UAV Development & Drone Programs   Europe   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Defense Policy  
AeroTime • Clement Charpentreau

France drops Patroller and Eurodrone from military law, pivots to cheaper sovereign drones

France's revised military law removes planned purchases of the Patroller and Eurodrone, signaling a pivot away from higher‑cost multinational UAS buys toward lower‑cost, sovereignly produced drones. The change formalises a procurement shift that will reshape demand for domestic versus collaborative European systems.

2026-04-08T08:02:17.700327-07:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Defense Policy   BAE Systems  
FlightGlobal • Dominic Perry

BAE Systems test fires APKWS rockets from RAF Typhoon

By FlightGlobal: BAE Systems has successfully conducted a test firing of its APKWS laser-guided rockets from a Eurofighter Typhoon. Performed from the company’s Warton site in the UK using a Royal Air Force Typhoon test and evaluation aircraft, the trial saw the multi-role fighter strike a ground-based target using the weapon.

Also: euro-sd.com, UK Defence Journal and 7 more
2026-04-08T06:31:40.868043-07:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   Europe   M&A   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
MTU Aero Engines

MTU Aero Engines acquires AeroDesignWorks to enter UAV and guided‑missile propulsion market

By MTU Aero Engines: Aircraft propulsion expert MTU Aero Engines AG is acquiring AeroDesignWorks GmbH. The provider of drone propulsion systems is based in Cologne, Germany, and will become a wholly owned subsidiary of MTU.

Also: FlightGlobal and Reuters
2026-04-08T06:06:39.393704-07:00
Europe   Military Aircraft Procurement   Orders   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Textron  
AeroTime • Clement Charpentreau

Belgium selects five Cessna SkyCouriers for Special Forces — first European military sale

By AeroTime: Belgium has ordered five Cessna SkyCourier turboprops for its Special Operations Forces, the type's first military sale.

Also: marketforecast.com and 3 more
2026-04-08T01:06:21.755397-07:00
Helicopter   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Workforce & Skills Development  
FlightGlobal • Ryan Finnerty

Bell advances as Lockheed dropped from US Army Flight School Next rotary‑wing trainer competition

By FlightGlobal: Three contenders advanced in the Flight School Next effort, which seeks to revamp the army’s basic rotary-wing instruction course, including by replacing Airbus Helicopters UH-72A Lakotas as the service’s primary trainer helicopter.

Also: Defense Daily and insidedefense.com
2026-04-07T15:07:12.535522-07:00