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FlightGlobal • Greg Waldron

Australia to retire RAAF C-27J Spartans, shifting Pacific logistics airlift to “commercial” fleet

Australia’s 2026 National Defence Strategy directs retirement of the RAAF’s 10 C-27J Spartan tactical transports, replacing them with a “commercial aircraft fleet” to maintain airlift for Pacific partner logistics. Defence Minister Pat Conroy announced the withdrawal timeline in April 2026, alongside budget reallocation toward new capabilities.

2026-04-16T23:24:31.483594-07:00

FlightGlobal

Northrop Grumman to complete E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Block II critical design review in May

2026-04-17T04:23:21.441900-07:00

Air Data News

USAF puts operational crews in the loop for Collaborative Combat Aircraft prototype flight tests

2026-04-17T02:01:02.552594-07:00

FlightGlobal

Joby and L3Harris to demo autonomous S-4T hybrid-electric rotorcraft for the US Army

2026-04-16T16:16:26.237964-07:00

News Timeline

FlightGlobal

Northrop Grumman to complete E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Block II critical design review in May Northrop Grumman is set to hold the critical design review for the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Block II airborne early warning and control aircraft upgrade in May, reflecting the “most significant upgrade” for the platform to date. The Block II effort—partnered with General Dynamics and Collins Aerospace—aims to refresh future sales prospects.

2026-04-17T04:23:21.441900-07:00

Northrop Grumman to complete E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Block II critical design review in May

Air Data News

USAF puts operational crews in the loop for Collaborative Combat Aircraft prototype flight tests The U.S. Air Force conducted an early field exercise at Edwards Air Force Base in which operational personnel, not test pilots, took direct control of a Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) prototype. The effort—run by the Experimental Operations Unit (EOU)—aims to validate how the system fits real missions and tactics.

2026-04-17T02:01:02.552594-07:00

USAF puts operational crews in the loop for Collaborative Combat Aircraft prototype flight tests

FlightGlobal

Australia to retire RAAF C-27J Spartans, shifting Pacific logistics airlift to “commercial” fleet Australia’s 2026 National Defence Strategy directs retirement of the RAAF’s 10 C-27J Spartan tactical transports, replacing them with a “commercial aircraft fleet” to maintain airlift for Pacific partner logistics. Defence Minister Pat Conroy announced the withdrawal timeline in April 2026, alongside budget reallocation toward new capabilities.

2026-04-16T23:24:31.483594-07:00

Australia to retire RAAF C-27J Spartans, shifting Pacific logistics airlift to “commercial” fleet

FlightGlobal

Joby and L3Harris to demo autonomous S-4T hybrid-electric rotorcraft for the US Army Joby Aviation and defense contractor L3Harris plan to demonstrate a modified, hybrid-electric version of Joby’s S-4 rotorcraft—dubbed the S-4T—for the US Army in the coming days. The S-4T pairs the all-electric S-4 airframe with hybrid-electric propulsion and an autonomous flight control system.

2026-04-16T16:16:26.237964-07:00

Joby and L3Harris to demo autonomous S-4T hybrid-electric rotorcraft for the US Army

Aviation Today

USAF requests industry input for AIRCM to protect HH-60W Jolly Green II CSAR helicopters The U.S. Air Force is seeking industry feedback on an advanced infrared countermeasures (AIRCM) system it could field on the Lockheed Martin HH-60W Jolly Green II for combat search and rescue (CSAR). The request indicates a push to improve survivability against infrared threats for CSAR missions.

2026-04-16T14:30:56.741270-07:00

USAF requests industry input for AIRCM to protect HH-60W Jolly Green II CSAR helicopters

DefenseNews.com

USAF moves toward A-10 retirement, raising CSAR questions as ‘Sandy’ missions lose their legacy rescue platform The U.S. Air Force is proceeding with plans to phase out the A-10 Thunderbolt II, long regarded as an ideal combat search-and-rescue (CSAR) asset. With the “Sandy” CSAR callsign tied to generations of operations, USAF faces decisions on what replaces the A-10’s cost-and-capability role as drone-swarm threats intensify.

2026-04-16T13:40:12.737867-07:00

USAF moves toward A-10 retirement, raising CSAR questions as ‘Sandy’ missions lose their legacy rescue platform

The War Zone

U.S. Army advances Bell MV-75 Cheyenne II FLRAA tiltrotor amid refueling ambition and airborne capability setbacks Bell has been designated the MV-75 Cheyenne II under the U.S. Army’s FLRAA programme, with new renderings showing Night Stalker-specific features including a radar, sensors, and in-flight refueling capability. At the Army Aviation Warfighting Summit, officials also pointed to the Navy’s MQ-25 Stingray as a possible model for future drone-tanker refueling concepts, alongside discussion of operational setbacks affecting AH-6 Little Birds.

2026-04-16T11:58:37.655672-07:00

U.S. Army advances Bell MV-75 Cheyenne II FLRAA tiltrotor amid refueling ambition and airborne capability setbacks

Breaking Defense

U.S. Army ATI overhaul: nearly 60% of Apache D models divested as aviation modernization accelerates Army aviation’s ATI overhaul is well underway, with leadership saying the service has divested nearly 60% of its AH-64 Apache D models in the past year. Col. Tim Jaeger, director of Army aviation at G3/5/7, framed the divestment as “significant headway” toward fleet transformation.

2026-04-16T09:28:16.015696-07:00

U.S. Army ATI overhaul: nearly 60% of Apache D models divested as aviation modernization accelerates

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Military Aircraft Procurement News

Australia to retire RAAF C-27J Spartans, shifting Pacific logistics airlift to “commercial” fleet

Northrop Grumman to complete E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Block II critical design review in May

USAF puts operational crews in the loop for Collaborative Combat Aircraft prototype flight tests

Joby and L3Harris to demo autonomous S-4T hybrid-electric rotorcraft for the US Army

News Timeline