Budget, Policy & Operations

Aviation Week analysis suggests annual defense spending by Europe biggest spenders could rise to over $400 billion by 2030.

Starlink not built for battlefield, so Elon Musk makes on-the-fly updates to keep Ukrainians online.

Cyberactivity targeting the aerospace and defense industry is intense, and the ecosystem that must be protected is more complex than ever.

The U.S. is dramatically ramping up its military assistance to Ukraine after the country’s president made an emotional appeal to Congress, with the new package including unmanned aircraft for the first time and increased discussions with allies to send Russian-made air defense systems.

NATO will further beef up defenses on its Eastern front, with “substantial increases” in troop numbers, air power and air and missile defenses planned in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the alliance’s chief says.

In addition to the weapons that NATO is planning to send to Ukraine, in a dramatic role reversal, Russia is appealing to China for help in replenishing its weapons stocks.

Satellite imagery appears to confirm that a Ukrainian attack on an airfield previously captured by Russian forces resulted in the destruction of several Russian helicopters.

The U.S. State Department has approved a potential sale to Spain of Sikorsky MH-60R anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare helicopters.

Berlin’s reengagement with the F-35 comes as it prepares to make bolder defense commitments prompted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Price per tail increase likely as negotiations are delayed; Lockheed points to pandemic impacts and inflation.

Italian defense conglomerate Leonardo is planning to invest around €300 million ($328.6 million) annually over the next five years to modernize its production processes and develop new products and technology.

Germany is now set to purchase Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter to partially replace the country’s aging Panavia Tornado fleet.

Sweden has joined the growing list of European countries set to hike defense spending in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The first of three Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Block 30 (I) Global Hawks arrived in Japan March 12, more than three years after the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract was signed in November 2018.

The war in Ukraine could push defense spending to grow annually as fast or faster than GDP for the balance of the 2020s.

Whisper’s quiet drone; Avoiding satellite collision; Refueling in space; Hypersonic funding boost; and Rapid hydrogen refueling.

European defense technology firm MARSS develops an aerial ram to hard-kill drone swarms.

The short-range Osa surface-to-air missile system could wear down Russian forces and avoid the creation of a no-fly zone.

Uncrewed aircraft systems are clearly on the shopping list of Saudi Arabia’s armed forces.

The U.S. Congress is moving forward with a government-wide spending bill that would provide $728.5 billion for the Defense Department in fiscal 2022, placing a priority on protection of the Indo-Pacific region, space capabilities and assistance for Ukraine.

Some 300 initiatives are planned or in progress to make Saudi Arabia’s armed forces more professional and interoperable.

U.S. Air Force is optimistic about the schedule for the rollout and first flight.

U.S. Air Force secretary says invasion highlights critical investment areas for the service, but China is still the top priority.

While the 2022 growth rate is well below the double digits achieved through the 1990s and early 2000s, in dollars it is $15 billion, the largest-ever annual increase.

Chinese aircraft intrusions still accounted for 70% of all Japanese scrambles in February but Russian aircraft movements in were unusually high.