United Kingdom (UK)

Portuguese uncrewed aircraft systems developer Tekever is establishing a presence in Denmark to serve Nordic countries.

European industry is pushing ahead with collaborative combat aircraft, but government funding has yet to match those ambitions.

The UK has undertaken a series of launches of a BAE Systems one-way effector design from the deck of its HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier, expanding the number of launch platforms for the system.

RIAT will leave its longtime home and move to Boscombe Down in 2027 after this year’s show was canceled due to the presence of USAF bombers at RAF Fairford.

The German and UK defense ministers have pledged to deepen cooperation, including greater partnership in military space activities.

Foreign defense companies could be required to open UK factories, invest in suppliers and transfer technology under new offset rules introduced by the UK defense ministry.

MBDA says it has received a contract from the German defense procurement agency for an airborne laser demonstration.

Hypersonica has leveraged the first flight test of its hypersonic missile demonstrator to secure €100 million in financing it plans to parlay into accelerated testing.

A British startup is developing a tactical ballistic missile and containerized launcher.

The UK government has committed to spend the equivalent of 3% of GDP on defense by 2030 and meet NATO defense spending targets of 3.5% by 2035.

Rolls-Royce’s ambitions to re-enter the single-aisle propulsion business with a version of the UltraFan have received a major boost with confirmation of a jointly funded $3.3 billion R&D program with the UK government.

UK counterterror police have charged two men following the September incident near the U.S. bomber base at RAF Fairford.

Poland and the UK are furthering their defense relationship through a new three-year cooperation plan.

The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) could acquire more than one type of Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) under its emerging Storm Fighter program.

The UK defense ministry is running an open competition with industry to explore how to fully exploit Ukrainian datasets to teach artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms.

Hill Helicopters is gearing up for full-power tests of its in-house-developed GT50 turboshaft engine.

France is charting a national course, Germany is eyeing GCAP, and Spain is weighing its options as Europe’s next-gen fighter ambitions take new shape.

UK Explores Drone Satcom Options

The UK will deploy Eurofighter Typhoon jets to Saudi Arabia to counter surging Houthi attacks from Yemen.

Edgewing, the JV leading the development of the combat aircraft at the heart of GCAP, will be able to accommodate more industrial partners without undue delays to the project, CEO Marco Zoff has insisted.

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

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham says he has “expressed openness” to Germany in joining the GCAP fighter development effort already underway with Italy and Japan.

The opposition Conservative Party has proposed the development of an air and missile defense shield should it return to government.

UK uncrewed rotorcraft developer Certo Aerospace has raised £5 million ($6.6 million) to accelerate development of its Capstone co-axial autonomous helicopter.

A new maintenance and support deal with Airbus aims to grow the availability of the UK Royal Air Force’s A400M airlifter fleet by 30%.