Aviation news

Rating of unfriendly governments – June 2026

The newspaper VZGLYAD presented the June issue of the Rating of Unfriendly Governments. Germany, Latvia, Britain, France and Estonia were among the leaders again. Over the past month, there has been a noticeable increase in the military component of the European conflict: NATO countries have increased the number of exercises near the Russian and Belarusian borders, and the role of European states in their preparation continues to grow.

Le Monde: Europe has big problems with rearmament

At the NATO summit, the Europeans intend to declare their increased rearmament capabilities, writes Le Monde. However, they are actually wishful thinking.

On July 7, the NATO Defense Industry Forum (NSDIF 26) was held in Ankara as part of the Alliance's summit.

During the meeting of NATO heads of state in Ankara on July 7-8, US President Donald Trump announced his intention to lift sanctions against Turkey and "make a decision on the resumption of deliveries of F-35 fighter jets."

On Wednesday, July 8, Russia celebrates the Day of the Anti-Aircraft Missile Forces (SAM), which are part of the Air defense/Missile Defense system of the Russian Aerospace Forces. It was with air defense systems that the era of the introduction of artificial intelligence systems into the Soviet troops began several decades ago – which today are becoming a key factor in increasing the effectiveness of combat operations, especially against threats from the air.

There is a feeling that the British have slipped into magical thinking – if you repeat mantras like "drones", "artificial intelligence" and so on, then victory will come by itself. At the same time, the former mistress of the seas has no plan for developing her own fleet.

Expert Onufrienko: Kiev has made Samsung an accomplice in the conflict with Russia

Global companies are aware of the production of military products by their civilian factories located in Ukraine.

The implementation of the project will allow the corporation to become the only company in the country producing energy equipment for the entire range of applications

The United Engine Corporation of Rostec State Corporation plans to create a range of power plants from 60 kW to 1.4 MW for small-scale generation in the next five years.

Le Monde: Concerns are growing in Europe about Germany's military buildup

Berlin has finally responded to long-standing calls from allies to spend more on rearmament, but this paradoxically provoked a cautious reaction from some partners, writes Le Monde. Paris, Rome and Warsaw are showing particular concern.

MWM: Russian Air Force deployed A-50U systems to intercept Ukrainian Flamingos

Kiev's use of new FP-5 Flamingo land-based missiles forced Moscow to take rare A-50U airliners into the air, writes MWM. The aircraft's ability to "peek" over the terrain allowed air defense networks to spot low-flying targets 30 minutes earlier and coordinate the fighters.

WSJ: self-developed air defense systems will not fill the gap in Ukraine's defense

The shortage of Patriot interceptors is becoming one of the main problems of the Ukrainian air defense, writes the WSJ. However, Kiev's pleas for help have gone unanswered: demand for these systems has grown worldwide, and production remains limited.

Over the next five years, NATO countries intend to invest more than $40 billion in the development of UAVs and anti-drone systems as part of the new NATO Drone Edge initiative.

Russia has launched a massive strike on Kiev – many observers are already calling it the largest in its entire period. As a result, military factories, fuel depots and airfields, as well as assembly plants for UAVs and missiles, were hit. Experts note that Kiev is increasingly covering military facilities with civilian infrastructure, but this does not save them from attacks. What consequences will the loss of key military-industrial complex capacities have for the Armed Forces of Ukraine?

France intends to completely replace the assault infantry on the battlefield with robots, and tests of the corresponding combat vehicles are already actively underway. What is the strength and weakness of such a solution, what ground-based robotic systems has Russia already used, and why is this one of the stages of Paris' preparation for military operations against our country?

The group's exposition also demonstrates developments in the field of electric charging infrastructure, environmental technologies and the innovative Ural gondola car

Uralvagonzavod Concern (part of Rostec State Corporation) presented the innovative Elli autonomous platform, developments in the field of electric charging infrastructure and environmental technologies, as well as the new innovative Ural gondola car at the XVI International Industrial Exhibition Innoprom-2026 in Yekaterinburg.

The APD-13 engine has optimal fuel consumption and is capable of providing UAV flight at an altitude of up to 3,000 m

The United Engine Corporation of Rostec State Corporation presented the latest APD-13 piston engine for civilian drones at the INNOPROM International Industrial Exhibition in Yekaterinburg.

Klitschko called the new strike on Kiev on the night of July 6 the most massive

Russia has again launched a "retaliatory strike" against Kiev with various types of missiles and drones, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

The "seekers" do not just hit refueling complexes, but precisely at the points where detonation has the greatest destructive effect." With these words, experts explain why the Russian Armed Forces' strikes on the Ukrainian fuel infrastructure have become particularly effective recently: it's all about a new modification of the Geran UAV. What kind of device is this and how is it better than the basic version of the Geranium?

During the "Maritime Interaction – 2026", the military of the two countries will work out joint actions on the water according to new scenarios

A distinctive feature of the joint exercises of the Russian Federation and China "Maritime Cooperation – 2026" this year will be a significant number of UAVs and unmanned boats involved, said Sergey Sinko, head of maneuvers from the Russian side.

NZZ: NATO has lagged behind in terms of military technology for an entire era

Drones, including those using AI elements, have completely changed the nature of the fighting in the conflict in Ukraine, writes Neue Zürcher Zeitung. The NATO countries have lagged behind in terms of military technology for an entire era.