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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UAV maker Edge Autonomy buys fuel cell producer Adaptive Energy
The California maker of unmanned aerial vehicles for the Pentagon purchased a Michigan manufacturer specialising in solid oxide fuel cells.
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Italy signs contract for latest round of F-35 purchases
The $524 mllion deal with Lockheed Martin covers 18 conventional and vertical landing airframes from Lots 15 and 16.
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Canada grounds CT-114 demonstrator fleet following flight emergency
The Royal Canadian Air Force has ordered an operational pause for its fleet of 20 Canadair CT-114 flight demonstration jets after an in-flight emergency.
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Ukraine claims numerous Russian aircraft destroyed in Crimea airbase explosions
Ukrainian military authorities say that some 10 aircraft were destroyed in the recent explosions at a Russian-controlled airbase, but stopped short of claiming responsibility.
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Joby expands military partnership in eVTOL development
The California developer of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft says a modification to its existing contract under the US Air Force’s Agility Prime programme is worth $45 million.
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Russian airbase in occupied Crimea rocked by explosions
The strategically important Black Sea peninsula was annexed by Russia in 2014 and is home to air fields and naval bases.
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Chinese aircraft continue heavy activity around Taiwan as Beijing extends military exercises
The island nation’s defence ministry says dozens of Chinese military aircraft are still operating around the disputed territory, with Beijing extending its exercises in the area.
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US military will ‘continue to fly’ in Taiwan Strait following crisis ‘manufactured’ by Beijing: Pentagon
The declaration from a senior US defence official comes amid heightened tensions with China over an official visit to Taiwan.
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Pentagon not ruling out Western fighter jets for Ukraine
The US Department of Defense’s policy chief says a transfer of US-built fighters is not currently in the works, but did not take such a move off the table for the future.
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China sends nearly 70 aircraft into Taiwan Strait, while US jets observe the west
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence says China sent 68 military aircraft into the disputed waterway, with more than half of those crossing the so-called median line.
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Canadian F-18s deploy to Romania for NATO air mission
Eight Royal Canadian Air Force fighters will conduct round-the-clock air patrols on NATO’s eastern flank as part of the alliance’s Air Task Force Romania.
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Boeing signs deal to continue maintenance of Italian air force tankers
Under the agreement, Boeing will continue to provide logistics support for Italy’s four KC-767A aerial tankers through December 2025.
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Falling revenue, more deliveries and a growing backlog for Embraer in second quarter
The Brazilian jet manufacturer turned a $74 million profit during the second three months of the year, with its commercial backlog reaching new heights for the pandemic era.
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China sends fighter jets into Taiwan Strait amid heightened tensions
The flights of J-11s, J-16s and Su-30s come amid a series of large, live-fire drills being conducted by China in the region following an official US visit to Taiwan.
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Top US official’s flight to Taipei sets flight tracking record
More than 700,000 people tracked the aircraft of California Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, who is third in-line for the US presidency, as she landed in Taiwan for an official visit over threats from leaders in Beijing.
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Boeing lands $57m contract for support of unmanned carrier tanker
The aerospace manufacturer is currently testing the US Navy’s first ever carrier-based autonomous refuelling aircraft.
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Unmanned aircraft disrupting military order: SOCOM chief
Citing on-going combat in Ukraine, the top general at the US Special Operations Command says commercial drones and military UAVs are upending the battlefield status quo.
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L3Harris and Air Tractor win Armed Overwatch competition for special ops air support
The partnership’s AT-802U SkyWarden prevailed over designs from Textron and Sierra Nevada in the competitive bid to provide reconaissance and close air support to the USA’s special operations troops.
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DynCorp receives $56m contract to maintain Saudi army aircraft
The Texas-based contractor will provide the Royal Saudi Land Forces’ Aviation Command with support and aircraft maintenance services.
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Czech Republic choses F-35 to replace Gripens
The government of the Czech Republic has publicly stated its interest in acquiring Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighters.