Saudi Arabia   Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Deals   Defense Policy   BAE Systems  
defence-blog.com • Colton Jones

US clears sale of up to 20,000 BAE Systems APKWS II guidance kits to Saudi Arabia under ~$1.96B deal

The State Department has approved a possible $1.96 billion sale to Saudi Arabia of up to 20,000 APKWS II guidance sections, split evenly between air-to-air and air-to-ground kits (10,000 each). BAE Systems would serve as the principal contractor for the guided-rocket munitions program.

FlightGlobal • Greg Waldron

USA clears major APKWS sale to Saudi Arabia

2026-07-16T05:16:58.169481-07:00
Satellite   AI   Europe   ESA   Defense Budgets & Spending   Space Policy & International Cooperation   Space Defense & Militarization   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
Via Satellite • Mark Holmes

Integration and Sovereignty: How Defense is Reshaping the Earth Observation Market

By Via Satellite: As defense and security needs drive demand for Earth Observation (EO) data, experts from Europe’s leading space and security organizations say challenges remain with integrating EO data into larger systems and finding the right balance with sovereignty.

2026-07-16T09:14:01.263011-07:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Boeing  
FlightGlobal • Craig Hoyle

Boeing touts potential of AESA radar addition for Apache

By FlightGlobal: More capable sensor would boost detection of airborne threats. Boeing is advancing further enhancements for its AH-64E Apache to boost the platform’s ability to engage non-traditional threats such as one-way attack drones.

Also: India Defense News
2026-07-16T10:16:36.131393-07:00
Space Force   Military Aircraft Procurement   Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Defense Budgets & Spending   Space Defense & Militarization   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

Trump's pick to lead Space Force defends plan to more than double budget

By SpaceNews.com: WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the U.S. Space Force backed the administration’s proposal to more than double the service’s budget, telling senators on Thursday that a $71.1 billion request was “exactly what we need” to counter China’s rapidly expanding military capabilities in space.

Also: Breaking Defense, Defense Daily and insidedefense.com
2026-07-16T08:14:50.576553-07:00
Event   Accident   Aviation Safety & Regulation  
AeroTime • Ian Molyneaux

Actions of Blue Angels pilot called into question over low pass at busy US beach

By AeroTime: A US Navy's Blue Angels aerobatic display team is under review after video footage emerged of a low altitude pass at a busy Florida beach.

Also: Washington Post, Stars and Stripes, Navy Times, USNI News, NBC News, The Independent, CBS News, CNN and 8 more
2026-07-16T04:15:47.808247-07:00
Satellite   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation   Space Policy & International Cooperation   Space Defense & Militarization  
SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

Defense Innovation Unit seeks commercial path to deliver electrical power from orbit

By SpaceNews.com: WASHINGTON — The Defense Innovation Unit is seeking commercial proposals to beam electrical power between spacecraft and from orbit to the ground in a demonstration within two years, an effort to move a long-studied technology toward operational military use by the end of the decade.

Also: Defense Daily
2026-07-16T08:44:48.269276-07:00