The War Zone
• Thomas Newdick
Germany has dropped its plan for rapid procurement of Boeing’s MQ-28 Ghost Bat, with competition for the country’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft requirement now likely to extend into the next decade. The shift lengthens the timeline for a decision on the emerging military aircraft capability.
The War Zone
Military Aircraft Procurement
Latest source-backed stories
Germany has dropped its plan for rapid procurement of Boeing’s MQ-28 Ghost Bat, with competition for the country’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft requirement now likely to extend into the next decade. The shift lengthens the timeline for a decision on the emerging military aircraft capability.
U.S. Air Force officers training to become test pilots are now practicing water landings as part of their qualification. Trainees are flying both the Icon A5 and Lake Aircraft LA-4 Buccaneer amphibians, adding a water-landing element to the school’s curriculum.
A report says the B-21 Raider’s wingspan can now be estimated more accurately, replacing earlier estimates described as unusually small. The available article summary does not provide the revised measurement or explain how it was established.
The US Navy has awarded Bell Boeing a $90.8 million contract to redesign the V-22’s flight control system. The tiltrotor is operated by the Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force; the contract places a defined engineering effort on a platform shared across three US military services.
U.S. Department of Defense procurement records point to Singapore as the unidentified foreign customer behind a contract to develop a tailored F-35 configuration. The link emerges as Singapore approaches delivery of its first fighter, though the available information does not detail what the configuration changes or when they will be delivered.
The agreement with the United States covers five Sikorsky maritime helicopters, weapons and support systems, with NZD 110 million in average annual operating funds planned over the next decade. The aircraft will serve alongside Australia’s Seahawk fleet; Sikorsky Australia’s Nowra facility, which supports that fleet, marks 10 years of operations.
Northrop Grumman says the U.S. Army is showing interest in its G/ATOR multi-mission radar, which has earned strong marks from Marine Corps leadership. The system is in the latter stages of its Marine Corps fielding process, giving Army interest a potential path from service evaluation toward broader adoption.
South Korea’s navy has begun seeking a new maritime patrol aircraft to replace its seven aging Lockheed P-3CK Orions, which are scheduled to retire in 2030. The move comes as Seoul focuses on anti-submarine warfare, but the reports do not identify a selected aircraft or provide acquisition cost or schedule details.
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