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Aviation Week • Robert Wall

Ukraine drones strike Shagol airfield, claim damage to Russian Su-57 fighters and Su-34 bombers ~1,700 km inside Russia

Ukraine says it carried out an April 25 attack on the Shagol airfield in Russia’s Chelyabinsk region, hitting Russian Su-57 fighters and an Su-34 bomber using unmanned systems. Kyiv characterizes the strike as among the longest-range attacks into the country’s interior, about 1,700 km from the border.

2026-05-01T11:33:00.452122-07:00

FL360aero

VC-25B “Bridge” Boeing 747 completes modification, flight testing; set for summer Air Force One rollout

2026-05-01T15:57:23.293694-07:00

The War Zone

China ramps testing of very large stealth flying-wing drones alongside a fighter-like unmanned design at a secretive test base

2026-05-01T14:55:34.201477-07:00

FlightGlobal

USAF seeks funding to buy 24 F-15EX fighters in 2027-2028, targeting Boeing two-aircraft/month production rate

2026-05-01T14:09:49.632418-07:00

News Timeline

FL360aero

VC-25B “Bridge” Boeing 747 completes modification, flight testing; set for summer Air Force One rollout The U.S. Air Force says its modified Boeing 747-8i VC-25B “Bridge” interim Air Force One aircraft has finished the modification and flight-testing regime and is now being painted for a summer introduction. The Qatar-gifted aircraft is on track for delivery to the Presidential Airlift Group this summer.

2026-05-01T15:57:23.293694-07:00

VC-25B “Bridge” Boeing 747 completes modification, flight testing; set for summer Air Force One rollout

The War Zone

China ramps testing of very large stealth flying-wing drones alongside a fighter-like unmanned design at a secretive test base Satellite/open-source observers report that China’s very large stealth flying-wing drone testing is accelerating, with multiple airframes spotted together at a covert test location. Activity also includes a separate unmanned fighter-like design, signaling progress toward next-generation attritable or stealthy unmanned combat concepts.

2026-05-01T14:55:34.201477-07:00

China ramps testing of very large stealth flying-wing drones alongside a fighter-like unmanned design at a secretive test base

Breaking Defense

Air Force flags $1.7B in MILCON unfunded priorities for FY27, while some services/COCOMs report no unfunded requirements The Air Force submitted an FY27 unfunded priorities list to Congress in April 2026, identifying 40 military construction projects left out of the fiscal year 2027 budget request, totaling $1.7B. Documents reviewed by Inside Defense also show other services and COCOMs listing about $3B in overall unfunded MILCON requests, including $229.9M at U.S. Southern Command.

2026-05-01T14:34:21.864486-07:00

Air Force flags $1.7B in MILCON unfunded priorities for FY27, while some services/COCOMs report no unfunded requirements

FlightGlobal

USAF seeks funding to buy 24 F-15EX fighters in 2027-2028, targeting Boeing two-aircraft/month production rate The latest US Air Force funding request would cover the purchase of 24 F-15EX fighters split across 2027 and 2028, aligning with Boeing’s near-term goal to ramp output to a full-rate production pace of two aircraft per month. The plan frames continued demand for Strike Eagle modernization within the fighter fleet plan.

2026-05-01T14:09:49.632418-07:00

USAF seeks funding to buy 24 F-15EX fighters in 2027-2028, targeting Boeing two-aircraft/month production rate

FlightGlobal

Lockheed Martin exits U.S. Navy T-45 replacement competition, leaving KAI-linked T-50 variant pitch as the remaining contender Lockheed Martin has withdrawn from the U.S. Navy’s competition to replace the T-45 trainer, according to the cluster reporting. The defense contractor previously partnered with Korea Aerospace Industries to offer a T-50 variant, signaling a key shift in how the Navy may restructure its trainer procurement path.

2026-05-01T12:43:33.326144-07:00

Lockheed Martin exits U.S. Navy T-45 replacement competition, leaving KAI-linked T-50 variant pitch as the remaining contender

Aviation Week

Ukraine drones strike Shagol airfield, claim damage to Russian Su-57 fighters and Su-34 bombers ~1,700 km inside Russia Ukraine says it carried out an April 25 attack on the Shagol airfield in Russia’s Chelyabinsk region, hitting Russian Su-57 fighters and an Su-34 bomber using unmanned systems. Kyiv characterizes the strike as among the longest-range attacks into the country’s interior, about 1,700 km from the border.

2026-05-01T11:33:00.452122-07:00

Ukraine drones strike Shagol airfield, claim damage to Russian Su-57 fighters and Su-34 bombers ~1,700 km inside Russia

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

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Military Aircraft Procurement News

Ukraine drones strike Shagol airfield, claim damage to Russian Su-57 fighters and Su-34 bombers ~1,700 km inside Russia

VC-25B “Bridge” Boeing 747 completes modification, flight testing; set for summer Air Force One rollout

China ramps testing of very large stealth flying-wing drones alongside a fighter-like unmanned design at a secretive test base

USAF seeks funding to buy 24 F-15EX fighters in 2027-2028, targeting Boeing two-aircraft/month production rate

News Timeline