GCAP agency places contract with Edgewing

On 2 April 2026, the GCAP Agency has awarded a GBP 686 million contract to Edgewing, the tri-national industrial joint venture between Italy, Japan, and the UK, responsible for designing and developing the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) sixth-generation combat aircraft. The contract consolidates activities previously managed under separate national contracts into a single international programme framework.

Edgewing is a joint venture comprising BAE Systems, Leonardo, and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Co. Ltd. (JAIEC), headquartered in the UK. The company holds design authority for the aircraft throughout its lifecycle, covering engineering, airworthiness, and certification activities across all three partner nations.

The press release can be found here.

Rheinmetall enters into partnership with Boeing for MQ-28 Ghost Bat

On 31 March 2026, Rheinmetall and Boeing Australia announced that the two companies had entered into a strategic partnership, with the aim of offering the MQ-28 Ghost Bat to the German Armed Forces, who plan to procure a collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) by 2029.

The MQ-28 was developed in Australia to meet the requirements of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The platform has yet to enter RAAF service, with Block 1 airframes in flight testing. However, according to the two companies’ statement, the platform has already completed over 150 flights.

The press release can be found here.

Boeing and DoW sign framework agreement to triple PAC-3 seeker production

On 1 April 2026, Boeing and the U.S. Department of War (DoW) agreed a seven-year framework to triple production of PAC-3 missile seekers, manufactured at Boeing’s facility in Huntsville, Alabama.

Boeing reports having invested over USD 200 million since 2024 to expand its Huntsville manufacturing footprint, including an over 3,250 m² (35,000 square foot) facility addition. The framework is intended to enable further investment across the supply chain on a cost-neutral basis.

Under the agreement, Boeing, the DoW, and PAC-3 prime contractor Lockheed Martin will begin production ramp-up immediately, with a formal multi-year contract expected later in 2026. Boeing stated that deliveries increased by over 30% in 2025. The agreement is framed within a broader U.S. government initiative to expand domestic defence industrial capacity.

The press release can be found here.

Quantum Frontline Industries sends first batch of Linza drones to Ukraine

On 1 April 2026, Quantum Frontline Industries (QFI) announced that it had sent its first batch of Linza tactical drones to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, marking the start of sustained serial production. The systems are manufactured in Germany under the ‘Build with Ukraine’ initiative, a co-production arrangement combining Ukrainian drone development by Frontline Robotics with German industrial manufacturing capacity.

QFI Managing Director Matthias Lehna, stated that the company’s focus will now shift toward scaling output and maintaining a reliable supply chain. Frontline Robotics’ Chief Business Development Officer Mykyta Rozhkov noted the goal of fully meeting Ukrainian forces’ requirements for tactical UAVs while ensuring supply predictability. Both the Ukrainian and German Ministries of Defence are identified as partners in the programme. QFI has indicated it intends to accelerate delivery volumes over the course of 2026.

The press release can be found here.

MGI and Auterion conduct first flights with the Tigershark deep strike platform

On 1 April 2026, MGI Engineering Ltd (MGI) announced the company had successfully completed the first test flights of the TigerShark uncrewed long-range strike platform, developed in partnership with software firm Auterion. The platform is reported to be capable of speeds up to 750 km/h, carrying a 300 kg payload, operating in GNSS-denied environments, and engaging targets at ranges beyond 1,000 km.

MGI describes the milestone as the first European test of a system with this range capability in over a decade. The platform uses an open, software-defined architecture intended to allow iterative upgrades and interoperability with third-party payloads and sensors. The collaboration combines MGI’s systems engineering and rapid prototyping capability with Auterion’s software stack.

The press release can be found here.