France Commissions M51.3 Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile
France has placed the M51.3 submarine-launched ballistic missile into operational service. Officials confirm the commissioning order was signed on Oct 24 and…
Defense Industry
General Dynamics Electric Boat Secures $1.85 B Navy Contract for Virginia-Class Block VI Submarine Prep
According to industry sources, the U.S. Navy has added up to $1.85 billion to its multiyear Virginia-class attack-submarine contract with General Dynamics Electric…
Norway Agrees $14 Billion Purchase of UK Type 26 Frigates with First Delivery Set for 2030
Norway chose the United Kingdom’s Type 26 design for its next frigate fleet and set the contract value at about £10 billion, roughly…
Pentagon Awards $5B Shipbuilding Contract to Modernize Navy Supply Chain
The Defense Department moved on 3 July toward faster U.S. warship deliveries. It awarded the $5 billion Maritime Acquisition Advancement Contract through the…
The Netherlands Buy Additional F-35 Fighter Aircraft
The Dutch government has ordered nine more Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fighters, lifting the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) plan from 37…
Platforms & Systems
Bell Textron Delivers First MV-75 FLRAA Virtual Prototype to U.S. Army for Early Testing
Bell Textron has handed the first MV-75 virtual prototype to the U.S. Army, marking a concrete step in the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft…
Trump Flags Possible Bad Fuel in Back-To-Back USS Nimitz Crashes in South China Sea
Two aircraft from USS Nimitz went down in the South China Sea on October 26 within roughly thirty minutes. A U.S. Navy MH-60R…
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…
Hybrid Base Station Sniper Pod Upgrade Enables F-35 to Share Sensor Data with 4th-Gen Aircraft
The Defense-Aerospace editorial team has confirmed that Lockheed Martin is pressing ahead with the Hybrid Base Station upgrade for its Sniper Advanced Targeting…
Regions & Conflicts
France Commissions M51.3 Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile
France has placed the M51.3 submarine-launched ballistic missile into operational service. Officials confirm the commissioning order was signed on Oct 24 and announced on Oct 28. The Armed Forces Ministry said this week: “The M51.3 ensures the continued credibility of the ocean-based component in the…
US Scales Back Brigade Rotation in Romania as NATO Rebalances Eastern Flank
Allied governments received notice of a partial US drawdown on NATO’s eastern flank. Romania confirmed the first step. US Army Europe and Africa said the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, will redeploy to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and no follow-on brigade will replace…
Ukraine Strengthens Defenses With Additional Patriot Systems and PAC-3 Interceptors From Germany
On November 3 in Kyiv, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said additional Patriot air-defense systems have arrived and crews are putting them into operation. “More Patriots are now in Ukraine and being put into operation,” he wrote late Sunday, thanking Germany and Chancellor Friedrich Merz. He added…
Weapons & Technologies
MDA Awards $429M Contract to i3 for Advanced Missile Defense Data Evaluation
The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) signed a new deal on 10 June 2025. It is an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract worth up to $429…
Exclusive: Retired RAAF Fighter Jets Could Be Sent to Ukraine (excerpt)
The Royal Australian Air Force keeps 41 de-commissioned F/A-18A/B Hornets in climate-controlled hangars at RAAF Base Williamtown. Canberra, Washington, and Kyiv are now…
Agreement on Maintenance of Long-Range and Medium-Range Surveillance Radars Extended
Finland has decided to keep its backbone air-surveillance radars in shape for another five years. Defence Minister Jussi Niinistö authorized the Defence Forces…
RAF Expands Loyal Wingman Program with New UK ACP Tranche 2 Requirements
The UK has officially moved its Loyal Wingman program from talk to action. A new notice for Autonomous Collaborative Platforms, Tranche 2, spells…
Aircraft
UK Commits to Purchase 12 F-35A Fighters for NATO Nuclear Sharing Mission
The United Kingdom confirmed it will acquire at least twelve F-35A Lightning II fighters, adding a land-based nuclear mission to the Royal Air…
Aviation Week Reader Comments Above Story
Lockheed Martin’s F-35 program has drawn thousands of reader remarks on Aviation Week since the aircraft reached initial service. The most pointed thread…
The F-35: Even the Engine Is Compromised (excerpt)
The F-35 promised reach without rival, yet its heart – Pratt & Whitney’s F135 – burns fuel like an older design. Thrust-specific fuel…
Rafale in Combat: “War for Dummies”
Pilots walk to their jets before sunrise, climb the ladder, key the INS, and watch the route and target files flow in by…
Latest articles
France Commissions M51.3 Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile
France has placed the M51.3 submarine-launched ballistic missile into operational service. Officials confirm the commissioning…
Rheinmetall and MBDA Deliver 20 kW Shipborne Laser to WTD 91 for Meppen Drone Defense Trials
Berlin – Germany’s naval laser demonstrator has moved from sea to shore. The Rheinmetall–MBDA system…
US Scales Back Brigade Rotation in Romania as NATO Rebalances Eastern Flank
Allied governments received notice of a partial US drawdown on NATO’s eastern flank. Romania confirmed…
Boeing Defense Posts Positive Q3 Results Despite St. Louis Labor Stoppage
Boeing reported about $23.3 billion in third-quarter revenue, including a core loss driven by a…
Anduril Founder Warns Shutdown Will Delay YFQ-44A Maiden Flight as Air Force CCA Tests Face Approval Bottlenecks
Palmer Luckey warned reporters in mid-October that the government shutdown would “certainly” set back the…
Lockheed Tests Vertical Launch JAGM Quad Launcher for Naval Counter-Drone Defense
Lockheed Martin fired a Joint Air-to-Ground Missile from a new four-cell launcher built for vertical…
Ukraine Strengthens Defenses With Additional Patriot Systems and PAC-3 Interceptors From Germany
On November 3 in Kyiv, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said additional Patriot air-defense systems have arrived…
Rafael Introduces L-SPIKE 4X High-Speed Loitering Munition
Rafael’s U.S. subsidiary introduced a rocket-powered loitering munition, the L-SPIKE 4X, during the Association of…