M&A   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact  
Reuters

Lockheed Martin emerges as frontrunner to buy Advent’s Ultra Maritime in ~$3.5B naval defense deal, FT reports

Lockheed Martin is leading the race to acquire Ultra Maritime, an Advent International-owned maritime defense company, in a transaction that could value the business at about $3.5 billion, the Financial Times reported. People familiar with the matter were cited in the reporting.

Also: Seeking Alpha and newsable.asianetnews.com
2026-07-02T14:59:26.081672-07:00
SAAB   Europe   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aviation Safety & Regulation   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Deals   Defense Policy  
AeroTime • Clement Charpentreau

NATO set to announce Saab GlobalEye AWACS replacement in Ankara: Reuters

By AeroTime: NATO is expected to announce in Ankara that Saab GlobalEye surveillance aircraft will replace its E-3A AWACS fleet, according to Reuters.

Also: defensetalks.com, news.ssbcrack.com, defensemirror.com, Air Data News, Aero-News, calibredefence.co.uk and defensehere.com
2026-07-02T08:28:59.948189-07:00
Hypersonic   Military Aircraft Procurement   Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Defense Policy  
Bloomberg • Anthony Capaccio

First US Hypersonic Weapon Program Faces Further Delay, GAO Says

By Bloomberg: The US’s first hypersonic weapon, already at least two years late for deployment in the field, is facing delays yet again — this time over unresolved production issues, according to congressional auditors.

2026-07-02T07:29:20.411582-07:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
AeroTime • Clement Charpentreau

Russia likely used shadow fleet ships for drone campaign over Europe: IISS

By AeroTime: It is highly likely that the Kremlin conducted a drone campaign over Europe between August 2024 and February 2026, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) assessed in a report, which also finds that Russian-linked vessels and the shadow fleet likely served as launch and recovery platforms.

2026-07-02T07:29:07.844530-07:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   Europe   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
FlightGlobal • Craig Hoyle

Up to 24 ‘surveillance drones’ will replace British Army Watchkeepers

By FlightGlobal: New uncrewed aircraft will replace obsolete type. The UK will field a replacement for its Watchkeeper remotely piloted aircraft by late this decade, according to its newly published Defence Investment Plan (DIP).

2026-07-02T04:59:27.747617-07:00