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DefenseNews.com • Pierre Tran

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

DefenseNews.com

F-35 program office proposes “agile acquisition” to accelerate aircraft software and hardware updates

2026-04-27T20:34:38.013986-07:00

DefenseNews.com

State Department clears nearly $4B in long-delayed weapons for Bahrain, including a re-opened F-16 sale

2026-04-27T20:34:36.583883-07:00

DefenseNews.com

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

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

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DefenseNews.com

F-35 program office proposes “agile acquisition” to accelerate aircraft software and hardware updates The F-35 Joint Program Office is rolling out a new “agile acquisition” strategy aimed at making future updates to the fighter more efficient and responsive, according to the program’s lead. The effort signals an acquisition approach shift to support faster delivery of changes to the fleet.

2026-04-27T20:34:38.013986-07:00

F-35 program office proposes “agile acquisition” to accelerate aircraft software and hardware updates

DefenseNews.com

State Department clears nearly $4B in long-delayed weapons for Bahrain, including a re-opened F-16 sale The U.S. State Department has approved about $4 billion in Foreign Military Sales for Bahrain, clearing a long-awaited package that includes F-16 fighters whose sale was previously halted under the Obama administration. The clearance signals renewed U.S. support for Bahrain’s air capabilities and modernization plans.

2026-04-27T20:34:36.583883-07:00

State Department clears nearly $4B in long-delayed weapons for Bahrain, including a re-opened F-16 sale

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 ideal—but constrained—platforms for high-energy laser weapons High-energy laser weapons pair naturally with aircraft carriers because the ships are large, power-rich platforms. The same platform advantages come with hard constraints—primarily tied to ship integration, energy management, and operational limits that affect how effectively lasers can be employed at sea.

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

Why aircraft carriers are ideal—but constrained—platforms 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

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

F-35 program office proposes “agile acquisition” to accelerate aircraft software and hardware updates

State Department clears nearly $4B in long-delayed weapons for Bahrain, including a re-opened F-16 sale

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

News Timeline