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CNBC • Dan Mangan

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

Reuters

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

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

FlightGlobal

Pentagon secures air superiority in Operation Epic Fury, shifts to GPS-guided bombs and seeks rapid munitions replenishment

2026-03-04T16:06:31.365199-08:00

FlightGlobal

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

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

News Timeline

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

FlightGlobal

Pentagon secures air superiority in Operation Epic Fury, shifts to GPS-guided bombs and seeks rapid munitions replenishment U.S. forces, citing air superiority in Operation Epic Fury, have pushed strikes deeper into Iran while pivoting from expensive long‑range missiles to GPS‑guided gravity bombs to sustain the campaign. The White House is convening industry to rapidly replenish expended munitions, even as the Pentagon says stockpiles remain sufficient.

2026-03-04T16:06:31.365199-08:00

Pentagon secures air superiority in Operation Epic Fury, shifts to GPS-guided bombs and seeks rapid munitions replenishment

SpaceNews.com

U.S. Space Force presses for increased personnel and expanded training The U.S. Space Force is pressing for increased personnel and an expansion of training programs to strengthen its operator base and sustain mission operations. Service leaders are seeking expanded staffing and training resources to address capability shortfalls and prepare forces for higher operational tempo.

2026-03-04T15:13:28.529456-08:00

U.S. Space Force presses for increased personnel and expanded training

Payload

Heritage Foundation rates Space Force 'marginal' over readiness and resource shortfalls A Heritage Foundation report labels the U.S. Space Force “marginal,” saying it is “woefully short of the resources required to hold adversary space systems at risk” and is unprepared to operate in a contested space environment despite effectiveness in uncontested operations.

2026-03-04T05:33:06.951347-08:00

Heritage Foundation rates Space Force 'marginal' over readiness and resource shortfalls

DefenseNews.com

USAF Seeks Replacement Armored Transporters for Aging Minuteman III ICBM Force The U.S. Air Force has opened a procurement to replace aging armored transporters that support the Minuteman III ICBM force, saying current vehicles are obsolete. The move highlights immediate logistics and sustainment shortfalls for a missile fleet that remains in service pending its replacement.

2026-03-03T13:32:03.501107-08:00

USAF Seeks Replacement Armored Transporters for Aging Minuteman III ICBM Force

SpaceNews.com

Washington Turns Up the Heat on Space Policy U.S. policymakers are intensifying scrutiny of national space strategy, injecting political pressure into funding, procurement and regulatory decisions that affect both commercial space companies and defense programs. The shift raises the stakes for firms competing for federal support and primes new legislative and executive action.

2026-03-03T08:13:33.776566-08:00

Washington Turns Up the Heat on Space Policy

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Defense Budgets & Spending News

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

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

Pentagon secures air superiority in Operation Epic Fury, shifts to GPS-guided bombs and seeks rapid munitions replenishment

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

News Timeline