Defense News

Helicopter Military Aircraft Procurement Defense Industry & Major Contractors

AINonline • Charlotte Bailey

U.S. Army selects Robinson R66 as flight-school trainer under $10 billion M1 Support Services contract

The U.S. Army has selected Robinson’s R66 helicopter as its new flight-school training aircraft. The choice forms part of a $10 billion contract awarded to M1 Support Services to provide Army flight-training support, reshaping the platform used to prepare future Army helicopter pilots.

Also: Aviation Week

2 Sources

2026-08-18T10:06:12.342805-07:00

Aircraft Carrier Middle East Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact

New York Times • Chris Wood, Jessica Cheung, John Ismay, Lexie Diao, Marion Lozano, Mike Benoist, MJ Davis Lin, Pat McCusker, Rachel Abrams, Shannon Lin

Families Raise Concerns Over USS Lincoln’s 270-Day Middle East Deployment

By New York Times: Families of soldiers aboard the aircraft carrier — deployed in the Middle East without a break for 270 days — have raised the alarm.

1 Source

2026-08-18T07:30:39.511004-07:00

eVTOL UAV Development & Drone Programs AI

AeroTime • Miquel Ros

REGENT’s Squire seaglider completes wing-in-ground exercise with US military

By AeroTime: REGENT has showcased Squire, its wing-in-ground autonomous seaglider during an exercise with the US military.

1 Source

2026-08-18T07:05:13.622757-07:00

AI FlightSim Defense Policy Airbus

AeroTime • Clement Charpentreau

Airbus puts synthetic aircraft into live German Air Force exercise

By AeroTime: Airbus said its System Development Lab generated virtual allies and threats inside Timber Express, the German Air Force's annual data link exercise.

1 Source

2026-08-18T06:20:32.873596-07:00

UAV Development & Drone Programs Defense Policy

The War Zone • Thomas Newdick

Air Force Wants Family Of Expendable Target Drones That Can Mimic Everything From Stealth Fighters To UAV Swarms

By The War Zone: With rapidly evolving threats around the globe, the USAF's target drones need to start making leaps to catch up and a new family of systems is wanted for this.

1 Source

2026-08-18T05:28:11.299461-07:00

Israel Middle East Military Aircraft Procurement Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact

Associated Press • Leer En Español

Israeli strikes hit an air base in northwest Syria, but no casualties are reported

By Associated Press: Israeli airstrikes on an air base in northwest Syria caused material damage but no casualties, according to Syrian state TV and the Foreign Ministry.

Reuters

Israeli airstrikes hit Syrian airbase, drawing Turkish condemnation

CBS News

U.S. envoy in Turkey chastises Israel for "unnecessary escalation" with strikes on Syrian air base

Also: ANI News Agency, The Independent, NBC News and 3 more

9 Sources

2026-08-18T02:35:15.806844-07:00

Space Force Defense Budgets & Spending Space Defense & Militarization

SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

New report takes closer look at the Space Force spending surge

By SpaceNews.com: WASHINGTON — A new analysis of the Trump administration’s fiscal 2027 defense budget finds that the proposed surge in Space Force spending is concentrated in missions like moving-target tracking, missile warning, command and control and classified programs.

2 Sources

2026-08-18T05:10:40.608928-07:00

Aircraft Carrier Military Aircraft Procurement Defense Policy

The Hill • Filip Timotija

Trump’s Aircraft Carrier Design Demands Could Delay U.S. Navy Procurement

By The Hill: President Trump is pushing for major design changes to U.S. aircraft carriers, including returning to steam catapults and moving the island.

1 Source

2026-08-18T03:06:07.860350-07:00

U.S. Army selects Robinson R66 as flight-school trainer under $10 billion M1 Support Services contract

Families Raise Concerns Over USS Lincoln’s 270-Day Middle East Deployment

REGENT’s Squire seaglider completes wing-in-ground exercise with US military

Airbus puts synthetic aircraft into live German Air Force exercise

Air Force Wants Family Of Expendable Target Drones That Can Mimic Everything From Stealth Fighters To UAV Swarms

Israeli strikes hit an air base in northwest Syria, but no casualties are reported

Israeli airstrikes hit Syrian airbase, drawing Turkish condemnation

U.S. envoy in Turkey chastises Israel for "unnecessary escalation" with strikes on Syrian air base

New report takes closer look at the Space Force spending surge

Trump’s Aircraft Carrier Design Demands Could Delay U.S. Navy Procurement

Robinson R66 Chosen as New U.S. Army Flight School Next Trainer

Families Raise Concerns Over USS Lincoln’s 270-Day Middle East Deployment

REGENT’s Squire seaglider completes wing-in-ground exercise with US military

Airbus puts synthetic aircraft into live German Air Force exercise

Air Force Wants Family Of Expendable Target Drones That Can Mimic Everything From Stealth Fighters To UAV Swarms

New report takes closer look at the Space Force spending surge

New image adds to claims of Uzbek J-10CE order, but questions remain

India Leases Two MQ-9B SeaGuardian UAVs From General Atomics

Japan Agrees to Test Hypersonics, Other Missiles in Australia

USS George Washington to Relieve Abraham Lincoln in Middle East, Leaving No U.S. Carriers in Pacific

L3Harris ousts CEO Christopher Kubasik after conduct investigation, names space chief Sam Mehta successor

Spanish F-18 shoots down drone over Romania after entry from Moldova

U.S.-linked infrastructure push spans Indo-Pacific space surveillance and FAA air traffic control overhaul

France keeps EMALS for future carrier as Trump orders U.S. Navy back to steam catapults

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

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