Yahoo Finance reports, “Archer Aviation “is aiming to transform urban air mobility through its flagship aircraft, Midnight. Built for short, frequent flights of 20–50 miles, Midnight aircraft is nearing its commercial rollout following a handful of regulatory approvals and strategic partnerships ACHR has signed lately. In June 2025, Archer Aviation signed a strategic partnership with Jetex to develop infrastructure at the latter’s network of private terminals for facilitating Midnight jet’s upcoming commercial air taxi operations.”
Full Story (Yahoo Finance)
Tag: Aviation
UK to Acquire F-35s Capable of Carrying Tactical Nuclear Weapons
Reuters reports, “The British government said on Tuesday that it would purchase a dozen F-35A fighter jets capable of firing tactical nuclear weapons in what it described as the biggest expansion of its nuclear deterrent in a generation. The purchase of the Lockheed Martin jets would allow Britain’s air force to carry nuclear weapons for the first time since the end of the Cold War, Downing Street said.”
Full Story (Reuters)
Australian Company Drone Forge to Purchase Six Flexrotor UAS
Unmanned Systems Technology reports, “Australian aerospace company Drone Forge has signed an agreement with Airbus Helicopters to acquire six complete Flexrotor uncrewed aerial systems, totaling 17 aircraft. The Flexrotor platforms will be delivered in mission-ready configurations tailored for diverse operational scenarios, ranging from littoral surveillance and high-altitude inland reconnaissance to critical infrastructure monitoring and environmental assessments over maritime zones. Each aircraft will be equipped with a heavy fuel engine specifically configured for maritime use, enhancing safety, fuel logistics, and interoperability with naval forces.”
Full Story (Unmanned Systems Technology)
Opportunities in Defense, Healthcare, Cargo Offer Chance to Expedite Reality of Flying Taxis
Reuters reports, “Opportunities in defence, emergency healthcare and cargo could help make flying taxis a reality in the next few years after the sector recently received backing from the Trump administration, executives in the industry said at the Paris Airshow. President Donald Trump this month told regulators to speed up certification to accelerate the development of electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOLs), aiming to secure a U.S. lead over Asia in the technology.”
Full Story (Reuters)
Airbus’ Racer Rotorcraft Achieves Speed Target
Aviation Week reports, “Airbus Helicopters has achieved its speed target with its Racer compound rotorcraft, successfully flying the experimental aircraft at 240 kt. (276 mph) in April. The aircraft reached the speed with power margin to spare, test pilots say, and after only 25 flying hours—one-eighth of the flying hours that have been “justified” for the flight-test program—which points to the maturity of the aircraft’s design.”
Full Story (Aviation Week)
GA-ASI Partners with Saab to Enhance AEW&C System Performance on MQ-9B
Unmanned Systems Technology reports, “General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) and Saab have partnered to integrate an Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system onto GA-ASI’s MQ-9B Remotely Piloted Aircraft. To validate the new capability, flight demonstrations are planned for 2026. GA-ASI’s MQ-9B line includes the SkyGuardian® and SeaGuardian® models, the United Kingdom’s Protector, and the new MQ-9B STOL (Short Takeoff and Landing) model currently in development.”
Full Story (Unmanned Systems Technology)
FAA Partners with Regulators in Four Countries to Develop Air Taxi Certification ‘Roadmap’
Flight Global reports the Federal Aviation Administration and agencies in four partner countries have rolled out a ‘roadmap’ for the type certification of electric air taxis. “The air taxi certification roadmap, revealed by [U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean] Duffy on 17 June, comes from the USA, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK – all members of the National Aviation Authorities Network.”
Full Story (Flight Global)
Beta Technologies’ Alia Becomes First Electric Aircraft to Fly in the Paris Air Show
Flying Magazine reports, “The Paris Air Show kicked off with a bang—or more accurately, a whir—as Beta Technologies’ Alia became the first electric aircraft to fly in the show’s history. The five-seater—designed for a pilot and four passengers, plus luggage—was the first aircraft demonstration of the event. And Beta at the show announced its newest customer: Republic Airways.”
Full Story (Flying Magazine)
Southwest Airlines Adding Cockpit Alert System to Increase Runway Safety
The Wall Street Journal reports, “Southwest Airlines is adding a new cockpit-alert system to help its pilots avoid dangerous situations, after carriers navigated a series of close calls at U.S. airports in recent years. The Honeywell-designed system delivers verbal warnings and text alarms if a pilot is about to use the wrong runway, for example, or take off from or land on a taxiway. The Dallas-based carrier said the system has been added to nearly all of Southwest’s approximately 800 aircraft.”
Full Story (Wall Street Journal – Subscription Publication)
Bristow Doubles Pre-Orders of Vertical Aerospace’s VX-4
Flight Global reports, “Vertical Aerospace is to join forces with Bristow Group to establish what is effectively a wet-leasing operation focused on the electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft developer’s VX4. An expansion of an existing ‘strategic partnership’ dating from 2021, the agreement also sees helicopter operator Bristow double its pre-orders and options for the VX-4, increasing both to as many as 50 units.”
Full Story (Flight Global)