2026 - currentdefencenews.com

March 18, 2026
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Air Platforms
R&D

IAF Plans IL-76 Sustainment to 2040s

India is undertaking a major effort to sustain and modernize its aging IL-76 strategic airlift fleet, which continues to play a crucial role in military logistics. With limited alternatives...

March 18, 2026
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Missile & Missile Defence
Mergers & JV

Diehl, Latvia Form Air Defense JV

Diehl Defence has entered into a partnership with Latvia’s Ripo Remonta Centrs to establish a joint venture focused on supporting ground-based air defense systems in the Baltic region. The...

March 18, 2026
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Air Platforms
Procurement & Contracts

Japan Receives First JSM for F-35A

Japan has taken delivery of its first batch of Joint Strike Missiles (JSM) from Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, significantly enhancing the long-range strike capabilities of its F-35A fighter fleet....

March 18, 2026
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Air Platforms
R&D

Boeing to Upgrade Korea Poseidon Software

The US Department of Defense has awarded Boeing a $38.7-million contract to upgrade mission software for South Korea’s P-8A Poseidon fleet, enhancing the aircraft’s maritime surveillance and combat capabilities....

March 18, 2026
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Air Platforms
R&D

Bell Completes H-1 SPINE Upgrades

Bell Textron has successfully completed the first round of Structural and Power Improvements for NextGen Effects (SPINE) upgrades on the US Marine Corps’ AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom helicopters,...

March 17, 2026
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Weapons and Munition
R&D

US Army Develops Next-Gen Barrels

The US Army has collaborated with industry partners to develop a next-generation small arms barrel designed for improved durability and performance under high-pressure conditions. Using a new alloy developed...

L3Harris Delivers 100K M-Code GPS

L3Harris Technologies has delivered 100,000 M-Code GPS receivers to US and allied forces, marking a major milestone in secure navigation technology. These receivers provide jam-resistant positioning and timing capabilities...

AeroVironment Buys ESAero for $200M

AeroVironment has acquired Empirical Systems Aerospace for approximately $200 million, strengthening its capabilities in unmanned aircraft system development. ESAero’s expertise in hybrid propulsion, rapid prototyping, and certified manufacturing will...

March 17, 2026
Admin
Air Platforms
Procurement & Contracts

Pilatus Selects Thales RMS for PC-7

Swiss aircraft manufacturer Pilatus has selected Thales to provide an advanced radio management system for its PC-7 military training aircraft. The system is designed to support both training and...

March 17, 2026
Admin
Weapons and Munition
R&D

Baykar Extends K2 Range to 2,000 km

Turkey has demonstrated a significant advancement in drone warfare with the introduction of an AI-enabled kamikaze drone capable of coordinated swarm operations. Developed by Baykar, the K2 UAV successfully...