DefenseNews

US, Europe vow to secure Ukraine, as Kyiv asks for $60 billion in 2026

BERLIN — Ukrainian, European and U.S. negotiators have wrapped up two days of talks here with what officials describe as the most substantial movement yet toward a political framework to end Russia’s full‑scale invasion, even as core territorial questions remain unresolved. Meanwhile, Ukraine on Tuesday predicted the total costs for its defense at $120 billion for 2026, of which half would…
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DefenseNews

B-52 with key radar upgrade flies to Edwards for testing

The first B-52H Stratofortress to receive a major radar upgrade last week flew to Edwards Air Force Base in California for testing, marking a significant milestone in the Air Force’s work to modernize its oldest bomber fleet. The B-52 conducted a ferry flight from…
DefenseNews

As US ramps up munitions production, South Korea and Australia want in

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — South Korea and Australia are offering to relieve Washington’s strained defense supplier network, as U.S. defense planners grapple with bottlenecks in munitions production. One partial solution is for overseas-based arms manufacturers to set up shop in the United States – something that Hanwha Aerospace from South Korea is proposing – and another is for American…
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DefenseNews

Belgium doubles down on drone defenses following mystery flights

MILAN — Belgium has embarked on a major acquisition push to accelerate the procurement of counter-drone systems, including surveillance radars and drone guns. The ramp-up is part of the country’s €50 million ($59 million) anti-drone plan following a recent surge in illegal drone overflights near or above airports, military bases, and nuclear-weapons storage sites. Belgian defense minister…
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DefenseNews

US Air Force instructor pilots have first T-7 in training milestone

The Air Force’s first T-7 Red Hawk trainer assigned to an operational unit landed at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph in Texas on Dec. 5, opening the door to the service’s new era of pilot training. A lot more work remains, however, before the T-7 is officially folded into day-to-day activities to train the next generation of Air Force pilots. The Boeing-made T-7 is the service’s first new…
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