All Defence articles
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NewsUSAF pauses contract for 75 KC-46 tankers until Boeing fixes deficiencies
The number two general in the US Air Force (USAF) says that while the service still intends to expand its planned buy of KC-46 tankers by 75 examples, a contract will not be issued until Boeing addresses longstanding engineering issues with the jet.
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AnalysisChina surges production capacity for J-20 and J-35 stealth fighters
Commercial satellite imagery shows that China’s state-owned aviation company has dramatically expanded manufacturing facilities for military aircraft, including the fifth-generation J-20 fighter, with total fighter production capacity set to reach 300-400 units annually.
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NewsAirbus prepares Valkyrie pair for ‘UCCA’ mission test alongside Eurofighter for Germany
Targeting the delivery of a ‘loyal wingman’-type capability for the German air force before the end of this decade, Airbus Defence & Space has detailed a package of planned updates that will allow such an asset to work in combination with the service’s Eurofighter combat aircraft.
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NewsJapan’s EC-2 EW aircraft approaches service entry
The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) has released images of its developmental Kawasaki EC-2 electronic warfare aircraft, converted from the first C-2 transport delivered, as the service weighs acquisition numbers and its future transport fleet composition.
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NewsTop Aces to provide basic F-16 flight training for Argentine air force
Buenos Aires has awarded adversary air services provider Top Aces a $33 million, multi-year contract to deliver basic and advanced pilot training on the Argentine air force’s Lockheed Martin F-16 fighters, acquired secondhand from Denmark.
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NewsAirbus and Leonardo open to collaboration on next-generation military helicopter despite differences
Europe’s big two helicopter manufacturers remain open to collaborating on a next-generation military rotorcraft in a reprise of their current NH Industries (NHI) venture, despite markedly divergent approaches to high-speed flight.
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AnalysisNew low-cost US attack drone offers strike range of over 400nm for under $55,000
The Pentagon has disclosed specifications for its LUCAS one-way attack drone, a reverse-engineered derivative of Iran’s Shahed-136 offering 434nm range at costs between $10,000 and $55,000, as the US military deploys the type operationally for the first time in the Middle East theatre.
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InterviewTransformed Leonardo is primed for major growth, CEO Cingolani says
Leonardo chief executive Roberto Cingolani is launching new five-year industrial plan targetting new business in both the manned and unmanned segments.
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NewsUS Air Force KC-135 tanker crashes in Iraq killing all aboard
A US Air Force Boeing KC-135 tanker has crashed in western Iraq during Operation Epic Fury, with US Central Command confirming the incident was not caused by hostile action or friendly fire.
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NewsB-1B bombers spotted at RAF Fairford being loaded with 900kg guided bombs
Video appears to show Boeing B-1B supersonic bombers being loaded with GBU-31 GPS-guided bombs and long-range cruise missiles at the Gloucestershire base, which is hosting a number of US bombers involved in the ongoing air campaign against Iran.
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NewsLeonardo to demonstrate M-346 commanding two Baykar uncrewed fighters by mid-year
Leonardo will conduct the first demonstration flight later this year pairing its M-346 platform with a pair of representative collaborative combat aircraft.
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NewsB-21 prototype logs close-proximity flight with KC-135 as part of aerial refuelling tests
The US Air Force has confirmed that its next-generation B-21 Raider stealth bomber has conducted close-proximity flight tests with a KC-135 tanker, marking a significant milestone in the aircraft’s development programme ahead of planned operational deployment in 2027.
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NewsAirbus Helicopters stands up European supply chain for H175M, pitches Canadian final assembly line
Airbus Helicopters has confirmed that it has stood up a European supply chain for the H175M, removing Chinese aerostructures from the military variant of its super-medium-twin.
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NewsAustralia deploys E-7A to Middle East amid Iranian attacks
Australia has deployed a Boeing E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft to the Middle East to provide early detection of Iranian drones and missiles. Canberra will also supply Raytheon AIM-120 air-to-air missiles, whilst emphasising it is not participating in offensive operations against Iran.
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In depthCritical shortage or endless supply? Munitions availability in the Iran war
US defence officials have declared stockpiles of precision munitions sufficient for sustained operations against Iran, contradicting years of warnings from military officers and industry executives about the imbalance between production capacity and battlefield demand.
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NewsField narrows in US Army's Flight School Next contest, but Robinson R66 remains strong presence
The US Army’s push to reinvent its helicopter pilot training programme is down to four bidders – three of which are proposing the Robinson Helicopter R66.
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NewsNear Earth Autonomy plans additional test flights of UH-60L autonomous demonstrator
The aviation technology firm has already conducted fully automated flight tests of its RUC-60 unmanned Black Hawk demonstrator, a surplus US Army UH-60L modified to be optionally unmanned.
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NewsAW249 stays on track for first delivery to Italian army in 2027
Leonardo Helicopters remains confident it will deliver the first AW249 Fenice attack helicopter to the Italian army next year as it ramps up flight-test activities with the new platform.
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NewsUS Army pilots train on Osprey ahead of first MV-75 delivery
Six US Army test pilots have completed a three-month familiarisation course on the Bell-Boeing MV-22B Osprey with the US Marine Corps, gaining critical tiltrotor experience ahead of the service receiving its first MV-75 prototype as soon as end-2026.
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NewsAurora completes fuselage for X-65 ‘active flow control’ demonstrator
Boeing subsidiary Aurora Flight Sciences has completed fuselage fabrication for the X-65, an experimental aircraft that replaces conventional control surfaces with embedded air-jet effectors using active flow control technology, with first flight planned for 2027.