The US, UK, and democracies across the Indo-Pacific are rethinking deterrence as China expands its military power. At this year's Shangri-La Dialogue, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that Beijing's actions reveal a lack of respect for neighbors and challenge sovereignty, freedom of navigation, and overflight.
The US ambassador in Lisbon has urged Portugal to buy the F-35 as a potential replacement for its aging F-16 fleet. Defense Minister Nuno Melo said no purchase decision had been made, but internal work is moving ahead.
The US and Asian partners may co-produce drones in the Indo-Pacific region as a response to China's growing technological advancements. This could involve partnerships between companies like Red Cat, Taiwan, and Japan to develop unmanned systems that can operate in contested environments.
The United States has approved the sale of up to three Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to NATO ally Denmark, valued at an estimated $1.8 billion. According to AeroTime, the State Department made a determination approving a possible foreign military sale on December 29, 2025.
The US State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Singapore for up to four P-8A Poseidon aircraft, valued at $2.316 billion. The Boeing P-8 Poseidon is a multi-role maritime patrol aircraft that would significantly expand Singapore's long-range maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare capabilities.
The Trump administration has issued a new executive order on foreign arms sales, calling for reviews of the FMS program and direct commercial sales. The EO aims to prioritize US defense partnerships and transfer decisions, but its specifics are unclear.
The US Army is developing a hyperconnected network for next-generation command and control, according to Breaking Defense reports. This system aims to enable modern warfare by providing real-time data sharing in contested environments.
The US Army has selected three major defense contractors to compete for a new rotary-wing training program worth up to $500 million. Bell, Boeing, and Sikorsky will advance to the next phase of competition, Breaking Defense reports.
As drone threats escalate across Eastern Europe, the US Army is accelerating counter-unmanned systems development through innovative acquisition pathways. Project Flytrap 4.
The US Army has selected Bell, Boeing, and Sikorsky to compete for a new rotary-wing training program worth up to $500 million. Training will cover 1,200 pilots annually starting in 2027, representing a significant expansion of Army aviation training capacity.
The US Air Force has awarded a $835.6 million contract to US Aviation Academy for early-stage pilot training under the Initial Pilot Training program. The agreement runs through December 2035 and will cover foundational flight instruction to US and international military pilot candidates.
A bipartisan group of US lawmakers has introduced a bill that would restore and extend a key federal incentive for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), aiming to stabilize a sector that developers say has been shaken by shifting policy. The Securing America's Fuels Act would reinstate the higher, SAF-specific rate within the Clean Fuel Production Tax Credit and extend it through 2033, providing a tax credit of $1.
The US State Department has approved a potential sale of almost $6.7 billion in new weapons for Israel, including large orders of AH-64E Apache helicopters and Joint Light Tactical Vehicles. The announcement, made late Friday evening, is broken into four Foreign Military Sales cases and includes an estimated cost of up to $3.
The US State Department announced two large-scale military aid packages worth almost $15.7 billion for Israel and Saudi Arabia. The deals include significant orders of AH-64E Apache helicopters, Joint Light Tactical Vehicles, and PAC-3 Patriot missile interceptors.
Congress has introduced a bipartisan bill designed to ensure US air traffic controllers receive pay during any future government shutdowns. The Aviation Funding Solvency Act draws from a rarely used $2.
A federal appeals court has temporarily halted a US Department of Transportation order requiring Delta Air Lines and Aeroméxico to unwind their long-running transborder joint venture. The airlines had petitioned for an emergency stay, arguing that unwinding the partnership on the government's accelerated timeline would impose significant financial and operational harm.
US DOT Secretary Sean Duffy has warned that Congress must approve an additional $19-20 billion beyond the $12.5 billion already allocated in 2025 to begin a comprehensive overhaul of the national air traffic control system. Speaking at Newark Liberty International Airport ahead of peak holiday travel, Duffy emphasized that modernization cannot commence without full congressional funding.
The US Department of Commerce has withdrawn its proposed rule on Chinese drone imports, easing fears of a sweeping ban. However, DJI and other major manufacturers remain blocked from introducing new models due to FCC restrictions.
The US Embassy in Jerusalem has urged non-emergency government personnel and family members to leave Israel while commercial flights are still available, citing safety risks. According to Breaking Defense, the Department of State authorized the evacuation due to security incidents and potential threats from Iran.
The US Coast Guard executed a pre-dawn boarding and seizure of the motor tanker Olina in international waters east of the Caribbean Sea, marking the fifth tanker interdicted in recent weeks. The operation was carried out in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security, the State Department, and the Department of Justice.