Tag: aerospace

Hensoldt's Order Intake Soars as Middle East Business Remains Limited

Hensoldt's order book is booming, with a surge in contracts that directly reflects recent defence spending decisions, according to CEO Oliver Dörre. The company's order intake has doubled to €2.81 billion, with its order backlog now exceeding €10 billion.

B-52 Upgrades Face Cost and Schedule Risks

The Air Force's $21 billion plan to upgrade the B-52 bomber is under threat from rising costs and schedule risks, putting the longevity of this Eisenhower-era aircraft in jeopardy. Thirteen separate modernization efforts are underway, with two major projects - the Commercial Engine Replacement Program and Radar Modernization Program - posing the biggest challenges.

Turkey Accelerates KAAN Fighter Jet Program with P1 Taxi Test

Türkiye's next-gen fighter jet, KAAN, just took a major leap forward with its second prototype, P1, successfully completing its first taxi test, rolling under its own power at the Turkish Aerospace Industries facility in Ankara. This milestone paves the way for P1's maiden flight, expected in the coming months.

Turkey Advances Kaan Fighter Program with Taxi Tests

Turkish Aerospace is making strides with its Kaan Fighter Program, recently releasing footage of the P1 prototype's powered taxi tests, a crucial step towards taking to the skies. The tests verify critical functions, including engine operation and flight controls, and come with notable design refinements.

GCAP Timeline Accelerates, Leonardo CEO Says

The timeline for the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) is likely to accelerate, with the CEO of Leonardo, Lorenzo Mariani, revealing that ministers are pushing to bring the initial in-service date forward from 2035 by a couple of years. This accelerated timeline may require adjustments to the programme's initial requirements and a phased approach to achieving full capability.

Japan Unveils New Stealth Cruise Missile On F-2 Fighter

Get ready for a game-changer in military tech: Japan has just unveiled a cutting-edge stealth cruise missile, spotted on an F-2 fighter during its first test flight at Gifu Air Base on July 30, 2026.

Rafael CEO Pursues IPO, Seeks Flexibility Amid Global Expansion Plans

Rafael's CEO, Yoav Tourgeman, is betting big on a public listing, aiming for an IPO by 2026, as the company accelerates its global expansion plans with a 30% year-over-year growth trajectory. This move would give Rafael the flexibility to make swift decisions, unencumbered by government oversight.

Air Force Faces Engine Dilemma for F-47 Fighter

The Air Force is caught in a timing squeeze with its F-47 fighter engine plans, as it works to build its current system while preparing for future integration activities. With the Next-Generation Air Power (NGAP) program's prototype phase slated to run through 2031, the service is racing against the clock.

Army Bolsters Lockheed PAC-3 Deal with $54 Billion Addition

Air Force Advances Robot-Wingman Effort with Six Potential Designs

The Air Force is pushing forward with its robot-wingman initiative, narrowing down to six potential designs that could soon move into prototyping. Col. Timothy Helfridge says the next phase, expected to wrap up by mid-2027, will yield several promising conceptual designs.

Boeing absorbs $280M loss on Air Force One VC-25B conversions

Boeing is throwing in extra resources to keep the Air Force One VC-25B conversion program on track, which unfortunately meant a $280 million hit this quarter. The added investment aims to support the build and test schedule, ensuring timely delivery despite pushing total out-of-pocket losses past $3 billion.

Sikorsky Revives Raider Rotorcraft Bid for NATO Program

Sikorsky is dusting off its Raider rotorcraft bid for a NATO program, reviving a design that was previously grounded when the US Army canceled its Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft program. The S-97 Raider, with its striking coaxial rotors and sleek fuselage, boasts an impressive top speed of up to 240 knots.

Pakistan Develops Advanced C-UAS with Interceptor Drones

Pakistan's Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT) has unveiled a game-changing counter-drone system, the P-905, which combines advanced OR-503 radar technology with the cutting-edge I-402 interceptor drone to detect and neutralize rogue UAVs. This innovative system is part of Pakistan's push to develop robust counter-drone capabilities.

USMC Osprey Fleet Reaches Full Delivery, Eyes Sustainment Through 2055

The US Marine Corps has officially welcomed its final MV-22B Osprey, marking a major milestone with a fleet of 359 aircraft that will continue to soar through 2055. This game-changing aircraft has revolutionized the way the Marine Air-Ground Task Force generates combat power, and now the focus shifts to long-term sustainment and evolution.

Boeing Faces $280M Charge on Air Force One Replacement Program

Boeing is investing $280 million in the Air Force One replacement program to accelerate production and certification, a move aimed at reducing risk as the aircraft advances to flight testing. This brings the program's total losses to over $3 billion.

US Pacific Air Forces Scales Back Exercise Schedule to Preserve Readiness

US Pacific Air Forces is reevaluating its exercise schedule to prioritize readiness in the face of growing global demands, according to Commander Gen. Kevin Schneider. The move aims to strike a balance between readiness and commitments around the world.

AIA Chief Fanning Assesses US Defense Industry Health

At the Farnborough Airshow, Eric Fanning, AIA Chief, offered a candid assessment of the US defense industry's health, sharing his insights on the budget and its impact on America's defense landscape. With the roar of jets and aerial demos as a backdrop, Fanning's conversation with Breaking Defense Editor-in-Chief Aaron Mehta provided a unique glimpse into the sector's current state.

Air Force Weighs Reviving Scrapped B-52 Bombers Amid Operational Demands

The Air Force is considering a bold move: reviving retired B-52 bombers from the Arizona boneyard to meet rising demands on its bomber force. This potential revival is a cautious but practical option, with the Air Force having already explored the feasibility of restoring these aircraft.

Mirage Kitten Unveils New Malware Arsenal for Middle East Espionage

Mirage Kitten hackers have unleashed a potent new malware arsenal targeting the Middle East, threatening aerospace, aviation, defense, and telecom organizations with stealthy backdoors and tunnelers that enable covert surveillance and data relay. Their latest Windows backdoor, NightLedger, masquerades as a legitimate system file to infiltrate and gather intel.

Pentagon Bolsters Rocket Motor Production with L3Harris Deal

L3Harris has secured a game-changing deal with the Pentagon to supercharge rocket motor production, enabling the creation of critical missile defense systems at unprecedented speeds. This long-term agreement will help ramp up production of vital components for the PAC-3 and THAAD missile defenses.

India Launches Kusha Missile in Maiden Flight Test

India just made a major defence breakthrough with the successful maiden flight test of the Kusha missile, which accurately intercepted a simulated aerial target. This milestone achievement marks a significant step forward in the country's defence research and development.

Aerospace Sector Braces for Congress' Likely Continuing Resolution

With a continuing resolution seeming all but certain, the aerospace sector is bracing for impact as Congress weighs its budget options. Industry leaders are already sounding the alarm, as CEO Eric Fanning of the Aerospace Industries Association recently discussed the likelihood of a stopgap measure with Breaking Defense's Aaron Mehta at the Farnborough International Airshow.

Saab Lands $1.04 Billion GlobalEye Order from Middle East Customer

Saab has secured a $1.04 billion deal to deliver two GlobalEye airborne early warning and control aircraft to a Middle Eastern customer, with deliveries set for 2030. This major order highlights Saab's expertise in providing cutting-edge, multi-domain capabilities to its global customers.

Air Force Accelerates Next-Gen Engine Integration by 2030

The Air Force is gearing up to integrate its Next Gen Engine into aircraft by 2030, according to John Sneden, chief of the Air Force's propulsion directorate. This milestone marks a significant acceleration of the Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion program after years of delay.