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Aviation Week • Steve Trimble

USAF awards Boeing contract modifications totalling just over $5B for E-7A Wedgetail development and production

On March 12 the U.S. Air Force awarded Boeing multiple contract modifications — an initial $2.4–$2.43 billion package plus a separate $3.3 billion award — bringing cumulative program spending to just over $5 billion. The funds support continued development, production and procurement of the E-7A Wedgetail AEW&C aircraft.

2026-03-12T16:28:41.049844-07:00

FlightGlobal

Pentagon reveals LUCAS loitering munition — Shahed-136 derivative with 434 nm range and sub-$55k unit cost

2026-03-13T10:23:53.030335-07:00

Bloomberg

Pentagon requests $12B through 2031 and directs $1B spares push to restore F‑35 readiness

2026-03-12T13:12:39.385621-07:00

Leeham News

Middle East conflict shutters Gulf airspace, disrupting Air India operations and clouding Airbus/Boeing activity

2026-03-10T07:23:34.611461-07:00

News Timeline

FlightGlobal

Pentagon reveals LUCAS loitering munition — Shahed-136 derivative with 434 nm range and sub-$55k unit cost The Pentagon has released specifications for LUCAS, a one-way loitering munition reverse-engineered from Iran’s Shahed-136. The system offers a 434 nm range, a per-unit cost the department places between $10,000 and $55,000, and has been employed operationally in the Middle East.

2026-03-13T10:23:53.030335-07:00

Pentagon reveals LUCAS loitering munition — Shahed-136 derivative with 434 nm range and sub-$55k unit cost

AeroTime

Raytheon completes $115M, 26,000 sq ft expansion of Redstone missile integration facility Raytheon has finished a $115 million, 26,000 sq ft expansion of its Redstone Missile Integration Facility in Alabama, a project the company says could lift delivery capacity by more than 50% and support roughly 2,200 new jobs to help replenish U.S. munitions stocks.

2026-03-13T07:15:02.920796-07:00

Raytheon completes $115M, 26,000 sq ft expansion of Redstone missile integration facility

Aviation Week

USAF awards Boeing contract modifications totalling just over $5B for E-7A Wedgetail development and production On March 12 the U.S. Air Force awarded Boeing multiple contract modifications — an initial $2.4–$2.43 billion package plus a separate $3.3 billion award — bringing cumulative program spending to just over $5 billion. The funds support continued development, production and procurement of the E-7A Wedgetail AEW&C aircraft.

2026-03-12T16:28:41.049844-07:00

USAF awards Boeing contract modifications totalling just over $5B for E-7A Wedgetail development and production

Bloomberg

Pentagon requests $12B through 2031 and directs $1B spares push to restore F‑35 readiness The Pentagon has requested an additional $12 billion through 2031 to restore declining F‑35 readiness and is directing $1 billion in 2026 reconciliation funds to buy spares and raise dismal F‑35A mission‑capable rates. Officials say the measures target sustainment shortfalls that have degraded strike availability.

2026-03-12T13:12:39.385621-07:00

Pentagon requests $12B through 2031 and directs $1B spares push to restore F‑35 readiness

Reuters

Boeing wins $289M contract to supply up to 5,000 air‑launched smart bombs to Israel Boeing has won a $289 million contract to deliver as many as 5,000 air‑launched precision‑guided "smart" bombs to Israel, Bloomberg reports. The award, cited by three people familiar with the transaction, covers delivery of new munitions for Israeli combat aircraft.

2026-03-10T13:53:32.476309-07:00

Boeing wins $289M contract to supply up to 5,000 air‑launched smart bombs to Israel

Wings

Canada pledges CA$900M for drone and aerospace R&D; NRC orders Bombardier Global 6500 as defence testbed Ottawa is investing CA$900 million into drone and aerospace technology, funding a Drone Innovation Centre and equipping the National Research Council with a Bombardier Global 6500 testbed to support defence research. The package aims to strengthen domestic supply chains and Arctic sovereignty through alignment with EU and Japanese partners.

2026-03-10T07:40:05.419405-07:00

Canada pledges CA$900M for drone and aerospace R&D; NRC orders Bombardier Global 6500 as defence testbed

Leeham News

Middle East conflict shutters Gulf airspace, disrupting Air India operations and clouding Airbus/Boeing activity As of 10 March 2026, Gulf airspace closures linked to the US–Israel war on Iran have forced Air India and regional carriers to suspend or reroute services, snarling cargo and passenger networks, clouding Airbus/Boeing orders and deliveries, while oil tops $100/barrel and defense production demands rise.

2026-03-10T07:23:34.611461-07:00

Middle East conflict shutters Gulf airspace, disrupting Air India operations and clouding Airbus/Boeing activity

FlightGlobal

U.S. says precision-munitions stocks can sustain Iran campaign — industry warns production shortfall U.S. defence officials contend current stockpiles of precision munitions are sufficient to support sustained operations against Iran. Military leaders and industry executives disagree, warning production capacity lags battlefield demand and risks shortages if high‑tempo strikes persist without a durable ramp in output.

2026-03-09T20:18:38.006053-07:00

U.S. says precision-munitions stocks can sustain Iran campaign — industry warns production shortfall

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Defense Budgets & Spending News

USAF awards Boeing contract modifications totalling just over $5B for E-7A Wedgetail development and production

Pentagon reveals LUCAS loitering munition — Shahed-136 derivative with 434 nm range and sub-$55k unit cost

Pentagon requests $12B through 2031 and directs $1B spares push to restore F‑35 readiness

Middle East conflict shutters Gulf airspace, disrupting Air India operations and clouding Airbus/Boeing activity

News Timeline