News

Bloomberg • Anthony Capaccio

GAO: F-35 readiness slips; Pentagon faces $13.7B extra sustainment bill through 2031

A GAO review found the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter’s full mission capable rate fell to just 25% in FY25, with 2025 readiness further degrading as spare parts shortages and other sustainment troubles hinder maintenance. To raise availability, the Pentagon says it needs an additional $13.7 billion through 2031.

2026-06-11T07:13:53.976109-07:00

Space Intel Report

Germany accelerates military space buildout, signing ILA MoUs for missile-warning and next-gen intelligence constellations

2026-06-11T22:22:46.305129-07:00

The War Zone

Bill would restore four U-2S Dragon Lady aircraft, again challenging Air Force plans to retire the fleet amid capability-gap con

2026-06-12T09:46:49.758754-07:00

Bloomberg

Germany to unveil 15-year aviation strategy aimed at SAF scaling, cost reduction and aerospace R&D—backed by a military aircraft

2026-06-09T09:05:49.614306-07:00

News Timeline

SpaceNews.com

CSIS: U.S. solid rocket motor output rising, but bottleneck persists for Pentagon missile-defense demand A CSIS report says U.S. production of solid rocket motors is increasing, but growth is not fast enough to satisfy the Pentagon’s missile-defense program requirements. The study flags solid rocket motors as an enduring bottleneck across the U.S. industrial base, constraining scaling for defense interceptors.

2026-06-13T21:21:40.877588-07:00

CSIS: U.S. solid rocket motor output rising, but bottleneck persists for Pentagon missile-defense demand

The War Zone

Bill would restore four U-2S Dragon Lady aircraft, again challenging Air Force plans to retire the fleet amid capability-gap con A new legislative proposal would require restoring four U-2S spy planes—effectively re-expanding near-term aircraft availability—while Congress seeks to block the Air Force from retiring the entire U-2 fleet. The move follows continuing questions about capability gaps and U-2S risk to mission coverage.

2026-06-12T09:46:49.758754-07:00

Bill would restore four U-2S Dragon Lady aircraft, again challenging Air Force plans to retire the fleet amid capability-gap con

Space Intel Report

Germany accelerates military space buildout, signing ILA MoUs for missile-warning and next-gen intelligence constellations Germany’s Bundeswehr is moving to scale space capabilities fast under a €35 billion ($40.4 billion) five-year military space budget, but says the national industrial base is too small to meet the ramp-up demand. At ILA Berlin, partners include Spire Global and Diehl Defence for space-based early warning and Rafael Advanced Combat Systems with Reflex Aerospace for a new high-frequency, very high-resolution intelligence constellation.

2026-06-11T22:22:46.305129-07:00

Germany accelerates military space buildout, signing ILA MoUs for missile-warning and next-gen intelligence constellations

SpaceNews.com

Senate NDAA moves to fold Space Development Agency and Space Rapid Capabilities Office into Space Force acquisition The Senate Armed Services Committee advanced FY2027 NDAA language that would eliminate separate statutory requirements for the Space Development Agency (SDA) and Space Rapid Capabilities Office (Space RCO). A parallel authorizers’ push would remove their surrounding statutes, enabling Space Force to apply both organizations’ acquisition processes under a new structure.

2026-06-11T12:13:05.598628-07:00

Senate NDAA moves to fold Space Development Agency and Space Rapid Capabilities Office into Space Force acquisition

Reuters

Meloni presses NATO to rebalance defence spending toward drones, satellites and data as Italy boosts outlays Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni says Italy will raise its official defence budget this year, while urging NATO allies to rethink spending priorities. Her argument is that modern warfare is increasingly shaped by drones, satellites and data—raising the stakes for how alliance resources are allocated.

2026-06-11T10:28:21.166363-07:00

Meloni presses NATO to rebalance defence spending toward drones, satellites and data as Italy boosts outlays

Bloomberg

GAO: F-35 readiness slips; Pentagon faces $13.7B extra sustainment bill through 2031 A GAO review found the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter’s full mission capable rate fell to just 25% in FY25, with 2025 readiness further degrading as spare parts shortages and other sustainment troubles hinder maintenance. To raise availability, the Pentagon says it needs an additional $13.7 billion through 2031.

2026-06-11T07:13:53.976109-07:00

GAO: F-35 readiness slips; Pentagon faces $13.7B extra sustainment bill through 2031

Breaking Defense

House Appropriators release $1.07T FY2027 defense bill; restores Army aviation cuts and funds E-7 Wedgetail, multi-year munition The House Appropriations Committee released its take on the fiscal 2027 defense spending bill, setting a $1.07 trillion topline and slightly trimming the Pentagon’s request. The package reverses Army aviation cuts, restores funding for the Air Force E-7 Wedgetail, and backs a range of multi-year munitions procurements.

2026-06-10T08:58:30.888800-07:00

House Appropriators release $1.07T FY2027 defense bill; restores Army aviation cuts and funds E-7 Wedgetail, multi-year munition

Via Satellite

Space Force seeks ~$1.5B for Space Data Network SDN Backbone via FY2027 reconciliation request The U.S. Space Force plans to request nearly $1.5 billion for the Space Data Network (SDN) Backbone in a future fiscal 2027 reconciliation bill. The move signals continued push to scale the services that underpin space-enabled defense data exchange and connectivity.

2026-06-10T07:12:46.865862-07:00

Space Force seeks ~$1.5B for Space Data Network SDN Backbone via FY2027 reconciliation request

Menu

Defense Budgets & Spending News

GAO: F-35 readiness slips; Pentagon faces $13.7B extra sustainment bill through 2031

Germany accelerates military space buildout, signing ILA MoUs for missile-warning and next-gen intelligence constellations

Bill would restore four U-2S Dragon Lady aircraft, again challenging Air Force plans to retire the fleet amid capability-gap con

Germany to unveil 15-year aviation strategy aimed at SAF scaling, cost reduction and aerospace R&D—backed by a military aircraft

News Timeline