Finnish air force F/A-18 Hornets fly beside a KC-130J Super Hercules aircraft with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 252, Marine Aircraft Group 14, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, near Evenes Air Station, Norway, March 16, 2026. VMGR-252 and the Finnish air force conducted air-to-air refueling operations during exercise Cold Response 26. A key component of NATO's enhanced vigilance activity Arctic Sentry, exercise Cold Response 26 is a Norwegian-led winter military exercise designed to enhance collective defense capabilities and ensure U.S. readiness to rapidly deploy and seamlessly operate alongside NATO Allies in challenging arctic conditions. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Mya Seymour)

An F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft, attached to Strike Fighter Squadron 213, launches from the flight deck of the world’s largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), during Operation Epic Fury, March 15, 2026. (U.S. Navy photo)

An EA-18G "Growler" prepares to land on the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) in the Pacific Ocean, March 15, 2026. Nimitz is underway in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of operations as part of a scheduled homeport shift to Norfolk, Virginia. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Julian Jaime)

A U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft flies over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility during Operation Epic Fury, March 9, 2026. (U.S. Air Force photo)

A U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier II with Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 223, Marine Aircraft Group 14, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, taxis at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, March 12, 2026. VMA-223 is the AV-8B Harrier II squadron assigned to 2nd MAW. 2nd MAW generates, deploys and sustains expeditionary, combat- ready units to provide flexible and responsive aviation support to combatant commander presence, security cooperation, and crisis-response missions. (U.S. Marine Corps photos by Lance Cpl. Perri Wood)


An F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 93rd Fighter Squadron, 482d Fighter Wing, flies during Exercise Patriot Forge 26 near Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla., March 10, 2026. The exercise evaluates the wing’s ability to generate and sustain combat airpower in a deployed environment.
(U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Lionel Castellano)

Bell Completes SPINE Upgrades on First Two H-1 Aircraft

The first AH-1Z and UH-1Y to be completed under the Structural and Power Improvements for NextGen Effects (SPINE) program, formerly SIEPU, have left the Amarillo Assembly Center

Amarillo, TX. (March, 17 2026) – Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, has announced the completion of the first AH-1Z and UH-1Y aircraft to receive full upgrades to their structure and power delivery mechanisms under the US Marine Corps’ SPINE program. The program was recently renamed from Structural Improvement and Electrical Power Upgrade (SIEPU) to the Structural and Power Improvements for NextGen Effects (SPINE) program to emphasize the importance of this essential modernization effort and to highlight the increased survivability and lethality SPINE will enable throughout the lifetime of the H-1 fleet.

The completed aircraft departed the Amarillo Assembly Center and are now at Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River for continued flight testing. These tests will determine the final SPINE configuration to be modified in Amarillo and fielded to the USMC in future contracted efforts.​

The SPINE program will enable the H-1 fleet to utilize enhanced weapons systems and other future capabilities and is part of the H-1 program’s modernization plan to increase lethality and enhance survivability by improving modern warfighting capabilities.  

“To have these first two aircraft completed under the SPINE program is a huge moment for us,” said Scott Sims, H-1 program director, Bell. “At Bell, crew safety and aircraft effectiveness remain the number one priority on everything we do. These upgrades will ensure that our H-1 aircraft remain the most capable aircraft available, while operating at the forefront of modern missions. They will continue to excel at the job they were designed to do for many years to come.”

Bell’s effort to modify these first two aircraft began at the company’s Drives System Center (DSC) and Repair and Overhaul Center (ROC) and culminated in the aircraft electrical and structural modifications that took place over the last 19 months at the Amarillo Assembly Center. Successful execution has been a result of years of work between U.S. Government, Bell, and industry partners. The completion of the first modification effort at the Amarillo Assembly Center sets the stage for future growth as Bell looks to support modification of the Marine H-1 fleet over the next decade.

“In the competitive world that the H-1 lives and thrives in, it’s vital to remain competitive with current and future capabilities and to excel in every environment where these aircraft are deployed,” said Danielle Markham, program manager, Bell. “The SPINE program represents the next step in the H-1 evolution, ensuring the platform has structural strength, electrical capacity, and digital foundation needed to operate as a fully interoperable member of the modern joint force.”

SAN DIEGO – 17 March 2026 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) and the U.S. Air Force held another autonomy flight exercise yielding new and important developments in the operation of Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). The February 24 demonstration featured the latest government Autonomy Start Kit (ASK) and a GA-ASI MQ-20 Avenger® uncrewed jet was used as a testbed CCA. The demonstration proved the aircraft’s ability to use a tactical proliferated low-earth orbit data link for seamless coordination with autonomy behaviors with complex infrared sensing as part of a large force exercise.

The MQ-20 performed Infrared (IR) sensing with Single Ship Ranging (SSR) and engagement using GA-ASI’s TacPad Pilot Vehicle Interface (PVI). GA-ASI’s TacACE® (Tactical Autonomy Ecosystem) — built with and aligned with ASK — demonstrated passive target localization using SSR with an Infrared Search and Track (IRST) sensor, enabling the uncrewed jet to autonomously estimate target range and track airborne threats without active radar emissions. This capability enables stealthy sensor-to-shooter kill chains, allowing GA-ASI aircraft to detect, classify, and localize targets while remaining fully passive, which is critical for operations in denied and contested electromagnetic environments.

“Integrated within the TacACE’s modular skills library, SSR supports autonomous mission execution, cooperative targeting, and distributed kill chains, advancing the role of autonomous aircraft in future air combat and CCA operations. This flight was part of a large forces exercise and allowed internal investment to showcase GA-ASI’s capabilities,” said Mike Atwood, Vice President of Advanced Programs for GA-ASI.

GA-ASI’s MQ-20 Avenger uncrewed jet has served as a surrogate CCA for more than five years, both before and since the arrival of its purpose-built XQ-67A Off-Board Sensing Station and YFQ-42A CCA jets.

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®, MQ-9B SkyGuardian®/SeaGuardian®, XQ-67A, and YFQ-42A. 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

A Royal Norwegian Air Force F-35A Lightning II aircraft assigned to the 132nd Luftving taxis during Exercise Cold Response 26 at Ørland Air Force Station, Norway, March 16, 2026. Cold Response was designed to strengthen U.S. and Allied combat power, sustain lethal forces, deter hostile actions and contribute to overall global security. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff. Sgt. Elizabeth Davis)

A Royal Norwegian Air Force F-35A Lightning II aircraft assigned to the 132nd Luftving takes off during Exercise Cold Response 26 at Ørland Air Force Station, Norway, March 16, 2026. The exercise refined data sharing protocols and enhanced real-time situational awareness between the U.S. and Allied nations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff. Sgt. Elizabeth Davis)

Toulouse, France, 18 March 2026 – AerCap Holdings N.V. (“AerCap”) has signed a firm order with Airbus for 23 A320neo and 77 A321neo aircraft. This transaction underscores AerCap’s strategy of investing in the world's most in-demand, fuel-efficient technology to meet the long-term requirements of its global airline customer base.

“This order for 100 A320neo Family aircraft reflects our strong belief in the long-term demand for these highly efficient aircraft and will help meet the continued demand we see from our customers for both growth and replacement needs,” said Aengus Kelly, CEO of AerCap. "As the world’s largest owner of commercial aircraft, our strategy is clear: we invest in the assets that provide our airline customers with the best economics and the lowest emissions. This landmark transaction ensures that AerCap will continue to lead the industry in fleet modernization well into the next decade.”

“This order is the largest single direct order for the type ever placed by AerCap with Airbus, and is a powerful endorsement of the A320neo Family’s enduring value and market-leading performance,” said Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus EVP Sales of the Commercial Aircraft business. “We are extremely grateful and proud to support AerCap’s vision in accelerating the global transition towards newer, modern aircraft and more efficient operations.”

The A320 Family is the world’s most popular single-aisle aircraft, having won more than 19,000 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.

As with all Airbus aircraft, the A320 Family is able to operate with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Airbus is targeting to have its aircraft up to 100% SAF capable by 2030.

RAF Typhoons will soon be leading NATO Air Policing in Romania., delivering air power in defence of the Alliance.

Alongside the Romanian Air Force, the RAF will identify, monitor, and intercept any unusual air activity approaching NATO airspace.
The RAF remains prepared and committed to collective defence.

(Photos courtesy of the RAF)

Winter is no obstacle—it’s part of the daily routine for the RCAF.

At CFB Bagotville, when snow sets in and temperatures drop, Canadian teams remain hard at work to ensure the operational readiness of RCAF CF-18s. On the flight line and in the air, technicians and pilots work tirelessly, regardless of conditions—day and night, be it winter or summer.

(Photos courtesy of Sergeant Steeve Picard)