April 22, 2026 - No. 16 In This Issue : How the US Air Force plans to keep their B-52 flying for nearly 100 years (Video) : Boeing UK secures £879 million contract to support Apache and Chinook fleets under Rotary Wing Enterprise program : Air Force teaches an old Hog new tricks : Northrop Grumman delivers first EGI-M navigation system designed for reliable operation in GPS-denied environments : Northrop Grumman advances B-21 Raider testing with aerial refueling milestone to enhance long-range strike capability : Airbus A320neo Gets New Engine With 8% Thrust Boost : Bell Textron establishes Ukraine subsidiary to support helicopter cooperation and long-term industrial partnership plans : AMC Head Looks to Pair B-21 With ‘Capable, Modern Tanker’ : Army to rely on FMS, reinvesting to ensure helicopter manufacturers stay ‘healthy’ : 3D vision is redefining how drones navigate without GPS How the US Air Force plans to keep their B-52 flying for nearly 100 years (Video) Welcome back to the Fluctus Channel, as we explore how Rolls-Royce engines have powered generations of US Air Force aircraft, from World War II fighters to modern bombers. Boeing UK secures £879 million contract to support Apache and Chinook fleets under Rotary Wing Enterprise program By Lukasz Prus (Defence Industry Europe) Photo: Royal Air Force (RAF). Boeing has welcomed the award of an £879 million contract from the UK Ministry of Defence to provide long-term support for the country’s Apache and Chinook helicopter fleets. The agreement falls under the Rotary Wing Enterprise programme and covers maintenance and sustainment services. The contract is expected to support around 700 jobs within Boeing Defence UK across southern England and Scotland. It will also sustain more than 500 roles in the UK supply chain, including positions with partner companies such as StandardAero. Sir Jeremy Quin, President of Boeing UK & Ireland, said, “This contract highlights the UK Government’s commitment to maintaining a world-class rotary wing capability and strengthening the country’s defence industrial base.” He added, “It will help ensure our armed forces remain equipped to meet both current and future operational challenges with confidence and resilience.” The Rotary Wing Enterprise programme provides comprehensive support to the UK’s Joint Helicopter Command. Boeing, acting as prime contractor for both Chinook and Apache platforms, aims to enhance aircraft availability and operational capability. Thom Breckenridge, Managing Director of Boeing Defence UK, said, “Boeing Defence UK has a proud legacy of delivering sustainment, maintenance, training, and integration services for the UK armed forces.” He added, “We are honored to deepen our support for the UK’s Apache and Chinook fleets through the Rotary Wing Enterprise programme. By consolidating support contracts, Boeing Defence UK will provide a more integrated and efficient service to the Ministry of Defence, enhancing platform readiness and sustaining over 700 highly skilled jobs.” The UK government said the contract supports both military readiness and industrial growth. Luke Pollard said, “From the workshop to the frontline, this investment delivers for our military, for the British people and the British defence industry,” and added, “Our workhorse Chinooks and lethal Apaches help keep our Armed Forces safe and operating effectively while on deployment.” Pollard added, “This contract shows how we’re ensuring our Armed Forces have the kit and equipment they need to keep Britain safe.” He said, “We are investing record levels into defence, meaning no return to the hollowed out and underfunded Armed Forces of the past, while making defence an engine for growth.” The agreement includes aircraft support, maintenance, supply chain management, training and integration services. Boeing said the programme is intended to ensure the continued readiness of the UK’s rotary wing fleet. Air Force teaches an old Hog new tricks Story by Colin Demarest An A-10 Thunderbolt II refuels, using a probe-and-drogue system, on April 2. Photo: Charles Givens/DVIDS © Other The U.S. Air Force is developing and deploying refueling adapters for the A-10, giving the beloved-but-aging attack aircraft additional means of staying aloft. Why it matters: The A-10, often referred to as the Warthog, has played a key role in Operation Epic Fury. • The warplanes have strafed boats in the Strait of Hormuz and aided the rescue of an F-15E Strike Eagle pilot and weapon-system office deep inside Iran. Driving the news: Images and videos of the adapter in action emerged online this month and were quickly seized on. • The demand for the adapter came from a combatant command, according to the Air Force. The service did not disclose exactly which one. How it works: The new device — manufactured by an undisclosed contractor — fits into the standard air-refueling receptacle on the A-10 nose. That converts it from boom to probe-and-drogue, making it compatible with C-130-based tankers. • The device can be installed or removed in a matter of hours by flight line personnel, according to the Air Force. Friction point: Until now, the A-10 was dependent on the KC-135 for refueling. Go deeper: Northrop and Embraer join forces for KC-390 refueling boom Northrop Grumman delivers first EGI-M navigation system designed for reliable operation in GPS-denied environments By Martin Chomsky (Defence Industry Europe) Image: Northrop Grumman. Northrop Grumman has delivered the first production unit of its EGI-M airborne navigation system, designed to provide reliable positioning, navigation and timing data in contested environments. The system is intended to support military missions globally by maintaining accuracy even under GPS jamming conditions. The EGI-M system offers a unified hardware and software solution that can be integrated into a range of military platforms. The company said the system has been modernized to enhance mission effectiveness in high-conflict areas. According to Northrop Grumman, the system provides resilient and trusted navigation through military-code PNT capabilities. It also includes Blended Navigation Assurance, which ensures GPS data remains accurate and secure even when under threat. The system is designed with flexible software architecture that allows operators to host third-party PNT applications without direct involvement from the manufacturer. This enables integration with additional sensors and the ability to track non-GPS satellite signals. Northrop Grumman said the system has undergone extensive hardware and software testing to meet military performance standards. These efforts are intended to prepare the platform for full-scale production. Ryan Arrington, vice president of navigation and cockpit systems at Northrop Grumman, said: “Northrop Grumman has a strong legacy of delivering reliable and innovative navigation solutions to the U.S. military and our allies.” He added: “Our latest modernized PNT system, EGI-M, enhances operational effectiveness and is built with the flexibility to defeat today’s threats and adapt to future mission demands.” Chris Grover, Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Air Force, said: “This advanced, resilient PNT receiver allows our U.S. military assets the ability to go where we want to, with the capability we need, at the time of our choosing.” Northrop Grumman said it continues to develop positioning, navigation and timing solutions across multiple domains, from underwater to space. The company added that its systems are designed to ensure reliable navigation even in contested operational environments. Northrop Grumman advances B-21 Raider testing with aerial refueling milestone to enhance long-range strike capability By Martin Chomsky (Defence Industry Europe) Photo: Northrop Grumman. Northrop Grumman said its B-21 Raider bomber has successfully demonstrated aerial refueling as part of its ongoing flight test campaign. The milestone is intended to extend the aircraft’s operational range and flexibility for future missions. The company said the B-21 is progressing rapidly through testing as it works to deliver enhanced long-range strike capability for the U.S. Air Force. Demonstrated aerial refueling allows the aircraft to operate globally and sustain extended missions. “Our teams are moving the B-21 Raider through testing at an unprecedented pace, continually proving its outstanding performance – including aerial refueling,” said Tom Jones. “We’ve designed and built a reliable, adaptable aircraft that is vital to our warfighters’ missions, while operating with a sense of wartime urgency to accelerate production and deliver this capability.” The addition of aerial refueling to the test program enables longer and more efficient flight sorties. It also supports continued evaluation of critical weapons systems and mission capabilities. Northrop Grumman said the B-21 is designed as a highly fuel-efficient bomber, reducing reliance on tanker aircraft and enabling greater operational flexibility. This efficiency is intended to support mission planning and force deployment in complex operational environments. The company has invested more than $5 billion in digital technologies and manufacturing infrastructure to support the program. These investments are aimed at accelerating production and preparing for initial aircraft delivery to Ellsworth Air Force Base in 2027. Expanded production capacity is expected to provide flexibility to scale the fleet in line with future operational requirements. Northrop Grumman said this approach is intended to support long-term U.S. Air Force global strike capabilities. The B-21 is described as the next evolution of the U.S. strategic bomber fleet, incorporating advanced stealth and mission systems. It is designed to deliver both conventional and nuclear payloads and operate across a wide range of mission profiles. Multiple B-21 aircraft are currently undergoing flight testing, with most sorties achieving “code one” status, indicating readiness for subsequent flights without maintenance issues. The company said ongoing testing and manufacturing efforts are intended to validate performance and ensure readiness for operational deployment. Airbus A320neo Gets New Engine With 8% Thrust Boost EASA certifies GTF Advantage engine for Airbus A320neo, delivering 4–8% higher thrust, up to 95% durability gains, and supporting 13,000+ global engine commitments. By Karan Bhatta April 18, 2026 ShareFollow Us Google News Photo: Airbus CONNECTICUT— RTX’s Pratt & Whitney has secured a major regulatory milestone after the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certified the GTF Advantage™ engine for the Airbus A320neo family aircraft. The approval clears the way for production deliveries and future entry into service across global airline fleets. The certification follows earlier regulatory validation, including approval from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in February 2025 and EASA’s type certification validation in October 2025. Pratt & Whitney PW1100G; Photo- Rafael Luiz Canossa | Wikimedia Commons EASA Certification for Pratt & Whitney GTF Advantage engine EASA has officially certified the Pratt & Whitney GTF Advantage engine for the Airbus A320neo family, marking a key step toward commercial entry into service. The certification confirms the engine meets stringent European safety and performance standards for single-aisle aircraft operations. The company highlighted that over 2,700 GTF-powered aircraft have already been delivered to more than 90 customers worldwide, reinforcing the engine’s strong market presence. According to Pratt & Whitney leadership, the GTF Advantage provides the lowest fuel consumption in its class for single-aisle aircraft. The company added that the engine significantly improves efficiency while supporting airline cost reduction strategies amid rising operational pressures. Photo: Pratt and Whitney Performance Gains of GTF Advantage The GTF Advantage engine delivers 4–8% higher takeoff thrust compared to the current model, enabling improved payload capacity and extended range. This enhancement allows Airbus A320neo family operators to access longer routes and new destination opportunities. Pratt & Whitney also claims the engine can deliver up to double the time on wing, reducing maintenance frequency and improving aircraft availability. The engine remains fully intermixable and interchangeable with existing GTF models, ensuring seamless fleet integration. The company confirmed that the GTF Advantage will become the production standard for future deliveries, with a full transition expected by 2028. Airlines will also have access to a Hot Section Plus upgrade option, which can deliver up to 90–95% of durability benefits for existing PW1100G-JM engines. Photo: RTX RTX’s Production Expansion RTX continues to scale production capacity to meet strong global demand for the GTF engine family. The company is investing nearly $1 billion at its turbine airfoil facility in Asheville, North Carolina, along with $200 million at its Columbus, Georgia, forging site. Pratt & Whitney stated that these investments aim to strengthen supply chain resilience and support increasing aircraft production rates. The GTF engine family currently holds more than 13,000 orders and commitments across multiple platforms. The company also projects that the engine’s geared architecture will surpass 300 million flight hours by the mid-2030s. Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates. Join us on Telegram Group for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on Google News Bell Textron establishes Ukraine subsidiary to support helicopter cooperation and long-term industrial partnership plans By Martin Chomsky (Defence Industry Europe) Photo: U.S. Marine Corps. Bell Textron has announced the creation of a subsidiary in Ukraine and plans to open a dedicated office as part of its long-term industrial cooperation strategy. The move is intended to strengthen collaboration with Ukraine’s defence and industrial base. The newly formed entity, Bell Textron Ukraine, will serve as a hub for the company’s activities in the country. A permanent office location has not yet been confirmed. The subsidiary will support current and future initiatives focused on helicopter assembly, maintenance, and repair. These efforts form part of Bell’s broader plan to expand its industrial footprint in Ukraine. The announcement follows Letters of Intent signed in October between Bell Textron and Ukraine’s Ministry of Economy, Ecology and Agriculture. These agreements were aimed at exploring areas of potential cooperation. Jeffrey Schloesser, senior vice president of Strategic Pursuits at Bell, said: “This is a meaningful step toward building a practical, mutually beneficial cooperation with the Ukraine defense and industrial base.” He added: “Bell is committed to establishing a presence in Ukraine to promote collaboration and long-term growth.” Bell Textron produces commercial and military aircraft and is part of Textron Inc. Its H-1 platforms, including the AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom helicopters, are designed to operate together with high parts commonality and operational flexibility. The company said these aircraft could support Ukraine’s defence capabilities while forming the basis of a long-term industrial partnership. Bell Textron added that it sees potential for deeper cooperation as its presence in the country develops. AMC Head Looks to Pair B-21 With ‘Capable, Modern Tanker’ April 20, 2026 By Stephen Losey An Air Force study now underway could help decide the way forward for the Air Force’s next-generation aerial refueling system, the acting head of Air Mobility Command said April 20. Lt. Gen. Rebecca Sonkiss said the NGAS system is crucial to ensure the Air Force can deliver conventional and nuclear strikes where and when it needs. The Analysis of Alternatives study aims to narrow the options. “There’s an element on the theater side that we have to get after for that high-end problem,” Sonkiss said. “That’s really the work of the NGAS AOA.” She did not say when results might be available. Options on the table include acquiring more KC-46 Pegasus tankers and fielding some outside means for protecting the tankers or developing a stealthy refueling platform that is more survivable in contested airspace, she said. A third way would combine both strategies. The Air Force released a wide-ranging request for information in August 2025 asking industry for their ideas on a future tanker. The Air Force has been debating the challenge for years, but with a goal of fielding NGAS in the mid-2030s, time is running out before decisions must be made. Among the more radical options are a blended wing-body aircraft and unmanned systems. Sonkiss said continuing to recapitalize the Air Force’s tanker fleet with new KC-46s remains a top priority, as the bulk of the force remains 60-year-old-plus KC-135s. “We cannot lose sight of that,” Sonkiss said. “It is a must-do.” Effective refueling capabilities allow the Air Force to deliver lethal force from bases in the U.S., without having to preposition forces, Sonkiss said — and “we’re very good at it.” But with the introduction of the stealthy sixth-generation B-21 Raider bomber, Sonkiss said, the Air Force needs a suitable refueler to match. The KC-135s are as old as the B-52 bombers, and were fielded as a paired system. “We need to make sure that the B-21 is linked up with a capable, modern tanker,” Sonkiss said. Army to rely on FMS, reinvesting to ensure helicopter manufacturers stay ‘healthy’ After the recent FY27 budget request drastically cut helicopter procurement funding, senior leaders and industry ensure foreign sales and reinvestment programs will keep the helo manufacturers afloat. By Carley Welch April 20, 2026 2:39 pm A CH-47 Chinook helicopter, operated by Soldiers with Bravo Company, 3-238th General Support Aviation Battalion, 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade, flies over an airfield in the 28th ECAB's area of operations in the Middle East. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Eric Smith) WASHINGTON — Following a sharp decline of procurement funding for the Army’s Apaches, Blackhawks and Chinooks in the Pentagon’s recent budget request, Army senior leaders and industry said they can count on foreign military sales and other reinvestment tools to keep the helo production lines humming. “We’re watching all of the production lines intently. We’re partnering with many of our allies, because they’re interested in flying and operating the same equipment that we do,” Maj. Gen. Clair Gill, Program Acquisition Executive for Maneuver Air, told reporters recently at the annual AAAA conference. He clarified that the Army is not getting rid of its fleet of Apaches, Blackhawks and Chinooks, but is more focused on sustainment as opposed to procurement at this time. He added that FMS as well as reinvesting in the fleets will allow the service to fly the aircraft for as long as possible. “If we go away from just buying new all the time to how do we maintain the fleet that we have over years to come, it’s important to us that those companies remain healthy with all their suppliers. So my sense is we’re going to continue to work with those companies to ensure that we can fly the aircraft that we have for as long as we’re going to have them,” Gill, who is dual-hatted as the commanding general of the Army Aviation Center of Excellence, said Thursday. Brig. Gen. David Phillips, Gill’s deputy PAE, added to Gill’s comments about FMS, noting that the Army is helping set up such contracts due to a “very large demand” from other nations to procure the three types of helos. Phillips listed several helo FMS deals made in the last few years: Boeing is set to provide 96 Apaches to Poland, 60 Chinooks to Germany and over a dozen Chinooks to the United Kingdom, with delivery to start this calendar year. He also pointed to the influx of Blackhawk FMS deals, with the latest being to Greece, valued at over $1 billion. “We’re in real-time discussions with all sets of industry partners to ensure that we’re setting that up appropriately to capture all that demand,” Phillips said. Another way the Army is working to maintain production lines, he added, is as the service divests its UH-60L Blackhawk models, it will auction those off and will use the money to reinvest in “additional buys” through the Black Hawk Exchange and Sales Transaction (BEST) program. Col. Ryan Nesrsta, program manager of utility helicopters within the Army’s Capability Portfolio Executive Aviation, formally known as PEO Aviation, echoed Gill and Phillips’ comments. He told reporters at AAAA that while the Army is going to “abide” by the budget, it plans to take advantage of the BEST program Phillips referred to. “Any private owner or commercial entity can buy Blackhawks, and those resources come back into the program,” Nesrsta said. “So we are exercising [those] funds on top of the budgets and any congressional adds that are received to procure new aircraft. So I would say that if you were to look at the budget, don’t take that as the only source of resourcing that allows for the procurement of aircraft, and that’s not even to speak of what I think is a very healthy foreign military sales demand.” During the same media briefing with Nesrsta, Ken Demaree, vice president of Army and Air Force programs at Sikorsky, said the company is using the funds from reinvesting along with funds from a “strong demand” for FMS, to “maintain the production line” for Blackhawks. The Army’s procurement funding for aircraft in FY27 saw nearly a $2 billion drop from last fiscal year’s enacted budget. Manned aviation took the biggest hit, with procurement for Apaches declining from $361.7 million to $1.5 million, procurement for Black Hawks declining from $913 million to $39.3 million dollars for Chinooks declined from nearly $629 million to $210 million. Boeing, who manufactures the Apaches and Chinooks, declined to comment on procurement figures in the Pentagon’s recent budget request and how that could affect the company. 3D vision is redefining how drones navigate without GPS As “dirty” RF and contested environments proliferate, autonomy increasingly depends on resilient positioning. By Breaking Defense April 21, 2026 10:46 am Note: See photos and graphics in the original article. Vantor uses its trove of satellite imagery to develop and update maps that allow for absolute positioning without relying on GPS. (Photo courtesy of Vantor.) As drones scale across logistics, reconnaissance, and combat missions, adversaries are prioritizing ways to deny or spoof the Global Positioning System (GPS). From nation-states to rogue actors — and even hobbyists — the tools to disrupt GPS are becoming cheaper, more accessible, and easier to deploy. Without GPS, drones can lose the ability to navigate accurately or stay on course, increasing the risk of mission failure, interception, or loss. To mitigate this, a new approach is gaining traction: 3D vision-based navigation. By combining onboard cameras with high-resolution map data, drones can continuously verify their position and maintain their route — even in GPS-denied environments. At the core of this approach is accurate, up-to-date 3D terrain data. Precise reference points allow drones to match what they “see” in real time against a known environment, ensuring they remain on course. This is the foundation of Vantor’s Raptor solution, which leverages decades of global mapping to provide a 3D reference layer for real-time positioning. “Raptor isn’t interpreting a flat, 2D image — it’s understanding terrain,” said Kara Kramer, head of sales for Raptor. “That’s critical for UAS operations, where you’re often flying closer to the ground than traditional crewed aircraft.” Countering the rise of anti-drone systems Drones are becoming both ubiquitous and expendable in modern conflict — and counter-drone technologies are evolving just as quickly. “GPS is part of everyday life, which makes it a highly attractive target,” said Paul Millhouse, senior director of Raptor products at Vantor. “Jammers and spoofers are inexpensive, widely available, and easy to deploy. A single device can disrupt navigation across an entire neighborhood — or more.” In many regions, GPS coverage is inconsistent, creating what Kramer describes as the “tyranny of distance” — long-range operations without reliable positioning. “In many cases, uncrewed systems are used precisely where it’s unsafe for humans to operate,” Millhouse added. “That includes remote environments, where GPS might be unreliable.” Why absolute positioning matters Effective navigation begins with absolute positioning — knowing exactly where a drone is at any moment. GPS provides this natively, but in its absence, most systems fall back on relative positioning, which degrades quickly over time. “Without an alternative, the moment GPS is gone, you’re estimating using relative measurements from your last known location,” said Millhouse. “You know where you were — but not precisely where you are. That uncertainty compounds fast.” Vision-based navigation addresses this gap. By comparing live camera feeds to 3D terrain maps, drones can determine their absolute position without relying on external signals. Unlike traditional 2D maps, 3D data incorporates elevation and terrain features such as buildings, mountains, and infrastructure. This enables drones not only to track their position, but also to navigate around obstacles — an essential capability for low-altitude operations. “When you compare what a drone sees through its camera to our 3D maps, the alignment is remarkably close to human vision,” Kramer said. “That’s what enables reliable navigation from launch to destination.” Millhouse likens the difference to perspective: “If you’re looking straight down, your view is limited. When you look forward, you gain context — and far more reference points to determine where you are.” Vantor’s 3D terrain data delivers a real-world foundation that forward- and side-looking camera systems can rely on — where 2D maps fall short in low-altitude, high-relief terrain. (Photo courtesy of Vantor.) From autonomy to operator awareness Raptor is deployed in two primary forms. The first is an onboard software development kit, enabling fully autonomous navigation by continuously updating the drone’s position in real time. The second is a user interface that allows operators to visualize the drone’s location within a 3D environment — zooming, tilting, and adjusting perspective for greater situational awareness. “You don’t need specialized hardware,” said Millhouse. “Most drones already have cameras. Raptor simply leverages existing video feeds.” Vantor’s satellite infrastructure ensures map data remains current. The company produces up to 2 million square kilometers of 3D mapping each month, while also supporting rapid, targeted updates — often within 24 hours of a request. In connected environments, updates can be delivered automatically. In contested or denied settings, maps can be preloaded as part of standard mission planning. “This fits into workflows operators already follow,” Kramer said. “It doesn’t add complexity — it reduces the burden of managing large datasets in the field while ensuring they have the data they need before launch.” Resilience as a baseline requirement As electronic warfare becomes more pervasive, resilient positioning is no longer a niche capability — it is becoming foundational. Vision-based navigation, anchored in high-resolution 3D terrain data, offers a path to reduced reliance on vulnerable signals like GPS. By enabling drones to continuously validate their position and adapt in real time, it helps ensure mission continuity in the environments where it matters most. For autonomous systems operating at scale in contested or infrastructure-limited regions, that resilience is quickly shifting from advantage to necessity. Curt Lewis