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Bloomberg • Tony Capaccio

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

Wings

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

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

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

FlightGlobal

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

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

News Timeline

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

CNBC

Trump says defense CEOs agreed to quadruple production of 'Exquisite Class' weaponry President Trump said he met with CEOs of major defense contractors and that they agreed to quadruple production of 'Exquisite Class' weaponry. Attendees included BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, RTX Corp., Boeing, Honeywell Aerospace and L3Harris Missile Solutions, representing major U.S. and allied primes.

2026-03-06T13:14:13.611070-08:00

Trump says defense CEOs agreed to quadruple production of 'Exquisite Class' weaponry

Reuters

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Switzerland trims F-35 buy to about 30 jets amid rising costs, seeks European air‑defence fallback Switzerland will purchase roughly 30 Lockheed Martin F‑35A fighters, down from an initial 36, after unit‑cost increases pushed the programme over budget. The government declined to add funds to preserve procurement limits and is pursuing a complementary European air‑defence option amid Patriot production delays.

2026-03-06T06:54:51.375903-08:00

Switzerland trims F-35 buy to about 30 jets amid rising costs, seeks European air‑defence fallback

FlightGlobal

India signs ₹5,083 crore deals for six HAL Dhruv Mk‑III maritime helicopters and VL‑Shtil SAMs India's Ministry of Defence signed contracts on March 3 worth ₹5,083 crore ($555m) to acquire six HAL Dhruv ALH Mk‑III maritime helicopters for the Coast Guard and VL‑Shtil vertical‑launch SAMs for the Navy. The Dhruv order (reported separately at INR29 billion/$319m) includes performance‑based logistics after 2025 safety modifications.

2026-03-05T00:06:49.213794-08:00

India signs ₹5,083 crore deals for six HAL Dhruv Mk‑III maritime helicopters and VL‑Shtil SAMs

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Defense Budgets & Spending News

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

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

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

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

News Timeline