Spain rules out F-35 order, prioritizes Eurofighter and FCAS
A Lockheed Martin executive previously told Breaking Defense that the F-35 was Madrid’s only real option to replace aging Harrier jets for ship-based operations.
Airbus
Eyeing international sales, General Atomics moves to build drone wingmen in Europe
The company plans to tap its German-based affiliate General Atomics Aerotec Systems GmbH to produce and customize drone wingmen for European customers.
European missile group MBDA selling parts for bombs that have killed children in Gaza
Exclusive: Britain has paused some weapons sales to Israel, but a Guardian investigation shows revenues from the GBU-39 bomb generated by the US arm of MBDA flow through the UKEurope’s largest missiles maker, MBDA, is selling key components for bombs t…
Airbus, Kratos team to pitch German Air Force drone wingmen
An Airbus spokesperson told Breaking Defense that the partnership, featuring Kratos’s XQ-58A Valkyrie paired with Airbus-provided mission systems, is “offer[ing] our German customer something we believe they have a requirement for in the coming years.”…
Belgium plans largest ammunition order, announces early NH90 helicopter retirement
In comments heavily critical of the troubled NH90, Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken said that Belgium’s four TTH standard aircraft will be “decommissioned from September.”
Air Force again changes course on tankers, plans new ‘production extension’ program
The Air Force plans to use the Boeing KC-46 Pegasus’s Capability Production Document “as the most affordable requirements basis” for the new program, potentially giving the embattled aerospace manufacturer a leg up in a competition.
In Paris, Airbus makes new MRTT+ progress, French Navy drone breakthrough
On the helicopter front, Airbus and Italian manufacturer Leonardo announced they are collaborating on a NH90 Block 2 multirole rotorcraft upgrade architecture study to determine the long term evolution of the type.
FCAS drama: ‘Difficulties’ between Airbus and Dassault again hit sixth-gen fighter effort
“Clearly, we have observed with this [1B] phase, difficulties in the execution,” Jean Brice Dumont told reporters during an Airbus media briefing at Le Bourget today.
Boeing hopes to find new buyers for up to 50 planes returned by China
Airplane manufacturer says it is lobbying Donald Trump over ‘unfortunate’ decision to impose tariffsBoeing will try to divert as many as 50 planes ordered by Chinese airlines to customers elsewhere after steep tariffs prompted by Donald Trump’s trade w…
Space probe to map carbon content of world’s remotest tropical forests
Revolutionary scanner to be fired into Earth orbit this month to measure effects of deforestationScientists are about to take part in a revolutionary mission aimed at creating detailed 3D maps of the world’s remotest, densest and darkest tropical fores…