A historic B-17 Flying Fortress flies over the crowd during SkyFest 2026 at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington June 6, 2026. In alignment with the nationwide 'Freedom 250' celebration, the air show highlighted two and a half centuries of American progress, liberty and the technological leaps made throughout military aviation history. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Audrey Mc Dowell)

A striking purple P-51 Mustang banks sharply over the crowd during a SkyFest 2026 aerial demonstration at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington June 6, 2026. The event served as a platform to celebrate Fairchild AFB's military heritage, honoring the unique civilian-military bond with the Inland Northwest community that has supported the nation's defense for generations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Audrey Mc Dowell)

Berlin, Germany, 8 June 2026 – Airbus Helicopters will introduce an uncrewed version of its proven H145, the U145, during ILA Berlin airshow, where the company will display a full-scale mock-up of the new model. The U145 complements Airbus’ helicopter and uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) offering. A maiden flight with a safety pilot onboard is planned for the end of 2026, with entry into service at the beginning of the next decade.

“With the U145, we are offering our customers an autonomous, uncrewed version of our H145 helicopter - combining the proven airframe, power and useful load of the H145 with the autonomy of a UAS,” said Matthieu Louvot, CEO of Airbus Helicopters. “To develop the U145 and its capabilities as a multi-mission UAS, we will be teaming up with leading autonomous mission partners to further expand the UAS ecosystem in Europe,” he added.

The H145 is the second crewed helicopter Airbus is converting into an uncrewed version, following the VSR700, which is derived from the Cabri G2. The U145 will feature a specialised sensor suite and artificial intelligence for full autonomy. Compared with a crewed H145 helicopter, the U145 will have no physical cockpit, and will include significant adaptations for cargo, such as an integrated nose door including a foldable loading table and a dedicated cargo floor.

With a Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) of 3,800 kg, the U145 is being developed as a mission-agnostic solution for civil and military applications, primarily high-volume cargo supply. Its modular design supports expansion into roles like disaster management, firefighting, armed scouting, surveillance, drone mothership functionality for air launched effects, where Airbus is partnering with MBDA, as well as crewed-uncrewed teaming.

In the United States, Airbus U.S. Space & Defense is, together with its partners Shield AI, L3 Harris and Parry Lab, offering the US Marine Corps a dedicated US development, the MQ-72C, which is a fully autonomous variant of the well proven Lakota UH-72B, tailored to their specific needs.

In total, there are more than 1,800 H145 family helicopters in service for military, parapublic and civil missions, logging a total of more than 8.5 million flight hours. Powered by two Safran Arriel 2E engines, the H145 is equipped with a full authority digital engine control (FADEC). Its particularly low acoustic footprint makes the H145 the quietest helicopter in its class, while its CO2 emissions are the lowest amongst its competitors.

June 08, 2026
Bombardier and ELIE SAAB are proud to unveil a bold new chapter in business aviation: a bespoke cabin design for the Global 8000 aircraft that redefines the onboard experience through the lens of haute couture.

This landmark, first-of-its-kind collaboration brings together Bombardier’s industry-leading engineering and performance with ELIE SAAB’s timeless design expertise, elevating the world’s fastest(1) business jet’s cabin into a refined living environment where precision, comfort and timeless elegance converge. The unveiling took place at Bombardier’s Aviator Lounge, the company’s curated, immersive flagship in Monaco during the Formula 1 Grand Prix, placing the project at the intersection of performance, design and refined living.

This collaboration reflects a natural alignment between two globally renowned brands, united by a shared commitment to serving a discerning global clientele with uncompromising standards of quality, precision, and sophistication.

“When we began discussions with ELIE SAAB, the Global 8000 was already well on the path to becoming a certified, operational aircraft. This allowed us to go beyond concepts and rethink the cabin as a true living space, while fully respecting the performance and operational realities of the aircraft,” said Éric Martel, President and Chief Executive Officer of Bombardier. “This collaboration pushes the boundaries of business aviation and reflects our relentless focus on elevating the customer experience.”

For ELIE SAAB, whose creative universe has long extended beyond fashion into the worlds of design and interiors, the project was both intuitive and deeply personal. The Global 8000 cabin has been reimagined as a sophisticated, harmonious space, defined by clean architectural lines, rich materials and a warm, timeless palette that enhances both openness and fluidity.

“With Bombardier, we approached this collaboration with an haute couture mindset, elevating every material and detail into a carefully curated expression of luxury, precision and design excellence. This project also reflects our desire to accompany our clients in their daily lives wherever they are, extending the ELIE SAAB universe into every moment of their journey. It is truly a new approach to private aviation, where travel becomes a seamless continuation of refined living,” said Elie Saab Jr., CEO of ELIE SAAB.

Designed as an intimate yet open and highly personalized environment, the cabin translates a refined way of living into the experience of private travel. Bathed in natural light, the interior reveals a serene and spacious sanctuary characterized by fluid architectural lines, expansive sightlines and a warm, harmonious palette. At its centre, a generous lounge area serves as the heart of the cabin, offering an inviting setting designed to foster well-being, connection and effortless comfort.

Behind the elegant simplicity of the cabin lies a highly complex and deeply collaborative process. Bombardier’s engineering teams worked hand-in-hand with ELIE SAAB to translate couture-inspired design into a fully certifiable aircraft interior, meeting the rigorous technical, safety and performance standards of business aviation.

This exclusive Global 8000 cabin offering marks a defining milestone in Bombardier’s continued evolution, not only as a leader in aviation, but as a brand shaping the future of its industry. Now available to Global 8000 customers as an option, this distinctive cabin concept reflects a natural extension of ELIE SAAB’s universe into new dimensions of lifestyle and design, reinforcing its ambition to accompany clients wherever they are, and to bring its distinctive design philosophy into every aspect of their lives – even in flight.
About Bombardier

At Bombardier (BBD-B.TO), we design, build, modify and maintain the world’s best-performing aircraft for the world’s most discerning people and businesses, governments and militaries. That means not simply exceeding standards, but understanding customers well enough to anticipate their unspoken needs.

For them, we are committed to pioneering the future of aviation—innovating to make flying more reliable, efficient and sustainable. And we are passionate about delivering unrivaled craftsmanship and care, giving our customers greater confidence and the elevated experience they deserve and expect. Because people who shape the world will always need the most productive and responsible ways to move through it.

Bombardier customers operate a fleet of more than 5,200 aircraft, supported by a vast network of Bombardier team members worldwide and 10 service facilities across six countries. Bombardier’s performance-leading jets are proudly manufactured in aerostructure, assembly and completion facilities in Canada, the United States and Mexico. In 2024, Bombardier was honoured with the prestigious “Red Dot: Best of the Best” award for Brands and Communication Design.

For Information

For corporate news and information, including Bombardier’s Sustainability report, as well as the company’s initiative to cover all its flight operations with a Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) blend utilizing the Book-and-Claim system visit bombardier.com.

Learn more about Bombardier’s industry-leading products and customer service network at bombardier.com. Follow us on X @Bombardier.
About ELIE SAAB

Founded in Lebanon in 1982, ELIE SAAB is one of the world’s leading Haute Couture lifestyle brands. As one of the first international members of France’s prestigious Chambre Syndicale, the House has established a global presence with flagship boutiques in major fashion capitals including Paris, London, Milan, Dubai, Beirut and other key cities around the world.

Sought after by A-list celebrities and royalty around the globe, the house offers Haute Couture, Ready-to-Wear, and Bridal collections, complemented by accessories, eyewear, childrenswear, watches, fragrances and furniture. The brand has also expanded into interior design partnering with leading developers worldwide.

410 Tactical Fighter Operational Training Squadron deployed on Exercise Pacific Prowl 2026 to MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida from April to May. The purpose of these types of exercises is to conduct force generation operations, maintain proficiency and train the next generation of logistics, maintenance, and operations personnel.

Training deployments to the United States allows for end-to-end execution of deployed operations and enables higher flying rates, high-tempo working conditions in deployed locations and emphasizes cooperation between allies.

Throughout the exercise the professionalism, training and proficiency of the members of the Canadian Armed Forces were on full display. The exercise was a success with training objectives and valuable experience obtained.

(Photos courtesy of Sailor 3rd Class (S3) Mckayla Ryce.)

A first Mica NG missile shot from a #Rafale in supersonic flight configuration
Conducted on June 1st under the leadership of the General Armament Directorate, with the competition of MBDA, Dassault Aviation and the Air and Space Force, this test has validated:

✔️ the complete missile implementation channel in its infrared version;
✔️ the performances of its infrared autodriver, crucial for missile guidance, in a use framework of rare complexity.

Why is this essay important?
At a speed higher than sound, the Mica NG and its infrared autodriver are subject to a very high ambient temperature. This rise in temperature reduces the thermal contrast between the target and its surroundings. But the self-director relies on this contrast to spot and track his target. Despite these constraints, the system has confirmed its technological robustness.
(Photos courtesy of the Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace )

Some more photos from 2026 #Ramstein Flag,which just got underway, courtesy of the Aeronautica Militare .