ATC Europe Aviation Safety & Regulation Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact

Reuters • Anna Koper

Poland scrambles jets to intercept Russian reconnaissance aircraft over Baltic Sea

Polish fighter jets scrambled on Christmas Eve to intercept and escort a Russian reconnaissance aircraft flying over international waters of the Baltic Sea close to Poland’s airspace. The action occurred amid heightened NATO air-policing and reports that weather‑probe balloons from Belarus violated Polish airspace.

Aviation24 • André Orban

Polish jets scramble to intercept and escort Russian reconnaissance aircraft near Polish airspace on Christmas Eve

militarnyi.com • Приходько Роман

Polish Fighter Jets Intercept Russian Reconnaissance Aircraft, while Weather Probes from Belarus Violated Polish Airspace

Also: theglobeandmail.com and The Independent

2025-12-25T03:08:53.692353-08:00

Defense Budgets & Spending Defense Industry & Major Contractors Policy & Regulation

The Intercept • Matt Sledge

US Congress Advances Pilot Program Allowing Interest Payments to Defense Contractors Despite Pentagon Opposition

By The Intercept: The pilot program upends an 80-year precedent against covering contractors’ interest payments — something the military itself opposed.

2025-12-24T20:21:16.549007-08:00

UAV Development & Drone Programs Defense Industry & Major Contractors Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact

The Aviationist • David Cenciotti

Ukrainian Drone Strike Reportedly Destroys Rare Russian Il-38N ASW Aircraft

By The Aviationist: Rare Il-38N ASW aircraft reportedly destroyed as Kyiv targets high-value enablers behind the front line. Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) has released.

Also: militarnyi.com

2025-12-24T08:43:03.492499-08:00

Aircraft Carrier North America Defense Industry & Major Contractors

The Aviationist • Kai Greet

USS Nimitz to Be Decommissioned After Returning to Bremerton; HII Awarded Contract Modification

By The Aviationist: The 50 year old nuclear-powered aircraft carrier returned to Bremerton, Washington on Dec. 16, 2025 after its final scheduled deployment. USS Nimitz.

2025-12-24T10:08:41.215059-08:00

Aircraft Carrier China Satellite Military Aircraft Procurement Defense Budgets & Spending Defense Industry & Major Contractors Space Defense & Militarization Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact

FlightGlobal • Greg Waldron

Pentagon report highlights China’s sixth-generation fighter progress

By FlightGlobal: The US Department of War's latest annual assessment of Chinese military capabilities reveals significant progress in airpower development, including testing of two sixth-generation fighter aircraft and advances in airborne early warning systems.

AirForceTimes

Pentagon annual report: China’s 'historic' military buildup leaves U.S. increasingly vulnerable

satnews

DoD: China Now Operates >1,189 Satellites, 510+ Dedicated to ISR as 'Informatized' Warfare Advances

Also: Aviation Week, maritime-executive.com, aeroxplorer.com, news.defcros.com, insidedefense.com, USNI News and Aviation Week

2025-12-24T09:52:50.024415-08:00

Military Aircraft Procurement Orders Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs) Defense Industry & Major Contractors Asia-Pacific (APAC)

The Business Journals • Jenna Farhat

Textron Aviation Defense wins contract to supply pilot trainer aircraft to Japanese military

By The Business Journals: The company said it anticipates more orders from the Japanese military.

2025-12-24T10:51:37.846195-08:00

China Military Aircraft Procurement Orders Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs) Defense Industry & Major Contractors Asia-Pacific (APAC)

India Defense News • Indian Defence News Staff

India Commits to 200 Tejas Mk-1A Fighters — Assessing Combat Effectiveness Versus China and Pakistan

By India Defense News: India is placing a substantial wager on the TEJAS MK-1A, with an order for nearly 200 jets poised to bolster the Indian Air Force's capabili...

Also: defence.in

2025-12-24T08:50:31.642872-08:00

Supply Chain Military Aircraft Procurement Defense Industry & Major Contractors Asia-Pacific (APAC)

India Defense News • Indian Defence News Staff

IAF Eyes Russian Sukhoi Upgrades Amid Shrinking Fighter Fleet

By India Defense News: The Indian Air Force confronts a shrinking fighter fleet, prompting urgent measures to modernise its Sukhoi-30MKI aircraft, the backbone of ...

Also: defence.in and defence.in

2025-12-24T08:50:32.954426-08:00

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Poland scrambles jets to intercept Russian reconnaissance aircraft over Baltic Sea

Polish jets scramble to intercept and escort Russian reconnaissance aircraft near Polish airspace on Christmas Eve

Polish Fighter Jets Intercept Russian Reconnaissance Aircraft, while Weather Probes from Belarus Violated Polish Airspace

US Congress Advances Pilot Program Allowing Interest Payments to Defense Contractors Despite Pentagon Opposition

Ukrainian Drone Strike Reportedly Destroys Rare Russian Il-38N ASW Aircraft

USS Nimitz to Be Decommissioned After Returning to Bremerton; HII Awarded Contract Modification

Pentagon report highlights China’s sixth-generation fighter progress

Pentagon annual report: China’s 'historic' military buildup leaves U.S. increasingly vulnerable

DoD: China Now Operates >1,189 Satellites, 510+ Dedicated to ISR as 'Informatized' Warfare Advances

Textron Aviation Defense wins contract to supply pilot trainer aircraft to Japanese military

India Commits to 200 Tejas Mk-1A Fighters — Assessing Combat Effectiveness Versus China and Pakistan

IAF Eyes Russian Sukhoi Upgrades Amid Shrinking Fighter Fleet

Poland intercepts Russian plane over Baltic, reports airspace breaches from Belarus

US Congress Advances Pilot Program Allowing Interest Payments to Defense Contractors Despite Pentagon Opposition

Textron Aviation Defense wins contract to supply pilot trainer aircraft to Japanese military

India Commits to 200 Tejas Mk-1A Fighters — Assessing Combat Effectiveness Versus China and Pakistan

IAF Eyes Russian Sukhoi Upgrades Amid Shrinking Fighter Fleet

Ukrainian Drone Strike Reportedly Destroys Rare Russian Il-38N ASW Aircraft

DAPA Approves Indigenous 16,000 lb / 24,000 lb Turbofan Engine Program for South Korean Fighter

US Air Force abandons sweeping reoptimization as Army, Marines push forward with transformation efforts

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DoD: China Operates >1,189 Satellites, 510+ for ISR; ‘Historic’ Buildup Includes Nuclear, Carrier and Sixth‑Gen Fighter Tests

RTX’s Raytheon wins $1.7B FMS contract to deliver four Patriot air-and-missile defense systems to Spain

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