BAE Systems has successfully tested the low-cost Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) aboard a Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet from its Warton flight test center in England.
Defense
Using the latest figures from Global Firepower as of March 2026, we can rank the world’s air forces by total aircraft.
South Korea and Indonesia have agreed to transfer Indonesia’s first KF‑21 Boramae fighter jet prototype, bringing the long-running joint fighter program closer to its final stage.
The U.S. Air Force requests $1B in FY2027 to procure CCA drone wingmen, marking the program’s historic shift from development to production.
The U.S. Air Force is reviving its Standoff Attack Weapon (SoAW) program, seeking an affordable air-launched cruise missile ready for fielding by 2033, backed by a record $11.36 billion missile procurement budget request for fiscal 2027.
The U.S. F-47 secures $8.5B in funding, GCAP lands a $908M contract, while Franco-German FCAS stalls over industrial disputes in 2026.
A prototype Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems crashed shortly after takeoff on April 6, 2026.
India’s Rafale deal faces challenges as 30–40% of fighter value lies in software, yet source code access remains restricted.
Canada is evaluating participation in the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) as an observer, signaling a potential shift from its contested F‑35 fighter acquisition.
India has approved a landmark $25 billion military modernization package covering S-400 air defense systems, remotely piloted strike aircraft, and transport planes, marking a major escalation in its air power strategy amid rising regional threats.