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FlightGlobal • Greg Waldron

US clears emergency FMS for $2.1B APKWS guided-rocket deliveries to three Gulf allies; Patriot and IBCS approvals for Qatar and

The U.S. has issued Emergency Foreign Military Sales notifications covering $2.1 billion in guided-rocket deliveries using APKWS, targeting a three-nation Middle East/Gulf trio. Separate emergency approvals also clear Patriot-related and Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) sales for Qatar and Kuwait.

2026-05-04T01:37:06.046937-07:00

defence-industry.eu

Israel approves additional F-35 and F-15I buys, backing two new fighter squadrons and a 350 billion-shekel defense-manufacturing

2026-05-03T02:57:03.011627-07:00

Breaking Defense

Pentagon expands classified AI partnerships with SpaceX, OpenAI, Google, Nvidia, Reflection, Microsoft, AWS and Oracle

2026-05-01T08:10:01.365316-07:00

AerialFire

Recoil Aerospace debuts Expeditionary Fuel System (EFS) for Army aviation at AAAA Summit

2026-04-30T16:24:23.729234-07:00

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FlightGlobal

Ravi K named HAL chairman and managing director as Dhruv helicopter production extended to mid-2030s Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has appointed Tejas programme veteran Ravi K as chairman and managing director following DK Sunil’s retirement. Separately, HAL plans to extend production of its Dhruv helicopter through the mid-2030s, preserving the line’s run-rate as India leans further on indigenous defence platforms.

2026-05-04T03:22:00.549777-07:00

Ravi K named HAL chairman and managing director as Dhruv helicopter production extended to mid-2030s

FlightGlobal

US clears emergency FMS for $2.1B APKWS guided-rocket deliveries to three Gulf allies; Patriot and IBCS approvals for Qatar and The U.S. has issued Emergency Foreign Military Sales notifications covering $2.1 billion in guided-rocket deliveries using APKWS, targeting a three-nation Middle East/Gulf trio. Separate emergency approvals also clear Patriot-related and Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) sales for Qatar and Kuwait.

2026-05-04T01:37:06.046937-07:00

US clears emergency FMS for $2.1B APKWS guided-rocket deliveries to three Gulf allies; Patriot and IBCS approvals for Qatar and

The War Zone

X-BAT stealth combat drone program highlights GE propulsion, thrust-vectoring controls, and Hivemind AI “pilot” ahead of flight Armor Harris, X-BAT’s chief designer, lays out how the stealth fighter-drone program pairs a GE engine with thrust-vectoring controls and integrates Shield AI’s Hivemind as an onboard “pilot.” The discussion also points to forthcoming flight-test plans as the autonomy-and-propulsion stack moves from concept to flight.

2026-05-03T10:38:07.475258-07:00

X-BAT stealth combat drone program highlights GE propulsion, thrust-vectoring controls, and Hivemind AI “pilot” ahead of flight

defence-industry.eu

❗️

Israel approves additional F-35 and F-15I buys, backing two new fighter squadrons and a 350 billion-shekel defense-manufacturing Israel’s defense ministry has given final approval to procure two new combat squadrons of F-35 and F-15IA aircraft from Lockheed Martin and Boeing, worth tens of billions of shekels. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also directed a 350 billion-shekel investment to boost advanced local defense manufacturing, citing a “crushing air superiority” posture after the Iran air war.

2026-05-03T02:57:03.011627-07:00

Israel approves additional F-35 and F-15I buys, backing two new fighter squadrons and a 350 billion-shekel defense-manufacturing

FlightGlobal

Lockheed Martin exits U.S. Navy T-45 replacement competition, leaving KAI-linked T-50 variant pitch as the remaining contender Lockheed Martin has withdrawn from the U.S. Navy’s competition to replace the T-45 trainer, according to the cluster reporting. The defense contractor previously partnered with Korea Aerospace Industries to offer a T-50 variant, signaling a key shift in how the Navy may restructure its trainer procurement path.

2026-05-01T12:43:33.326144-07:00

Lockheed Martin exits U.S. Navy T-45 replacement competition, leaving KAI-linked T-50 variant pitch as the remaining contender

Breaking Defense

PAE Marine Corps creates Corps-wide Portfolio Acquisition Executive role to bridge the “valley of death” for Project Dynamis PAE Marine Corps says it has established a Corps-wide Portfolio Acquisition Executive to connect capability testing under Project Dynamis to follow-on acquisition decisions. The intent is to reduce the gap between demonstrated test performance and fielding of the next-generation Marine Corps capabilities.

2026-05-01T10:16:09.728781-07:00

PAE Marine Corps creates Corps-wide Portfolio Acquisition Executive role to bridge the “valley of death” for Project Dynamis

Aviation Today

USAF to field first F-35A APG-85 radar in April 2028—9 months ahead; unit cost estimated at $8.8M The U.S. Air Force now expects Lockheed Martin to deliver the first Northrop Grumman AN/APG-85 radar for the F-35A in April 2028, nine months earlier than previously scheduled, according to the service’s fiscal materials. The estimated unit cost is $8.8 million.

2026-05-01T08:12:42.416861-07:00

USAF to field first F-35A APG-85 radar in April 2028—9 months ahead; unit cost estimated at $8.8M

Breaking Defense

Pentagon expands classified AI partnerships with SpaceX, OpenAI, Google, Nvidia, Reflection, Microsoft, AWS and Oracle The U.S. Defense Department announced agreements with eight technology companies to place AI systems inside the military’s most classified network environments, enabling those models access within protected infrastructures. The awards span SpaceX, OpenAI, Google, Nvidia, Reflection, Microsoft, and Amazon Web Services, with Oracle also included.

2026-05-01T08:10:01.365316-07:00

Pentagon expands classified AI partnerships with SpaceX, OpenAI, Google, Nvidia, Reflection, Microsoft, AWS and Oracle

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Defense Industry & Major Contractors News

US clears emergency FMS for $2.1B APKWS guided-rocket deliveries to three Gulf allies; Patriot and IBCS approvals for Qatar and

Israel approves additional F-35 and F-15I buys, backing two new fighter squadrons and a 350 billion-shekel defense-manufacturing

Pentagon expands classified AI partnerships with SpaceX, OpenAI, Google, Nvidia, Reflection, Microsoft, AWS and Oracle

Recoil Aerospace debuts Expeditionary Fuel System (EFS) for Army aviation at AAAA Summit

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