UAV Development & Drone Programs   North America   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact  
AeroTime • Ian Molyneaux

Windracers CEO: Ukraine combat lessons and Antarctic trials show drone tech is still at the 'foothills'

Windracers' CEO, drawing on deployments from Ukraine battlefields to Antarctic test flights, said the company remains at the 'foothills' of drone capability, with significant technical and operational advances still ahead as it scales its heavy‑lift ULTRA family into commercial and austere‑environment missions.

2025-12-25T20:11:33.090471-08:00
ATC   Europe   Aviation Safety & Regulation   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact  
Reuters • Anna Koper

Poland intercepts Russian plane over Baltic, reports airspace breaches from Belarus

By Reuters: Poland sent fighter jets to intercept a Russian reconnaissance aircraft flying near its airspace over the Baltic Sea and said dozens of objects entered from Belarus overnight, warning the incidents during the holiday season may signal a provocation.

Also: news.ssbcrack.com, theglobeandmail.com, militarnyi.com, The Independent, news.ssbcrack.com and aa.com.tr
2025-12-25T03:08:53.692353-08:00
Aircraft Carrier   China   Satellite   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Space Defense & Militarization   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact  
FlightGlobal • Greg Waldron

Pentagon report highlights China’s sixth-generation fighter progress

By FlightGlobal: The US Department of War's latest annual assessment of Chinese military capabilities reveals significant progress in airpower development, including testing of two sixth-generation fighter aircraft and advances in airborne early warning systems.

Also: Aviation Week, maritime-executive.com, aeroxplorer.com, news.defcros.com, insidedefense.com, USNI News and Aviation Week
2025-12-24T09:52:50.024415-08:00
ATC   Dassault Aviation   Middle East   Africa   Accident   Aviation Safety & Regulation   Airport Infrastructure & Air Traffic Management   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact  
Reuters • Tuvan Gumrukcu

Radio contact lost with private jet believed to carry Libya’s army chief over Ankara; flights diverted

By Reuters: The Libyan army's chief of staff, Mohammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad, died in a plane crash on Tuesday after leaving Turkey's capital Ankara, the prime minister of Libya's internationally recognised government said, adding that four others were on the jet as well.

Also: AeroTime, Aviation24, halifax.citynews.ca, ABC News, The Independent, al-monitor.com, defensemirror.com, travelcodex.com, news.ssbcrack.com, moderndiplomacy.eu, intellinews.com, Economic Times and 47 more
2025-12-23T11:35:41.175896-08:00
Supply Chain   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Asia-Pacific (APAC)  
Aviation Week • Steve Trimble

DAPA Approves Indigenous 16,000 lb / 24,000 lb Turbofan Engine Program for South Korean Fighter

By Aviation Week: The Advanced Aviation Engine Development Project will develop, test and certify a turbofan engine with 16,000 lb.-thrust at military power and 24,000 lb.-thrust on afterburner.

2025-12-23T11:57:17.125142-08:00
Europe   Military Aircraft Procurement   Orders   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
Airbus • News Release

Spain orders 18 C295 transport aircraft

By Airbus: The Spanish Ministry of Defence has acquired 18 Airbus C295 transport aircraft to replace the CN235 and C212 fleets of the Spanish Air and Space Force.

Also: AeroTime, FlightGlobal, asdnews.com, Aviation A2Z, Janes, Aviation Week, defensemirror.com and 9 more
2025-12-23T02:57:50.550251-08:00
Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Asia-Pacific (APAC)  
The War Zone • Tyler Rogoway

Pentagon to Contract Seaplane Fleet for Indo‑Pacific to Address Amphibious Aircraft Gap

By The War Zone: The lack of an American amphibious aircraft capability has become more glaring as the possibility of a conflict with China looms larger.

Also: realcleardefense.com and interestingengineering.com
2025-12-23T13:48:06.232688-08:00