Aircraft & Propulsion

Czech ministers have rejected proposals made by the country’s president to offer Aero Vodochody L-159 Advanced Light Combat aircraft to Ukraine.

Denmark has retired its F-16s, becoming the latest European nation to rely solely on Lockheed Martin’s F-35 as its frontline combat aircraft.

British defense engineering company QinetiQ has been awarded a five-year contract extension to support the Royal Air Force’s Eurofighter Typhoon fleet.

The Philippines signed a contract for six anti-submarine-warfare helicopters, according to a report detailing the Defense Department's approved acquisitions.

For more information about Aviation Week Intelligence Network’s (AWIN) 2026 Military Fleet & MRO Forecast and other Aviation Week data products, please see: https://pgs.aviationweek.com/forecast

Windracers’ Ultra uncrewed aircraft system has emerged as the latest British combat aircraft featuring an internal weapons bay.

The French Navy has placed its first order for the Airbus and Naval Group’s VSR700 rotary-wing uncrewed aircraft system (RWUAS).

Leonardo’s autonomous rotorcraft demonstrator Proteus has made its long-awaited first flight.

Aviation Week Network’s new 2026 Military Fleet & MRO Forecast predicts thata over the course of the next 10 years, 22,132 military aircraft worth $1.2 trillion will be delivered to operators around the world.

The Global Combat Air Program continues to make quiet progress despite appearing to be in contract limbo.

Denmark is increasing its military activity in Greenland and may send combat aircraft there amid the U.S. government’s interest in acquiring the island.

NH90 crews from France and Spain will be the first to benefit from an upgraded helmet-mounted sight that will also unlock planned upgrades for the rotorcraft.

The need to refresh and bolster air forces in Southeast Asia outpaces the urgency for action.

Astro Mechanica’s hybrid-electric powerplant operates as a turbofan, turbojet and ramjet.

Blended wing body (BWB) startup JetZero says development of its full-size demo will accelerate following a successful Series B financing round.

Sierra Nevada Company has used its own funding to buy another Bombardier Global 6500 for the U.S. Army’s future ME-11B surveillance aircraft fleet.

Israel’s Defense Ministry says it signed $6.91 billion in orders for U.S. equipment in 2025.

Airbus has named Matthieu Louvot to be the new CEO of its helicopter division, replacing Bruno Even, who is stepping down after eight years at the helm.

South Korea’s Finance Ministry instructed DAPA to revise the mass-production schedule and budget allocation for the KF-21.

Lockheed Martin is developing two concepts for greatly extending the range of the Sikorsky MH-60R/S Seahawk to offer to the U.S. Navy.

Germany has ordered eight General Atomics MQ-9B SkyGuardian uncrewed aircraft systems to perform maritime patrol.

UK defense ministers will not say when a decision might be made on whether to contract for a £1 billion new fleet of medium helicopters.

A series of recent demonstrations have familiarized Boeing F/A-18E/F and Lockheed Martin F-35C pilots with Collaborative Combat Aircraft.

Israel has rarely shied away from defense industrial challenges, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s pledge to wean the country off U.S. military financing support sets the bar at a new level.

China conducted the first flight of a domestically developed 3D-printed turbojet engine in November 2025.