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Space Force appoints second tranche of Portfolio Acquisition Executives, expanding PAEs to six to speed mission delivery

The U.S. Space Force has named a second tranche of Portfolio Acquisition Executives (PAEs), adding four new PAEs to bring the total to six and assigning five additional mission areas under the DoD’s new acquisition schema. The change restructures buying authority to prioritize faster fielding of space capabilities.

2026-03-17T09:40:49.655859-07:00

The War Zone

USS Gerald R. Ford sails to Crete for repairs after 30+ hour laundry-room fire, forcing carrier schedule reshuffle

2026-03-17T16:58:24.487044-07:00

FlightGlobal

China boosts fighter production to 300–400 jets annually after major factory expansion

2026-03-17T14:53:54.217969-07:00

AINonline

Merlin raises $200M in SPAC to develop crewless conversion kits for civil and military aircraft

2026-03-17T09:25:57.519165-07:00

News Timeline

Via Satellite

Lite Coms outlines multi-orbit, multi-band roadmap as it scales tactical VSAT production Lite Coms' U.S. Army sales manager Gabrielle D'Amico and VP of Operations Andrew Colaruotolo outlined the company's multi-orbit, multi-band roadmap and recent production investments to scale tactical VSAT. They positioned the effort as delivering resilient, interoperable satcom capabilities for military users across contested and distributed operating environments.

2026-03-17T16:58:29.082372-07:00

Lite Coms outlines multi-orbit, multi-band roadmap as it scales tactical VSAT production

The War Zone

USS Gerald R. Ford sails to Crete for repairs after 30+ hour laundry-room fire, forcing carrier schedule reshuffle USS Gerald R. Ford — the U.S. Navy’s most expensive carrier and recently engaged with Iran — is heading to Crete for repairs after a laundry-room fire burned for more than 30 hours and displaced roughly 600 sailors. The blaze has forced carrier schedule changes as life extensions and delivery delays complicate fleet readiness.

2026-03-17T16:58:24.487044-07:00

USS Gerald R. Ford sails to Crete for repairs after 30+ hour laundry-room fire, forcing carrier schedule reshuffle

FlightGlobal

China boosts fighter production to 300–400 jets annually after major factory expansion Commercial satellite imagery shows China's state-owned aviation conglomerate has dramatically expanded facilities producing military combat aircraft — including the fifth-generation J‑20 — raising reported fighter production capacity toward roughly 300–400 airframes per year, according to recent imagery analysis, a sizable increase in PLA-AF industrial output.

2026-03-17T14:53:54.217969-07:00

China boosts fighter production to 300–400 jets annually after major factory expansion

SpaceNews.com

Pentagon's 'Golden Dome' cost jumps to $185B as space-based missile‑tracking push accelerates The Pentagon has increased its estimate for the 'Golden Dome' space‑layer missile‑tracking and hypersonic‑defense architecture to $185 billion — a $10 billion rise tied to expanded space‑based elements and accelerated work by Lockheed, RTX and Northrop, though program leadership disputes larger projections.

2026-03-17T11:47:23.494561-07:00

Pentagon's 'Golden Dome' cost jumps to $185B as space-based missile‑tracking push accelerates

FlightGlobal

Baykar unveils AI‑enabled K2 'kamikaze' loitering munition after two‑day multi‑aircraft swarm tests Baykar conducted a two‑day campaign of multi‑aircraft flight tests to demonstrate an AI‑enabled K2 'kamikaze' loitering munition it describes as the largest in its class, showcasing coordinated multi‑vehicle swarm operations and autonomous strike behaviours.

2026-03-17T10:38:24.251826-07:00

Baykar unveils AI‑enabled K2 'kamikaze' loitering munition after two‑day multi‑aircraft swarm tests

spaceforce.mil

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Space Force appoints second tranche of Portfolio Acquisition Executives, expanding PAEs to six to speed mission delivery The U.S. Space Force has named a second tranche of Portfolio Acquisition Executives (PAEs), adding four new PAEs to bring the total to six and assigning five additional mission areas under the DoD’s new acquisition schema. The change restructures buying authority to prioritize faster fielding of space capabilities.

2026-03-17T09:40:49.655859-07:00

Space Force appoints second tranche of Portfolio Acquisition Executives, expanding PAEs to six to speed mission delivery

Reuters

Honeywell, Howmet say they can expand capacity to meet surge in defense and commercial aerospace demand Executives from Honeywell Aerospace and Howmet Aerospace said they can scale production to meet a surge in demand for commercial aircraft components and munitions, citing robust aftermarket activity and defence-driven orders as geopolitical tensions push procurement higher and suppliers to add capacity.

2026-03-17T09:26:14.569865-07:00

Honeywell, Howmet say they can expand capacity to meet surge in defense and commercial aerospace demand

AINonline

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Merlin raises $200M in SPAC to develop crewless conversion kits for civil and military aircraft Merlin has raised $200 million in a SPAC IPO to fund development of systems to convert existing civil and military aircraft to uncrewed operations. The company will develop autonomy software and retrofit integration packages aimed at enabling crewless missions across commercial and defense markets.

2026-03-17T09:25:57.519165-07:00

Merlin raises $200M in SPAC to develop crewless conversion kits for civil and military aircraft

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Defense Industry & Major Contractors News

Space Force appoints second tranche of Portfolio Acquisition Executives, expanding PAEs to six to speed mission delivery

USS Gerald R. Ford sails to Crete for repairs after 30+ hour laundry-room fire, forcing carrier schedule reshuffle

China boosts fighter production to 300–400 jets annually after major factory expansion

Merlin raises $200M in SPAC to develop crewless conversion kits for civil and military aircraft

News Timeline