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Policy
Air Force will buy more KC-46s, skip competition
The service is mulling whether to move away from fixed-priced on the next buy.
Business
General Atomics plans robot wingman production for Europe
The news follows fellow CCA builder Anduril’s announcement to partner with Rheinmetall.
Business
Lockheed has cleared backlog of stored F-35s
The company had 72 jets stacked up due to software delays.
Policy
Air Force wants to retire the rest of its A-10s in 2026
The proposal is sure to get pushback from Congress.
Defense Systems
Air Force using Sentinel money to retrofit Qatar jet
The move won’t further delay the troubled ICBM program, SECAF says.
Business
As CCAs make international debut, companies pitch European co-production
General Atomics said their robot wingman offering will be “far less than $20 million” a pop.
Business
F-35 engine upgrade hits delay, casting doubt on timeline
Critical design review has been pushed back a year, according to Pratt & Whitney.
Business
Boeing says they can build F/A-XX *and* F-47, rejecting SecNav's concerns
Defense chief adds that Qatari-747 conversion won’t affect its Air Force One contract.
Business
Lockheed says new upgrade package for F-35 is ready
The TR-3 upgrade is more than two years late and has been plagued by software-development problems.
Business
Weapons, wariness, and war: Paris Air Show opens amid uncertainty
U.S. defense companies, at least, hope to assuage European fears about Washington’s reliability.
Science & Tech
How drone warfare fares in the 2026 budget
The president’s proposal leans heavily on one-time reconciliation dollars.
Policy
Hegseth says chief of naval operations nomination is coming ‘in due time’
Lawmakers question firings of, and lack of replacements for, senior military leadership.
Policy
USAF slashes F-35 buy, boosts next-gen fighter in unconventional 2026 budget proposal
The Pentagon’s spending request includes not just the usual appropriations, but also the still-under-debate reconciliation bill.
Policy
US Air Force’s nascent radar plane faces the axe
Hegseth says the E-7 Wedgetail may be discarded to fund Pentagon shift toward space-based ISR.
Science & Tech