Swedish aerospace and defence company Saab has signed a contract with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) for the acquisition of 16 Gripen E multirole fighter aircraft that will be provided to Ukraine as part of Sweden's long-term military assistance programme. The contract is valued at approximately $2.55 billion and will be recorded in Saab's order book during the third quarter of 2026. Deliveries to FMV are scheduled for 2029 and 2030. In addition to the airc

India's regional aviation sector has received a significant boost following the certification of several members of the Embraer E-Jets family by the country's aviation regulator, opening the door for wider deployment of the Brazilian manufacturer's latest regional aircraft. The certification, granted by India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), covers the Embraer E190, E195 and the next-generation E195-E2. The E175 had already received Indian certification and is

By Garth Calitz 30 June 2026 marks 58 years since one of the most ambitious aircraft ever built first took to the skies. On 30 June 1968, the Lockheed C-5A Galaxy made its maiden flight from Lockheed's production facility in Marietta, Georgia, introducing a military transport aircraft unlike anything the world had seen before. At the controls was Lockheed chief engineering test pilot Leo Sullivan, who guided the massive prototype through a successful 84-minute first flight. F

Airlink has added another eye-catching aircraft to its growing fleet of special liveries, unveiling a vibrant green Embraer E190 that celebrates the airline's Skybucks customer loyalty programme while highlighting its role as the Official Domestic Airline for the upcoming Rugby's Greatest Rivalry 2026 tournament. The newly painted aircraft, registered ZS-YAE, entered commercial service on 30 June, making its debut on a flight from Polokwane to Johannesburg's O.R. Tambo Intern

South Africa's international aviation sector is set to receive another welcome boost as Lufthansa expands its Cape Town operations with an additional weekly nonstop service from Frankfurt, giving the airline a daily presence on one of the country's most important long-haul routes during the 2026/27 Northern Hemisphere winter season. Beginning at the end of October 2026, the German flag carrier will introduce a new Monday flight between Frankfurt and Cape Town, complementing i

By Garth Calitz A reported mid-air collision between a JetBlue Airbus A321 and an unidentified drone during approach to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport has once again drawn attention to the growing challenge that unmanned aircraft systems pose to commercial aviation. The incident occurred on 29 June when JetBlue Flight 948, operating from Harry Reid International Airport to JFK, reported what the flight crew believed was a collision with a drone while descend

Africa's largest carrier, Ethiopian Airlines, has taken delivery of the first of two new De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter Classic 300-G aircraft from De Havilland Aircraft of Canada, marking a further investment in regional and domestic connectivity across Ethiopia. The first aircraft was delivered in Addis Ababa on 22 June and will be used to strengthen air services to remote communities while supporting a range of specialised aviation missions. A second aircraft is expe

The United States has officially introduced a new presidential aircraft to serve as Air Force One, with President Donald Trump unveiling the modified Boeing 747 at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on 19 June 2026. The aircraft, formerly operated by the government of Qatar, has undergone extensive modifications to meet U.S. presidential transport requirements and will serve as an interim solution until the long-delayed Boeing VC-25B aircraft enters service, currently expected in

For decades, the light helicopter sector has changed relatively little compared with other areas of aviation. While advances in avionics, materials, and manufacturing have transformed commercial airliners and automobiles, many light helicopters still trace their origins to designs developed several decades ago. UK-based Hill Helicopters believes there is an opportunity to modernise this segment of the market through a combination of new technology, in-house manufacturing, and

Airbus Helicopters is advancing development of the Tiger Mk III, a major mid-life upgrade programme designed to ensure the Tiger attack helicopter remains capable of meeting the demands of future high-intensity combat operations. Developed through cooperation between France and Spain, the programme combines new avionics, sensors, communications systems and weapon capabilities with the proven performance of the existing Tiger platform. Launched in 2022 under the auspices of th