Supply Chain

Raytheon will team with the U.S. photonics engineering group G&H to domestically produce thin film lithium niobate wafers following its win of an AFRL contract.

3D printing has yet to turn aircraft production on its head.

Safran's diversification in suppliers of titanium billets and forgings is sufficiently well underway for the manufacturer to do without Russian titanium, its CEO says.

BAE Systems will transform the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) II with dual-mode seekers to make the 2.75-in.-dia. guided rocket more effective at shooting down volleys of large numbers of one-way attack munitions.

India is targeting greater than 50% localization of components for future Dassault Rafale fighters made in-country, Defense Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said.

Joint venture Quantum Frontline Industries says it has delivered the first Linza 3.0 drones made in Germany to the Ukrainian armed forces.

Private capital is flowing into a wide variety of U.S. government-backed mineral projects.

Howmet Aerospace posted 21% defense sales growth in the fourth quarter, driven by engine demand from both advanced and legacy fighter jets.

Hensoldt has struck a partnership with Helsing, the European defense AI company that is behind development of the CA-1 Europa collaborative combat aircraft.

MTU Aero Engines' new boss wants to maintain the engine partnership with Safran to jointly pursue the fighter programs likely to emerge from the anticipated divorce between France and Germany on the Next-Generation Fighter portion of their FCAS.

UK government ministers have insisted they will not let a decision to buy a New Medium Helicopter (NMH) for the armed services “time out.”

The French ministry of armed forces is pushing its prime contractors to ramp up weapons production.

Hexcel, which supplies advanced composites to more than 100 military aircraft, sees growing demand for its products globally as countries hike defense spending.

European startup Hypersonica says it has successfully conducted its first hypersonic missile flight test as the company emerges from stealth.

The land platforms sector may not represent the largest segment within the MENA defense market, but it has become increasingly indicative of regional efforts to localize military procurement.

Indra says it will introduce upgrades for MBDA’s Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile that should extend the data link range and increase resilience.

Arabia Saudi Arabia has passed the halfway mark in reaching its target of localizing the procurement of defense equipment.

Boeing is exploring Saudi Arabia as a potential alternative supplier for titanium.

Electro Optic Systems has opened a new high-energy laser facility in Singapore, marking the company’s first major manufacturing footprint outside Australia.

German aerospace lobby BDLI is calling for a dual-fighter strategy under FCAS, effectively urging France and others to go separate ways while maintaining the veneer of cooperation.

Diehl says it has secured several contracts with the German government that help underpin production ramp-up of its IRIS-T missile.

International competitors see an uptick in interest for military equipment amid uncertain American trade policy.

Patria has begun assembling Pratt & Whitney F135 engines in country as part of Finland’s procurement of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

The Eurofighter is set to receive its first external changes to the airframe since the first prototype flew in 1994.

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. says it is in “active discussions” with the Indian Air Force to start delivering the delayed Tejas Mk.1A light combat aircraft.