UAV Development & Drone Programs   Middle East   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
FlightGlobal • Ryan Finnerty

Pentagon reveals LUCAS loitering munition — Shahed-136 derivative with 434 nm range and sub-$55k unit cost

The Pentagon has released specifications for LUCAS, a one-way loitering munition reverse-engineered from Iran’s Shahed-136. The system offers a 434 nm range, a per-unit cost the department places between $10,000 and $55,000, and has been employed operationally in the Middle East.

2026-03-13T10:23:53.030335-07:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   AI   Europe   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Airbus  
Airbus

Airbus prepares Kratos-built uncrewed combat aircraft for first flights as it races to offer UCCA to Germany by 2029

By Airbus: Airbus is working at full throttle to offer the German Air Force an operational Uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft (UCCA) system by 2029.

Also: Satellite Evolution, Aviacionline, Aviation Week, GlobeNewswire, aeromorning.com, avionews.it, defensetalks.com, aerospace-innovations.com, worldairnews.co.za, euro-sd.com, defence-industry.eu, ir.kratosdefense.com and indiastrategic.in
2026-03-13T04:04:21.056090-07:00
Satellite   AI   Europe   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Space Defense & Militarization   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Cybersecurity (Cyber Threats & Protection)   Defense Policy  
Space Intel Report • Peter B de Selding

Leonardo: Guardian ISR constellation central to Michelangelo Dome missile‑defense as space unit eyes >20% CAGR to 2030

By Space Intel Report: LA PLATA, Maryland — Italy’s Leonardo SpA outlined how its planned Guardian constellation of intelligence, surveillance….

Also: Unmanned Airspace
2026-03-13T08:54:44.628007-07:00
Satellite   Europe   ESA   Space Exploration & Science Missions   Commercial Space   Space Defense & Militarization  
Via Satellite • Jeffrey Hill, Sscott

ESA awards Terran Orbital subsidiary Tyvak contract to develop 6U defense cubesat 'Farinella'

By Via Satellite: Tyvak International, a subsidiary of Terran Orbital, has won a new cubesat contract with the European Space Agency (ESA). It will develop Farinella, a 6U.

Also: Satellite Evolution and terranorbital.com
2026-03-13T09:19:56.356187-07:00
MRO   Europe   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Embraer  
Air Data News • Ricardo Meier

Embraer demonstrates KC-390 Millennium to Polish maintenance partner WZL-2 in Bydgoszcz

By Air Data News: Embraer presented its KC-390 Millennium military transport aircraft to Polish aerospace company Wojskowe Zakłady Lotnicze Nr 2 (WZL-2) in Bydgoszcz as.

2026-03-13T05:38:21.793679-07:00
North America   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Boeing  
Aviation Week • Steve Trimble

USAF Awards $2.43B to Boeing for Two E-7A Prototypes

By Aviation Week: The U.S. Air Force has awarded two new deals worth $2.43 billion to Boeing to continue developing two E-7A prototypes as directed by Congress.

Also: defence-blog.com, insidedefense.com, al.com, defence-industry.eu, govconwire.com and DVIDS / U.S. DoD
2026-03-12T16:28:41.049844-07:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   Europe   Accident   Aviation Safety & Regulation   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
Reuters

Romania Scrambles Fighters After Drones Possibly Breach Airspace Near Ukraine Border

By Reuters: Romania scrambled fighter jets on Friday to monitor drones possibly breaching its national airspace, the defence ministry said, adding that it was possible that drone fragments fell on Romanian territory near border with Ukraine.

Also: militarnyi.com and AeroTime
2026-03-13T03:04:15.351428-07:00