France

Kepplair Evolution preps ATR 72 firefighting prototype, offering lower costs and multi-role flexibility as Europe builds its aerial firefighting fleet.

French air accident investigation bureau BEA refocuses its efforts toward investigations expected to yield the most insights, dropping correspondence inquiries.

The French and Japanese governments have committed to developing a satellite deorbiting mission in the next five years through a joint industry agreement.

The UK and France are to launch studies on the development of a successor to the Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile.

An ambitious project to turn the ATR-72 into an amphibious waterbomber is beginning to take shape in France.

A French aircraft developer has secured €110 million ($126.1 million) from a European fund to launch the development of amphibious firefighting aircraft.

The Netherlands defense ministry is expanding its interest in U.S. Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) initiatives.

The French government has named Emmanuel Chiva chairman and CEO of aerospace research and technology center Onera.

France and Germany are poised to make a decision on whether they can repair the fractured defense industrial relationship for the Future Combat Air System.

France’s future aircraft carrier has been named “France Libre,” or “Free France” by President Emmanuel Macron.

Hensoldt agreed a deal to assure critical radar component supply through 2030—a signal European defense suppliers are bullish about long-term demand.

Major French rotorcraft manufacturer Helicopteres Guimbal is set to grow its product portfolio with the development of a five-seat turbine helicopter.

The combat cloud being designed to tie all the elements of the Future Combat Air System is more important than the ailing fighter element of the endeavor, argues the Chief of Staff of the French Air and Space Force.

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

French air accident bureau BEA has released its final report on the tailstrike of an Air Calédonie-operated ATR 72-200 at Ouvéa-Ouloup Airport in December 2024.

Dassault Aviation has been gradually increasing the production rate of the Rafale fighter, aiming for four aircraft per month in 2029.

Dassault Aviation CEO Éric Trappier has rejected a German idea for a two-fighter approach in the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program.

France will grow its nuclear weapons stockpile and open deterrence exercises to European neighbors, President Emmanuel Macron has said.

Studies toward composite materials able to withstand higher temperatures for applications in an engine’s environment are in full swing.

Safran Aerosystems has acquired MCA, a specialist in metallic parts for fuel systems.

France, Germany, Italy, Poland and the UK have agreed to pursue lower-cost air defense interceptors jointly.

Airbus has described 2026 as a “year of testing” for the latest addition to its portfolio, the H140 twin-engine light helicopter.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz wants the military to do a proper requirements assessment for a potential next-generation fighter.

The procurement of Safran Hammer bomb kits for Ukraine follows on from a broader strategic partnership between Norway and France that was agreed to last summer.

Several European countries have signed an agreement to jointly develop long-range loitering munitions, the German defense ministry said.