News

DefenseNews.com • Aaron Mehta

Pentagon: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter gun remains on schedule for 2017 operational fielding

The Pentagon’s F-35 Program Office said the fighter’s gun is still on track to become operational in 2017. The statement keeps the weapons system timeline intact amid ongoing program activity around F-35 software and mission system upgrade delivery.

2026-04-25T00:50:54.219227-07:00

DefenseNews.com

India’s defence secretary in Paris to accelerate MMRCA Rafale negotiations

2026-04-25T00:50:53.485684-07:00

Air Data News

USAF extends life of B-1B and B-2 fleets, budgets nearly $1.7B for upgrades as B-21 transition slips

2026-04-24T22:57:04.210342-07:00

Bloomberg

SpaceX tapped to help build software “operating system” for Trump’s Golden Dome

2026-04-24T22:35:31.621249-07:00

News Timeline

DefenseNews.com

Pentagon: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter gun remains on schedule for 2017 operational fielding The Pentagon’s F-35 Program Office said the fighter’s gun is still on track to become operational in 2017. The statement keeps the weapons system timeline intact amid ongoing program activity around F-35 software and mission system upgrade delivery.

2026-04-25T00:50:54.219227-07:00

Pentagon: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter gun remains on schedule for 2017 operational fielding

DefenseNews.com

India’s defence secretary in Paris to accelerate MMRCA Rafale negotiations Indian Defence Secretary Radha Krishna Mathur is in Paris Monday and Tuesday to help speed negotiations on the Medium Multirole Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) program, an Indian Defence Ministry source said. The discussions come amid ongoing Rafale acquisition steps and continued focus on meeting New Delhi’s air-power requirements.

2026-04-25T00:50:53.485684-07:00

India’s defence secretary in Paris to accelerate MMRCA Rafale negotiations

Air Data News

USAF extends life of B-1B and B-2 fleets, budgets nearly $1.7B for upgrades as B-21 transition slips The U.S. Air Force is planning nearly $1.7 billion in upgrades to keep the Rockwell B-1B Lancer and Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit bombers flying longer than the service previously targeted for an early-2030s retirement. The shift reflects how the B-21 transition schedule has stretched.

2026-04-24T22:57:04.210342-07:00

USAF extends life of B-1B and B-2 fleets, budgets nearly $1.7B for upgrades as B-21 transition slips

Bloomberg

SpaceX tapped to help build software “operating system” for Trump’s Golden Dome SpaceX has been pulled into an industry group developing the software “operating system” underpinning President Donald Trump’s Golden Dome air-and-missile-defense initiative, according to people familiar with the matter. The reporting underscores how tightly Elon Musk’s space and satellite business is being linked to government defense needs.

2026-04-24T22:35:31.621249-07:00

SpaceX tapped to help build software “operating system” for Trump’s Golden Dome

SpaceNews.com

Space Force selects 12 companies for Golden Dome space-based interceptor prototype work, awarding up to $3.2B The U.S. Space Force awarded contracts to 12 companies to prototype space-based interceptors for President Donald Trump’s Golden Dome missile-defense effort. The April 24 Space Systems Command awards total up to $3.2 billion, structured via Other Transaction Authority agreements supporting competing designs rather than an early single-prime path.

2026-04-24T16:24:07.924039-07:00

Space Force selects 12 companies for Golden Dome space-based interceptor prototype work, awarding up to $3.2B

Air Data News

F-22 Raptor gets first production anti-jam navigation upgrade for GPS-denied missions Northrop Grumman has delivered the first production unit of a new anti-jam navigation upgrade for the F-22 Raptor. The system is designed to enable GPS-denied or GPS-jammed operations, with the article noting the Navy’s E-2D will also receive a related navigation upgrade.

2026-04-24T16:24:01.316703-07:00

F-22 Raptor gets first production anti-jam navigation upgrade for GPS-denied missions

FlightGlobal

Aura Aero targets first flight this year for Enbata MALE drone under France DGA timeline French manufacturer Aura Aero says it remains on track to deliver a first flight later this year for its Enbata medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) uncrewed aircraft. The milestone is aligned with the schedule set by France’s DGA, signaling progress toward the programme’s next flight-test phase.

2026-04-24T13:41:21.237147-07:00

Aura Aero targets first flight this year for Enbata MALE drone under France DGA timeline

DefenseNews.com

ArianeGroup weighs Germany-based production of conventional ballistic missiles for Europe’s deep-strike needs ArianeGroup is studying options for producing conventional ballistic missiles in Germany, as European policymakers push for more deep-strike capabilities amid conflict-driven demand for “conventional ballistic missile” options. Bruneau said the rationale is tied to the expansion of active conflicts and the need for flexible deep-strike choices.

2026-04-24T11:21:04.606889-07:00

ArianeGroup weighs Germany-based production of conventional ballistic missiles for Europe’s deep-strike needs

Menu

Defense Industry & Major Contractors News

Pentagon: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter gun remains on schedule for 2017 operational fielding

India’s defence secretary in Paris to accelerate MMRCA Rafale negotiations

USAF extends life of B-1B and B-2 fleets, budgets nearly $1.7B for upgrades as B-21 transition slips

SpaceX tapped to help build software “operating system” for Trump’s Golden Dome

News Timeline