News

Aviation Today • Frank Wolfe

USAF to field first F-35A APG-85 radar in April 2028—9 months ahead; unit cost estimated at $8.8M

The U.S. Air Force now expects Lockheed Martin to deliver the first Northrop Grumman AN/APG-85 radar for the F-35A in April 2028, nine months earlier than previously scheduled, according to the service’s fiscal materials. The estimated unit cost is $8.8 million.

2026-05-01T08:12:42.416861-07:00

defence-industry.eu

Northrop delivers 70th E-2D Advanced Hawkeye to U.S. Navy, sustaining E-2D production at 82 aircraft built

2026-04-30T15:14:12.548558-07:00

AerialFire

Recoil Aerospace unveils Expeditionary Fuel System for faster mission fuel access at AAAA Summit

2026-04-30T16:24:23.729234-07:00

Vertical Mag

Arcanus Aerial Systems signs Beyond Vision manufacturing deal to build UAV platforms in Canada

2026-05-01T06:18:31.114528-07:00

News Timeline

Breaking Defense

PAE Marine Corps creates Corps-wide Portfolio Acquisition Executive role to bridge the “valley of death” for Project Dynamis PAE Marine Corps says it has established a Corps-wide Portfolio Acquisition Executive to connect capability testing under Project Dynamis to follow-on acquisition decisions. The intent is to reduce the gap between demonstrated test performance and fielding of the next-generation Marine Corps capabilities.

2026-05-01T10:16:09.728781-07:00

PAE Marine Corps creates Corps-wide Portfolio Acquisition Executive role to bridge the “valley of death” for Project Dynamis

Aviation Today

USAF to field first F-35A APG-85 radar in April 2028—9 months ahead; unit cost estimated at $8.8M The U.S. Air Force now expects Lockheed Martin to deliver the first Northrop Grumman AN/APG-85 radar for the F-35A in April 2028, nine months earlier than previously scheduled, according to the service’s fiscal materials. The estimated unit cost is $8.8 million.

2026-05-01T08:12:42.416861-07:00

USAF to field first F-35A APG-85 radar in April 2028—9 months ahead; unit cost estimated at $8.8M

Vertical Mag

Arcanus Aerial Systems signs Beyond Vision manufacturing deal to build UAV platforms in Canada Arcanus Aerial Systems says it has reached an agreement with Beyond Vision to manufacture UAV platforms, aiming to strengthen Canada’s defense uncrewed capabilities through expanded local production. The deal underscores how UAS developers are pairing airframe and integration know-how with domestic industrial partners.

2026-05-01T06:18:31.114528-07:00

Arcanus Aerial Systems signs Beyond Vision manufacturing deal to build UAV platforms in Canada

FlightGlobal

Pentagon and Indo-Pacific leadership float scaling B-21 Raider buy beyond 100 aircraft—plus $6.1B production acceleration Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told lawmakers the Pentagon should plan for “a lot more” than the current 100-aircraft B-21 Raider acquisition target, while the Indo-Pacific commander supports raising the buy to 200. Separately, the FY2027 budget request includes $6.1 billion to accelerate Northrop Grumman’s B-21 production.

2026-04-30T17:21:08.204776-07:00

Pentagon and Indo-Pacific leadership float scaling B-21 Raider buy beyond 100 aircraft—plus $6.1B production acceleration

AerialFire

Recoil Aerospace unveils Expeditionary Fuel System for faster mission fuel access at AAAA Summit Recoil Aerospace announced the debut of its Expeditionary Fuel System (EFS), unveiled at the Army Aviation Association of America (AAAA) Summit in Nashville. The company says EFS is designed to enhance expeditionary mission support by providing immediate fuel access, improving how fuel is supplied during operations.

2026-04-30T16:24:23.729234-07:00

Recoil Aerospace unveils Expeditionary Fuel System for faster mission fuel access at AAAA Summit

defence-industry.eu

Northrop delivers 70th E-2D Advanced Hawkeye to U.S. Navy, sustaining E-2D production at 82 aircraft built Northrop Grumman has delivered the 70th E-2D Advanced Hawkeye to the U.S. Navy, underscoring ongoing production momentum for the carrier-based airborne early-warning platform. The company has now produced 82 E-2Ds in total, reflecting continued collaboration with the Navy and industry partners.

2026-04-30T15:14:12.548558-07:00

Northrop delivers 70th E-2D Advanced Hawkeye to U.S. Navy, sustaining E-2D production at 82 aircraft built

The War Zone

US Air Force plans to retire E-11A BACN communications jets by 2028, shift battlefield comms and data fusion to space The U.S. Air Force says it has seven E-11s in the current fleet and plans to retire all E-11A Battlefield Airborne Communications Node aircraft in 2028. The service will replace their BACN role with the emerging Department of the Air Force Battle Network, bridging with a hybrid SATCOM terminal.

2026-04-30T12:22:56.118625-07:00

US Air Force plans to retire E-11A BACN communications jets by 2028, shift battlefield comms and data fusion to space

DefenseNews.com

US Air Force seeks nearly $1B in initial Congressional funding to start Collaborative Combat Aircraft ("loyal wingman") procurem For the first time, the U.S. Air Force is asking Congress to fund the purchase of Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCAs), marking the transition from prototypes to production. The request—nearly $1 billion for initial procurement—signals the start of the “loyal wingman” era and moves CCA toward fielding.

2026-04-30T11:50:00.555823-07:00

US Air Force seeks nearly $1B in initial Congressional funding to start Collaborative Combat Aircraft ("loyal wingman") procurem

Menu

Military Aircraft Procurement News

USAF to field first F-35A APG-85 radar in April 2028—9 months ahead; unit cost estimated at $8.8M

Northrop delivers 70th E-2D Advanced Hawkeye to U.S. Navy, sustaining E-2D production at 82 aircraft built

Recoil Aerospace unveils Expeditionary Fuel System for faster mission fuel access at AAAA Summit

Arcanus Aerial Systems signs Beyond Vision manufacturing deal to build UAV platforms in Canada

News Timeline