2026 - currentdefencenews.com

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
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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
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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...

EOS Wins Cannon-Based C-UAS Deal

Electro Optic Systems has secured a $42-million contract from a Middle Eastern customer to deliver its Slinger counter-drone weapon system, highlighting growing demand for cost-effective air defense solutions. The...

March 17, 2026
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Land Platforms
Mergers & JV

Rheinmetall, Nooteboom Team on Transport

Rheinmetall and Nooteboom Trailers have entered into a strategic cooperation agreement to jointly develop and market advanced Heavy Equipment Trailer (HET) systems, responding to rising demand for military transport...

March 17, 2026
Admin
Unmanned Systems
Mergers & JV

Orqa Partners US Depot for Drone Build

Croatian company Orqa has partnered with Red River Army Depot to expand the US Army’s small drone production capacity. Under the agreement, the depot will manufacture Orqa’s unmanned systems,...