Daniel Mercer / Defense & Aerospace Analyst
Daniel Mercer is a defense and aerospace analyst at TheDefenseWatch.com covering military aviation, aerospace technology, unmanned systems, air warfare, and defense procurement. His reporting uses official documents, government and military statements, company announcements, and other public sources.
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Spanish F-18 Shoots Down Drone Over Romania As NATO Air Policing Tightens
Executive Summary: A Spanish F-18 operating under NATO's enhanced Air Policing mission…
RAF Typhoons Scrambled North of Scotland After Unidentified Aircraft Approached UK Airspace
Executive Summary: RAF Typhoon fighters launched from RAF Lossiemouth on Friday night…
Ukraine Reports More Than 260,000 Russian Drones Neutralized in 2026
Executive Summary: Ukraine’s Defense Ministry says Ukrainian forces have neutralized more than…
Northrop Grumman Accelerates B-21 Raider Production as Air Force Reviews Larger Fleet
Executive Summary: Northrop Grumman is increasing investment in B-21 Raider production infrastructure…
RAF Combat Air in 2026: Where Typhoon and F-35B Delivery and Upgrade Plans Actually Stand
Britain's combat air fleet spent much of 2025 defined by delay and…
Denmark Expands F-35 Forward Operations With Deployable Facility
Denmark has moved its F-35 program another step toward dispersed operations by…
The F-35 Becomes a Flying Sensor: Inside Lockheed’s Vision for Missile-Defense Data Fusion
On August 7, 2026, Lockheed Martin outlined a missile-defense architecture that reframes…
Europe’s Drone Crisis: Inside the Continent’s Race to Build a Wall Against Russian Incursions
For years, drone warfare was something Europe watched from a distance —…
Army Grounds Apache Training Flights After Fatal AH-64E Crash In Texas
Executive Summary: Two U.S. Army aviators were killed on Aug. 12 when…
B-2 Spirit Remains U.S. Operational Stealth Nuclear Bomber as B-21 Raider Enters Transition
Executive Summary: Northrop Grumman has reaffirmed the B-2 Spirit's continuing role in…