Textron Aviation Names Justin Salmans Senior Vice President of Supply Chain Textron Aviation has announced the appointment of Justin Salmans as senior vice president, Supply Chain, marking his return ...

WASHINGTON — Navy investigation reports released this week on the Harry S. Truman carrier strike group’s deployment reveal a troubling pattern of training deficiencies, communication failures, and command judgment errors that contributed to four serious maritime incidents during Red Sea counter-Houthi operations. The heavily redacted command investigations point to inadequate training protocols, poor bridge resource management, and crews operating under severe operational strain as underlying causes for incidents ranging from friendly fire near-misses to equipment losses totaling approximately $97 million.

Saab Announces AI-Powered After-Action Review Platform for Military Training Defense technology company Saab is preparing to launch AR3, an innovative after-action review platform that harnesses artif...

Northrop Grumman has introduced Project Talon, a paradigm shift in autonomous combat aircraft design that prioritizes rapid manufacturing and affordability without compromising advanced capabilities. Unveiled on December 3, 2025, at Mojave Air and Space Port, Talon signals a strategic recalibration for Northrop following the Air Force’s emphasis on cost-effectiveness in the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) initiative. The development timeline alone underscores the program’s manufacturing-first philosophy. From program inception to ‘weight on wheels,’ Project Talon required just 15 months—a compressed schedule more typical of commercial aviation prototyping than traditional military aircraft development. Northrop projects first flight within approximately nine months, maintaining a two-year development window that demonstrates unprecedented agility in the defense sector.

WASHINGTON — The Department of Defense Inspector General has concluded that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth created significant operational security risks by transmitting sensitive military information...

The US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has announced the first wave of contractors for its Golden Dome SHIELD program, selecting 1,014 companies from 2,463 proposals to participate in a contract vehicle valued at up to $151 billion. The awards, disclosed December 2, 2025, mark a significant step in implementing the Trump administration’s comprehensive missile defense modernization strategy. SHIELD—the Scalable Homeland Innovative Enterprise Layered Defense program—serves as a primary procurement channel for Golden Dome, the administration’s $175 billion initiative to establish a layered defensive shield against advanced missile and cruise-missile threats from peer competitors including China and Russia.

As diplomatic efforts toward a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire gain momentum, Western policymakers face a critical strategic question: how to ensure any peace agreement actually holds. Military experts warn that history suggests Russia treats ceasefires not as steps toward peace, but as opportunities to rearm and resume pressure through alternative means. Retired Air Force Lieutenant General David A. Deptula and Naval War College Research Fellow Jahara Matisek argue that the key to a durable peace lies in constructing a robust airpower architecture capable of detecting, intercepting, and deterring Russian violations within minutes. Their solution: an Allied Air Command for Ukraine (AAC-U)—a multinational, integrated command structure that would unify Ukrainian fighters, allied aircraft, ground-based air defenses, and intelligence assets under unified control.

Vertical Aerospace Positioned to Become UK’s Next Major Global Exporter A new independent analysis from Frontier Economics suggests that Vertical Aerospace, a leading developer of electric verti...

Lockheed Martin has opened a new Hypersonics System Integration Lab (SIL) at its Huntsville, Alabama, campus, marking a significant expansion of the company’s hypersonic defense capabilities. The 17,000-square-foot facility, representing a $17. The state-of-the-art lab consolidates advanced test equipment, high-fidelity simulation environments, and system-level integration spaces under one roof. Rather than serving production functions, the SIL is purpose-built to support verification and readiness activities, enabling faster development cycles and more efficient engineering workflows.

India’s naval aviation capability is undergoing a historic transformation. The Indian Navy will receive its first four Rafale M carrier-based fighters by 2029, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi announced in early December 2025, setting a clear milestone for the modernization of India’s carrier air wing. India’s €7.4 billion order for 26 Rafale M aircraft, formally signed in April 2025, represents a decisive shift from the Navy’s aging MiG-29K fleet. The contract encompasses 22 single-seat fighters and four twin-seat trainers, with subsequent deliveries phased through 2030 and 2031.

Emirates has marked a significant fleet milestone by introducing its first ultra-long-range Airbus A350 to Adelaide, Australia. The aircraft arrived on December 1, 2025, making Adelaide the first city in Emirates’ global network to receive the long-range A350 variant featuring the airline’s newly developed Premium Economy cabin. The A350-900ULR has assumed operations on Emirates’ flagship EK440/441 services between Dubai and Adelaide, replacing the Boeing 777-200LR that previously operated the route. This transition reflects Emirates’ broader strategy of modernizing its fleet with fuel-efficient, next-generation aircraft.

Wizz Air achieved a significant milestone on November 28, 2025, with the unveiling of its 250th aircraft in Budapest—a testament to the Hungarian low-cost carrier’s remarkable growth trajectory over the past two decades. CEO József Váradi expressed visible pride in the accomplishment, emphasizing that the airline’s 72 million annual passengers now exceed those carried by major legacy carriers including Lufthansa, British Airways, Air France, and KLM. Váradi underscored the achievement’s significance against the backdrop of industry competition, noting that unlike established legacy airlines backed by government support throughout their histories, Wizz Air built its franchise independently. “We didn’t have any of that,” Váradi stated, highlighting the airline’s self-made success in establishing itself as a relevant European carrier and driving aviation adoption across Central and Eastern Europe.

TAP Air Portugal Introduces Premium Economy Service on A330neo and A321LR Aircraft Portuguese flag carrier TAP Air Portugal announced on December 3, 2025, the introduction of a new Premium Economy cab...

The Federal Trade Commission has issued a landmark decision that could reshape Boeing’s acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems, requiring the aerospace giant to divest critical manufacturing operations to address competitive concerns. Under the consent order announced December 3, 2025, Boeing must sell Spirit’s aerostructures business in Subang, Malaysia to Composites Technology Research Malaysia (CTRM), along with all associated assets and personnel. The $8.3 billion acquisition, which Boeing announced in July 2024, aimed to reintegrate its former parts supplier and bring significant manufacturing in-house. Spirit AeroSystems is among the world’s largest producers of fuselages, wings, and aerostructures, supplying approximately 70% of the structural components for Boeing’s 737 series while also providing critical parts to competitor Airbus.

Switzerland-based electric aircraft developer Jekta has taken a significant step forward in bringing its vision of sustainable amphibious aviation to market. On December 3, 2025, the company unveiled a 1:9 scale subscale model of the PHA-ZE 100, its fully electric amphibious aircraft, which is already conducting flight tests at an undisclosed location in Italy. The subscale testing campaign represents a critical phase in Jekta’s development timeline. Data collected from these flight tests will directly inform the aerodynamic refinement and systems integration of the full-scale PHA-ZE 100 prototype. While the current design—created by renowned Italian designer Max Pinucci—closely represents the final configuration, Jekta acknowledges that modifications may be necessary based on test results.

A US Air Force Thunderbirds F-16C Fighting Falcon crashed on December 3, 2025, during a routine training mission over California’s desert region, though the pilot ejected safely and is in stable...

Turkish Airlines’ subsidiary AJet has taken a significant step in its fleet modernization strategy, signing a long-term lease agreement with Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) for 10 new Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft. Announced on December 3, 2025, the agreement will see the fuel-efficient jets delivered between 2026 and 2027, supporting the carrier’s rapid expansion plans. AJet, which launched in 2024 following the rebranding of AnadoluJet, has established ambitious growth objectives. Over the next decade, the airline plans to expand its total fleet to 200 aircraft and establish a comprehensive route network spanning 44 countries, including 42 domestic and 80 international destinations.

WASHINGTON — As defense leaders converge on the Reagan National Defense Forum in Simi Valley, California, a comprehensive new poll from the Ronald Reagan Institute reveals substantial bipartisan suppo...

Northrop Grumman Unveils Project Talon, Redefining Affordable Combat Drone Development NORTHP Grumman has officially unveiled Project Talon, an autonomous combat drone that represents a significant sh...

Jared Isaacman, the billionaire entrepreneur and accomplished private astronaut, returned to Capitol Hill on December 3, 2025, for a historic second confirmation hearing as President Trump’s nominee to lead NASA. The appearance marked a dramatic reversal from May 2025, when Trump withdrew Isaacman’s initial nomination amid a public dispute with SpaceX and Tesla founder Elon Musk.