Aircraft Carrier   China   Middle East   Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Deals  
Reuters • Gavin Finch, John Irish, Parisa Hafezi

Iran nears purchase of Chinese CM-302 supersonic anti-ship missiles as U.S. carrier forces mass nearby

Iran is nearing a deal to buy Chinese CM-302 supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles — reported to have a range of about 290 km — just as the U.S. has massed multiple carrier strike groups and other naval assets near Iran, elevating Gulf maritime tensions.

Also: moderndiplomacy.eu and abcnews.com
2026-02-24T02:06:17.901529-08:00
Supply Chain   North America   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
FlightGlobal • Ryan Finnerty

USAF reaches deal with Northrop to accelerate B-21 production by 25%

By FlightGlobal: The US Air Force (USAF) and Northrop Grumman have agreed to a $4.5 billion production acceleration for the B-21 Raider stealth bomber, increasing the annual build rate by 25% to expedite delivery of the next-generation strategic aircraft.

Also: Aviation Week, Air & Space Forces Mag, Northrop Grumman, defence-blog.com, militaryleak.com, theaviationgeekclub.com, defensemirror.com, news.defcros.com, Defense Daily, Defense One, defence-industry.eu, insidedefense.com and 4 more
2026-02-23T22:00:38.274005-08:00
Helicopter   Supply Chain   Europe   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Policy & Regulation  
FlightGlobal • Dominic Perry

Leonardo pins Yeovil helicopter plant’s future on Proteus autonomous programme as DIP delays threaten continuity

By FlightGlobal: Development of an autonomous military helicopter could be central to the future of Leonardo Helicopters' plant in Yeovil in the UK, but maintaining the factory until that capability can be delivered is another matter.

Also: Shephard Media
2026-02-24T01:30:43.404182-08:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   AI   Military Aircraft Procurement   Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Defense Deals  
FlightGlobal • Greg Waldron

GA‑ASI MQ‑20 Avenger teams with USAF F‑22; GA‑ASI advances MQ‑9B long‑range standoff weapons integration

By FlightGlobal: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) has conducted a manned-unmanned teaming demonstration between its MQ-20 Avenger and a US Air Force (USAF) F-22, while separately advancing long-range standoff weapons integration for the MQ-9B.

Also: aviation-defence-universe.com, aerospaceglobalnews.com, worldairnews.co.za, aero-defence.tech, aero-defence.tech, uasvision.com, India Defense News, Aviacionline and 8 more
2026-02-23T22:00:38.780286-08:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Defense Policy   BAE Systems  
FlightGlobal • Greg Waldron

BAE, US Air Force demonstrate scalable electronic-attack system for manned aircraft and large UAS

By FlightGlobal: BAE Systems has successfully demonstrated a scalable electronic attack capability that can be deployed across multiple aircraft platforms, including large uncrewed systems, in collaboration with the US Air Force.

Also: defence-blog.com, euro-sd.com and defence-industry.eu
2026-02-24T00:34:00.647028-08:00
Middle East   Supply Chain   Military Aircraft Procurement   Accident   Aviation Safety & Regulation   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
Reuters

Iranian Army helicopter crashes into Isfahan fruit market, four killed

By Reuters: An Iranian Army helicopter crashed into a fruit market in the central province of Isfahan on Tuesday, killing the pilot, co-pilot and two merchants, state media reported.

Also: Economic Times, The Independent and halifax.citynews.ca
2026-02-24T00:41:42.175776-08:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   AI   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
DVIDS / U.S. DoD

Collaborative Combat Aircraft program progresses through deliberate weapons integration testing

By DVIDS / U.S. DoD: The Air Force has entered the next phase of developmental testing for its Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, initiating disciplined weapons integration and captive carry evaluations using inert test munitions to validate airworthiness, safety, and systems performance.

Also: Air Data News, The Aviationist, Aviation Week, Skies Magazine, defence-blog.com, defensemirror.com, Defense One, spaceanddefense.io, miragenews.com, news.defcros.com, defence-industry.eu, Seapower Magazine and 9 more
2026-02-23T16:56:20.295578-08:00
China   UAV Development & Drone Programs   AI   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
FlightGlobal • May Lee

Inside the PLA’s push for collaborative combat aircraft — why software, not airframes, is the real contest

By FlightGlobal: From parade floats to carrier decks, China's collaborative combat aircraft programme is advancing on multiple fronts. But beneath the variety of airframes lies a simpler truth: the real competition is in the software.

2026-02-23T20:10:22.432473-08:00