Aircraft & Propulsion

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

The U.S. Navy’s Test Pilot School is looking for a new small fleet of helicopters for training high-risk maneuvers and autorotation.

It seems that a value can now be placed on the importance and capability of the growing fleet of C-390 Millenniums to European air arms.

Taiwan’s state-backed drone industry alliance is expeditiously decoupling from China-based supply chains, Chairman Hu Kai-Hung tells Aviation Week.

The UK defense ministry has launched a search to find a replacement for the British army’s Thales Watchkeeper uncrewed aircraft system.

The air forces of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and South Korea will cooperate on the Korea Aerospace Industries KF-21 fighter program.

A notice to industry calls for new technologies to integrate on USAF's upcoming Boeing E-7A Wedgetail fleet, while allowing for the possibility that the service could field another platform to serve the role.

Taiwanese drone manufacturer Thunder Tiger braced itself for a painful impact when Trump imposed a 32% tariff on most imports from the island.

The U.S. State Department has approved a possible sale of an unspecified number of Leonardo TH-73A helicopters to the Philippines.

Kratos Defense and Security Solutions has unveiled the second version of the XQ-58A Valkyrie.

The U.S. Army is overhauling most of its major aircraft fleets, including rotary-wing, C4ISR and uncrewed platforms.

By mid-July a foreign partner could be selected to help India develop a new turbofan engine to power a future version of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft.

Airbus is discussing internally the level of required investment to address growing defense demand, CEO Guillaume Faury says.

The Swedish government has asked its parliament for approval to further pursue export sales of GlobalEye AEW aircraft to Denmark and Saab JAS 39E/Fs to Peru.

The U.S. Navy is producing an advanced countermeasures system for its P-8A maritime patrol aircraft.

Germany has formally established its new Eurofighter National Test and Development Center ahead of the introduction of the first Tranche 4 model aircraft.

KAI and KB Kookmin Bank have signed a memorandum of understanding which will see the South Korean bank provide up to KRW1 trillion ($703 million) in financial support to the OEM.

Australian startup MicroTau is working with Delta Air Lines to test its drag-reducing riblet film on the Boeing 767.

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has expressed interest for his country to participate in the Turkish Aerospace Industries Kaan fighter program.

The Spanish Air Force has taken delivery of it first Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) conversion of the Airbus A330.

The helicopter unit of Airbus is close to realizing its 15-year-old vision of the H145 as an armed and autonomous attack and scout helicopter.

The decision to avoid carrier-representative landings means less engineering and faster development.

Renowned aircraft designer Darold Cummings explores questions raised by Boeing’s F-47 NGAD design.

For more information about Aviation Week Intelligence Network’s (AWIN) 2025 Military Fleet & MRO Forecast and other Aviation Week data products, please see: https://pgs.aviationweek.com/forecast.

In fewer than two decades Algeria will have transformed its combat air forces from a mix of 70s- and 80s-era legacy Russian platforms to a shiny mix of new-build fighters representing the best that eastern manufacturers currently have on offer.