Ryan Finnerty
Ryan Finnerty is the Americas defence reporter for FlightGlobal.com and Flight International magazine, covering military aviation and the defence industry. He is a former United States Army officer and previously reported for America’s National Public Radio system in New York and Hawaii covering energy, economics and military affairs.
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NewsShield AI begins windtunnel testing X-Bat autonomous fighter
American autonomy specialist Shield AI has begun windtunnel testing on its X-Bat uncrewed tactical aircraft, three months after unveiling the tail-sitting jet platform that will operate using the company’s Hivemind artificial intelligence software.
NewsUS Army accelerates Bell MV-75 tiltrotor fielding with first planned delivery by end-2026
The US Army has dramatically accelerated its timeline for fielding Bell’s MV-75 tiltrotor, with troops potentially to be flying the new aircraft by the end of 2026 – six years ahead of the original 2032 schedule.
NewsLockheed adds two international C-130J operators to start 2026
Mexico has become the first Latin American nation to order the C-130J Super Hercules, along with a second undisclosed customer.
NewsNORAD deploys aircraft to Greenland amid international standoff
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is deploying US and Canadian military aircraft to Greenland’s Pituffik Space Base, as international tensions escalate over President Trump’s suggestions that Washington seeks control of the Danish territory.
NewsDenmark touts ability of new Arctic special forces to operate anywhere in Greenland
Denmark is emphasising the capabilities of a newly formed Arctic special forces unit that can operate throughout Greenland’s demanding terrain, as Copenhagen faces increasing pressure over control of the strategic territory from US President Donald Trump.
NewsDenmark deploys F-35A stealth fighters over Greenland supported by French tanker
US President Donald Trump has disparaged the Danish military presence in Greenland as consisting of nothing more than two dogsled teams.
NewsGrid Aero’s Lifter Lite uncrewed cargo aircraft makes runway appearance alongside C-130
California-based start-up Grid Aero has begun ground testing its Lifter Lite uncrewed cargo aircraft, less than a year after publicly unveiling the twin-engined turboprop design intended as a companion to the Lockheed Martin C-130 transport.
NewsMH-139 logs first convoy flight providing security to US Air Force nuclear missiles
The US Air Force’s Boeing MH-139 Grey Wolf has commenced operational nuclear security duties, completing its first convoy escort mission protecting intercontinental ballistic missile sites at Malmstrom AFB, Montana on 8 January.
NewsDanish C-130 lands in Greenland with military personnel amid talk of US annexation
Copenhagen has launched Operation Arctic Endurance with NATO allies including Sweden, France and Germany after diplomatic talks in Washington broke down over US President Donald Trump’s repeated demands to control the strategic Arctic territory.
NewsGE and Lockheed test new rotating detonation ramjet for hypersonic weapons
The compact, liquid-fuelled ramjet engine uses a novel combustion technology called rotating detonation that offers significantly improved efficiency for high-speed flight at Mach 5 and beyond.
NewsUS Navy using Kratos target drones to test uncrewed fighter applications
The US Navy has completed a second demonstration of autonomous flight control software using Kratos BQM-177 target drones, advancing its efforts to develop carrier-capable uncrewed fighter aircraft for future combat operations.
NewsPentagon takes $1bn stake in L3Harris missile unit to boost rocket motor production
The Pentagon is making an unprecedented $1 billion equity investment in L3Harris’s Missile Solutions division, which will be spun off as a standalone company to expand production of solid rocket motors critical to guided weapons and space systems.
AnalysisUS defence sector outlook optimistic despite Trump stock-buyback threat
Major US defence manufacturers maintain a strong financial outlook despite a White House executive order prohibiting stock buybacks and dividends for firms deemed to be underperforming on contracts.
NewsUS Navy begins developing new fighter tactics incorporating Collaborative Combat Aircraft
The US Navy has digitally integrated autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft with Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighters inside the Joint Simulation Environment, as the service begins a fleet transformation that will see uncrewed fighters operated alongside conventional aircraft.
NewsNorthrop to develop uncrewed fighter for USMC based on Kratos XQ-58
Northrop Grumman has secured a US Marine Corps (USMC) contract to develop an uncrewed fighter jet based on the Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie, marking a significant win for the company’s autonomous aircraft efforts under the MUX TACAIR programme.
NewsUS military seizes Russian-flagged oil tanker in North Atlantic following pursuit from Venezuela
Open source flight tracking shows P-8A and U-28A reconnaissance aircraft monitoring the section of ocean between Iceland the UK where the sanctioned vessel is located, while Russian media claim special operations helicopters flew past the ship.
NewsRussia adds anti-aircraft missile capability to Shahed one-way attack drones
Russian forces appear to have modified Shahed-136 one-way attack drones to carry man-portable air defence missiles, marking a tactical evolution aimed at threatening Ukrainian fighter aircraft deployed to intercept the slow-moving UAVs.
NewsBell advances to next stage of US Army trainer competition
Rotorcraft manufacturer Bell has become the first vendor to advance in the US Army’s Flight School Next competition, proposing its 505 light-single paired with comprehensive training services to replace the current Initial Entry Rotary-Wing programme based around the Airbus Helicopters UH-72A.
NewsCanada to push Lockheed for more F-35 jobs ahead of fighter procurement decision
Ottawa is seeking expanded industrial commitments from Lockheed Martin as the Carney government reviews its F-35A acquisition amid renewed competition from Saab, which has offered to establish Canadian assembly lines for Gripen fighters and GlobalEye surveillance aircraft.
NewsRare footage of RQ-170 stealth drone emerges from Venezuela raid
Social media footage appears to show a Lockheed Martin RQ-170 Sentinel operating from Puerto Rico during the US military’s recent operation to capture deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.