Vertical Mag
Davenport Aviation has completed the Virtus "First Shot" test campaign, validating a weaponized H125 (AS350) configured to fire rockets. Davenport said the campaign included multiple successful rocket launches, demonstrating integrated weapons carriage and live‑fire capability on the light helicopter platform.
AeroTime
• Clement Charpentreau
By AeroTime: Russian drone approached French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle while docked in Malmö; Sweden armed forces used countermeasures against the drone.
FlightGlobal
• Craig Hoyle
By FlightGlobal: Syos is to equip the New Zealand Defence Force with a variety of uncrewed systems, including its SA2 and SA7 quadcopters.
justice.gov
By justice.gov: Former U.S. Air Force officer and pilot Gerald Eddie Brown, Jr., also known by the call sign “Runner,” 65, a U.S. citizen, was arrested today in Jeffersonville, Indiana.
Bloomberg
• Gerry Doyle
By Bloomberg: Russia’s anti-missile defenses around Moscow may be enough to blunt an attack by Europe’s submarine-launched ballistic missiles, increasing pressure on the continent to develop new hypersonic weapons at a time when its leaders fret over the reliability of the US as an ally.
FlightGlobal
• Ryan Finnerty
By FlightGlobal: The US Air Force will select a winner for its first Collaborative Combat Aircraft increment by the end of 2026, choosing both an uncrewed fighter design and mission autonomy software provider as the service accelerates towards production of autonomous tactical jets.
Wall Street Journal
By Wall Street Journal: The Air Force has built the ERAM cruise missile in 16 months.
Reuters
By Reuters: The Pentagon has asked defense contractors to assess their reliance on Anthropic, a person familiar with the matter said on Wednesday, ahead of its Friday deadline for the AI service provider to respond to a request to eliminate safeguards.
Bloomberg
• Anthony Capaccio, Roxana Tiron
