Julien Mercier, Author at DEFENSE-AEROSPACE

Poland Receives First AH-64D Apaches to Prepare for Guardian Fleet

Three AH-64D Apache attack helicopters landed this morning at the 56th Air Base in Latkowo, near Inowrocław. They taxied to the ramp in quick succession, rotors still spinning while ground crews signaled them into place. Defense officials confirm these aircraft now belong

June 17, 2025

Missiles / Drones / Directed Energy

China’s Expanding Drone Arsenal Reveals Strength of Civil-Military Integration

The first taxi runs of Jiutian’s SS-UAV “drone mothership” at a private airfield in Sichuan on 16 June reflect how far China’s unmanned programs have moved in a single decade. According to industry sources, technicians completed telemetry checks in less than six

June 17, 2025

12 additional FA-50PH light combat aircraft

Asia-Pacific

Philippines Secures 12 Advanced FA-50PH Jets in $700 Million South Korea Deal

The Philippine Department of National Defense (DND) has approved a fresh contract for 12 additional FA-50PH light combat aircraft from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI). The agreement, signed in the first week of June and publicly confirmed on 10 June 2025, is valued

June 12, 2025

Aircraft

AE 1107C Hits 500-Hour Mark Inside V-22 Fleet

The T406 engine reached a solid 500-hour record on one Osprey in mid-August last year. It happened during normal line ops, not a test flight. The count feels modest next to jetliner totals, yet inside tiltrotor work it signals tough stamina. Dust

December 27, 2024

Naval Systems

Singapore Launches Fifth Littoral Mission Vessel RSS Indomitable

The Republic of Singapore Navy rolled out RSS Indomitable, its fifth Independence-class Littoral Mission Vessel (LMV). The slip at Benoi Yard filled fast with brass, engineers, and overseas guests keen to see what fresh hull adds to regional sea security.

September 4, 2024

AI & Autonomy

KAI Completes Deliveries of MUH-1 Helicopters to Korean Marine Corps

The Republic of Korea Marine Corps now holds the last MUH-1 Marineon helicopter in its hands. KAI moved the final airframe out of Jinju on 28 June 2023. A quick hand-off sign-sheet, few salutes, then crews rolled the machine onto a low-loader.

December 29, 2023

Electronic Warfare

Russia’s Avangard Glide Weapon Reaches Mach 27, Kremlin Claims

Russia says its new Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle slices through air at Mach 27—about 33 000 km/h. Officers call it a “shift point” for global power, though they spoke carefuly. Analysts in Moscow add that the craft twists faster than most shields

December 13, 2023

Electronic Warfare

Singapore’s G550 Airborne Early Warning Squadron Now Operational

Singapore just raised its air-watch bar one more notch. The Republic of Singapore Air Force states its G550 Airborne Early Warning squadron has hit full ops after a tough decade of tweaks, test hops and long simulator nights. The slim jets shove

October 14, 2023

AI & Autonomy

Industry Needs A Fundamental Decision on the Eurofighter by 2025

Airbus Defence & Space chief executive Michael Schöllhorn told reporters in Berlin that Germany must decide within this legislative period whether it still wants a fighter-aircraft industry. He warned that without a fifth Eurofighter tranche the Manching line will fall silent after

October 13, 2023

Missiles / Drones / Directed Energy

Raytheon Wins $321 Million Order for More Silent Knight Radars

The contract keeps Raytheon busy well into 2028. The firm will push out more Silent Knight units, spares, an updated software pack, plus support gear. U.S. Special Operations Command wants these radars so aircrews can hug the rough ground at night and

October 7, 2023

Julien Mercier

Poland Receives First AH-64D Apaches to Prepare for Guardian Fleet

China’s Expanding Drone Arsenal Reveals Strength of Civil-Military Integration

Philippines Secures 12 Advanced FA-50PH Jets in $700 Million South Korea Deal

AE 1107C Hits 500-Hour Mark Inside V-22 Fleet

Singapore Launches Fifth Littoral Mission Vessel RSS Indomitable

KAI Completes Deliveries of MUH-1 Helicopters to Korean Marine Corps

Russia’s Avangard Glide Weapon Reaches Mach 27, Kremlin Claims

Singapore’s G550 Airborne Early Warning Squadron Now Operational

Industry Needs A Fundamental Decision on the Eurofighter by 2025

Raytheon Wins $321 Million Order for More Silent Knight Radars

Authors

Julien Mercier

Clara Nguyen

Priya Shah

Michael Adler

Lena Kovacs

Diego Ramos

Peter Johansson

Lucas Meyer