MBDA debuts European hypersonic interceptor concept Aquila

MBDA debuts European hypersonic interceptor concept Aquila
MBDA debuts European hypersonic interceptor concept Aquila

MBDA company executives told media that the Aquila concept has support from partner nations France, Italy, Germany and The Netherlands, who will be collectively responsible for agreeing on a final design at the end of a three-year concept phase.

Onera, France’s DARPA, bets on Espadon hypersonic fighter concept for 2050 flight

Onera, France’s DARPA, bets on Espadon hypersonic fighter concept for 2050 flight
Onera, France’s DARPA, bets on Espadon hypersonic fighter concept for 2050 flight

An Espandon model has already undergone wind tunnel testing, but the end goal of developing an aircraft capable of flying “beyond Mach 5” won’t happen for decades.

NATO finalizing new Ukraine Council to draw Kyiv ‘politically closer’ to alliance

NATO finalizing new Ukraine Council to draw Kyiv ‘politically closer’ to alliance
NATO finalizing new Ukraine Council to draw Kyiv ‘politically closer’ to alliance

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg explicitly ruled out Ukraine being offered an invitation to join at the forthcoming Vilnius Summit, but reaffirmed that Russia does not “get a veto.”

FCAS? SCAF? Tempest? Explaining Europe’s sixth-generation fighter efforts

FCAS? SCAF? Tempest? Explaining Europe’s sixth-generation fighter efforts
FCAS? SCAF? Tempest? Explaining Europe’s sixth-generation fighter efforts

In which the Breaking Defense team attempts to explain the differences between the UK-led FCAS, the Franco-German-Spanish FCAS, the UK-Italian-Japanese GCAP and all the other sixth-generation fighter development efforts in Europe.

Inside NATO’s plans to rev up an ‘innovation engine’ for dual-use technologies

Inside NATO’s plans to rev up an ‘innovation engine’ for dual-use technologies
Inside NATO’s plans to rev up an ‘innovation engine’ for dual-use technologies

Deeph Chana said that NATO is “very explicitly encouraging startups to have applications in the more traditional tactical military domain, as well as…in a sort of civil space, such that they have a diverse opportunity for revenue which we think builds more resilient, more investable companies in this space.”

Airbus says extra development needed for US-made, armed AH-125 helicopter

Airbus says extra development needed for US-made, armed AH-125 helicopter
Airbus says extra development needed for US-made, armed AH-125 helicopter

Airbus have brought the new helicopters to market in a bid to “capture advantages of the US export system” and the Foreign Military Sales process, said Scott Tumpak, vice president of military helicopters at Airbus US.

Luxembourg greenlights new military SATCOM network using SES satellites

Luxembourg greenlights new military SATCOM network using SES satellites
Luxembourg greenlights new military SATCOM network using SES satellites

The plan is designed not just to improve Luxembourg’s military space capabilities, but also specifically to improve defense cooperation with the US by “jointly exploiting” the new SES satellites.

As ‘bird coalition’ forms, Austin and defense leaders talk Ukraine war, NATO’s future

As ‘bird coalition’ forms, Austin and defense leaders talk Ukraine war, NATO’s future
As ‘bird coalition’ forms, Austin and defense leaders talk Ukraine war, NATO’s future

US defense secretary chaired a Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting in Brussels, where officials pledged long-term support for the embattled nation.

In Germany, Austin gets update on Abrams program, praises ‘successive miracles’ in equipping Ukrainians

In Germany, Austin gets update on Abrams program, praises ‘successive miracles’ in equipping Ukrainians
In Germany, Austin gets update on Abrams program, praises ‘successive miracles’ in equipping Ukrainians

Some 200 Ukrainians, a mix of veteran tankers and other “well-trained” soldiers, are in their third week of training on the American main battle tank.

Netherlands outlines 3-step F-16 training plan for Ukraine, plus $43.4M air defense package

Netherlands outlines 3-step F-16 training plan for Ukraine, plus $43.4M air defense package
Netherlands outlines 3-step F-16 training plan for Ukraine, plus $43.4M air defense package

Training sessions will begin with a “limited number” of Ukrainian pilots but could be expanded over time.

Denmark considering military submarines after almost 20 year gap: Danish lawmaker

Denmark considering military submarines after almost 20 year gap: Danish lawmaker
Denmark considering military submarines after almost 20 year gap: Danish lawmaker

The Scandinavian nation divested of submarines in 2004 but lawmakers are actively considering whether to acquire them again.

UK queries industry over $1.9B Skynet Wideband Satellite System plan

UK queries industry over $1.9B Skynet Wideband Satellite System plan
UK queries industry over $1.9B Skynet Wideband Satellite System plan

Request for industry input in SKEC WSS comes after London similarly opened a Pre-PQQ phase for procurement of a Narrowband Satellite System (SKEC NSS) in August 2022.

Sikorsky to reveal UK New Medium Helicopter production plans once requirements set

Sikorsky to reveal UK New Medium Helicopter production plans once requirements set
Sikorsky to reveal UK New Medium Helicopter production plans once requirements set

“We really just want to see the final tender and understand what the requirements are going to look like before we make a public announcement on our approach,” said Paul Lemmo, President of Sikorsky.

The AI side of AUKUS: UK reveals ground-breaking, allied tech demo

The AI side of AUKUS: UK reveals ground-breaking, allied tech demo
The AI side of AUKUS: UK reveals ground-breaking, allied tech demo

The AI trial saw a wide range of air and ground vehicles tasked with testing target identification capabilities, as the allies cope with what the UK Ministry of Defence called a “rapidly evolving” strategic environment.