A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft assigned to the 17th Weapons Squadron, returns to Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, after a training mission in the Nevada Test and Training Range, Oct. 6, 2026. The 17 WPS, part of the USAF Weapons School, completed advanced tactics training, preparing them to employ and integrate advanced combat capabilities in complex operational environments. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Lauren Clevenger)

A U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II aircraft assigned to the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron, returns to Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, after a training mission in the Nevada Test and Training Range, Oct. 6, 2026. The NTTR provided the space and resources necessary for realistic, high-end training that enhanced aircrew readiness. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Lauren Clevenger)

A U.S. Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcon aircraft assigned to the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron, returns to Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, after a training mission in the Nevada Test and Training Range, Oct. 6, 2026. The NTTR encompasses approximately 2.9 million acres, in result providing an expansive environment for 422nd TES training and testing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Lauren Clevenger)

A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 100th Air Refueling Wing sits on the flight line prior to a refueling mission at RAF Mildenhall, England, Oct. 6, 2026. The KC-135 enables the 100th ARW to extend the range and endurance of U.S. and Allied aircraft through aerial refueling. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Aidan Martínez Rosiere)

GREENVILLE, S.C., Oct. 6, 2026 - Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] today announced the successful first flight of the Royal Moroccan Air Force’s (RMAF) first F‑16 Block 72 aircraft, marking a key milestone as the aircraft progresses through flight testing toward first delivery.

The F‑16 Block 72 is the newest and most advanced variant of the Fighting Falcon, equipped with modernized avionics, advanced sensors, improved mission systems, and enhanced safety and reliability features.

“This first flight reflects meaningful progress on Morocco’s F‑16 Block 72 program and is a critical step in strengthening Morocco’s future airpower,” said Mike Shoemaker, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin’s Integrated Fighter Group. “The F‑16 remains a vital component of today’s and future air defense, and we’re proud of the role it will continue to play in supporting Morocco’s sovereignty and contributing to regional stability for decades to come.”

Lockheed Martin’s partnership with Morocco spans more than 50 years, beginning with the first C‑130H delivery in 1974. Today, the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces operate F‑16s, C‑130s, advanced radar systems, Black Hawks, and will be receiving HIMARS with long range precision fires.

Lockheed Martin is committed to strengthening Moroccan industry and local technical expertise through partnerships such as Maintenance Aero Maroc. The upcoming Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility at Benslimane, spanning more than 8,000 square meters, is designed to support heavy maintenance and modernization of C-130 Hercules aircraft, with plans to expand to platforms including the F-16. The investment supports Morocco’s ambition to become a regional hub for aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul.

The Swedish Government has recently decided to actively strengthen Sweden's national capability and expertise relating to this engine as well. To that end, Saab and GKN Aerospace have been tasked with jointly creating the conditions necessary to achieve this objective.

"The cooperation agreement we have now signed lays the foundation for establishing GKN Aerospace as Saab's partner in engine-related matters for Gripen E/F. For Saab, being able to contribute to strengthening Sweden's fighter aircraft capability and domestic industrial capacity is of utmost importance," says Johan Segertoft, head of Saab’s business unit Gripen.

The collaboration will enable GKN Aerospace to progressively assume a greater role in engine-related matters and provide expertise, capacity and technical support in relation to the Gripen E/F programme.

Saab and GKN Aerospace have an existing collaboration on the engine for Gripen C/D, whereas this new agreement embraces Gripen E/F.

São José dos Campos, Brazil, October 8, 2026 – LATAM Airlines Brazil and Embraer are celebrating the start of the delivery process for the first E195-E2 in the airline’s history. The new aircraft is expected to enter service in the coming days and will bolster LATAM's connectivity expansion, contributing to the ongoing growth of the airline's footprint in the country, which has expanded from 44 airports served six years ago to 63 today.

The aircraft is the first of 12 E195-E2s scheduled to be delivered to LATAM by the end of 2026. Its arrival marks the next step in the plan announced in September 2025, when LATAM Airlines Group disclosed the acquisition of up to 74 aircraft of this model.

“We chose the E195-E2 with a clear objective: to continue expanding LATAM’s presence in Brazil sustainably. With the E2, we will connect new markets with strong demand and economic potential to our global network, allowing us to surpass the milestone of 70 airports served in Brazil as early as 2027,” explains Jerome Cadier, CEO of LATAM Airlines Brazil.

“We are proud to celebrate the completion of LATAM Airlines Brazil’s first E195-E2. This aircraft will play an important role in the company's strategy to expand its connectivity, offering the ideal combination of efficiency, operational flexibility, and comfort. It is gratifying to see the E195-E2 contributing to connecting new destinations and supporting the development of air transportation in Brazil,” says Francisco Gomes Neto, CEO of Embraer.

A milestone for the Wedgetail programme.

WT002 has arrived at RAF Lossiemouth and joins WT001 as testing and evaluation continues.

Ground and flight trials are underway, and both aircraft will support the next phase of development for the RAF’s aircraft of the future.
(Photos courtesy of the RAF)

An F-117A Nighthawk fuselage sits on a Lockheed Martin flightline prior to being onloaded into the cargo hold of a C-5M Super Galaxy operated by the 512th Airlift Wing, in Palmdale, Calif., Oct. 5, 2026. The historic stealth aircraft was bound for the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Va.The two-day, cross-country mission required precise weight distribution and millimeter-level clearances to fit the 29,500-pound load into the plane’s cargo compartment. (U.S. Air Force photos by Staff Sgt. Alexis Morris)

U.S. Air Force Capt. Nick “Laz” Le Tourneau, pilot and commander of the F-22 Raptor Aerial Demonstration Team, and Retired Lt. Col. Greg “B.A.” Anders, a civilian Heritage Flight pilot, perform a Heritage Flight for the San Francisco Fleet Week Air Show in San Francisco, California, Oct. 11, 2026. Heritage Flights are performed at airshows across the country to celebrate U.S. military aviation history, inspire future generations and pay tribute to the service members whose courage and ingenuity continue to shape the skies. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mary Bowers)

An F/A-18E Super Hornet, from the “Mighty Shrikes” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 94, launches from the flight deck of USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) in the Pacific Ocean, Oct. 12, 2026. The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan is underway conducting routine training in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of operations. (U.S. Navy photos by Mass Communications Specialist 2nd Class Jaron Wills)


A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft flies in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility Oct. 3, 2026. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Tiffany A. Emery)

U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft fly in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility Oct. 4, 2026. (U.S. Air Force photos by Tech. Sgt. Tiffany A. Emery)


Toulouse, France, 09 October 2026 - Avolon, a leading global aviation finance company, has placed a firm order for 110 Airbus aircraft, comprising 35 A330-900 and 75 A320neo Family aircraft. This incremental order takes Avolon’s total for the A330-900 to 114 aircraft and the A320 Family to some 650.

"We continue to see strong demand for new aircraft, and this order further strengthens our long-term delivery pipeline. This positions us to support our airline customers' fleet growth and replacement requirements well into the next decade. We expect demand for both the A330neo and A320neo to remain strong given the long-term growth trajectory of the aviation sector, and we are delighted to further expand our longstanding partnership with Airbus through this agreement,” said Andy Cronin, Avolon CEO.

“This is a major order for both the A330neo and the A320neo Family and we thank Avolon for its repeated endorsement of our products,” said Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus EVP Sales of the Commercial Aircraft business. “With this acquisition, Avolon confirms its position as the leading lessor for the A330-900, having purchased 114 of the type from Airbus. It is also another demonstration of the strong demand for the A330neo and A320neo from the lessor community, who clearly value the broad market appeal and flexibility these two products offer in the market space from domestic to regional to long haul routes.”

Powered by the latest generation Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines, the A330neo is designed to fly up to 8,100 nautical miles / 15,000 kilometers non-stop and reduces fuel burn, CO₂ emissions and operating cost by 25% compared to previous generation competitor aircraft. The A330neo unique Airspace cabin offers passengers and crews the latest modern in-flight products for a comfortable flying experience.

The A320 Family is the world’s most popular single-aisle aircraft, having won more than 20,400 orders globally. The Family includes the largest member, the A321neo, offering unparalleled range and performance. The Family offers at least 20% fuel savings and CO₂ reduction compared to previous generation single-aisle aircraft, while maximising passenger comfort with one of the widest single-aisle cabins in the sky.

Ottobrunn / Taufkirchen, Germany, 12 October 2026 – Airbus, in partnership with Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: KTOS), has successfully completed the first flight of the “U740-Valkyrie” in Europe. This key milestone confirms that Airbus and Kratos are on track to deliver a combat-ready uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) by 2029, addressing the operational requirements of the German and other European Armed Forces.

Conducted at a test facility in Northern Europe, the flight achieved all objectives, including a runway independent rocket-assisted take-off, manoeuvers at various altitudes and speeds up to Mach 0.8, as well as in-flight mission adjustments. This debut paves the way for subsequent, more sophisticated flight tests with Airbus’ Multi-platform Autonomous Reconfigurable and Secure (MARS) mission system. Serving as the aircraft’s “European brain” and ensuring full control over software as well as mission applications, data and system hardware, MARS enables national German or European sovereignty from operational usage of the Valkyrie. MARS utilises AI-enhanced software to conduct missions autonomously and coordinate entire mission groups. A strict control hierarchy ensures a human remains on the loop, guaranteeing all critical decisions comply with established rules of engagement, as well as ethical and legal standards.

“In an increasingly complex and contested threat environment, air forces require affordable combat mass,” said Mike Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space. “By pairing Kratos’ proven airframe as a ‘program of record’ with Airbus’ sovereign European mission system, we are able to offer a robust, sovereign, affordable, and combat-ready CCA system by the end of the decade. The Valkyrie will also play a critical role in enhancing crewed combat aircraft such as the Eurofighter with extended range, firepower, and survivability. The aircraft design enables operational resilience through its rail launch capability, while offering conventional, runway based, take-off and landing as an option.”

“First flights typically include plenty of learning opportunities, but with the maturity of the Valkyrie system and the well-integrated Airbus and Kratos team, this flight was an amazing success,” said Eric DeMarco, President and CEO of Kratos. “We’re proud to be partnering with Airbus on the CCA opportunities in Germany and other parts of the world. Combining the strengths of Kratos and Airbus enables the affordable Valkyrie system and Kratos’ CCA and drone manufacturing legacy to evolve with MARS and Airbus’ other high-capability subsystems, experience, and extensive knowledge across the full aerospace spectrum.”

About the U740 Valkyrie

With a length of 9.1m and a wingspan of 8.2m, the U740 Valkyrie features an internal weapons bay and external payload stations under the wings. It has a maximum take-off weight of approximately three tonnes, a range exceeding 5,000 kilometres, and a service ceiling of 45,000 feet. The U740 Valkyrie is engineered to operate autonomously or under the command of crewed fighters, such as the Eurofighter, to execute high-risk missions and protect crewed assets.

LOS ANGELES, October 12, 2026 – Heart Aerospace today announced a $2.9 million award from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) under Phase IV of the agency’s Continuous Lower Energy, Emissions, and Noise (CLEEN) public-private partnership program. CLEEN brings the FAA and aerospace manufacturers together to develop and test aircraft technologies with improved performance and safety. With an equal cost share from Heart, the award supports a $5.8 million, 24-month R&D and demonstration project.

The award will fund Heart’s Project HYPER (Hybrid Propulsion Environmental Readiness), which will advance development and testing of a Heart turbogenerator for the ES-36’s series-hybrid propulsion system. Each of the aircraft’s two propulsion nacelles will house a megawatt-class turbogenerator that produces electricity in flight, extending the ES-36’s range beyond what batteries alone can provide.

Through Project HYPER, Heart will develop and test the ES-36 turbogenerator on the company’s pre-production aircraft, scheduled to make its first flight in 2028. The project will begin with ground testing to evaluate how the turbogenerator, batteries and electric motors work together in different operating modes, before progressing to demonstration flights aboard the pre-production ES-36. The project will generate data on energy use, fuel burn, emissions, and noise to support ES-36 certification and inform the FAA’s approach to evaluating and certifying hybrid-electric aircraft more broadly.

“The FAA’s continued partnership with Heart Aerospace will accelerate development of this key element of the ES-36’s disruptive hybrid-electric powertrain,” said Ben Stabler, Chief Technology Officer of Heart Aerospace. “Together, we are advancing technologies that will help bring to market a new generation of commercial aircraft that use less fuel, produce fewer emissions and make less noise, benefiting passengers, operators and the communities they serve.”

The CLEEN award extends FAA support for the development of Heart’s hybrid-electric powertrain, initially provided through the agency’s Fueling Aviation’s Sustainable Transition (FAST) program. That funding supported development of Heart’s Total Hybrid Electric Management and Integration System (THEMIS), the propulsion control architecture that coordinates the ES-36’s electric motors, turbogenerators and batteries during flight.

Together, the turbogenerators and THEMIS will enable ES-36 to fly on battery power alone for short-haul routes and will supplement battery power with electricity generated from Jet A and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for longer regional missions. Heart is targeting an ES-36 all-electric range of 125 miles and a hybrid range of up to 745 miles, both plus reserves.

“We’re grateful to the FAA for the agency’s continued investment in Heart’s hybrid-electric powertrain and the technologies needed to bring electric aviation to commercial scale,” said Cole Randle, Head of Corporate Affairs at Heart Aerospace. “Through CLEEN, Heart will advance the ES-36 toward flight demonstration while generating knowledge that can help the broader industry understand how to build, test, and certify hybrid-electric aircraft.”

The award adds to a series of milestones for Heart in 2026, including the first flight of the company’s X1 demonstrator aircraft, the unveiling of the 36-seat ES-36 production aircraft, and a purchase agreement with JSX for up to 100 ES-36 aircraft.

About Heart Aerospace

Heart Aerospace is a Los Angeles-based electric aircraft manufacturer on a mission to lower the cost of air travel. In August 2026, Heart flew the company’s X1 demonstrator, the world’s largest battery-electric aircraft, advancing electric flight into the airliner category. The company’s first production aircraft, the Heart ES-36, is a clean-sheet, 36-seat hybrid-electric regional aircraft designed to bring cost-efficient electric flight into everyday airline service. Backed by over $9 billion in customer commitments from leading carriers including United Airlines, Air Canada, and JSX, Heart is advancing technologies to make electric aviation work at commercial scale. Learn more about Heart and the company’s vision for abundant, affordable air travel at www.heartaerospace.com.

SAN DIEGO — 12 October 2026 — General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) and the Arizona Army National Guard (AZARNG) met over the summer to finalize plans for the arrival of eight Gray Eagle® 25Ms (GE 25M) Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in September 2027. Arizona will become the first state to establish a UAS unit with Gray Eagle 25Ms as part of the Army National Guard. Four additional units are scheduled for fielding by the end of 2029.

Arizona is part of the Army National Guard’s 40th Infantry Division. The Army National Guard’s objective is to field eight Divisional UAS Companies, one for each of its Divisions. Once fully operational, the Gray Eagle 25M can deploy in support of global missions for Combatant Command (COCOM) commanders and defend against threats in the Western Hemisphere. The Army National Guard currently has three Gray Eagle 25M units funded by Congress and is already on contract with GA-ASI.

“The Gray Eagle has a proven record of performance with 1 million hours of safe operations, including automatic takeoff and landing capability,” said GA-ASI Vice President of DoD Strategic Development Patrick Shortsleeve. “When you factor in its extensive capabilities, the Gray Eagle is a cost-effective UAS that excels as an enabler for Fires, Maneuver, Network, and Intelligence operations. It is also an integral part of the Army Aviation team, bringing advanced autonomy while working closely with manned rotary-wing systems to achieve overmatch against pacing threats.”

The Gray Eagle 25M also has the ability to support long range organic payloads/sensors with Launched Effects to remain outside threat weapons in terrestrial & maritime operations and counter-UAS in addition to its Reconnaissance Security Targeting and Acquisition (RSTA) missions. It will become the only UAS in the ARNG’s arsenal.

The fielding of Gray Eagle 25M in Arizona and the 40th Infantry Division will increase the overall capability of the Army National Guard and aligns with a renewed emphasis on unmanned systems across the Department of War. The Gray Eagle 25M in the Army National Guard will support the full spectrum of combat operations abroad as well as domestic missions including disaster response. The Gray Eagle 25M’s nearly 40-hour endurance and significant payload capacity combined with its open architecture to add sensor, network, kinetic and non-kinetic effects potentially enables the Army National Guard to be an asset for Golden Dome missions.

Gray Eagle 25M is a modernized version of the Gray Eagle ER designed to meet the U.S. Army’s needs for expeditionary operations and advanced sensors. The aircraft is delivered equipped with the EagleEye® multi-mode radar and electro-optical/infrared sensors with options for additional payloads. Equipping ARNG Divisions with organic Gray Eagle 25Ms makes possible the necessary mission planning, targeting, communications, detailed coordination, and realistic training needed to employ the systems successfully in combat. Gray Eagle 25M will allow ARNG Divisions to execute Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition (RSTA) without risk to humans for the first time.

About GA-ASI

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., is the world’s foremost builder of Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS). Logging more than 9 million flight hours, the Predator® line of UAS has flown for over 30 years and includes MQ-9A Reaper®, MQ-1C Gray Eagle®, MQ-20 Avenger®, MQ-9B SkyGuardian®/SeaGuardian®, XQ-67A, and FQ-42 Vengeance. The company is dedicated to providing long-endurance, multi-mission solutions that deliver persistent situational awareness and rapid strike.

For more information, visit www.ga-asi.com

Less than a year after the arrival of the first Belgium F-35 aircraft at Florennes, the Defence organization tested the deployment of the full F-35 capability during a recent exercise. The focus was not only on the aircraft itself but also on everything required to conduct global operations: personnel, logistics, infrastructure, and secure information systems.

A crucial element of the exercise was the deployment of a mobile operations center. Operating from various containers, mission planners and specialists prepare missions and ensure the secure exchange of essential information before, during, and after every flight. This ensures the pilot constantly has the most up-to-date data needed to carry out the mission.

The next step? A full deployment abroad. This brings the Defence organization closer to Initial Operational Capability (IOC)—the point at which the full F-35 capability is ready for its first operational missions.
(Photos courtesy of the Belgian Air Force)