Defense

Airbus Helicopters is calling on operators of its H160 rotorcraft to replace main rotor system pitch rods after a ditching incident in the ocean near Brazil.

Richard Aboulafia joins Check 6 to discuss how 2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for two next-generation fighter programs conceived in Europe: FCAS and GCAP.

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

Aisheng Technology Group, a subsidiary of China’s state-owned arms producer Norinco, has conducted the first flight of the Lingque “Magpie” LQ-150 VTOL UAS.

A look at why Operation Absolute Resolve has implications far beyond Venezuela.

The U.S. Army is looking for a company to integrate a new air- and ground-launched loitering munition to take out air defenses at medium range.

The Spanish defense and aerospace electronics company says the acquisition will allow it to position itself in the growing uncrewed traffic management market and bolster its UK presence.

Northrop Grumman will provide the autonomy software for the U.S. Marine Corps first loyal wingman uncrewed system.

The U.S. Air Force is reshaping its acquisition program leadership under direction from top Pentagon leadership.

An industry team made up of some of the biggest names in European missile development has secured funding to develop a hypersonic glide vehicle demonstrator.

The European Space Agency plans 65 satellite launches and other missions throughout the year, a roughly 30% jump from last year’s record figure.

Taiwan has grounded its fleet of F-16 fighter jets following a Jan. 6 training accident that authorities say may be related to a “mission computer malfunction.”

In a banner year for defense technology venture funding, C-UAS came into its own, growing faster in 2025 than any other major industry segment.

Rocket Lab joins established primes as the U.S. Space Development Agency scales its proliferated missile-warning and tracking architecture.

Lockheed Martin delivered 191 F-35s in 2025, setting an annual delivery record for the international stealth fighter, the company announced on Jan. 7.

President Donald Trump wants to hike the Pentagon’s budget by 50% to $1.5 trillion in fiscal 2027.

President Donald Trump attacked the share buyback and executive pay practices of leading large U.S. aerospace and defense prime contractors.

UK defense engineering firm Babcock has teamed with Estonia air defense startup Frankenburg Technologies to work on providing a maritime launch system.

The U.S. subsidiary of Spain’s Indra Group announced a $342 million contract under the FAA’s Radar System Replacement program.

U.S. helicopter-borne special operations and law enforcement personnel on Jan. 7 seized two oil tankers in separate hemispheres.

Bangladesh could acquire JF-17 Thunder combat aircraft from Pakistan as part of a growing cooperation pact between the air arms of the two countries.

The program looks poised to thrive in a world where the U.S. has alienated its best friends.

Thirty-five years ago, the cover of Aviation Week & Space Technology’s Jan. 8, 1990, issue featured a full-scale model of the General Dynamics/NASA ejector-lift E-7A short-takeoff-vertical-landing supersonic fighter design mounted 40 ft. above the floor in the then-new 80 X 120-ft. test section of Ames Research Center's low-speed wind tunnel.

The Ukrainian Air Force claims to have shot down around 1,000 Russian cruise missiles and one-way attack drones with its donated F-16s.