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AeroTime • Miquel Ros

France to ramp drone production 400% and boost guided-weapons output, POLITICO reports

France plans to increase drone production by 400%, guided-bomb output by 240%, and Aster and MICA missile production by 30%, POLITICO reports. The measures aim to rapidly replenish munitions stocks and expand offensive and air‑defence capacity amid ongoing European security pressures.

2026-04-05T23:06:37.437930-07:00

SpaceNews.com

Trump's $1.5T defense plan would more than double Space Force funding

2026-04-04T09:42:22.307156-07:00

Reuters

Pentagon signs seven‑year framework with Boeing to triple PAC‑3 MSE seeker production; Lockheed pact runs concurrently

2026-04-01T04:51:59.110748-07:00

FlightGlobal

GCAP awards £686m first international design contract to Edgewing JV

2026-04-02T04:20:53.455568-07:00

News Timeline

AeroTime

France to ramp drone production 400% and boost guided-weapons output, POLITICO reports France plans to increase drone production by 400%, guided-bomb output by 240%, and Aster and MICA missile production by 30%, POLITICO reports. The measures aim to rapidly replenish munitions stocks and expand offensive and air‑defence capacity amid ongoing European security pressures.

2026-04-05T23:06:37.437930-07:00

France to ramp drone production 400% and boost guided-weapons output, POLITICO reports

SpaceNews.com

Trump's $1.5T defense plan would more than double Space Force funding President Trump's $1.5 trillion defense plan would more than double funding for the U.S. Space Force, sharply increasing its share of the overall defense request. The proposal signals a major shift of resources toward space warfighting, sensing and acquisition priorities.

2026-04-04T09:42:22.307156-07:00

Trump's $1.5T defense plan would more than double Space Force funding

SpaceWatch Global

Culture, Not Cash, Is Europe’s Biggest Obstacle to Rearmament Defense budgets are expanding at a pace not seen in decades, but pouring money into armed forces won't deliver capability unless procurement culture changes. National silos, risk-averse acquisition practices, and duplicated projects blunt the impact of extra funding and slow urgent rearmament.

2026-04-03T03:00:03.394639-07:00

Culture, Not Cash, Is Europe’s Biggest Obstacle to Rearmament

SpaceNews.com

Pentagon awards Raytheon $45M for GPS ground system amid program review The Pentagon has awarded Raytheon a $45 million contract to develop and support a GPS ground system while the program's future is under reassessment. The funding covers near-term work as Defense officials review the program's scope and long-term role in U.S. PNT infrastructure.

2026-04-02T10:27:23.724267-07:00

Pentagon awards Raytheon $45M for GPS ground system amid program review

FlightGlobal

GCAP awards £686m first international design contract to Edgewing JV The Global Combat Air Programme Agency has awarded a £686 million ($904 million) joint international design and engineering contract to Edgewing JV, marking the programme's first trilateral award to advance development of the next‑generation fighter. Announced 2 April, the deal shifts GCAP into active design work and has prompted wider partner interest.

2026-04-02T04:20:53.455568-07:00

GCAP awards £686m first international design contract to Edgewing JV

FlightGlobal

UK and France launch 12-month joint study for Meteor beyond-visual-range missile successor The UK and France have signed a memorandum of understanding to begin a 12-month joint study into a successor to MBDA’s Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile. The study will assess future threat environments and define requirements for a next-generation BVR weapon for Typhoon and Rafale fleets.

2026-04-02T03:21:24.464331-07:00

UK and France launch 12-month joint study for Meteor beyond-visual-range missile successor

Reuters

Sweden awards SEK 8.7bn GUTE II C‑UAS programme to Saab‑led team including BAE, Nammo and SISU Sweden has launched an SEK 8.7 billion GUTE II counter‑unmanned aircraft system programme, awarding contracts to Saab, BAE Systems Bofors, Nammo and SISU. Saab was named lead systems integrator with an ~SEK 2.6bn order for a mobile, modular C‑UAS (deliveries 2027–28); BAE won roughly $180m for the Tridon Mk2.

2026-04-02T01:01:25.894511-07:00

Sweden awards SEK 8.7bn GUTE II C‑UAS programme to Saab‑led team including BAE, Nammo and SISU

New York Times

Iran conflict spotlights LIG Nex1 interceptors’ strong performance at a fraction of U.S. cost South Korea’s LIG Nex1-made missile interceptors are reported to be performing effectively in the Iran conflict while costing only a small fraction of comparable U.S. interceptors, drawing attention to lower-cost alternatives for regional air-defence procurement and potential export opportunities for Seoul’s defence sector.

2026-04-01T21:21:27.909537-07:00

Iran conflict spotlights LIG Nex1 interceptors’ strong performance at a fraction of U.S. cost

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Defense Budgets & Spending News

France to ramp drone production 400% and boost guided-weapons output, POLITICO reports

Trump's $1.5T defense plan would more than double Space Force funding

Pentagon signs seven‑year framework with Boeing to triple PAC‑3 MSE seeker production; Lockheed pact runs concurrently

GCAP awards £686m first international design contract to Edgewing JV

News Timeline