MRO Europe Boeing

FlightGlobal • Craig Hoyle

Lufthansa Technik Defense begins first scheduled maintenance checks on German Navy P-8A Poseidons in Hamburg

For the first time, the German Navy has entrusted scheduled maintenance of its new Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to Lufthansa Technik Defense at the Hamburg site. The work marks Lufthansa Technik’s entry into sustainment for potentially armed Bundeswehr aircraft and deepens the technical partnership with Germany’s military aviation community.

lufthansa-technik.com

P-8A Poseidon: German Navy’s submarine hunters undergo first checks in Hamburg

2026-04-20T10:31:57.255973-07:00

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

saildrone.com

Introducing Saildrone Spectre: Next-generation USV for Anti-submarine Warfare and VLS Strike

By saildrone.com: Saildrone’s largest, fastest, and most capable platform to date, Spectre is designed to fill a critical ASW capability gap and deliver high-speed and stealth kinetic strike.

Also: defence-blog.com, Breaking Defense and tectonicdefense.com

2026-04-20T07:17:40.471464-07:00

Helicopter Military Aircraft Procurement Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons Defense Industry & Major Contractors

DefenseNews.com • Michael Peck

US Air Force wants better infrared jammers for its combat rescue helicopters

By DefenseNews.com: The HH-60W, recently used to rescue downed pilots in Iran, lacks a capable infrared countermeasure system, Air Force Material Command said.

2026-04-20T11:07:37.569583-07:00

Supply Chain L3Harris North America Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs) Defense Industry & Major Contractors

DefenseNews.com • Nikki Wentling

L3Harris announces $1 billion expansion in Virginia

By DefenseNews.com: The expansion will more than double manufacturing space at the Virginia site, which currently spans 256,000 square feet.

2026-04-20T11:07:37.612370-07:00

Helicopter Aviation Safety & Regulation Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact Defense Policy

DefenseNews.com • Hope Hodge Seck

US Army wants doctrine for landing helicopters on Arctic ice

By DefenseNews.com: The Army Corps of Engineers’ research and development component is working to disprove old assumptions about the risks of landing on frozen lakes.

2026-04-20T11:07:37.696901-07:00

Helicopter Military Aircraft Procurement Defense Industry & Major Contractors

DefenseNews.com • Michael Peck

US Navy wants helicopter sonar that can detect subs

By DefenseNews.com: Instead of separate tech to spot mines and subs, the Navy is exploring the convenience of having one sonar that allows a single helicopter to do both.

defcrosnews.com

US Navy Explores Integrated Sonar System for Helicopter Operations

news.ssbcrack.com

Navy Explores Dual-Function Sonar for Mine and Submarine Detection on Helicopters

Also: Navy Times and Military Times

2026-04-20T09:26:07.476573-07:00

Defense Industry & Major Contractors Defense Policy

DefenseNews.com

DARPA develops synthetic blood for the battlefield | Defense News Weekly Full Episode 4.21.26

By DefenseNews.com: DARPA is overseeing the development of synthetic blood, which could drastically change battlefield medicine. How soon could one see it in their kit?.

AirForceTimes

See how synthetic, shelf-stable blood is created in this DARPA lab tour

AirForceTimes

Newly developed shelf-stable synthetic blood could change battlefield medicine

Also: AirForceTimes and 3 more

2026-04-20T08:42:42.434370-07:00

Military Aircraft Procurement Defense Budgets & Spending Defense Policy

Aviation Week • Steve Trimble

One F/A-XX Bidder 'Can’t Deliver' On Navy Schedule, CNO Says

By Aviation Week: One of the two companies vying for the F/A-XX contract lacks the capacity to deliver the fighter on time, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle says.