Always on Target
Military coverage on Fliegerfaust: defense and security developments with an aviation/aerospace emphasis, with context when relevant.
Bombardier and Saab: could the first Gripen E built outside Sweden offer a preview of how Saab intends to expand aerospace production with local partners—including Canada? Two developments this week make that question more concrete. In Brazil, the first Saab Gripen E manufactured by Embraer completed its maiden flight on October 6, 2026. Meanwhile, reporting
Volatus Aerospace has opened its Mirabel drone factory—but what is taking shape inside, and how does Ukraine fit? The answer runs through aircraft engineering, autonomous flight software, operator training and a partnership connecting Ukrainian developers with Canadian manufacturing. On September 29, 2026, the company formally opened its 53,000-square-foot facility at Montréal–Mirabel International Airport (YMX), Québec
Canada GlobalEye negotiations now have a six-aircraft framework—but will Ottawa convert it into a binding contract with substantial Canadian work? Saab announced on September 25, 2026, that it had signed a non-binding term-sheet agreement with Canada’s Defence Investment Agency (DIA). The document establishes the scope for detailed negotiations over a GlobalEye airborne early warning and
Canada’s first F-35 has flown—what comes next for the fleet and the Canadian companies behind it? The first Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II built for Canada completed its maiden flight on September 23, 2026. Aircraft AR-1 departed Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas, beside the manufacturer’s assembly complex. The Aviationist documented the
F-35 parts diversion: how did stealth components reach Chinese government custody? UPDATE — September 25, 2026: The F-35 parts diversion has entered a more serious phase. Bloomberg, citing two people briefed on the incident, says the Chinese government took possession of the diverted components. The parts had not been returned as of September 24. United
Why should Canadians accept another industrial success story before Ottawa demonstrates the cost and national return? Ukraine drone deal: Canada is committing public resources while contractors gain business opportunities. Those are not equivalent benefits. On September 10, 2026, Prime Minister Mark Carney and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed new declarations in Calgary, Alberta. Breaking Defense reported
Can Washington exclude a Canadian aircraft manufacturer from the United States (U.S.) without harming American workers? Bombardier Trade War: President Donald Trump raised that question on September 7, 2026. He said Bombardier should lose U.S. market access unless it manufactured aircraft there. However, no Bombardier-specific sales prohibition had appeared by 12:45 p.m. Eastern Time on
Could A3-001 become Bombardier’s next military-aircraft opportunity? Saab fighter drone: According to The Aviationist’s report, Saab unveiled A3-001, a full-scale model of a low-observable autonomous combat aircraft, to media on August 21, 2026. Then Saab placed the concept on public display at Malmen Air Base in Linköping, Sweden, on August 22. No Canadian company is
Can Éric Martel turn a Canadian business-jet leader into a larger military integrator as allied governments open their treasuries? Bombardier defence expansion: On July 30, 2026, Éric Martel, Bombardier Inc.’s president and chief executive officer (CEO) linked acquisitions, aircraft maintenance, and a Canadian military-modification site during the company’s post-results media cycle. Crucially, the immediate development
Canada defence spending: how will Ottawa finance an approximately C$229.0-billion mixed-source acquisition scenario and a partial lifecycle scenario reaching up to C$527.2 billion? Canada defence spending: Since July 22, 2024, the federal government has announced a broad military expansion covering fighters, patrol aircraft, destroyers, radar, missiles, ammunition, housing, bases, cyber systems and industrial capacity. What
