Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Policy & Regulation   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Asia-Pacific (APAC)  
CNBC • Lim Hui Jie

U.S. approves largest ever arms sale to Taiwan as tensions simmer around the island

The U.S. approved its largest-ever arms sale to Taiwan — a package including artillery systems, antitank missiles and spare parts for helicopters and anti-ship missiles — a decision announced as tensions simmer around the island and marking a significant expansion of U.S. military support.

2025-12-17T21:24:48.333840-08:00
Aircraft Carrier   China   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Asia-Pacific (APAC)  
USNI News • Dzirhan Mahadzir

PLA Carrier Fujian Transits Taiwan Strait; Taiwan Monitors Passage

By USNI News: The People’s Liberation Army Navy newest aircraft carrier CNS Fujian (18) sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday, according to Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense.

Also: South China Morning Post
2025-12-17T09:11:59.186571-08:00
North America   Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact  
Bloomberg • Anthony Capaccio

US Army on track to field first hypersonic ground‑launched weapon 'Dark Eagle' by end of 2025

By Bloomberg: US Army Says It’s On Track to Deploy First US Hypersonic Weapon The Dark Eagle, the first US hypersonic weapon, and soldiers from a Australian-U.S. bilateral military exercise in Northern Territory, Australia, on July 9, 2025.

2025-12-17T16:04:37.033800-08:00
Supply Chain   Europe   Military Aircraft Procurement   Orders   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
english.defensearabia.com

Embraer delivers first A-29N Super Tucanos to Portuguese Air Force; eyes final assembly line in Portugal

By english.defensearabia.com: Portugal becomes the first country to operate the new variant of the A-29 configured to meet NATO's operational requirements New final assembly line would.

Also: Air Data News, Aviation24, arabiandefence.com and english.defensearabia.com
2025-12-17T11:25:53.572247-08:00
Supply Chain   North America   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Workforce & Skills Development  
Air Data News • JCC; Ricardo Meier

Saab offers to build Gripen fighters and GlobalEye surveillance aircraft in Canada, pledging 12,600 jobs

By Air Data News: Saab submitted proposals to the Canadian government to build Gripen fighters and GlobalEye surveillance aircraft in Canada, with a potential to create 12,600.

2025-12-17T10:49:43.042446-08:00
MRO   Military Aircraft Procurement   Orders   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Asia-Pacific (APAC)  
FlightGlobal • Greg Waldron

RAAF C-130J fleet achieves FOC with Block 8.1 upgrade

By FlightGlobal: The Royal Australian Air Force has achieved Final Operational Capability for its upgraded C-130J tactical transport fleet, with 12 aircraft brought to Block 8.1 configuration under the AIR 5440 programme.

Also: APAC Defence Reporter, spaceanddefense.io and defensemirror.com
2025-12-17T11:31:04.212492-08:00
China   Hypersonic   Europe   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Space Defense & Militarization   Policy & Regulation  
Aviation Week • Robert Wall

EU to Commit €1 Billion to 2026 European Defence Fund, Prioritising Hypersonic Defences

By Aviation Week: The European Union plans to contribute €1 billion to the 2026 European Defense Fund program, with hypersonic defenses gaining a large share of the allocation.

Also: defence-industry-space.ec.europa.eu, interestingengineering.com and news.defcros.com
2025-12-17T10:49:35.773713-08:00