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The War Zone • Joseph Trevithick

Photos confirm AIM-260A JATM air-to-air missile in flight-test configuration on U.S. Navy F/A-18F

AIM-260A—Lockheed’s longer-range successor to the AIM-120 AMRAAM—has surfaced in the first publicly captured imagery. The missile was photographed during a test flight from Eglin Air Force Base, carried by a U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet, showing an AIM-260A in a flight-test configuration.

2026-05-15T11:01:11.571863-07:00

FlightGlobal

UK moves F-35B to interim stand-off strike via SDB-II as SPEAR 3 integration slips

2026-05-15T04:12:16.071143-07:00

FlightGlobal

UK MoD down-selects Anduril UK for Project NYX “loyal wingman” Apache autonomous collaborative platform; BAE Systems, Tekever an

2026-05-15T04:38:12.321145-07:00

FlightGlobal

Australia, New Zealand and US sign C-130J support pact to expand cross-servicing

2026-05-15T00:23:06.538041-07:00

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The War Zone

Photos confirm AIM-260A JATM air-to-air missile in flight-test configuration on U.S. Navy F/A-18F AIM-260A—Lockheed’s longer-range successor to the AIM-120 AMRAAM—has surfaced in the first publicly captured imagery. The missile was photographed during a test flight from Eglin Air Force Base, carried by a U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet, showing an AIM-260A in a flight-test configuration.

2026-05-15T11:01:11.571863-07:00

Photos confirm AIM-260A JATM air-to-air missile in flight-test configuration on U.S. Navy F/A-18F

FlightGlobal

UK MoD down-selects Anduril UK for Project NYX “loyal wingman” Apache autonomous collaborative platform; BAE Systems, Tekever an The UK Ministry of Defence has advanced Project NYX to its next phase for an autonomous “loyal wingman” to operate alongside British Army AH-64 Apache helicopters, targeting operational capability by 2030. The concept demonstrator effort includes Anduril UK, BAE Systems, Tekever and Thales, backed by £310 million for work on autonomous aircraft platforms.

2026-05-15T04:38:12.321145-07:00

UK MoD down-selects Anduril UK for Project NYX “loyal wingman” Apache autonomous collaborative platform; BAE Systems, Tekever an

FlightGlobal

UK moves F-35B to interim stand-off strike via SDB-II as SPEAR 3 integration slips The UK MoD has approved the acquisition of GBU-53/B Small Diameter Bomb II (SDB-II) for its F-35B fleet as an interim stand-off weapon while SPEAR 3 integration is delayed into the early 2030s. The plan includes U.S. Foreign Military Sales to bridge timeline and address ongoing integration and sustainment constraints.

2026-05-15T04:12:16.071143-07:00

UK moves F-35B to interim stand-off strike via SDB-II as SPEAR 3 integration slips

FlightGlobal

Australia, New Zealand and US sign C-130J support pact to expand cross-servicing The air forces of Australia, New Zealand and the United States have entered a cooperation pact focused on the Lockheed Martin C-130J tactical transport—an aircraft type all three operate. The agreement is designed to enhance cross-servicing, tightening sustainment and support coordination across the shared fleet.

2026-05-15T00:23:06.538041-07:00

Australia, New Zealand and US sign C-130J support pact to expand cross-servicing

Air Data News

Thailand’s Gripen E/F: Saab begins assembling the first fighters in Linköping for RTAF F-16 replacement Royal Thai Air Force officials visited Saab in Sweden to review progress on Thailand’s Gripen E/F acquisition. Saab says production has started, with assembly of the first jet beginning at the company’s Linköping facility under the program aimed at replacing RTAF F-16 Block 15 aircraft.

2026-05-14T14:16:27.813591-07:00

Thailand’s Gripen E/F: Saab begins assembling the first fighters in Linköping for RTAF F-16 replacement

FlightGlobal

US Air Force awards $18m contract to Aevex for production of Group 3 one-way attack drones The US Air Force has signed an $18 million contract with Aevex for the production of an undisclosed number and type of Group 3-sized one-way attack drones. The award expands USAF inventory into the rapidly growing one-way attack drone category as procurement shifts further toward expendable UAS.

2026-05-14T13:23:50.008346-07:00

US Air Force awards $18m contract to Aevex for production of Group 3 one-way attack drones

Breaking Defense

USAF says B-52 modernization is “stabilized” after cost spikes and schedule delays The Air Force is working to steady B-52 modernization momentum after recent cost growth and schedule slips, according to a service official commenting amid ongoing upgrade execution pressures. The remarks suggest the program’s near-term risk profile has improved even as budgets and timelines remain under scrutiny.

2026-05-14T11:53:51.215990-07:00

USAF says B-52 modernization is “stabilized” after cost spikes and schedule delays

Flying Magazine

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Merlin rolls out “Condor” autonomy product line for large cargo aircraft, pairing civil rollout with ongoing C-130J military cer Merlin says it is extending its aircraft-agnostic, AI-powered autonomy core into commercial cargo with a new “Condor” family, starting with large, multi-crew airframes. The company also continues certification work for military transports, including a development path tied to a Lockheed Martin C-130J.

2026-05-14T10:50:57.055655-07:00

Merlin rolls out “Condor” autonomy product line for large cargo aircraft, pairing civil rollout with ongoing C-130J military cer

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Military Aircraft Procurement News

Photos confirm AIM-260A JATM air-to-air missile in flight-test configuration on U.S. Navy F/A-18F

UK moves F-35B to interim stand-off strike via SDB-II as SPEAR 3 integration slips

UK MoD down-selects Anduril UK for Project NYX “loyal wingman” Apache autonomous collaborative platform; BAE Systems, Tekever an

Australia, New Zealand and US sign C-130J support pact to expand cross-servicing

News Timeline