Author Archive
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
Spat over Europe’s next-gen fighter program spills over at Paris Air Show
Public bickering between France and Germany doesn’t bode well for the continent’s efforts to build up military capability.
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.
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.
Business
Air Force says Qatar jet retrofit will cost less than $400M
Other defense officials have estimated it could be over $1 billion.
Threats
China may own the ‘narrative’ of future conflict if the US crushes the satellite imagery biz: experts
Experts say NRO cuts would hurt public understanding of what adversaries are doing.
Policy
Despite Golden Dome, Space Force budget would shrink again under 2026 spending plan
The White House appears to be pinning its hopes on the one-time reconciliation bill.
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Threats
Air Force Reserve faces steep fighter cuts, uncertain future
Plan to eliminate multiple squadrons “takes us out of the fight,” the Reserve’s top general said in a Pentagon interview.
Business
Lockheed pitches pilot-optional F-35
The company is hoping the Pentagon will buy into plans to “supercharge” the F-35.
Policy
Pentagon accepts Qatari jet to use as Air Force One
The Air Force is preparing to award a contract to modify the luxury jet.
Policy
Space Force losing 14% of its civilian workers
That’s more than other military branches, and it means the service will end the year with nearly 1,000 fewer people than expected.
Business
Hegseth to Air Force: Figure out how to modify Qatari jet
Converting the luxury plane into Air Force One could cost more than $1 billion, one senator said.
Policy
Is Trump’s ‘F-55’ fighter jet real?
One former defense official said the president is “very confused.”
Defense Systems
F-47 will have 70% better combat radius than F-22, Air Force says
Infographic says service plans to buy at least 185 of the sixth-gen fighter.
Threats
Trump’s Qatari Air Force One would pose massive security risks
Treating the aircraft as safe for the commander in chief with just a few modifications is "absurd," one former senior defense official said.
