China Defense Industry & Major Contractors Policy & Regulation Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact Export Controls & Trade Compliance

Reuters

China sanctions 20 U.S. defence firms, including Boeing’s St. Louis unit, over Taiwan arms sales

China's foreign ministry announced sanctions targeting 10 individuals and 20 U.S. defence firms — including Boeing's St. Louis unit — in retaliation for recent U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. The move formalises Beijing's punitive response and raises risks of commercial and supply‑chain friction for affected contractors.

Also: Wall Street Journal and defensehere.com

2025-12-26T01:46:31.568282-08:00

UAV Development & Drone Programs North America Defense Industry & Major Contractors Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact

AeroTime • Ian Molyneaux

Windracers CEO: From Ukraine frontlines to Antarctic skies, ‘we’re only at the foothills of drone technology’

By AeroTime: From the frontlines of Ukraine to the skies of Antarctica, the CEO of Windracers explains why the drone developer is only at the ‘foothills of this technology’.

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.

Aviation24

Polish jets scramble to intercept and escort Russian reconnaissance aircraft near Polish airspace on Christmas Eve

news.ssbcrack.com

Poland Scrambles Fighter Jets After Russian Reconnaissance Aircraft Detected Near Airspace

Also: news.ssbcrack.com, theglobeandmail.com, militarnyi.com, Al Jazeera, 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.

Air Data News

DoD Annual Report Warns of Chinese Advances in Sixth‑Generation Fighter Programs and AEW&C Capabilities

The Aviationist

Report: Third Prototype of China’s J-36 Next‑Generation Fighter Has Flown

Also: AirForceTimes, satnews, Aviation Week, asianmilitaryreview.com, jetlinemarvel.net, maritime-executive.com, aeroxplorer.com, news.defcros.com, insidedefense.com, USNI News, Aviation Week and defence-blog.com

2025-12-24T09:52:50.024415-08:00

Defense Budgets & Spending Defense Industry & Major Contractors Policy & Regulation

The Intercept • Matt Sledge

US Congress Advances Pilot Program Allowing Interest Payments to Defense Contractors Despite Pentagon Opposition

By The Intercept: The pilot program upends an 80-year precedent against covering contractors’ interest payments — something the military itself opposed.

2025-12-24T20:21:16.549007-08:00

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.

FlightGlobal

Flight recorders recovered after Falcon 50 crash in Turkey carrying Libyan army chief

Reuters

Private jet carrying Libya’s army chief of staff crashes near Ankara after reported electrical failure

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 48 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.

FlightGlobal

South Korea commits $3.4bn to develop 24,000 lb‑thrust indigenous fighter engine for KF‑21 Block 3

Aviation A2Z

South Korea Launches 3.35 Trillion-Won Program to Develop Indigenous Fighter Jet Engine

Also: jetlinemarvel.net and FlightGlobal

2025-12-23T11:57:17.125142-08:00

MRO Supply Chain Military Aircraft Procurement Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs) Aviation Safety & Regulation Defense Industry & Major Contractors

insidedefense.com

DOD IG Finds Shortcomings in Oversight of F‑35 Sustainment Contracts

By insidedefense.com: The Dec. 19, 2025 Defense Department inspector general's report assesses "DOD’s oversight of contractor performance on air vehicle sustainment contracts for the F‑35 Joint Strike Fighter (F‑35) aircraft.".

Air Data News