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FlightGlobal • Ryan Finnerty

U.S. says precision-munitions stocks can sustain Iran campaign — industry warns production shortfall

U.S. defence officials contend current stockpiles of precision munitions are sufficient to support sustained operations against Iran. Military leaders and industry executives disagree, warning production capacity lags battlefield demand and risks shortages if high‑tempo strikes persist without a durable ramp in output.

2026-03-09T20:18:38.006053-07:00

DefenseNews.com

USAF issues sources‑sought for stand‑in attack weapon compatible with F‑147 and B‑21

2026-03-09T16:58:13.797466-07:00

FlightGlobal

Bell nears FAA certification for 525 fly‑by‑wire super‑medium after completing flight testing

2026-03-09T12:38:28.313098-07:00

Vertical Mag

DARPA designates Bell SPRINT demonstrator X-76 after CDR; build to start ahead of 2028 flight

2026-03-09T12:08:14.909704-07:00

News Timeline

FlightGlobal

U.S. says precision-munitions stocks can sustain Iran campaign — industry warns production shortfall U.S. defence officials contend current stockpiles of precision munitions are sufficient to support sustained operations against Iran. Military leaders and industry executives disagree, warning production capacity lags battlefield demand and risks shortages if high‑tempo strikes persist without a durable ramp in output.

2026-03-09T20:18:38.006053-07:00

U.S. says precision-munitions stocks can sustain Iran campaign — industry warns production shortfall

DefenseNews.com

USAF issues sources‑sought for stand‑in attack weapon compatible with F‑147 and B‑21 The U.S. Air Force issued a sources‑sought notice for a stand‑in attack weapon compatible with its F‑147 and B‑21 platforms. The posting is the first public acquisition document to name the F‑147 tied to a specific weapon system.

2026-03-09T16:58:13.797466-07:00

USAF issues sources‑sought for stand‑in attack weapon compatible with F‑147 and B‑21

FlightGlobal

US Army narrows Flight School Next to four bidders; three propose Robinson R66 The U.S. Army's Flight School Next trainer competition has been cut to four bidders as the service seeks to modernize helicopter pilot instruction. Three of the remaining contenders are proposing variants of the Robinson R66, concentrating the contest around the light‑turbine R66 platform.

2026-03-09T15:38:52.884422-07:00

US Army narrows Flight School Next to four bidders; three propose Robinson R66

Reuters

Beta accelerates Alia MV250 military cargo drone; first flight moved up six months to this year Beta Technologies has accelerated development of its Alia MV250 military cargo drone by six months, moving the program's first flight to this year, CEO Kyle Clark told Reuters. The schedule push follows recent FAA grant support and advances Beta's defense logistics ambitions.

2026-03-09T15:03:23.098305-07:00

Beta accelerates Alia MV250 military cargo drone; first flight moved up six months to this year

SpaceNews.com

BAE completes preliminary design review for Space Force's Epoch missile‑detection constellation BAE Systems has completed the preliminary design review for the Space Force's Epoch missile‑detection constellation, the Space Systems Command said. The milestone advances a BAE‑designed missile‑tracking satellite into detailed design, moving the programme closer to integration and subsequent development phases.

2026-03-09T14:38:49.028198-07:00

BAE completes preliminary design review for Space Force's Epoch missile‑detection constellation

Via Satellite

AFRL awards Hughes contract for resilient hybrid satellite networking with intelligent automation AFRL has awarded Hughes Network Systems (an EchoStar company) a contract to develop and experiment with resilient, hybrid satellite networks featuring intelligent automation. The work focuses on space data networking and resilient communications architectures for military use and aims to demonstrate integration across terrestrial and satellite systems.

2026-03-09T12:59:08.996675-07:00

AFRL awards Hughes contract for resilient hybrid satellite networking with intelligent automation

FlightGlobal

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Bell nears FAA certification for 525 fly‑by‑wire super‑medium after completing flight testing Bell says it has completed all flight testing required by the FAA for its fly‑by‑wire 525 super‑medium twin and is in the final stages of certification after a 15‑year development. The company plans to ramp production to meet commercial and military demand but hasn’t set a firm entry‑into‑service date.

2026-03-09T12:38:28.313098-07:00

Bell nears FAA certification for 525 fly‑by‑wire super‑medium after completing flight testing

Vertical Mag

Honeywell unveils HGuide i700 IMU for GNSS‑denied unmanned platforms Honeywell introduced the HGuide i700, a high‑accuracy inertial measurement unit (IMU) built to provide precise navigation for unmanned aerial and ground platforms operating in GNSS‑denied environments. The unit is aimed at preserving autonomy and mission continuity where GPS is unavailable or jammed.

2026-03-09T12:08:15.811222-07:00

Honeywell unveils HGuide i700 IMU for GNSS‑denied unmanned platforms

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Defense Industry & Major Contractors News

U.S. says precision-munitions stocks can sustain Iran campaign — industry warns production shortfall

USAF issues sources‑sought for stand‑in attack weapon compatible with F‑147 and B‑21

Bell nears FAA certification for 525 fly‑by‑wire super‑medium after completing flight testing

DARPA designates Bell SPRINT demonstrator X-76 after CDR; build to start ahead of 2028 flight

News Timeline