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Defense Daily • Rich Abott

U.S. Army awards Lockheed Martin $4.76B PAC-3 MSE contract to accelerate Patriot interceptor production

The U.S. government awarded Lockheed Martin a $4.7 billion undefinitized/premilinary contract to produce Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (PAC-3 MSE) interceptors, advancing accelerated output under a contract action described as a key production ramp. Lockheed had targeted raising annual PAC-3 interceptor output from ~600 to 2,000 over seven years.

2026-04-09T14:39:16.098317-07:00

Aviation Week

Bahrain’s F-16 Block 70 Scores First Air-To-Air Kill, Shooting Down Two Iranian Drones

2026-04-09T10:22:25.391225-07:00

FlightGlobal

France places follow-on order for five Schiebel S-100 Camcopter shipborne ISR systems for FREMM frigate integration

2026-04-10T07:48:23.956107-07:00

FlightGlobal

White House FY2027 request puts Boeing’s F-47 NGAD on a near-term path: prototype flight in 2028 as F/A-XX slips

2026-04-10T14:24:07.465746-07:00

News Timeline

FlightGlobal

White House FY2027 request puts Boeing’s F-47 NGAD on a near-term path: prototype flight in 2028 as F/A-XX slips The White House’s fiscal year 2027 budget request reiterates commitment to fielding a US Air Force sixth-generation fighter, with Boeing tasked to fly an F-47 prototype in 2028. The materials also indicate the parallel F/A-XX effort is lagging, even as Washington frames NGAD as an “air dominance” paradigm shift.

2026-04-10T14:24:07.465746-07:00

White House FY2027 request puts Boeing’s F-47 NGAD on a near-term path: prototype flight in 2028 as F/A-XX slips

FlightGlobal

France places follow-on order for five Schiebel S-100 Camcopter shipborne ISR systems for FREMM frigate integration The French Navy has ordered five additional CAMCOPTER S-100 unmanned aerial systems for use from FREMM-class frigates under its naval unmanned aviation programme. Each system includes two VTOL S-100 Camcopters, to be supplied by Schiebel via prime contractor Naval Group with progressive deliveries.

2026-04-10T07:48:23.956107-07:00

France places follow-on order for five Schiebel S-100 Camcopter shipborne ISR systems for FREMM frigate integration

AeroTime

Finland faces costly F-35 upgrades as Block 4 delays persist

2026-04-10T04:23:00.394331-07:00

Finland faces costly F-35 upgr

AeroTime

Finland to self-fund F-35A Block 4 retrofit after upgrade delays Finnish program officials say the country will have to retrofit its 64 F-35A fighters at its own expense because the Block 4 upgrade has slipped several years behind schedule. The development reinforces how software and integration timing can shift costs and fielding timelines to partner air forces.

2026-04-10T04:23:00.394331-07:00

Finland to self-fund F-35A Block 4 retrofit after upgrade delays

Defense Daily

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U.S. Army awards Lockheed Martin $4.76B PAC-3 MSE contract to accelerate Patriot interceptor production The U.S. government awarded Lockheed Martin a $4.7 billion undefinitized/premilinary contract to produce Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (PAC-3 MSE) interceptors, advancing accelerated output under a contract action described as a key production ramp. Lockheed had targeted raising annual PAC-3 interceptor output from ~600 to 2,000 over seven years.

2026-04-09T14:39:16.098317-07:00

U.S. Army awards Lockheed Martin $4.76B PAC-3 MSE contract to accelerate Patriot interceptor production

FlightGlobal

USAF awards $29.7M to Beehive Industries to develop disposable Frenzy 8 turbojet for swarm-class drones The U.S. Air Force awarded Beehive Industries a $29.7 million contract to advance its low-cost Frenzy disposable turbojet family, including flight testing of the 200-lb-thrust Frenzy 8. Work also supports prototype fabrication for the 100-lb-thrust Frenzy 6 and scaled development toward surge demand for swarm-class drones.

2026-04-09T14:01:12.762414-07:00

USAF awards $29.7M to Beehive Industries to develop disposable Frenzy 8 turbojet for swarm-class drones

The War Zone

Inside the USAF’s ‘Ghost’ Tanker Unit — Aboard the KC-135R Testbed We flew aboard a unique KC-135R that serves as the centerpiece of the U.S. Air Force’s aerial-refuelling test force. The elite 'ghost' tanker unit conducts in-flight testing of refuelling hardware, procedures and tactics to validate capability and support operational interoperability.

2026-04-09T10:38:52.069307-07:00

Inside the USAF’s ‘Ghost’ Tanker Unit — Aboard the KC-135R Testbed

Aviation Week

Bahrain’s F-16 Block 70 Scores First Air-To-Air Kill, Shooting Down Two Iranian Drones The Royal Bahraini Air Force’s Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Block 70 has achieved its first combat success, intercepting and shooting down two Iranian drones during earlier Middle East conflict activity. Bahrain says the drones penetrated initial air-defense layers before being defeated by the new Block 70 capability.

2026-04-09T10:22:25.391225-07:00

Bahrain’s F-16 Block 70 Scores First Air-To-Air Kill, Shooting Down Two Iranian Drones

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Military Aircraft Procurement News

U.S. Army awards Lockheed Martin $4.76B PAC-3 MSE contract to accelerate Patriot interceptor production

Bahrain’s F-16 Block 70 Scores First Air-To-Air Kill, Shooting Down Two Iranian Drones

France places follow-on order for five Schiebel S-100 Camcopter shipborne ISR systems for FREMM frigate integration

White House FY2027 request puts Boeing’s F-47 NGAD on a near-term path: prototype flight in 2028 as F/A-XX slips

News Timeline