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Bloomberg Law • Jen Judson, Loren Grush, Sana Pashankar

Hegseth visits Blue Origin, recruits Bezos to push Pentagon procurement reform

Hegseth visited Blue Origin’s Merritt Island facility, lauding the Bezos-backed company and publicly recruiting private-sector support to overhaul Pentagon procurement. The trip intensified his critique of “legacy” defense contracting and coincided with NASA’s Artemis II wet dress rehearsal at the site.

2026-02-02T10:58:09.443593-08:00

Space Intel Report

Airbus CEO weighs potential merger with Thales and Leonardo

2026-02-02T12:34:45.403458-08:00

Aviation Week

Singapore buys ex‑Spanish C-130Hs as interim Hercules replacement

2026-02-02T08:03:04.279998-08:00

Air Data News

India opens talks with Ecuador to source retired Sepecat Jaguars and extend IAF fleet to mid‑2030s

2026-02-02T09:56:56.981456-08:00

News Timeline

Space Intel Report

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Airbus CEO weighs potential merger with Thales and Leonardo Airbus Defence and Space CEO Michael Schoellhorn publicly weighed the benefits and risks of a potential merger with Thales and Leonardo. He said such a tie‑up could boost scale, systems integration and European defence competitiveness but would face steep industrial governance, antitrust and integration hurdles.

2026-02-02T12:34:45.403458-08:00

Airbus CEO weighs potential merger with Thales and Leonardo

Bloomberg Law

Hegseth visits Blue Origin, recruits Bezos to push Pentagon procurement reform Hegseth visited Blue Origin’s Merritt Island facility, lauding the Bezos-backed company and publicly recruiting private-sector support to overhaul Pentagon procurement. The trip intensified his critique of “legacy” defense contracting and coincided with NASA’s Artemis II wet dress rehearsal at the site.

2026-02-02T10:58:09.443593-08:00

Hegseth visits Blue Origin, recruits Bezos to push Pentagon procurement reform

Air Data News

India opens talks with Ecuador to source retired Sepecat Jaguars and extend IAF fleet to mid‑2030s The Indian Air Force has opened discussions with Ecuador over the possible transfer of retired Sepecat Jaguar attack aircraft, seeking airframes and spares to keep the type flying into the mid‑2030s. The move follows earlier Jaguar transfers from Oman and is framed as a fleet sustainment step.

2026-02-02T09:56:56.981456-08:00

India opens talks with Ecuador to source retired Sepecat Jaguars and extend IAF fleet to mid‑2030s

Aviation Week

Singapore buys ex‑Spanish C-130Hs as interim Hercules replacement The Republic of Singapore Air Force has acquired pre‑owned Lockheed Martin C-130H transports as an interim refresh for its ageing C-130B/H fleet, receiving three of four ex‑Spanish airframes from Blue Aerospace. RSAF chief Maj. Gen. Kelvin Fan says the C-130 will meet requirements for the next 15–20 years.

2026-02-02T08:03:04.279998-08:00

Singapore buys ex‑Spanish C-130Hs as interim Hercules replacement

FlightGlobal

Honeywell unveils SkyShot 1600 turbofan for Asia's uncrewed fighter / CCA market Honeywell Aerospace has launched the SkyShot 1600, a small turbofan developed for uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) and light autonomous fighters in Asia. The engine aims to plug a regional shortage of suitable powerplants and position Honeywell as a supplier to emerging manned–unmanned teaming programmes.

2026-02-02T06:34:43.713484-08:00

Honeywell unveils SkyShot 1600 turbofan for Asia's uncrewed fighter / CCA market

Reuters

BAE Systems workers in northwest England to strike Feb 2–20 over pay, risking defence production delays Workers at British defence group BAE Systems in northwest England will stage strikes from February 2 to at least February 20 over pay and conditions, the union said. The union warned the industrial action could cause delays to defence production at affected sites.

2026-02-02T06:22:48.610240-08:00

BAE Systems workers in northwest England to strike Feb 2–20 over pay, risking defence production delays

AeroTime

Boeing selects Australia's Ferra Engineering to build P-8A HAAWC wing kits Boeing has chosen Brisbane-based Ferra Engineering to manufacture wing kits for the High Altitude Anti‑Submarine Warfare Weapon Capability (HAAWC) fitted to P‑8A Poseidon torpedoes. The expanded arrangement brings production work to Australia, supporting sovereign defence capability and enhancing crew safety during combat operations.

2026-02-02T06:02:38.129072-08:00

Boeing selects Australia's Ferra Engineering to build P-8A HAAWC wing kits

SpaceNews.com

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CesiumAstro raises $470M to scale Element LEO, AI-driven defense satcom and Austin manufacturing CesiumAstro closed $470 million in growth capital — $270M equity led by Trousdale Ventures plus $200M EXIM/J.P. Morgan-backed debt — to accelerate its Element LEO satellite program, scale AI-enabled space and defense communications, fund eight SpaceX rideshares and expand Austin manufacturing and HQ capacity.

2026-02-02T04:07:28.710086-08:00

CesiumAstro raises $470M to scale Element LEO, AI-driven defense satcom and Austin manufacturing

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Defense Industry & Major Contractors News

Hegseth visits Blue Origin, recruits Bezos to push Pentagon procurement reform

Airbus CEO weighs potential merger with Thales and Leonardo

Singapore buys ex‑Spanish C-130Hs as interim Hercules replacement

India opens talks with Ecuador to source retired Sepecat Jaguars and extend IAF fleet to mid‑2030s

News Timeline