogs to the Middle East with newly operational capabilities: a Probe Refueling Adapter enabling probe-and-drogue refuelling from the HC-130J, and the Angry Kitten electronic warfare pod carried on operations. The A-10C reached deployment-ready status in weeks after its first test.

2026-05-22T05:55:08.975323-07:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   Helicopter   Military Aircraft Procurement   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact  
DefenseNews.com • Eve Sampson

US Marine Corps tests using helicopter as mobile drone command center

By DefenseNews.com: During the test, troops launched a Neros Archer FPV drone from the ground before transferring control to operators aboard a helicopter orbiting miles away.

Also: marinecorpstimes.com, c4isrnet.com and Military Times
2026-05-22T12:10:37.661790-07:00
Helicopter   Sikorsky   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Policy  
Breaking Defense • Andrew White

Helos need upgrades to perform special ops 'quieter, with fewer aircraft': PEO Rotary Wing

By Breaking Defense: Special Operations Command’s fleet of MH-60Ms and MH-47Gs — operated by the 160th Nightstalkers Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) — could benefit from technology injections coming from the MV-75 Cheyenne, said PEO Rotary Wing Steve Smith.

Also: FlightGlobal, Aviation Week and FlightGlobal
2026-05-22T09:11:23.421639-07:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact  
Breaking Defense • Seth J. Frantzman

IAI’s new Diamond naval offering envisions flexible drones, missiles for small vessels

By Breaking Defense: The plan involves different defensive systems dispersed across small satellite ships, which can be connected to a mother ship in a disaggregated model.

2026-05-22T09:54:05.718322-07:00
Event   Middle East   Europe   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact  
FlightGlobal • Craig Hoyle

RIAT organisers cancel 2026 show due to base access uncertainty at RAF Fairford

By FlightGlobal: UK show had been due to run from 17-19 July. The organisers of the annual Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) have announced the cancellation of this year's event, due to its location being inaccessible due to US operations against Iran.

Also: aviationnews.eu, Flyer.co.uk, Aviation Week, The Aviationist, Bloomberg, ukaviation.aero and airforce-technology.com
2026-05-22T04:05:33.753250-07:00