Air Platforms - defencenews.online

May 29, 2026
G.Krish
Procurement & Contracts

Tejas Trainer Numbers Rise as India Adopts Next-Generation Fighter Training Doctrine

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is reportedly planning to increase the number of Tejas twin-seat trainer aircraft under the second phase of the Tejas Mk1A procurement program as it...

May 29, 2026
G.Krish
Procurement & Contracts

TransBharat Aviation Becomes Launch Customer for Bell 407GXi in India

Bell Textron has announced the sale of the first Bell 407GXi helicopter in India to TransBharat Aviation Private Limited, one of the country’s longest-serving non-scheduled helicopter operators. Established in...

May 28, 2026
G.Krish
R&D

F-35 and MQ-20 Avenger Conduct Interoperability Combat Trial

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has successfully demonstrated interoperability between the F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft and the MQ-20 Avenger drone as part of the US Air Force’s Collaborative Combat...

May 28, 2026
G.Krish
Procurement & Contracts

Canadian ITPS Expands Fleet with M-346 Advanced Trainer Aircraft

International Test Pilot School has placed an order for M-346T advanced jet trainers from Leonardo after conducting an airborne evaluation of the aircraft at Ottawa International Airport in October...

May 25, 2026
G.Krish
Procurement & Contracts

Canberra plans retirement of Spartan transports as RAAF shifts toward long-range capabilities

Australia has decided to retire its fleet of Leonardo C-27J Spartan military transport aircraft and replace them with commercial airframes under the country’s updated defense strategy. Announced in April,...

May 25, 2026
G.Krish
R&D

US Special Operations Command arms MQ-9 drones with Small Diameter Bombs

The US Air Force Special Operations Command has integrated the GBU-39B Small Diameter Bomb onto MQ-9 Reaper drones, significantly enhancing the platform’s long-range precision strike capability for operations in...

May 25, 2026
G.Krish
Procurement & Contracts

Greece considers C-390 as Embraer expands European sustainment network

Embraer has signed an agreement with Greece’s Hellenic Aerospace Industry (HAI) to explore establishing local maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) capabilities for the C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft. The...

May 25, 2026
G.Krish
Procurement & Contracts

Royal Thai Air Force to operate additional Airbus C295 tactical airlifters

Thailand is set to expand its fleet of Airbus C295 tactical transport aircraft to five platforms after placing an order for two additional aircraft. The Royal Thai Army has...

May 24, 2026
G.Krish
R&D

Inside the MiG-35: Russia’s Affordable Yet Capable Air Combat Platform

Russia’s MiG-35 does not attempt to compete directly with the stealth-focused mystique of fifth-generation fighters. Instead, it offers a practical and cost-effective multirole combat solution built on the combat-proven...

May 23, 2026
G.Krish
Procurement & Contracts

Poland Advances Airpower Modernisation With Incoming F-35 Fleet

Poland is set to receive its first batch of F-35 stealth fighter jets under an agreement with the United States, as Warsaw strengthens security along its borders with Russia...