Defense

The Indonesian Defense Ministry says it has “entered an agreement with India” to acquire the BrahMos supersonic missile system.

Sikorsky is ground-testing the powertrain for its HEX hybrid-electric tiltwing VTOL aircraft ahead of flight tests with two uncrewed demonstrators next year.

Bell officials say they are confident in their proposal to make the company’s 505 JetRanger X the Army’s next rotary-wing training helicopter.

The program to build a second slate of new missile warning and tracking satellites in medium Earth orbit (MEO) for the U.S. Space Force has completed PDR.

The Pentagon has outlined the first 11 companies to be crowned leaders of its Drone Dominance competition.

Bell is starting assembly of the fuselage of the prototype MV-75 tiltrotor for the U.S. Army.

The French Air And Space Force is working on improving air base defenses against drones.

A federal research agency in Canada will acquire a Bombardier Global 6500 to develop defense-related technologies.

The stop-fold tiltrotor uncrewed aircraft under development by Bell for a DARPA project to fly a high-speed VTOL demonstrator has been designated the X-76.

Texas-based helicopter mission equipment outfit Davenport Aviation has completed initial testing of an armed Airbus H125 helicopter.

Gerald Brown was arrested for violating the Arms Export Control Act for allegedly working as a contract instructor for the People’s Liberation Army Air Force.

Bell is preparing for a ramp-up in production rates as it sees growth across both its commercial and military markets.

The IDF stepped up attacks on Iranian military infrastructure after it and the U.S. said they were shifting focus to degrading long-term military capabilities.

French flow control, JAXA’s reusable rocket, hypersonic tunnel returns and laser link from GEO.

Leaders of seven top defense firms in a meeting with President Donald Trump appeared to reaffirm agreements to increase production of in-demand munitions.

The USAF laboratory charged with protecting installations from small uncrewed aircraft systems is out with two new solicitations.

In the drive to bring innovations to aviation, the Sikorsky’s UH-60 Black Hawk is emerging as a leading candidate for upgrades in defense.

Switzerland is walking away from adding funds to its F-35 budget to preserve the original plan of fielding 36 aircraft, while embarking on an effort to acquire another air defense system.

The UK is looking for weapons that can take out both drone boats and UAS in its latest push to rapidly add effectors to handle these growing threats.

The Israeli military said it would employ further ways to throw Iran off guard as its ops with the U.S. enter a new phase at the end of the first week of fighting.

Editors discuss the military operation in Iran, how it has disrupted commercial air travel and consider the ramifications for aviation.

Regime change has long been considered a boots-on-the-ground operation. Now the U.S. and Israel are trying to do it from the sky.

Boost-phase missile defense challenges the historic model for space-based interceptors, but a startup is proposing a possible thrust-based solution.

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

Announced program timescales suggest more than 1,200 CCAs could be in operation around the world by the end of 2036.