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Air Data News • Ricardo Meier

Brazil’s defense minister flags June export-contract push for Embraer KC-390 Millennium

Brazil’s Defense Minister José Múcio Monteiro said he expects to travel abroad in June to finalize new export contracts for the Embraer KC-390 Millennium, without naming prospective customers. He also reiterated the program’s commercial momentum, with the cargo aircraft now totaling 37 units marketed.

2026-04-28T00:57:23.145940-07:00

DefenseNews.com

Aviation lessors move into remotely piloted aircraft as the US Army seeks platoon-level VTOL UAS

2026-04-27T20:34:33.743464-07:00

DefenseNews.com

L3Harris wins Compass Call crossdeck contract; selects Gulfstream as airframe provider

2026-04-27T20:34:32.927382-07:00

DefenseNews.com

JSTARS recap program in limbo as USAF reevaluates battle management/surveillance replacement approach

2026-04-27T20:34:32.850671-07:00

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Canada's F-35 review drags on with no decision timeline

2026-04-28T01:34:13.467118-07:00

Canada's F-35 review drags on with no de

Air Data News

Brazil’s defense minister flags June export-contract push for Embraer KC-390 Millennium Brazil’s Defense Minister José Múcio Monteiro said he expects to travel abroad in June to finalize new export contracts for the Embraer KC-390 Millennium, without naming prospective customers. He also reiterated the program’s commercial momentum, with the cargo aircraft now totaling 37 units marketed.

2026-04-28T00:57:23.145940-07:00

Brazil’s defense minister flags June export-contract push for Embraer KC-390 Millennium

DefenseNews.com

France deploys two A400M airlifters over Tonnerre to deliver Hurricane Irma humanitarian aid in the French Caribbean France has flown two A400M military airlifters and coordinated maritime movement aboard the helicopter carrier Tonnerre to deliver humanitarian aid to islands in the French Caribbean responding to Hurricane Irma. The operation pairs French airlift capacity with an embarked helicopter-carrier platform for relief distribution.

2026-04-27T20:34:35.084062-07:00

France deploys two A400M airlifters over Tonnerre to deliver Hurricane Irma humanitarian aid in the French Caribbean

DefenseNews.com

Aviation lessors move into remotely piloted aircraft as the US Army seeks platoon-level VTOL UAS Aviation leasing giant has begun offering remotely piloted air systems to military and civil users—an apparent first for major lessors. Separately, the US Army is seeking vertical-takeoff-and-landing capabilities to be fielded as platoon-level unmanned aerial systems via its commercial solutions opening service.

2026-04-27T20:34:33.743464-07:00

Aviation lessors move into remotely piloted aircraft as the US Army seeks platoon-level VTOL UAS

DefenseNews.com

L3Harris wins Compass Call crossdeck contract; selects Gulfstream as airframe provider After months of legal disputes, the US Air Force Compass Call crossdeck program is moving ahead, with L3Harris winning the contract and naming Gulfstream as the airframe provider. The decision advances efforts to field a new electronic-attack capability built on a business-jet platform.

2026-04-27T20:34:32.927382-07:00

L3Harris wins Compass Call crossdeck contract; selects Gulfstream as airframe provider

DefenseNews.com

JSTARS recap program in limbo as USAF reevaluates battle management/surveillance replacement approach The U.S. Air Force’s path to replace its aging JSTARS recap battle management and surveillance capability is being reassessed, putting the program’s future “in limbo.” The decision reflects ongoing exploration of other options rather than a straightforward continuation of the recap strategy.

2026-04-27T20:34:32.850671-07:00

JSTARS recap program in limbo as USAF reevaluates battle management/surveillance replacement approach

DefenseNews.com

Why aircraft carriers are a promising—but constrained—platform for high-energy laser weapons High-energy laser weapons align well with carrier missions because large, power-rich flight decks can support directed-energy output. The trade-off is platform-specific limits—space, beam-control constraints and integration realities—that can cap effectiveness compared with purpose-built systems.

2026-04-27T19:05:38.884986-07:00

Why aircraft carriers are a promising—but constrained—platform for high-energy laser weapons

DefenseNews.com

Air Force Secretary warns that canceling B-21 Raider contract would drive cost and schedule penalties As Sen. John McCain renews opposition to the Air Force’s B-21 next-generation bomber, service secretary Deborah Lee James warns that terminating the contract would impose both dollar and time costs. The warning frames the program as one where disruption would compound delivery and fielding risk.

2026-04-27T17:49:17.762459-07:00

Air Force Secretary warns that canceling B-21 Raider contract would drive cost and schedule penalties

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Military Aircraft Procurement News

Brazil’s defense minister flags June export-contract push for Embraer KC-390 Millennium

Aviation lessors move into remotely piloted aircraft as the US Army seeks platoon-level VTOL UAS

L3Harris wins Compass Call crossdeck contract; selects Gulfstream as airframe provider

JSTARS recap program in limbo as USAF reevaluates battle management/surveillance replacement approach

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