Korea Aerospace Industries has rolled out the first production KF-21 fighter in Sacheon in the presence of President Lee Jae-myung. The aircraft follows prototype testing and will support induction into the air force from 2026.
Airbus has completed the first demonstration flight of its uncrewed Bird of Prey interceptor in Germany. The drone autonomously detected and engaged a kamikaze drone using a Mark I missile, with further trials planned in 2026.
The U.S. Army has demonstrated the launch of an A700 unmanned aircraft from an AH-64E Apache helicopter. The project moved from requirement to test in under six months, involving multiple Army organisations and industry partners.
The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has designated its SPRINT aircraft as the X-76, with Bell Textron set to begin construction after completing the design review. The programme aims to combine jet speed with runway-independent operations, with flight tests planned for 2028.
The U.S. Army has received an H-60Mx Black Hawk equipped with DARPA-developed autonomy systems. The aircraft will undergo operational testing to evaluate crewed and uncrewed flight as part of efforts to integrate autonomy across the fleet.
DRDO has carried out three successive flight-trials of the Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) at the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Odisha. The man-portable missile system intercepted simulated high-speed aerial targets and is intended for use by all three armed services.
Anthropic is being phased out of Pentagon systems after a dispute over safeguards tied to domestic surveillance and autonomous weapons. President Donald Trump ordered federal agencies to stop using the company’s AI, while OpenAI announced a new agreement to deploy its models in classified networks.
The Indian Air Force conducted Exercise Vayushakti-26 at Pokhran, involving over 130 aircraft in day and night operations. President Droupadi Murmu attended the demonstration and flew in an LCH Prachand as the exercise simulated integrated combat, air defence and special forces missions.
The Indian Navy has commissioned INS Anjadip, an anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft, at Chennai Port. The vessel is part of the eight-ship ASW-SWC project and has over 80% indigenous content. It will operate under the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Naval Area.
Anthropic has refused Pentagon demands that it remove safety safeguards from its Claude AI model, including for mass surveillance and fully autonomous weapons. CEO Dario Amodei said the company “cannot in good conscience accede” to the request, even as the Pentagon threatens contract removal and designation as a supply chain risk under the Defense Production Act.
Northrop Grumman has introduced Valen, a multifunction active electronically scanned array that combines radar, electronic warfare and communications into one system. The company said the sensor has completed flight testing and is designed for crewed and uncrewed platforms.
A 5-megawatt Ward 250 nuclear reactor was airlifted by a C-17 Globemaster III from March Air Reserve Base to Hill Air Force Base, demonstrating the feasibility of transporting compact nuclear power systems by military aircraft for testing and potential deployment.
Leonardo S.p.A. has signed a contract to deliver four C-27J Maritime Patrol Aircraft to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defence. The aircraft will support maritime patrol, anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue, and transport missions, with deliveries to the Royal Saudi Naval Forces expected from 2029.
Airbus Helicopters has revealed two next generation rotorcraft concepts for NATO’s Next Generation Rotorcraft Capabilities study. Developed with Collins Aerospace, Raytheon and MBDA, the proposal includes a conventional helicopter and a high-speed compound design.
Northrop Grumman and Embraer are collaborating to develop enhanced air-refueling capabilities for the KC-390 Millennium aircraft. The effort aims to introduce an autonomous boom system and upgraded mission systems to support U.S. Air Force and allied aerial logistics requirements.
