Trump plans to fly Qatar-gifted Boeing jet to Ireland after security upgrades raised questions over presidential aircraft protection.
Defense
Pratt & Whitney (PW) is investing $25 million to expand its facility in Niepołomice, Poland (NIE), strengthening production of precision components for commercial and military engines.
China is rapidly expanding the remote Lop Nur flight-test complex in Xinjiang with oversized hangars, new taxiways, aircraft pads, and possible fuel infrastructure. The scale and design of the new facilities point to a future role supporting larger and more advanced aircraft, while the possible connection to the H-20 remains unconfirmed.
India’s push to develop a homegrown fighter engine has intensified as Britain’s Rolls-Royce and France’s Safran compete to support the country’s next-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program.
The Pentagon now projects the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program will cost about $536.3 billion to develop and procure, up from $485.2 billion in the previous estimate. Its total lifecycle cost, however, has fallen to roughly $1.93 trillion from $2.06 trillion.
Fighter jet pilots represent one of the most elite and highly trained groups in global aviation.
Boeing has secured a major US defence contract with a ceiling value of $131.23 billion to support the F-15 Eagle Crest programme, strengthening its role in producing, upgrading and sustaining the long-serving fighter fleet.
A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III (U.S. Air Force, no IATA code) flew from Riga International Airport (RIX) to Moscow Vnukovo International Airport (VKO), an unusually direct military movement into Russia.
Switzerland’s first F-35A Lightning II is taking shape at Leonardo’s Cameri facility in Italy, where the first forward fuselage section and wing have entered assembly.
Romania destroyed an explosive-laden maritime drone near the Neptun Deep gas project after another drone crashed inside its territory during a major Russian attack on Ukraine.