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Bloomberg • Katrina Manson

SpaceX and xAI enter classified Pentagon contest for voice‑controlled autonomous drone swarms

SpaceX and its wholly owned AI subsidiary xAI are competing in a classified Pentagon contest to develop voice‑controlled, autonomous drone‑swarm technology, people familiar with the matter say. The entry brings Musk’s space and AI capabilities into a sensitive U.S. defence autonomy competition against traditional contractors.

2026-02-16T11:04:25.060566-08:00

Runway Girl

Satys completes aerospace-only pivot, expands Toulouse painting capacity

2026-02-16T08:59:38.538104-08:00

DefenseNews.com

Slovakia in talks with US to buy four additional F-16 Block 70 fighters

2026-02-16T05:25:36.084345-08:00

FlightGlobal

Saudi Arabia orders four Leonardo C-27J maritime patrol aircraft; deliveries from 2029

2026-02-16T02:24:27.096294-08:00

News Timeline

Bloomberg

SpaceX and xAI enter classified Pentagon contest for voice‑controlled autonomous drone swarms SpaceX and its wholly owned AI subsidiary xAI are competing in a classified Pentagon contest to develop voice‑controlled, autonomous drone‑swarm technology, people familiar with the matter say. The entry brings Musk’s space and AI capabilities into a sensitive U.S. defence autonomy competition against traditional contractors.

2026-02-16T11:04:25.060566-08:00

SpaceX and xAI enter classified Pentagon contest for voice‑controlled autonomous drone swarms

Runway Girl

Satys completes aerospace-only pivot, expands Toulouse painting capacity Satys has completed a strategic realignment, selling its cable, cabin and rail activities to concentrate on aerospace services—chiefly aircraft painting and surface treatment. The Toulouse group says it has returned to pre‑COVID profitability, added four Sabena Technics widebody paint hangars and is targeting growth across six aeronautics markets.

2026-02-16T08:59:38.538104-08:00

Satys completes aerospace-only pivot, expands Toulouse painting capacity

AINonline

L3Harris begins mission‑systems modifications on South Korea’s Global 6500 AEW&C jets L3Harris has started mission‑systems modifications on the first two Bombardier Global 6500 aircraft earmarked for South Korea's airborne early warning and control programme. The work begins the conversion and systems‑integration phase and will ready the jets for systems testing and operational use.

2026-02-16T06:29:54.903258-08:00

L3Harris begins mission‑systems modifications on South Korea’s Global 6500 AEW&C jets

DefenseNews.com

Slovakia in talks with US to buy four additional F-16 Block 70 fighters On 15 February Slovak prime minister Robert Fico said Slovakia is negotiating with the United States to purchase four additional Lockheed Martin F‑16 Block 70 multirole fighters after donating jets to Ukraine; the move is intended to restore the country’s ability to conduct its own air‑policing and protect national airspace.

2026-02-16T05:25:36.084345-08:00

Slovakia in talks with US to buy four additional F-16 Block 70 fighters

SpaceNews.com

Pentagon pauses portions of LEO constellation as acquisition reviews proceed The Pentagon has placed portions of its planned low Earth orbit (LEO) constellation on hold while acquisition reviews proceed, pausing contract awards and scheduled deployments. The hold delays program timelines and contractor selection as officials reassess procurement next steps.

2026-02-16T03:17:22.289906-08:00

Pentagon pauses portions of LEO constellation as acquisition reviews proceed

FlightGlobal

Saudi Arabia orders four Leonardo C-27J maritime patrol aircraft; deliveries from 2029 Leonardo will supply four C-27J Maritime Patrol Aircraft to the Royal Saudi Naval Force, giving Saudi Arabia its first fixed‑wing maritime patrol capability. Deliveries of the maritime‑patrol variant are scheduled to begin in 2029, extending Riyadh's airborne surveillance and naval reach.

2026-02-16T02:24:27.096294-08:00

Saudi Arabia orders four Leonardo C-27J maritime patrol aircraft; deliveries from 2029

war.gov

US conducts first airlift of nuclear microreactor aboard C-17 to test rapid-deployment energy resilience The Departments of Defense and Energy this month completed the first air transport of a small, unfueled nuclear microreactor aboard a Boeing C‑17 Globemaster III, moving the unit from March Air Reserve Base, Calif., to Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The flight tested a rapid‑deployment concept to bolster military energy resilience.

2026-02-15T19:42:16.185836-08:00

US conducts first airlift of nuclear microreactor aboard C-17 to test rapid-deployment energy resilience

ch-aviation

India scraps import duties to boost local aerospace industry New Delhi has scrapped import duties to accelerate domestic aerospace and defence industry development. The measure is positioned to strengthen local manufacturers, including Hindustan Aeronautics, and to accelerate OEM localisation, supply‑chain investment and onshore production over the coming years at scale.

2026-02-15T19:39:48.842375-08:00

India scraps import duties to boost local aerospace industry

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Defense Industry & Major Contractors News

SpaceX and xAI enter classified Pentagon contest for voice‑controlled autonomous drone swarms

Satys completes aerospace-only pivot, expands Toulouse painting capacity

Slovakia in talks with US to buy four additional F-16 Block 70 fighters

Saudi Arabia orders four Leonardo C-27J maritime patrol aircraft; deliveries from 2029

News Timeline