An F-16 Fighting Falcon, assigned to the 180th Fighter Wing, approaches a KC-135 Stratotanker with the 121st Air Refueling Wing over the skies of Canada, May 20, 2026. The F-16 Fighting Falcon can fly more than 500 miles, but the KC-135 can extend its radius beyond that and deliver airpower anywhere, anytime, globally. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Airman 1st Class Taylor Warehime)

An F-16 Fighting Falcon, assigned to the 180th Fighter Wing, flies alongside a KC-135 Stratotanker with the 121st Air Refueling Wing over the skies of Canada, May 20, 2026. The F-16 Fighting Falcon can fly more than 500 miles, but the KC-135 can extend its radius beyond that and deliver airpower anywhere, anytime, globally. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Airman 1st Class Taylor Warehime)

On 19 May, Saab’s airborne early warning sensor, LoyalEye, successfully completed its first flight on an unmanned aircraft at GA-ASI’s Desert Horizon facility in Southern California. This milestone marks the start of a several-month test evaluation phase, which will culminate in a full capability demonstration later this year.
Saab is a global leader in airborne early warning systems, known for its manned AEW&C solution, GlobalEye. GA-ASI brings advanced unmanned aircraft systems and extensive operational experience to the table. Together, the companies are developing an unmanned AEW solution designed to provide unmatched advanced air surveillance.

“LoyalEye on the MQ-9B offers critical airborne sensing, supporting extended persistence and operational reach. As a complement to manned assets, it aims to enhance situational awareness and, in combination, enable greater operational reach and flexibility”, said Carl Johan Bergholm, Head of Saab’s business area Surveillance.

“AEW for MQ-9B will offer critical aloft sensing to defend against tactical air munitions, guided missiles, drones, fighter and bomber aircraft, and other threats,” said GA-ASI President David R. Alexander. “Operational availability for a medium-altitude, long-endurance UAS is the highest of any military aircraft, and as an unmanned platform, its aircrews are not put into harm’s way.”

The joint AEW offering from Saab and GA-ASI will support a wide range of applications, including early detection and warning, long-range detection and tracking, and the simultaneous tracking of multiple targets. The system will operate both beyond the line of sight and via satellite communication (SATCOM) connectivity.

MELBOURNE, Fla. – May 21, 2026 – Eve Air Mobility (“Eve”) (NYSE: EVEX, EVEXW; B3: EVEB31), a global leader in advanced air mobility solutions, today announced the successful closeout of the hover & low‑speed flights block in the flight test campaign of its full‑scale engineering prototype. The completed block generated high‑fidelity data and knowledge gains that continue to mature the program as Eve progresses toward transition flight testing.

The milestone reflects Eve’s disciplined building-block approach, which expands the flight envelope step‑by‑step and validates models, control laws and aircraft behavior against real‑world data before moving into more complex tests. Each completed block strengthens the technical foundation for the next, tightening the correlation between simulation predictions and flight behavior.

“Closing this phase validates the discipline behind our flight test strategy,” said Johann Bordais, CEO of Eve. “Across 59 flights, we confirmed stable hover performance and predictable control behavior within the envelope, while expanding our understanding of loads, aerodynamics, propulsion and energy management, key foundations for the transition phase and the certification path ahead with the conforming prototypes.”

In this phase, the aircraft demonstrated stable hover performance and predictable handling through progressively more demanding maneuvers. The team first completed the low‑speed input phase below 15 knots, executing activities to validate control laws, downwash effects, thermal behavior and the propulsion model. As testing progressed, operations expanded to approximately 20 knots of ground speed (vehicle speed), including simultaneous four‑axis maneuvers to further validate aerodynamic and load models, supporting progression to higher speeds, a broader envelope and larger control deflections.

Notable milestones from this phase include the execution of more than 100 flight test points and the first demonstrations of autoland and the simplified fly-by-wire mode, a secondary layer of the fly-by-wire system that is activated when the normal mode is unavailable. The aircraft also reached 215 feet above ground level (AGL) and flew for 3 minutes and 48 seconds. Throughout testing, the aircraft showed consistent behavior under simultaneous four‑axis inputs. Recorded noise levels remained in line with expectations, while propulsion and battery performance were better than anticipated.

“Completing hover and low‑speed testing gives us high‑confidence data to validate and refine our aerodynamic, propulsion and load models,” said Marcelo Basile, Head of Tests of Eve. “That model correlation is what enables disciplined envelope expansion. With planned ground tests next, we will be ready to begin transition flights, in which we validate the lifter-pusher synchronization before moving on to the cruise phase.”

Over the coming weeks, Eve’s engineering prototype will conduct planned ground tests in preparation for the transition flights block, expected to begin in summer 2026 (July/August). The transition phase is designed to further strengthen the development of the final aircraft by expanding the envelope and validating performance as the program advances toward wingborne flight.

SAN DIEGO – 21 May 2026 – The YFQ-42A Collaborative Combat Aircraft, built by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) for the U.S. Air Force, has returned to flight testing following a round of safety reviews and software enhancements for the new uncrewed fighter jet.

The return follows a strategic pause in flight testing stemming from an April 6 mishap shortly after takeoff. Other aspects of the YFQ-42A program, including ground testing and other Technology Maturation and Risk Reduction (TMRR) activities, continued without interruption.

No one was injured in the incident, though the aircraft was a total loss. A thorough safety review isolated the cause to an autopilot miscalculation for the weight and center of gravity of the aircraft, prompting a software remediation.

The Air Force and GA-ASI conducted a joint review following the mishap. Following a stringent evaluation, technical authorities endorsed the software changes and YFQ-42A has returned to the air.

“We’re excited to have YFQ-42A flying again,” said GA-ASI President David R. Alexander. “It’s been said that you learn more from your setbacks than your successes. We are applying what we’ve learned to our growing fleet of CCAs, as we continue building the most dependable and cost-efficient unmanned fighters in the world.”

The YFQ-42A is a purpose-built CCA platform developed as part of ongoing investment in next-generation semi-autonomous combat aircraft. The aircraft’s modular design enables rapid integration of mission systems and mission autonomy software. GA-ASI’s software architecture, demonstrated through multiple live flight tests on multiple airframes, provides the foundation for human-machine teaming in complex combat scenarios.

GA-ASI was selected by the U.S. Air Force in April 2024 to build production-representative flight test articles for the CCA program. The YFQ-42A successfully conducted its maiden flight in August 2025, validating a “genus/species” concept for rapid, modular, and low-cost uncrewed fighter aircraft development. This approach enables a common core aircraft design that can be rapidly adapted for different mission sets and service requirements.

About GA-ASI

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., is the world’s foremost builder of Unmanned 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®, and MQ-9B SkyGuardian®/SeaGuardian®. 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

The first Wedgetail has touched down at RAF Lossiemouth.

This new capability will deliver airborne surveillance and strengthen the UK’s ability to operate and respond across the globe.
Achieving the next stage of our new capability requires a period of dedicated ground based testing followed by live flying.
(Photos courtesy of the RAF)



Another unforgettable chapter closes as NATO Tiger Meet 2026 in Araxos comes to an end. Once again, the incredible spirit of the Tiger community shined through—proving that our squadrons and jets are defined not just by strength and performance, but by true solidarity. We look forward to reuniting next year for Tiger Meet 2027 in Gioia del Colle, Italy.
(Photos courtesy of NATO)

A U.S. Air Force A-10C Thunderbolt II aircraft approaches an HC-130J Combat King II aircraft for aerial refueling in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, May 9, 2026.
(Photo by Tech. Sgt. Nicholas Monteleone)

A U.S. Air Force A-10C Thunderbolt II aircraft refuels from an HC-130J Combat King II aircraft in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, May 9, 2026.
(Photo by Tech. Sgt. Nicholas Monteleone)

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon shoots flares in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility May 14, 2026. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Adriana Jordan-Alcaniz)

A U.S. Air Force F-35 Lightning II flies in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility May 10, 2026. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Adriana Jordan-Alcaniz)

ATLANTIC OCEAN (May 14, 2026) An F-35B Lightning II, attached to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 533, takes off during deck landing qualifications aboard Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), May 14, 2026. Kearsarge is currently underway conducting Basic phase certifications. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Chase McDaniel)

Toulouse, 25 May 2026 – Saudia, the national flag carrier of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has taken delivery of its first A321XLR, marking a significant milestone as the first airline in the Middle East and Africa to operate Airbus’ newest extra-long-range single-aisle aircraft.

The aircraft, powered by CFM International LEAP-1A engines, is the first of 15 A321XLRs on order by the airline. This delivery is a cornerstone of Saudia’s comprehensive fleet modernisation program, directly supporting the expansion of its international network in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030. By increasing connectivity and capacity, the A321XLR will support the Kingdom’s ambition to attract over 150 million visitors annually by the end of the decade.

This delivery reinforces a partnership between Airbus and Saudia that spans more than 40 years, beginning with the carrier’s first A300 delivery in 1984. Today, Airbus aircraft remain central to Saudia's operations as it scales its fleet development and network growth.

Saudia currently serves more than 100 destinations across four continents, with the A321XLR supporting further expansion into new international markets. With a range of up to 4,700 nautical miles, the A321XLR enables Saudia to expand its international destinations with a single-aisle aircraft. These routes would have traditionally been served by larger widebody aircraft, while maintaining a premium guest experience.

​The aircraft features a highly premium, low-density configuration with 24 full flat Business Class seats providing direct aisle access, alongside 120 comfortable Economy Class seats. The aircraft features the Airbus Airspace Cabin, bringing a widebody experience to a single-aisle jet. Key features include extra-large overhead bins, advanced lighting systems and one of the quietest cabins in its class.

The A321XLR is the latest evolution of the A320neo Family, designed to meet the global demand for increased range and operational flexibility. It delivers a 30% reduction in fuel burn per seat compared to previous-generation aircraft, lowering CO2 emissions and noise footprints. Today all Airbus aircraft are capable of operating with 50% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) with a target to increase to up to 100% SAF capability by 2030, directly supporting the aviation industry’s sustainability goals.

To date, the A320 Family has secured more than 19,900 orders from over 300 customers worldwide, solidifying its position as the world’s most successful commercial aircraft programme.

The Polish Air Force has taken delivery of its first three F-35A Lightning II fighters on national soil. The aircraft landed at Łask Airbase on May 22, 2026, at the end of the delivery flight which took them from Lockheed Martin’s production plant in Fort Worth, Texas, to Poland, after a stop in the Azores at Lajes Airbase.

Upon arrival, the F-35s were escorted by two F-16 Fighting Falcons, Poland’s current main frontline fighter aircraft. It should be noted that these are not the Polish Air Force’s first F-35s, as eight of them were already delivered to Ebbing Air National Guard Base, Arkansas, for training.

(Photos Courtesy of NATO Allied Air Command)

Portuguese Air Force F-16M aircraft have carried out another interception under NATO enhanced Air Policing 2026.
Operating from Ämari Air Base in Estonia , the detachment scrambled to identify and escort a Russian Su-35 Flanker and An-12 Cub aircraft.
It marked the Portuguese detachment’s 6th interception since April 1, demonstrating readiness and commitment to defending NATO airspace.
(Photo courtesy of NATO Allied Air Command )

Los Angeles, CA — May 26, 2026. Hermeus, the defense aviation company building the world’s fastest aircraft, today announced its Quarterhorse Mk 2.1 successfully completed its first supersonic flight, reaching a top speed of Mach 1.21. The flight was executed on just its third test flight out of Spaceport America over White Sands Missile Range air space.

The achievement underscores Hermeus’ pace of iterative development in aviation. Quarterhorse Mk 2.1 flew supersonic less than three months after its first flight, and 364 days after the maiden flight of Hermeus’ first aircraft, Mk 1.

“Our customers at the Department of War are paying close attention to how fast this program is moving,” said AJ Piplica, CEO and Co-founder of Hermeus. “This flight demonstrates a pace of execution that is extremely rare in modern aviation. Our country’s ability to deliver new asymmetric military capability at scale depends on teams that can solve hard technical challenges quickly. That’s exactly what we’re proving with each test flight we conduct and each new aircraft we build at Hermeus.”

Quarterhorse Mk 2.1 is the first of three F-16-scale supersonic aircraft in a development roadmap built on a foundation of rapid iteration. It is powered by the Pratt & Whitney F100 engine (Pratt & Whitney is an RTX business). Hermeus designs, builds, and flies aircraft in quick succession, using flight test data to improve performance and reduce risk across the program. This approach allows the company to unlock and scale new capabilities in years rather than decades.

The company is already building and testing its next aircraft, Quarterhorse Mk 2.2, with Mk 2.3 soon to follow. Each aircraft in the roadmap is designed to push performance further and move quickly toward sustained high-Mach flight.

The milestone comes as the Pentagon increases focus on high-speed capability in response to growing competition from near-peer adversaries like China. Faster unmanned aircraft have the potential to shorten response times and bring affordable mass to the most challenging contested environments.

Hermeus will continue its flight test campaign with Quarterhorse Mk 2.1 while building subsequent aircraft that will add capabilities and push to higher-speed regimes.

About Hermeus

Hermeus is a venture-backed defense aviation company reclaiming the lost art of rapid iterative prototyping to build the fastest aircraft in the world today. By prioritizing relentless hardware iteration, we deliver high-speed systems at the pace of the modern battlefield. We work with the Department of War to provide the high-speed capabilities our nation and its allies need to maintain a durable, asymmetric advantage.

Toulouse, France, 26 May 2026 – Air China Cargo Co., Ltd. (hereafter referred to as "Air China Cargo") has signed a purchase agreement with Airbus for four additional A350F freighters, taking its total order for the type to 10 aircraft. Air China Cargo previously ordered six A350F freighters in November 2025.

Air China Cargo began introducing Airbus freighters at the end of 2023, and currently operates a fleet of eight Airbus A330-200P2F aircraft. In the near future, the A350F freighter will join Air China Cargo’s fleet and will complement the A330-200P2F freighters, maximising their advantages on long-haul and medium-to-long-haul routes.

Designed to be the world's most advanced cargo aircraft, the A350F meets the evolving demands of the global air freight market. Thanks to a range capability of up to 8,700 kilometres with a payload of up to 111 tonnes, it will allow operators to deploy it on international long-haul routes. Made from over 70% advanced materials, the A350F is 46 tonnes lighter than competitor aircraft.

Powered by the latest Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines, the aircraft will bring a reduction in fuel consumption and carbon emissions of up to 20% when compared to previous generation aircraft with a similar payload-range capability. It is the only freighter fully meeting ICAO's 2027 CO₂ emission standards. The A350F is able to operate with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) at entry-to-service, with the aim for up to 100% capability by 2030, as with all Airbus aircraft.

At the end of April 2026, the A350F had registered 101 orders from 14 customers.

Bombardier Defense to Provide Three Bombardier Global 6500 Aircraft for Maritime Surveillance in Australia

Bombardier Defense is proud to announce that it will provide three Global 6500 aircraft to fly maritime surveillance missions for the Australian Border Force.

Metrea - the originator and leading provider of effects-as-a-service to national security partners - will operate the aircraft for the Australian Border Force.

“The Global 6500 aircraft brings a new level of capability for maritime surveillance, with exceptional range, speed, endurance and reliability,” said Michael Anckner, Vice President, Worldwide Sales, Bombardier Defense. “Our teams are proud that this game-changing aircraft is the trusted choice to support the Australian Border Force’s aerial surveillance program.”

This program will introduce the Global platform in Australia in a special mission configuration, following many prior successful programs on this platform throughout the world. Bombardier Learjet and Challenger aircraft already perform search-and-rescue and medical evacuation missions in the country.

Bombardier is well-established in Australia, with a fleet of more than 75 business jets in the country across the Learjet, Challenger and Global families. The company has considerably increased its Australian footprint over the last few years, notably with the opening of its Melbourne Service Center in 2022 at Essendon Fields Airport in Melbourne, providing exceptional service to the existing fleet in the region. Bombardier also announced a new Line Maintenance Station in Perth in March 2025.

In May of 2024, Bombardier Defense opened its first international office in Adelaide, Australia, to provide an enhanced level of service to its special mission customers in this important market.

The Bombardier Global 6500 aircraft offers configurations available to satisfy the most demanding specialized missions around the world. Governments, militaries and operators choose this aircraft for its ideal combination of performance, reliability and flexibility, and the many existing outer-mould line configurations available.
About Bombardier Defense

Bombardier Defense offers something unique, combining Bombardier’s portfolio of top-performing Challenger and Global aircraft with unparalleled engineering and maintenance expertise to create custom solutions. Known for its collaborative and flexible approach, Bombardier Defense builds long-term partnerships with governments and militaries, as well as joining forces with the world’s most advanced mission system providers. Driven by a rich history of innovation, we are shaping the defense solutions of the future.

Bombardier Defense leverages Bombardier’s highly responsive, worldwide support network, offering expert maintenance services and tailored support options to our government and military customers. Hundreds of Bombardier aircraft perform critical airborne missions around the world, including Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C), border and maritime patrol, multi-role, head of state transport, medevac, urgent humanitarian assistance and more.

Ottawa, 26 May 2026
ITPS CANADA ORDERS LEONARDO M-346 T BLOCK 20 ADVANCED JET TRAINERS TO MEET EVOLVING TACTICAL TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

ITPS Executive Chairman Giorgio Clementi signed a contract for six M-346 T Block 20 lead-in jet trainers – with options for an additional six aircraft - at a signing ceremony at Venegono in Italy which also included a final evaluation flight of the aircraft. Clementi stated that “The M346 continues Italy’s illustrious track record of producing world leading jet trainer aircraft. The new trainers are expected to enter service at the company’s International Tactical Training Centre base in North Bay (Ontario) starting in 2029, providing a major contribution to the first capability enhancement project of the ITTC fleet, currently active in providing training to several international customers and to meet advanced tactical training service demand from in excess of ten different air forces globally.

With more than 25 years of experience delivering advanced and specialist flight test and military tactical training in Canada to over 29 air arms to date, ITPS has been active in providing innovative solutions to satisfy the evolving operational requirements of modern air forces.

In October 2025, ITPS CEO Dave Lohse conducted an airborne evaluation of the Leonardo M-346 advanced jet trainer in the airspace north of Ottawa International Airport.

Following the evaluation flight, Lohse said: “The M-346 is an exceptionally capable advanced jet trainer that aligns closely with the operational requirements of modern fighter pilot training. The aircraft’s performance, digital flight control system, and advanced training architecture make it an ideal platform to support the next phase of growth for the International Tactical Training Centre.

As allied air forces look to expand training capacity and interoperability, the M-346 will help enable ITTC to welcome pilots from Canada and partner nations to train together in a modern and operationally focused environment.”

Stefano Bortoli, Leonardo Aeronautics Division’s Managing Director, said: “The M-346 has made remarkable progress in recent years, from both a system evolution and continued market success perspective, becoming the backbone of one-of-a-kind integrated training capabilities hosting a rapidly growing number of Air Forces on a global scale. The decision of ITPS to select and procure the M-346 to deliver world class lead-in fighter training for the next generation of pilots and allow them to face rapidly changing and increasingly challenging operational scenarios, provides further evidence of the undisputable high performance of the system. We’re committed to working with ITPS to make sure they can maximize the benefits of this latest technology and capability in order to maintain and even expand the quality level of the service their customers deserve.”

The M-346 is the core element of a cutting-edge and continuously evolving advanced flight-training system that has already demonstrated its effectiveness: a success story that has logged over 160,000 hours in flight with more than 160 aircraft sold to date, enabling several air forces in Europe and worldwide to train pilots for flying high-performance fighters such as, among others, the Eurofighter Typhoon, F-35 and next-generation ‘combat air systems’.

Twenty countries – including Canada - already train their pilots on the M-346 or have selected the aircraft, in the multirole light fighter version. Thanks to its high-performance, capabilities and manoeuvrability, the M 346 has also been selected by the Italian Air Force as the future aircraft for the “Frecce Tricolori”, Italy’s national aerobatic team.

The United Aircraft Corporation (part of the Rostec State Corporation) has delivered a batch of new Su-35S multi-role fighters to the Russian Air Force.

The 4++ generation aircraft have completed a full cycle of factory testing. The aircraft were tested under various operating conditions by pilots from the Russian Ministry of Defense and flew to their home airfield.

"As part of efforts to fulfill the objectives set by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation to supply troop formations with weapons and equipment commensurate with their missions, a new batch of Su-35S aircraft has been received. The Su-35S is a highly maneuverable, multi-role fighter. This aircraft operates flawlessly, and the crew finds it easy to fly. We perform various tasks on this aircraft: intercepting air targets at long ranges, providing cover for strike groups and ground facilities, destroying unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as delivering precision strikes against ground and surface targets with high-precision weapons. We also conduct reconnaissance and identify enemy positions deep behind the front lines,” noted a Su-35S pilot from the Russian Aerospace Forces.

The Su-35S is designed to achieve air superiority and to strike ground infrastructure targets located at a considerable distance from its home airfield.