Middle East   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
Air Data News • Ricardo Meier

Reuters/Guardian: UAE and Saudi Arabia conducted covert airstrikes on Iran, including a Lavan Island refinery hit

New reporting says the UAE secretly launched airstrikes inside Iran during the regional conflict, including an attack on an oil refinery on Iran’s Lavan Island that sparked a fire and suspended operations for months. Reuters also reports Saudi Arabia’s Air Force conducted numerous unpublicized strikes on Iran in late March as retaliation.

Also: ANI News Agency and militarnyi.com
2026-05-13T02:47:21.398473-07:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   Satellite   Europe   Space Defense & Militarization   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Cybersecurity (Cyber Threats & Protection)  
Breaking Defense • Elisabeth Gosselin-Malo

In Latvia, military robots roll across a new communication challenge: woodlands

By Breaking Defense: Several users reported significant challenges with the UGVs’ communication systems, many of them using Starlink, in densely forested areas of the Baltic nation.

2026-05-13T01:57:09.373330-07:00
Europe   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Workforce & Skills Development  
FlightGlobal • Craig Hoyle

Leading Edge Aviation to deliver additional UK military pilot training capacity

By FlightGlobal: Oxford-based training provider will deliver instruction to up to 34 pilots under new arrangement. Leading Edge Aviation is to deliver expanded pilot training services to the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), using its Diamond Aircraft DA40 and DA42 platforms.

2026-05-13T03:15:15.550059-07:00
Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Asia-Pacific (APAC)  
FlightGlobal • Greg Waldron

Commercial, defence demand boost 2025 results at Japanese aerospace players

By FlightGlobal: Japanese aerospace suppliers are bellwethers for the broader industry. Major Japanese aerospace players posted strong revenues and profitability for the 2025 financial year ended 31 March, benefiting from strong commercial and defence demand.

2026-05-13T01:57:10.656800-07:00
Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Boeing  
FlightGlobal • Greg Waldron

USAF, Boeing agree on three-part plan to boost KC-46 readiness

By FlightGlobal: The effort will see an accelerated rollout of the aircraft's updated Remote Vision System for boom operators. The US Air Force (USAF) and Boeing have agreed on terms to improve readiness of the KC-46A Pegasus tanker aircraft, and to accelerate the delivery of capabilities to the fleet.

Also: Air Data News
2026-05-12T22:43:11.010758-07:00
Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
tass.com

Russia to place Sarmat ICBM on combat alert by year end

By tass.com: The President congratulated the Ministry of Defense, all employees, researchers, engineers, defense industry production organizers, prime contractors, and the thousands of workers engaged in the teamwork on "this major event and unconditional success".

Also: tass.com, warsight.com, South China Morning Post and 4 more
2026-05-12T08:11:54.293237-07:00
Space Force   Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Defense Budgets & Spending   Space Defense & Militarization   Policy & Regulation   Defense Policy  
SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

Congressional Budget Office estimates $1.2 trillion price tag for Golden Dome

By SpaceNews.com: WASHINGTON — The Congressional Budget Office estimates that a national missile defense system broadly aligned with President Donald Trump’s Golden Dome executive order could cost roughly $1.2 trillion over 20 years, a figure that dramatically exceeds the Pentagon’s public estimate of about $185 billion.

Also: AirForceTimes and Aviation Week
2026-05-12T15:14:25.264888-07:00