Defense News Aerospace 2026
Auterion Conducts First U.S. Kinetic Drone Swarm Strike Controlled by Single Operator
On January 19, 2026, Auterion announced that it had conducted what it presents as the first U.S. kinetic combat drone swarm strike, opening a new c...
Sweden Deploys JAS 39 Gripen Multirole Fighter Jets to Lead NATO Icelandic Air Policing Mission
On 20 January 2026, NATO Allied Air Command confirmed that Sweden will, for the first time since joining the Alliance, assume responsibility for NA...
U.S. approves $2.3 billion P-8A Poseidon sale to replace Singapore’s maritime patrol fleet
On January 20, 2026, the United States approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Singapore for up to four P-8A maritime patrol aircraft, MK 54 M...
U.S. NORAD deploys aircraft to Greenland’s Pituffik Space Base amid ongoing Arctic sovereignty crisis
On January 19, 2026, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) confirmed that its aircraft will soon be deployed at Pituffik Space Base ...
U.S. Air Force to keep retired F-117 Nighthawk stealth jets flying until 2034
As reported by 19FortyFive on January 14, 2026, the U.S. Air Force will continue operating a limited number of F-117 Nighthawk aircraft until at le...
Taiwan Discloses Procurement Quantities of ALTIUS 700M and 600ISR Drones for Asymmetric Defense
Information released on January 20, 2026, by Taiwanese authorities and relayed by multiple local news agencies, such as Focus Taiwan, confirms that...
Kosovo Conducts First Long-Range Strike Test of Skifteri K1 Kamikaze Drone With 1,124 km Reach
On 18 January 2026, footage and photographs released by Kosovar defense entrepreneur Ridvan Aliu drew international attention to Kosovo’s emerging ...
Lockheed Martin underscores Canada’s central role in F-35 program amid rising U.S. pressure
On January 16, 2026, Lockheed Martin stated that Canada’s participation in the F-35 program is projected to generate more than C$15.5 billion (appr...
Türkiye’s STM Delivers KARGU And ALPAGU Loitering Munitions To European NATO Country
On 16 January 2026, Turkish defence company STM announced that its KARGU rotary-wing loitering munition and ALPAGU fixed-wing kamikaze UAV had been...
General Atomics MQ-20 Avenger Drone Completes First Live Autonomous Air-to-Air Intercept Test
On 18 January 2026, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) announced that its MQ-20 Avenger unmanned combat air vehicle had completed ...
Israel deploys three new F-35I Adir fighter jets in combat as fleet reaches 48 units
On January 18, 2026, the Israeli Air Force announced that three new F-35I Adir fighter jets arrived at Nevatim Air Base, increasing the IAF's F-35I...
U.S. Navy Expands MQ-9B SeaGuardian Sonobuoy Payload to Enhance Unmanned Anti-Submarine Warfare
A General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) statement issued on 13 January 2026 said the company and the U.S. Navy had completed a new MQ-9B Se...