Unmanned systems
Shield says U.S. Air Force combat drones used Hivemind to perform their first coordinated air combat maneuvers
Multiple uncrewed aircraft in the U.S. Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft program flew in formation and carried out coordinated air-to-air maneuvers for the first time on Oct. 26, Shield said.
Air and missile defence
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Israel Weapon Industries and AIA plan new Dutch factory for ARAD 5 and NEGEV UX production
Pentagon says Defense Logistics Agency directed $2 billion to stockpile critical materials
Lockheed Martin Australia leads Queensland project to build mobile launcher for hypersonic flight tests
U.S. F-35 fighters and Canada’s CF-18s fly joint NORAD air defense mission in Alaska
Lockheed Martin top managers say company will invest over $8 billion to expand missile production
GE Aerospace’s T901 engine for U.S. Army Black Hawks and Apaches cleared for qualification flights
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U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Nimitz completes first East Coast training period with 442 arrested landings
The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz returned to Naval Station Norfolk on Nov. 9 after its first East Coast training period at sea for carrier pilot qualifications
Canada’s Top Aces to help deliver Red Air training for France under deal worth up to €450 million
France has awarded a contract worth up to €450 million to an SDTS-led consortium that will fly simulated adversary missions for the French armed forces
Sweden receives Taurus cruise missiles from Germany ahead of planned 2028 Gripen C/D upgrade
Sweden’s armed forces have received an undisclosed number of KEPD 350 Taurus air-launched cruise missiles from German military stocks, Swedish business daily Dagens Industri reported
Argentina signs deal with U.S. to buy four UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters for its army
Argentina has signed an agreement with the United States to buy four used UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters for its army
U.S. Air Force and Space Force plan to use ‘super intelligence’ in 15 areas, including nuclear operations
The Department of the Air Force has assigned senior leaders to 15 mission areas to move what it calls “super intelligence” from testing into operational use
Northrop Grumman’s Lake Charles facility to become certified depot for U.S. C-130 Hercules fleet
Northrop Grumman’s Lake Charles facility in Louisiana has been selected as a certified maintenance depot for the U.S. C-130 Hercules fleet
Germany reportedly agrees to buy 50% of Leopard 2 maker KNDS to match France’s stake
Germany has agreed to buy the privately held half of defence manufacturer KNDS, German newspaper Die Zeit reported on 5 November
Rolls-Royce Submarines to build full-scale defence prototypes at planned 200-acre Derby park
Rolls-Royce Submarines will work with INFINITY to build and test full-scale prototypes of advanced defence components at a planned technology park in Derby
Industry spotlight
Air and missile defenceCombat-proven air defense: recent Patriot® contract awards signal surge in demand across Europe
European demand for proven air and missile defense systems is rising and Raytheon, an RTX business, is investing heavily to meet that need with higher production capacity.
U.S. Army’s Bradley replacement race enters troop-testing phase with first XM30 prototypes from Rheinmetall and General Dynamics
Lockheed Martin CEO says ATACMS production could move to Germany, opening Arkansas capacity for faster PrSM missile output
L3Harris secures record $4.7 billion PAC-3 MSE propulsion deal from Lockheed Martin to expand U.S. interceptor production capacity
BAE Systems says front fuselage assembly is underway on the first of Türkiye’s 20 Eurofighter Typhoons
BAE Systems has begun assembling the front fuselage of Türkiye’s first Eurofighter Typhoon in northern England, the company said on 5 November.
Swedish AI in the cockpit: Saab’s own agent flies Gripen E in beyond-visual-range combat tests
Sweden’s Saab is looking to take advantage of the turmoil among Europe’s largest combat aircraft manufacturers.
Sweden receives Taurus cruise missiles from Germany ahead of planned 2028 Gripen C/D upgrade
Sweden’s armed forces have received an undisclosed number of KEPD 350 Taurus air-launched cruise missiles from German military stocks, Swedish business daily Dagens Industri reported.
U.S. F-35 fighters and Canada’s CF-18s fly joint NORAD air defense mission in Alaska
U.S. Air Force F-35 Lightning IIs and Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18 Hornets flew a NORAD homeland defense mission on Oct. 25 that drew aircraft from three bases in Alaska and one in Alberta.
GE Aerospace’s T901 engine for U.S. Army Black Hawks and Apaches cleared for qualification flights
GE Aerospace says it has cut 12 months from the schedule to qualify its T901 helicopter engine and reduced the expected cost of that work by about $75 million.
U.S. Air Force trains crews to refuel and rearm F-35A fighters simultaneously with engines running
The U.S. Air Force’s 388th Fighter Wing is training ground crews to refuel and rearm F-35A Lightning II fighters at the same time, with the engine running and the pilot still in the cockpit.
France, Cyprus and Sweden sign Akeron MP missile framework, plan to use EU SAFE initiative funding
France, Cyprus and Sweden have signed a framework agreement to buy MBDA’s Akeron MP anti-tank missiles jointly, with EU financing expected to cover part of the procurement.
CSG says U.S. Army selects its unit to bid for ammunition plant upgrades under $4.2 billion framework
CSG said the U.S. Army has selected its subsidiary MSM North America to compete for work to modernize seven ammunition plants.
U.S. Army says Arctic artillery crews pass live-fire evaluation under simulated enemy counterfire
U.S. Army artillery crews fired more than 600 rounds during an Alaska exercise that tested their ability to concentrate fire from dispersed positions, then relocate before simulated enemy counterfire.
Lithuania receives first Thales GM200 MM/C multifunction radar for its national division
Lithuania has received its first Thales GM200 MM/C multifunction radar, adding to its national division’s ability to locate enemy indirect-fire positions and improve artillery effectiveness.
Elbit Systems to build SIGMA and PULS artillery training facility under 15-year Israeli agreement
Israel’s Ministry of Defense has signed a contract worth more than $190 million with Elbit Systems to establish a training facility for SIGMA self-propelled howitzer and PULS rocket launcher crews.
Netherlands to acquire more CV90 infantry fighting vehicles, defence ministry says
The Netherlands will acquire additional CV90 infantry fighting vehicles and replace ageing engineering equipment to strengthen its army for a potential large-scale conflict
German company STARK says its uncrewed Vanta 24 Baltic patrol vessel can carry anti-ship missiles
German defence company STARK has unveiled plans for the Vanta 24, a roughly 24-metre uncrewed vessel designed to escort warships, guard undersea cables and pipelines, and track suspected shadow fleet tankers.
Naval Group says Blacksword Barracuda submarine can carry up to 30 heavy weapons
Naval Group’s Blacksword Barracuda is a conventionally powered attack submarine designed for extended patrols far from its home port.
Canada weighs initial order for eight Type 212CD submarines with options to buy four more
Canada is considering a firm order for eight Type 212CD submarines from German shipbuilder TKMS, with options for another four, CBC News reported.
HMS Prince of Wales ends Arctic deployment in Oslo as Europe weighs security of NATO’s Northern Flank
British F-35 jets flying from HMS Prince of Wales intercepted a Russian Tu-95 Bear long-range bomber during a major NATO exercise off Norway, the Royal Navy said.
Saab to equip Sweden’s four FDI frigates with RBS15 missiles, torpedoes and Sea Giraffe 1X radar
Saab will supply and integrate weapons, sensors and weapon control systems for Sweden’s four FDI frigates under a contract with French shipbuilder Naval Group.
Hanwha Ocean develops submarine torpedo launcher after decade of work with South Korean defence agency
Hanwha Ocean says it has developed a horizontal launcher that uses pressurised water to eject torpedoes and other weapons from a submarine.
Britain’s Titania military satellite reaches orbit to support Earth observation
Britain’s Titania military satellite is in orbit, giving the armed forces another way to observe military activity on Earth, the Ministry of Defence said.
Defense Intelligence Agency says China is expanding satellite weapons to counter U.S. military power
China is expanding its arsenal of weapons to disrupt or destroy satellites as it seeks to deter foreign intervention in regional conflicts, the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency said.
Defense Intelligence Agency says Russian nuclear satellite program could threaten thousands of spacecraft
Russia is developing a satellite designed to carry a nuclear weapon that could disable thousands of spacecraft and disrupt services worldwide, the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency said.
Canada’s MDA Space joins Europe’s IRIS² programme with antenna systems agreement for 66 early-delivery satellites
MDA Space has signed an agreement with Thales Alenia Space to begin work on digital antenna systems for 66 satellites in Europe’s IRIS² secure connectivity programme.
GomSpace and HIMERA begin satellite tests for Ukraine’s independent communications network
Ukraine’s HIMERA and Denmark’s GomSpace have begun operating OBRIA NANO, a test satellite for a planned independent Ukrainian communications network.
Airbus receives order for two more Galileo satellites with stronger anti-jamming protection
Airbus has received a contract for two more second-generation Galileo satellites, taking its order for the European navigation programme to eight spacecraft.