Aircraft & Propulsion

Airbus Helicopters claims to have secured a 50% share of the medium twin-engine segment that has largely been dominated for years by Leonardo’s AW139.

Portugal has taken delivery of its fourth Embraer KC-390 airlifter and its first to be equipped for aerial refueling.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali says he wants to make the country’s air force a “fifth-generation” service in the 2030s.

The U.S. Navy has created a program office charged with developing Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) for the service.

The UK has shortlisted seven bidders in its hunt to find an ACP that could operate as a loyal wingman to its Boeing Apache attack helicopters in the 2030s.

The Royal Australian Air Force has taken delivery of its first MC-55A Peregrine intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and electronic warfare aircraft.

The UK Defense Ministry is opening a competition for a low-cost interceptor, echoing wider efforts among militaries to field ways to more cheaply defeat the threat from drones and loitering munitions.

The first flight for the next prototype of the Turkish indigenous fighter aircraft Kaan has pushed back toward the summer.

Like many peacetime air forces, the South African Air Force (SAAF) has been particularly hit hard by prolonged defunding.

The Nigerian Air Force faces many operational challenges, which in turn drives the training requirements.

The Royal Moroccan Air Force is stepping up its helicopter capabilities after many years of stagnation.

The U.S. Air Force is looking to possibly double its Doomsday aircraft fleet as it brings on the replacement for the E-4B Nightwatch.

Stratolaunch and Varda Space Industries will provide reusable systems capable of supporting dozens of flight tests annually at hypersonic speed, the DOD says.

The Norwegian government plan to take over search-and-rescue provision in Tromso looks set to result in additional orders for Leonardo’s AW101 heavy helicopter.

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

Lawmakers are blasting the Pentagon for wasting time and money for the U.S. Navy fighter program.

While major new contracts generally grab the headlines within the global military aircraft market, Aviation Week’s newly released 2026 Military Fleet & MRO Forecast projects that aftermarket demand will far outstrip spending on procurement over the next decade.

The U.S. Air Force expects a quick delivery of the Boeing 747-8i given to President Donald Trump by the government of Qatar.

Some of the UK RAF Eurofighter fleet is set to receive an advanced AESA radar under a $610 million contract.

Spanish defense electronics provider Indra says it is developing an airborne electronic-attack system for use on fighters.

FCAS is suffering due to a slow pace of decision-making rather than political will to work together, France’s ambassador to Germany says.

Emirati defense conglomerate Edge Group has received additional orders for the HT-750 optionally manned turbine-powered light helicopter from the UAE.

Turkey could begin receiving Eurofighter combat aircraft from Qatar as soon as February, media reports have suggested.

Italy is budgeting €18.6 billion ($22 billion) for its role in the design, development and programmatic phases of the Global Combat Air Program.

NASA is poised to begin flight tests of a representative stub wing section that is aimed at dramatically enhancing the drag-reducing benefits of natural laminar flow (NLF) in next-generation, swept wing airliners.