aerospace-and-defence4.175 min read
Anduril unveils Thunder, a long-range helicopter-strike drone for attack helicopters
1 month ago•Source: Financial Times
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3.405 min•1 month ago
Lockheed unveils cheaper Patriot interceptor to counter drone threats
Lockheed Martin will field a cheaper PAC-3 Adapted Capability Effector (ACE) Patriot interceptor designed to counter drones, costing less than half the current PAC-3 MSE price (about $4m per missile) and developed with US and European partners to meet rising demand amid depleted stockpiles, signaling a shift toward cost-effective, battle-tested defenses and greater allied, indigenous capabilities.
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Germany aborts its flagship postwar frigate program
Financial Times•2 months ago
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GM and Lockheed join forces to turbocharge U.S. munition production
Financial Times•2 months ago
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Ukraine and US eye testing Ukrainian drones on American soil under draft pact
Kyiv and Washington are negotiating a draft statement of intent to temporarily export Ukrainian drones for US testing and evaluation to shape US military requirements, a potential first step toward broader defense cooperation. The agreement is non-binding, lasts two years, and does not commit funding or transfers.
Pentagon Unveils 161 Files on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena for Public Review
The Pentagon released 161 files—encompassing photos, witness testimonies, and investigative reports—on unidentified aerial phenomena, labeling them unresolved and inviting private-sector analysis. The staged disclosures come amid congressional pressure and White House interest to increase transparency, with the Defense Department planning rolling releases every few weeks and still noting no verified evidence of alien technology or life.
Turkey's Yıldırımhan ICBM debuts amid skepticism over its true reach
Turkey unveiled the 18‑meter Yıldırımhan ICBM at a defence expo, touting a 6,000km range and a 3-ton warhead, but defence officials and Western analysts say the system is still in testing and its advertised capabilities—promoted in an AI-generated promo video—are likely overstated; the longest-range Turkish missile (Tayfun) has only reached about 600km in tests.
AirAsia inks $19B Airbus order, boosting Canada’s aircraft output ambitions
AirAsia’s $19bn deal for 150 Airbus A220-300 jets marks Canada’s biggest-ever aircraft order, with potential to reach $38bn if AirAsia exercises options for the A220-500. The jets will be assembled at Airbus’s Mirabel, Quebec, and Mobile, Alabama sites as Airbus aims to ramp production to about 12–13 aircraft per month by 2026–28, despite integration challenges from Spirit AeroSystems. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney hailed the deal as a win for diversifying Canada’s trade.
Japan lifts ban on lethal arms exports, courting global defence markets
Tokyo approved a policy overhaul that allows Japanese firms to export lethal weapons for the first time since World War II, subject to buyer screening and not being in active conflict. The shift aims to boost defence manufacturing by companies like Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kawasaki, expand exports to allies such as the US, UK and Australia, and bolster Japan’s security posture amid China and North Korea threats. Critics warn production capacity and domestic needs must be balanced with overseas deals, and exceptions exist for waiving exports only in rare cases if national security is involved.
Pentagon takes $1bn stake in L3 Harris missile motors unit, stoking competition concerns
The U.S. Pentagon is investing $1 billion in L3 Harris's missile-motors business via convertible preferred equity that will spin off into a new public company, with an IPO expected in late 2026. The move aims to bolster domestic rocket-motor supply for missiles like Patriot and Tomahawk, but it raises questions about conflicts of interest and competition in the defence industry.
UK, Italy, and Japan Launch Joint Venture for Next-Gen Fighter Jet
The UK, Italy, and Japan have formed a joint venture to oversee the development of a next-generation fighter jet under the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), aiming for completion by 2035. The venture, equally owned by BAE Systems, Leonardo, and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Co, will manage the design, development, and delivery of the aircraft. Discussions are ongoing about potentially involving Saudi Arabia as a financial partner. The project seeks to enhance defense capabilities against threats from Russia and China, with a focus on digital design and innovative engineering to reduce costs and time.