Canada

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

European emergency service aircraft operator Avincis has teamed with De Havilland Aircraft on support initiatives for the CL-215 and CL-415 water bombers.

Canada has joined Europe's SAFE program, a new financial instrument to help EU member states boost spending on common defense in the face of the Russian threat.

Chinese air taxi startup AutoFlight has developed a vessel-based mobile vertiport.

Kepler Communications plans to launch its first batch of 10 laser communications relay satellites into orbit in January 2026.

The U.S. Space Force is conducting market research for a potential foreign military sale (FMS) to Canada for command-and-control (C2) capabilities.

Air Transat has confirmed two more summer routes from Montreal in 2026, adding points in Senegal and Iceland to its network.

Canada’s Unither Bioelectronics is modifying its Robinson R44 the proof-of-concept demonstrator to use liquid hydrogen.

Technologies for air mobility and airships are among a new wave of research projects to be funded by the Canadian government under a program to support decarbonization of the aerospace sector.

The Canadian government now is keeping options open for making a final decision on the fate of completing a plan to buy 88 Lockheed Martin F-35As.

Aboard the International Space Station (ISS), crews already operate as if they live and work aboard two distinct stations.

Canada, long a poster child for ploddy defense procurement processes, is looking to shed that reputation while also bolstering its local supply base.

NASA is opting for a new flight trajectory for the next Artemis mission to reduce risks to astronauts as the agency gears up to return to the lunar surface in 2027.

U.S. Space Command is planning a second on-orbit demonstration with partner nation France.

Canada’s Porter Airlines no longer thinks of itself as small or niche.

Swiss startup Smartflyer has selected fellow Swiss company H55 as the battery provider for its SF-1 four-seat hybrid-electric aircraft.

Telesat’s in-development LightSpeed constellation could meet the EU’s needs until the IRIS² communication satellites are in orbit.

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

WestJet is set to double its widebody fleet, announcing an order for seven Boeing 787-9s, in addition to 60 737-10s.

Russian Helicopters has logged the first flight of its Ansat light twin rotorcraft powered by locally produced engines.

The military alliance between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States faces formidable challenges four years after its establishment.

Air Canada is preparing to cancel roughly 500 flights Aug. 15 as flight attendants continue strike preparations; government intervention remains a question.

Pilots at Toronto-based Porter Airlines are now officially represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), broadening the union’s reach in Canada.

Thailand’s Royal Thai Air Force has secured cabinet approval to acquire Saab Gripen E/F fighters.

The Canadian government has awarded MDA Space two contracts to provide the Navy's Halifax-class frigates with up to six new uncrewed aircraft systems.