PARIS — The United States has changed its attitude on European allies funneling defense funds to local arms industries, and will be “pragmatic” about governments choosing to buy military equipment domestically, according to a senior U.S. defense official.
If countries spend 3.5% or 5% on defense, “we understand that you’re going to need to indigenize a large fraction of that…
MANILA, Philippines — Negotiations between Lockheed Martin and the Philippine government over the potential purchase of F-16s continue, but the deal remains in limbo while officials here seek ways to break the fiscal deadlock that has hounded the fighter jet acquisition…
India clears the way for landmark deal to acquire French Rafale jets
February 16, 2026
NEW DELHI — India has cleared a proposal to buy 114 Rafale multirole fighter jets from France to bolster its air force in its largest-ever military hardware procurement.
The push to acquire the jets comes amid a critical shortfall in the combat capability of the Indian Air…
ROME — Italian shipyard Fincantieri will boost revenue by 40%, hit profits of €500 million ($593 million) and double its defense production in Italy by 2030 as global defense spending booms, the firm has said.
In a new business plan covering 2026-2030, the Italian state-controlled yard said it expected annual revenue to rise from €9 billion in 2025 to €12.5 billion in 2030, while it will…
The U.S. Air Force said Thursday that government-owned autonomous software programs have been successfully integrated into both of its prototype collaborative combat aircraft, in a major milestone.
In a statement, the service said this shows a central pillar of its CCA…
DAMASCUS, Syria — Syrian government forces have taken control of a base in the east of the country that was run for years by U.S. troops as part of the war against the Islamic State group, the Defense Ministry said in a statement Thursday.
The al-Tanf base sits on a…
SINGAPORE — Beyond China’s ostentatious display of its J-35A fighter jet at the Singapore Airshow was a lower-profile piece of equipment, the new Wing-Loong X combat drone, which experts say is far more likely to find international success.
Beijing banked on Asia’s largest aerospace event, organized here from Feb. 3-7, to flex its aviation muscle, in a bid to attract more customers.
At the…
PARIS — NATO kicked off operation Arctic Sentry to bolster the alliance’s posture in the high north, after weeks of deliberations by allies how to address claims by U.S. President Donald Trump that security threats in the region require the United States to take control…
US Marine Corps advances plans for drone wingman
February 12, 2026
The Marine Corps has big plans in 2026 to advance toward fielding a drone wingman to collaborate with the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
On Tuesday, the Corps released its 2026 Aviation Plan, outlining its strategy to maintain and develop its aviation fleets.
A top priority…
MILAN — Russia is not expected to attack any NATO member states in the next two years, a testament, in part, to European efforts to quickly boost their defenses in the last few years, the Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service concluded in a report this week.
But Moscow’s re-organization of its military around drones and significant ammunition production signals that the regime is preparing for…
