The US has signed a Strategic Defense Agreement with Saudi Arabia, which includes the sale of F-35 fighters and 300 Abrams tanks to the Middle East ally. The deal was announced by President Donald Trump during his meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who pledged to invest $600 billion in various US industries.
President Donald Trump announced plans to sell F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, marking a significant shift in American defense policy in the Middle East. The planned sale comes on the eve of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's visit to the White House.
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.
President Donald Trump has lashed out at Canada's aerospace industry over certification delays for US-made Gulfstream jets. The dispute highlights growing tensions between the two nations in the sector.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems President David Alexander discussed potential deals with Saudi Arabia, including up to 200 CCAs and 130 MQ-9Bs. The program would include production localization in the Kingdom, which is seen as a key part of the deal.
Saab CEO Micael Johansson shared detailed information with Canada about its Gripen E/F fighter jets as part of a 'dual fleet' pitch. The initiative aims to capitalize on US-Canada tensions and offers domestic production to sweeten the deal.
The Dubai Airshow brought together top defense contractors from around the world, with Russia and China stealing the spotlight. Breaking Defense provides comprehensive coverage of the airshow, including Lockheed Martin's F-35 Lightning II, Su-57 stealth fighter, Wing Loong WL-X hunter-killer drone, Saab's GlobalEye jet, and UAE-based Calidus' B-250 trainer and light attack aircraft.
Pilatus and Lockheed Martin have partnered under an offset project to develop an advanced next-generation pilot training system. This will allow Pilatus to provide a bespoke solution to customers operating fifth-generation frontline aircraft, such as the F-35.
US President Donald Trump is expected to approve a deal allowing Saudi Arabia to acquire dozens of F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter jets despite Pentagon concerns. The proposal faces resistance inside the US government due to links with China and Israel's 'qualitative military edge'.
Navy Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle is pressing for an expedited decision on the F/A-XX next-generation fighter program, citing the extended timeline required for development, testing, and fielding.
Lockheed Martin has successfully tested an artificial intelligence feature on its F-35 Lightning fighter, designed to quickly identify unknown contacts for pilots. The system uses machine learning to resolve ID ambiguities and improve situational awareness.
Lockheed Martin has successfully tested an AI-enhanced Combat Identification (Combat ID) capability on an F-35 during a test flight at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. The company used an AI/machine learning model to resolve identification ambiguities among emitters, aiming to improve situational awareness and reduce pilot decision-making latency.
Lockheed Martin delivered a record 191 F-35s in 2025, the highest annual total in the program's history, as more countries move to expand or introduce the fifth-generation jet into their air forces. The company reports that annual production is now running at a pace around five times higher than any other allied fighter currently in production.
Lockheed Martin announced a record 191 F-35 deliveries in 2025, exceeding previous year's total by more than 70%. The company cited a backlog of jets held in storage as the primary cause.
Lockheed Martin has maintained its current F-35 production rate, citing a focus on economic stability. The company's vice president of aeronautics strategy and business development stated that increasing production would be 'whipsaw supply,' referring to the potential for sudden changes in demand.
Breaking Defense reports that the US may sell the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter to Saudi Arabia, sparking concerns in Israeli circles about the potential impact on its Qualitative Military Edge (QME). The White House has announced plans to sell the plane to Riyadh, despite Israel's long-standing requirement for a QME policy.
France's Ministry of the Armed Forces has publicly confirmed India's pursuit of 90 Rafale F4 fighter jets with an option for 24 Rafale F5s, marking the clearest official acknowledgment yet of New Delhi's commitment to the next-generation variant. The confirmation emerged in a French ministry analysis addressing coordinated disinformation campaigns by China and Pakistan following an IAF Rafale loss during Operation Sindoor in May 2025.
Denmark has retired its F-16 fleet after nearly five decades of service, marking the end of one of Europe's longest-running operations. The Royal Danish Air Force will now operate an all-F-35 combat aircraft force, as announced by AeroTime reports.
In keeping with tradition, lawmakers' fiscal 2026 defense policy bill released late Sunday tweaks several key Pentagon programs, including the Air Force's E-7 Wedgetail program and Army helicopter procurement. The FY26 National Defense Authorization Act would boost the Pentagon's topline by $8 billion above what the Trump administration requested.
Canada has confirmed it is making payments tied to long-lead components for 14 additional F-35A fighters, Prime Minister Mark Carney said in Parliament. The move preserves production timing and options, but the review of the full 88-jet plan continues.
Belgium is seeking additional F-35A fighter jets as part of discussions with Lockheed Martin, Breaking Defense reports. Brussels is pushing for significant domestic industrial returns, including production at Cameri Air Base in northern Italy.