DEFENSE-AEROSPACE

U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Ashunteia’ Smith, 16th Combat Aviation Brigade

RNZAF NH90 helicopters complete record-breaking 1,765-mile ferry across the Tasman Sea

October 2, 2025

Wellington crews brought two Royal New Zealand Air Force NH90s home from Australia on a two-day itinerary that pushed the type’s over-water range across the Tasman. Defense officials confirm 1,534 nautical miles over water from RAAF Base Amberley to RNZAF Base Auckland,

U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Karissa Dick

Asia-Pacific

US Air Force reactivates 431st Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron as MQ-9 Reaper unit at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea

October 1, 2025

The U.S. Air Force reactivated the 431st Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, and assigned it an MQ-9 Reaper mission with permanent basing on the peninsula. A ceremony at Kunsan on September 29 marked the stand-up and assumption

U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Connor Brezenski

Contracts & Deals

Defense Department confirms two Lot F-35 deals worth about $24.3 billion covering Lots 18 and 19 and 296 aircraft

September 30, 2025

The Pentagon has finalized a $12.5 billion contract action to complete Lot 18 of the F-35 and to fund production and delivery of Lot 19, bringing the combined value of the two lots to about $24.3 billion when paired with the earlier

U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Larissa T. Dougherty

Joint Exercises / Special Ops Training

European Navies Test Undersea Drone Technology in REPMUS and Dynamic Messenger Trials off Portugal

September 26, 2025

SESIMBRA, Portugal — REPMUS and Dynamic Messenger 2025 ran through September off Tróia and Sesimbra. European crews, NATO commands and industry teams paired submarines, frigates and patrol craft with autonomous vehicles and trial software. The Portuguese Navy hosted with NATO organizations in

Joint Exercises / Special Ops Training

Ukraine’s Navy Leads Opposing Force at REPMUS 2025 in Portugal, Testing Naval Drones and Countermeasures

September 25, 2025

Ukrainian Navy personnel ran the opposing force during the REPMUS and Dynamic Messenger 2025 series off Tróia and Sesimbra through September, a first for the alliance-level unmanned maritime trials. The host navy concentrated the event at the Portuguese Navy’s Operational Experimentation Centre,

Latest

RNZAF NH90 helicopters complete record-breaking 1,765-mile ferry across the Tasman Sea

US Air Force reactivates 431st Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron as MQ-9 Reaper unit at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea

Defense Department confirms two Lot F-35 deals worth about $24.3 billion covering Lots 18 and 19 and 296 aircraft

European Navies Test Undersea Drone Technology in REPMUS and Dynamic Messenger Trials off Portugal

Ukraine’s Navy Leads Opposing Force at REPMUS 2025 in Portugal, Testing Naval Drones and Countermeasures

Authors

Julien Mercier

Clara Nguyen

Priya Shah

Michael Adler

Lena Kovacs

Diego Ramos

Peter Johansson

Lucas Meyer