All Defence articles
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AnalysisNew low-cost US attack drone offers strike range of over 400nm for under $55k
The Pentagon has disclosed specifications for its LUCAS one-way attack drone, a reverse-engineered derivative of Iran’s Shahed-136 offering 434nm range at costs between $10,000-$55,000, as the US military deploys the type operationally for the first time in the Middle East theatre.
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InterviewTransformed Leonardo is primed for major growth, CEO Cingolani says
Leonardo chief executive Roberto Cingolani is launching new five-year industrial plan targetting new business in both the manned and unmanned segments.
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NewsUS Air Force KC-135 tanker crashes in Iraq killing all aboard
A US Air Force Boeing KC-135 tanker has crashed in western Iraq during Operation Epic Fury, with US Central Command confirming the incident was not caused by hostile action or friendly fire.
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NewsB-1B bombers spotted at RAF Fairford being loaded with 900kg guided bombs
Video appears to show Boeing B-1B supersonic bombers being loaded with GBU-31 GPS-guided bombs and long-range cruise missiles at the Gloucestershire base, which is hosting a number of US bombers involved in the ongoing air campaign against Iran.
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NewsLeonardo to demonstrate M-346 commanding two Baykar uncrewed fighters by mid-year
Leonardo will conduct the first demonstration flight later this year pairing its M-346 platform with a pair of representative collaborative combat aircraft.
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NewsB-21 prototype logs close-proximity flight with KC-135 as part of aerial refuelling tests
The US Air Force has confirmed that its next-generation B-21 Raider stealth bomber has conducted close-proximity flight tests with a KC-135 tanker, marking a significant milestone in the aircraft’s development programme ahead of planned operational deployment in 2027.
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NewsAirbus Helicopters stands up European supply chain for H175M, pitches Canadian final assembly line
Airbus Helicopters has confirmed that it has stood up a European supply chain for the H175M, removing Chinese aerostructures from the military variant of its super-medium-twin.
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NewsAustralia deploys E-7A to Middle East amid Iranian attacks
Australia has deployed a Boeing E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft to the Middle East to provide early detection of Iranian drones and missiles. Canberra will also supply Raytheon AIM-120 air-to-air missiles, whilst emphasising it is not participating in offensive operations against Iran.
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In depthCritical shortage or endless supply? Munitions availability in the Iran war
US defence officials have declared stockpiles of precision munitions sufficient for sustained operations against Iran, contradicting years of warnings from military officers and industry executives about the imbalance between production capacity and battlefield demand.
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NewsField narrows in US Army's Flight School Next contest, but Robinson R66 remains strong presence
The US Army’s push to reinvent its helicopter pilot training programme is down to four bidders – three of which are proposing the Robinson Helicopter R66.
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NewsNear Earth Autonomy plans additional test flights of UH-60L autonomous demonstrator
The aviation technology firm has already conducted fully automated flight tests of its RUC-60 unmanned Black Hawk demonstrator, a surplus US Army UH-60L modified to be optionally unmanned.
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NewsAW249 stays on track for first delivery to Italian army in 2027
Leonardo Helicopters remains confident it will deliver the first AW249 Fenice attack helicopter to the Italian army next year as it ramps up flight-test activities with the new platform.
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NewsUS Army pilots train on Osprey ahead of first MV-75 delivery
Six US Army test pilots have completed a three-month familiarisation course on the Bell-Boeing MV-22B Osprey with the US Marine Corps, gaining critical tiltrotor experience ahead of the service receiving its first MV-75 prototype as soon as end-2026.
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NewsAurora completes fuselage for X-65 ‘active flow control’ demonstrator
Boeing subsidiary Aurora Flight Sciences has completed fuselage fabrication for the X-65, an experimental aircraft that replaces conventional control surfaces with embedded air-jet effectors using active flow control technology, with first flight planned for 2027.
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NewsIsraeli F-35I downs Iranian Yak-130 in clash over Tehran
Israel has recorded its first air-to-air success with the Lockheed Martin F-35I Adir, with one of its stealth fighters having destroyed an Iranian aircraft over Tehran on 4 March.
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NewsDassault targets Indian contract for blockbuster Rafale order by year-end
Dassault Aviation is hopeful that a new order from India for 114 Rafale combat aircraft can be wrapped up this year, as it looks to further extend the backlog of the fourth-generation jet.
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NewsHermeus flies first supersonic-capable Quarterhorse Mk 2.1 aircraft
US start-up Hermeus has flown its first supersonic-capable aircraft, the Quarterhorse Mk 2.1, marking a significant step toward achieving Mach 5 hypersonic flight. The unmanned vehicle completed its maiden sortie in New Mexico less than one year after its subsonic predecessor first flew.
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NewsDassault chief Trappier attacks ‘aggressive’ Airbus as FCAS war of words heats up
Dassault Aviation’s pugnacious chief executive Eric Trappier has raised the temperature in his ongoing war of words with Airbus, repeatedly insisting its supposed partner was jeopardising the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme as it “does not want to work with us”.
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NewsUS bombers strike deep into Iran as Epic Fury intensifies
B-1, B-2 and B-52 bombers have all conducted strikes against Iranian targets as part of Epic Fury operations, with US Central Command reporting over 2,000 targets hit in the first 100 hours of the air campaign.
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AnalysisIran drones, missiles could test rivals’ magazine depth
Iran may be absorbing heavy strikes, but its drone and missile launches are targeting a vulnerability that airpower alone cannot fix: the magazine depths of the adversaries ranged against it.