French military plants seed money to ‘master’ near-space operations
French defense leaders expect the near-space domain to become increasingly contested, similar to low Earth orbit and the ocean floor.
Europe
UK F-35 buy paves way for a return to warplane-based nuclear deterrent
A dozen jets of the A variant will bring dual-capable aircraft to the Royal Air Force, allowing Britain to partake in NATO's airborne nuclear deterrent.
Japan conducts first domestic missile test
The test comes as the country accelerates its military buildup to deter increasingly assertive China.
Saab taps Anduril to build rocket motors for ground-launched bomb
Saab has picked Anduril to produce solid rocket motors for the Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb it produces with Boeing.
Eurofighter vendor targets ‘combat mass’ over next-gen buzz
The idea of producing “combat mass” for Europe, as the CEO called it, follows the urgency of recent conflicts sprung on the continent and its environs.
Airbus mulls boosting tanker production on ‘very high’ demand
“With the signals we’re getting from the customers, we are studying a rate increase of the MRTT,” said Jean-Brice Dumont, head of air power at Airbus.
Unmanned Leonardo jet trainers could take GCAP drone role, CEO says
The program’s focus for the next five years lies primarily on the main aircraft, but partner nations are free to explore unmanned companions on their own.
Leaning on civilian sales, Airbus pushes H145M helicopter in Poland
The bid to sell the H145 light utility helicopter comes more than eight years after Poland scrapped a purchase of Airbus H225M tactical-transport helos.
Boeing Air Force One work continues amid furor over Qatar plane
Boeing is years behind schedule on delivering the newest Air Force One jets and has been repeatedly criticized by President Donald Trump.
Europeans rush drone-based radar jammers in effort to supplant US tech
Europe largely depends on the U.S. for airborne electromagnetic warfare, a gap some countries are looking to address.
Italian Air Force accepts Leonardo’s M-345 as basic trainer jet
The Air Force said 18 aircraft have been ordered to date, with seven delivered and four involved in operational test and evaluation activities.
Air Force F-35 buy would be cut in half under Pentagon spending plan
The Air Force typically buys four or five dozen F-35s each year. The plan to purchase only 24 would represent a major scaling back.
Air Force tests new ship-killing bomb variant
A war with China would include fierce naval battles and require the Air Force to take out enemy ships with weapons such as Quicksink.
Saab, Helsing let Gripen fighter fly with AI in charge
According to the company’s math, the AI prep work produced the equivalent of 50 years of human pilot experience.
Next-gen GCAP warplane faces time pressure amid American F-47 plans
Japan joined GCAP to be able to co-own the technology on board the plane, something it would be less able to do with an equivalent U.S. jet.
Hegseth questions Air Force plan to buy E-7, touts space-based recon
Air Force officials say the E-7 must replace its aging E-3 AWACS planes and would be needed even when space-based ISR capabilities are in orbit.
For Air Force weather experts, the cloud is the future – rain or shine
The organization, which provides operational weather tools to the military and intelligence agencies, expects to fully transition to the cloud next year.
