Defense

Rocket Lab has awarded a contract to build the sea-based landing platform for its forthcoming Neutron reusable launch vehicle, the company announced July 10.

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Spanish-Australian startup Dovetail Electric Aviation has announced plans to partner with Netherlands-based Zeusch Aviation to develop hybrid-electric retrofits for the Beechcraft King Air twin turboprop.

Spanish startup Grasshopper Air Mobility has partnered with Swedish delivery service Jetpak to offer uncrewed parcel deliveries in Sweden.

The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) looks to add $30 billion to the Pentagon’s budget, while blocking some aircraft retirements and increasing F-35As.

Pratt & Whitney has released imagery of its digitally designed XA103 next-generation adaptive combat engine and says initial parts production is underway.

Japan’s Marubeni is to resume demonstration flights with Lift Aircraft’s electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) Hexa at the 2025 World Expo in Osaka.

Leonardo, in a July 10 statement, said it would equip six of the Lockheed Martin C-130Js with laser-based Miysis systems.

An audit of the UK’s F-35 program shows it continues to suffer from delays in deliveries, capability enhancements and reliability shortfalls.

Turkey’s ASFAT is trying to turn domestic military factories into export powerhouses for aerospace maintenance and parts.

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

The maker of the Predator and Reaper family of uncrewed aircraft systems now finds itself as the target of an industry newcomer, but GA-ASI is fighting back.

After a lull, Turkey is starting to lay out more for defense.

In the July 10 memo, released then redacted, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth outlines a goal of making the U.S. the world’s leader in drone operations.

For the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) and the U.S. Air Force, devoting the time and money to build an effective bunker-buster bomb is challenging.

The Pentagon will become the largest shareholder in Nevada-based rare earth producer MP Materials in the latest move by the Trump administration.

U.S. Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, said he will continue blocking indefinitely the transfer of Lockheed Martin F-35s purchased by Turkey during a July 9 hearing.

Despite DARPA’s recent decision to cancel its Liberty Lifter program, amphibious fixed-wing military aircraft seem to be—to one extent or another—here to stay.

Missile programs and procurement are at the heart of a renewed defense cooperation agreement between France and the UK.

Air forces and senior commanders from around 60 countries are set to converge on London next week and the spotlight will be on a recent UK defense review.

Rare earths are essential for a wide variety of defense systems to function but the U.S. is largely reliant on China for these strategic metals. Listen in as experts discuss what can be done.

Belgium will halt operations with its land-based NH90 tactical transport helicopters, aiming to replace them in 2026, Defense Minister Theo Francken says.

Swedish company Avioniq is developing an artificial intelligence-driven pilot aid that could help Eurofighter Typhoon crews in air combat.

Boeing says it is still pursuing South Korea’s AEW requirement after the U.S. government’s failure to submit a formal offer in the third and latest round of bidding threw an E-7 proposal into doubt.

Europe is ramping up efforts to field its next-generation rocket engines as it seeks higher thrust and more efficient propulsion systems.