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AeroTime • Ian Molyneaux

Qatar-donated Boeing 747-8i poised for early-July interim Air Force One delivery

The US Air Force expects a Qatar-gifted Boeing 747-8i (modified as an interim VC-25B “Air Force One” platform) to enter service before the Fourth of July, ahead of the 250th independence anniversary. The schedule would reduce reliance on the delayed next-generation VC-25B program, still targeted for delivery no earlier than 2028.

2026-05-07T05:29:16.933424-07:00

Aviation Week

U.S. State Department clears ~$150M Bell 505 Jet Ranger X training package for Philippines via DSCA

2026-05-06T11:00:30.678477-07:00

Aviation Week

USAF pulls B-1B Lancer back from Davis-Monthan storage to active service after depot regeneration

2026-05-06T15:25:05.803030-07:00

Breaking Defense

Space Force raises Andromeda contract ceiling to $6.2B for GEO inspection and classified SILENTBARKER surveillance

2026-05-06T14:03:44.782116-07:00

News Timeline

AeroTime

Qatar-donated Boeing 747-8i poised for early-July interim Air Force One delivery The US Air Force expects a Qatar-gifted Boeing 747-8i (modified as an interim VC-25B “Air Force One” platform) to enter service before the Fourth of July, ahead of the 250th independence anniversary. The schedule would reduce reliance on the delayed next-generation VC-25B program, still targeted for delivery no earlier than 2028.

2026-05-07T05:29:16.933424-07:00

Qatar-donated Boeing 747-8i poised for early-July interim Air Force One delivery

Aviation Week

USAF pulls B-1B Lancer back from Davis-Monthan storage to active service after depot regeneration The U.S. Air Force returned a B-1B Lancer that entered boneyard storage in 2021 to active duty following nearly two years of depot regeneration. After departing Tinker AFB on April 22, more than 200 maintenance personnel from the 567th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron replaced 500+ components before the aircraft rejoined the 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess AFB, Texas.

2026-05-06T15:25:05.803030-07:00

USAF pulls B-1B Lancer back from Davis-Monthan storage to active service after depot regeneration

Defense Daily

USAF budgets $1.7B to retrofit APG-85 radar on 181 F-35A aircraft (Lot 17 and earlier) The Air Force’s fiscal 2027 future-years defense plan includes more than $1.7 billion to retrofit 181 Lockheed Martin F-35A fighters in Lot 17 and prior with the future Northrop radar configuration. The action underscores continued investment in modernizing the fifth-generation fleet’s sensor capacity.

2026-05-06T15:20:32.189733-07:00

USAF budgets $1.7B to retrofit APG-85 radar on 181 F-35A aircraft (Lot 17 and earlier)

Breaking Defense

Space Force raises Andromeda contract ceiling to $6.2B for GEO inspection and classified SILENTBARKER surveillance The U.S. Space Force increased the ceiling for the Andromeda IDIQ space monitoring contract from $1.8B to more than $6.2B, covering replacements for the current GSSAP on-orbit inspection satellites and funding the classified SILENTBARKER space surveillance “birds.”

2026-05-06T14:03:44.782116-07:00

Space Force raises Andromeda contract ceiling to $6.2B for GEO inspection and classified SILENTBARKER surveillance

AeroTime

Raytheon, via Blue Raven, books record 120-unit order for SharpSight multi-domain surveillance radars Raytheon (RTX) secured its largest order to date for SharpSight radar systems, signing a contract with distributor Blue Raven to produce 120 units for global resale and distribution. The award is positioned as a key step toward expanding worldwide customer access to the new multi-domain surveillance capability.

2026-05-06T13:58:50.496928-07:00

Raytheon, via Blue Raven, books record 120-unit order for SharpSight multi-domain surveillance radars

Aviation Week

U.S. State Department clears ~$150M Bell 505 Jet Ranger X training package for Philippines via DSCA The U.S. State Department has approved the Philippines’ request for a Foreign Military Sale covering a Bell 505 Jet Ranger X training package, valued at about $150 million. DSCA notified the approval on 5 May, framing the deal as a boost to the Philippines’ rotary-wing training capacity.

2026-05-06T11:00:30.678477-07:00

U.S. State Department clears ~$150M Bell 505 Jet Ranger X training package for Philippines via DSCA

AeroTime

MBDA and India’s Air Force agree to localize MICA missile MRO capability in India MBDA has signed an agreement with the Indian Air Force to develop an in-country Maintenance, Repair and Mid-Life Overhaul (MRO) capability for the MICA missiles used with India’s Rafale fleet. The IAF will operate the facility, with MBDA supplying machinery, tools and training.

2026-05-06T08:27:35.377580-07:00

MBDA and India’s Air Force agree to localize MICA missile MRO capability in India

Aviation Week

State Dept. approves $373.6M Foreign Military Sale of Boeing JDAM-ER tail kits to Ukraine The U.S. State Department has approved a potential $373.6 million Foreign Military Sale for 1,532 Boeing JDAM-ER tail kits/guidance elements to Ukraine. The guidance kits are intended to expand Ukrainian Air Force stand-off strike capability using JDAM-ER extended-range precision munitions.

2026-05-05T17:06:38.110297-07:00

State Dept. approves $373.6M Foreign Military Sale of Boeing JDAM-ER tail kits to Ukraine

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Military Aircraft Procurement News

Qatar-donated Boeing 747-8i poised for early-July interim Air Force One delivery

U.S. State Department clears ~$150M Bell 505 Jet Ranger X training package for Philippines via DSCA

USAF pulls B-1B Lancer back from Davis-Monthan storage to active service after depot regeneration

Space Force raises Andromeda contract ceiling to $6.2B for GEO inspection and classified SILENTBARKER surveillance

News Timeline