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insidedefense.com • Nick Wilson

U.S. Navy reopens Ford-class future amid design-and-cost review; possible cancellation of follow-on carriers

The U.S. Navy is conducting a comprehensive review of the Ford-class aircraft carrier design and cost, with the service’s top leadership not ruling out canceling future iterations. The effort follows White House criticism of technologies including the carriers’ magnetic catapults, and includes a design-baseline review for CVN-82 to boost lethality before proceeding with CVN-83 procurement.

2026-04-21T10:28:16.698087-07:00

DefenseNews.com

Air Force acquisitions nominee pledges to curb F-35 sustainment costs amid nuclear modernization push

2026-04-21T15:49:48.947584-07:00

Breaking Defense

Pentagon’s proposed FY2027 budget: $1.45T topline, $1.4B USAF air base defense, U‑2 retirement and carrier funding boost

2026-04-21T14:24:55.884165-07:00

Breaking Defense

Northrop Grumman Q1 revenue rises on stronger aeronautics demand as US seeks to expand B-21 Raider production

2026-04-21T09:26:50.430022-07:00

News Timeline

DefenseNews.com

Air Force acquisitions nominee pledges to curb F-35 sustainment costs amid nuclear modernization push The nominee for the Air Force acquisition leadership role said controlling rising F-35 sustainment costs would be a top priority, pairing cost and availability focus with support for nuclear modernization. The pledge signals sustainment as a near-term budget and readiness lever as the service sets its procurement agenda.

2026-04-21T15:49:48.947584-07:00

Air Force acquisitions nominee pledges to curb F-35 sustainment costs amid nuclear modernization push

Breaking Defense

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Pentagon’s proposed FY2027 budget: $1.45T topline, $1.4B USAF air base defense, U‑2 retirement and carrier funding boost Pentagon budget documents underpin a proposed $1.45 trillion defense spending plan, positioning US space programs as a major beneficiary. The USAF requests $1.4 billion for air base defense against drones and missile threats, while planning to divest 149 aircraft in FY2027—including retiring the U‑2. The Navy’s FY2027 request also targets higher topline funding, including support for aircraft carrier Enterprise.

2026-04-21T14:24:55.884165-07:00

Pentagon’s proposed FY2027 budget: $1.45T topline, $1.4B USAF air base defense, U‑2 retirement and carrier funding boost

Space Intel Report

Norwegian Intelligence Service: For biggest return on allied cooperation, focus on data sharing and classification methods

2026-04-21T11:07:42.716553-07:00

Norwegian Intelligence Service

insidedefense.com

U.S. Navy reopens Ford-class future amid design-and-cost review; possible cancellation of follow-on carriers The U.S. Navy is conducting a comprehensive review of the Ford-class aircraft carrier design and cost, with the service’s top leadership not ruling out canceling future iterations. The effort follows White House criticism of technologies including the carriers’ magnetic catapults, and includes a design-baseline review for CVN-82 to boost lethality before proceeding with CVN-83 procurement.

2026-04-21T10:28:16.698087-07:00

U.S. Navy reopens Ford-class future amid design-and-cost review; possible cancellation of follow-on carriers

Breaking Defense

Northrop Grumman Q1 revenue rises on stronger aeronautics demand as US seeks to expand B-21 Raider production Northrop Grumman reported higher first-quarter revenue, citing robust demand for aeronautics systems including the B-21 Raider. Ahead of a planned production ramp, the company lifted its 2026 sales outlook and capex guidance, while Northrop said it is investing to accelerate B-21 throughput amid growing strategic pressure in the Indo-Pacific.

2026-04-21T09:26:50.430022-07:00

Northrop Grumman Q1 revenue rises on stronger aeronautics demand as US seeks to expand B-21 Raider production

SpaceNews.com

Space Force cancels RTX OCX GPS ground-control contract over delays and cost overruns The U.S. Space Force/Air Force has canceled RTX’s Next-Generation GPS Operational Control Segment (OCX) ground-control network after years of delays and cost overruns, with reporting citing a roughly $6B program. Lockheed Martin was instead awarded a $105M contract for the AEP.

2026-04-20T15:38:16.984894-07:00

Space Force cancels RTX OCX GPS ground-control contract over delays and cost overruns

Space Intel Report

Kubilius presses EU Parliament to refine the EU Space Act and hold the line on the 2024-2028 defense & space budget European Defense and Space Commissioner Andrius Kubilius told the EU Parliament that additional modification is needed to streamline the proposed EU Space Act. He also urged lawmakers to maintain the Commission’s proposed defense-and-space budget for 2028-34, framing the package as critical for European capability buildout.

2026-04-20T15:00:06.572091-07:00

Kubilius presses EU Parliament to refine the EU Space Act and hold the line on the 2024-2028 defense & space budget

Breaking Defense

U.S. Army leans on FMS while HAL commits ₹10,000 crore to expand TEJAS/rotorcraft capacity Following a FY27 budget request that sharply reduced helicopter procurement funding, U.S. Army leaders and industry are leaning on foreign military sales (FMS) and reinvestment plans to sustain rotorcraft manufacturers. In parallel, India’s HAL is investing ₹10,000 crore to expand facilities to ramp up TEJAS, helicopters, and an indigenous defense aviation fleet.

2026-04-20T13:16:16.730213-07:00

U.S. Army leans on FMS while HAL commits ₹10,000 crore to expand TEJAS/rotorcraft capacity

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Defense Budgets & Spending News

U.S. Navy reopens Ford-class future amid design-and-cost review; possible cancellation of follow-on carriers

Air Force acquisitions nominee pledges to curb F-35 sustainment costs amid nuclear modernization push

Pentagon’s proposed FY2027 budget: $1.45T topline, $1.4B USAF air base defense, U‑2 retirement and carrier funding boost

Northrop Grumman Q1 revenue rises on stronger aeronautics demand as US seeks to expand B-21 Raider production

News Timeline