Lockheed Martin is preparing to deepen its aerospace manufacturing footprint in India if its C-130J Super Hercules proposal is selected for the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) 60-aircraft medium transport programme.
Defense
Vilnius Airport (VNO) was temporarily closed on October 3 after Lithuanian authorities detected an unidentified airborne object approaching from the direction of Belarus, triggering a yellow-level air alert.
The US Air Force is revising its 2A maintenance career strategy from an earlier seven-AFSC concept to a 14-specialty structure. New aviation maintenance technicians would begin with 18 months of broad foundational training before choosing a specialty, while a selective Master Aviation Technician track would develop advanced technical experts.
The US Air Force is nearing a dedicated F-47 production line as Boeing expands its St. Louis facilities. The program is advancing toward design completion and a targeted 2028 first flight, with at least 185 aircraft planned. The Air Force says existing fighter production capacity must also expand as it prepares for the F-47 and Collaborative Combat Aircraft.
The U.S. Air Force has awarded Boeing a $2.38 billion contract for 22 additional F-15EX Eagle II fighter jets, expanding the aircraft program to 120 fighters under contract across seven production lots.
The F-35A deployment introduces a fifth-generation combat aircraft into the Indian exercise environment, where it is operating alongside Indian and foreign aircraft.
A Russian Tu-95 strategic bomber crashed during a training flight near the village of Krasnoyarovo in the Far Eastern Amur region on September 29, killing six of the seven crew members aboard.
Dassault Aviation has formally entered the race to replace Portugal’s aging F-16 fighter fleet, submitting the Rafale to the Portuguese government and Air Force as Lisbon prepares for one of its most important military aircraft procurement decisions.
Belgium has received three additional Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fighters at Florennes Air Base, expanding its in-country fifth-generation fleet to seven aircraft.
China has publicly shown its Xi’an H-6N strategic bomber carrying what analysts assess to be the nuclear-capable JL-1 air-launched ballistic missile, offering a rare look at the aircraft intended to provide the airborne element of Beijing’s nuclear deterrent.