News

FlightGlobal • Ryan Finnerty

Pentagon reveals LUCAS loitering munition: Shahed-136 derivative with 434 nm range and sub-$55k unit cost, first used operationally in Middle East

FlightGlobal reports: The Pentagon has disclosed specifications for its LUCAS one-way attack drone, a reverse-engineered derivative of Iran's Shahed-136 offering 434nm range at costs between $10,000-$55,000, as the US military deploys the type operationally for the first time in the Middle East theatre.

2026-03-13T10:23:53.030335-07:00

Airbus

Airbus to flight‑test two Kratos XQ‑58A Valkyrie with European MARS; aims UCCA operational for Germany by 2029

2026-03-13T04:04:21.056090-07:00

Air Data News

Embraer presents KC-390 Millennium to Poland’s WZL‑2, formalising Poland-based MRO support

2026-03-13T05:38:21.793679-07:00

Aviation Week

USAF awards Boeing roughly $2.3–2.43B to develop E-7A Wedgetail rapid-prototype mission segment

2026-03-12T16:28:41.049844-07:00

News Timeline

FlightGlobal

Pentagon reveals LUCAS loitering munition: Shahed-136 derivative with 434 nm range and sub-$55k unit cost, first used operationally in Middle East

2026-03-13T10:23:53.030335-07:00

Pentagon reveals LUCAS loiteri

Air Data News

Embraer presents KC-390 Millennium to Poland’s WZL‑2, formalising Poland-based MRO support Embraer officially presented a KC-390 Millennium to Wojskowe Zakłady Lotnicze Nr 2 (WZL‑2) in Bydgoszcz, formalizing a Poland‑based MRO and industrial cooperation arrangement to provide maintenance, support and sustainment for the C/KC‑390 in Europe and bolster the type’s export case to NATO customers.

2026-03-13T05:38:21.793679-07:00

Embraer presents KC-390 Millennium to Poland’s WZL‑2, formalising Poland-based MRO support

Airbus

❗️

Airbus to flight‑test two Kratos XQ‑58A Valkyrie with European MARS; aims UCCA operational for Germany by 2029 Airbus has accelerated its Uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft (UCCA) effort, integrating the European MARS mission system into two Kratos XQ‑58A Valkyrie demonstrators scheduled to fly this year, and is targeting an operational capability for the German Air Force by 2029.

2026-03-13T04:04:21.056090-07:00

Airbus to flight‑test two Kratos XQ‑58A Valkyrie with European MARS; aims UCCA operational for Germany by 2029

Aviation Week

USAF awards Boeing roughly $2.3–2.43B to develop E-7A Wedgetail rapid-prototype mission segment The U.S. Air Force has issued contract modifications totaling about $2.3–$2.43 billion to Boeing to develop the E-7A Wedgetail Rapid Prototype Airborne Mission Segment and continue work on two Congress‑directed prototypes. The funding advances prototype testing and integration for the service's AEW&C capability.

2026-03-12T16:28:41.049844-07:00

USAF awards Boeing roughly $2.3–2.43B to develop E-7A Wedgetail rapid-prototype mission segment

Bloomberg

Pentagon requests $12B through 2031 and directs $1B spares push to restore F‑35 readiness The Pentagon has requested an additional $12 billion through 2031 to restore declining F‑35 readiness and is directing $1 billion in 2026 reconciliation funds to buy spares and raise dismal F‑35A mission‑capable rates. Officials say the measures target sustainment shortfalls that have degraded strike availability.

2026-03-12T13:12:39.385621-07:00

Pentagon requests $12B through 2031 and directs $1B spares push to restore F‑35 readiness

Reuters

USAF vice chief tells Congress Boeing must fix KC-46 problems before further U.S. orders USAF Vice Chief Gen. John Lamontagne told lawmakers during a March 4 hearing that Boeing must resolve ongoing defects in the KC‑46 aerial‑refuelling tanker before the United States places additional orders. Lamontagne said unresolved issues are constraining acceptance timelines and will shape future procurement decisions.

2026-03-12T12:58:44.382101-07:00

USAF vice chief tells Congress Boeing must fix KC-46 problems before further U.S. orders

FlightGlobal

Leonardo to demonstrate M-346 commanding two Baykar uncrewed fighters by mid‑year Leonardo will perform a mid‑year demonstration flight that pairs its M‑346 trainer as a command platform with two Baykar uncrewed fighters, marking the company’s first live test of manned–unmanned collaborative combat tactics and command‑and‑control integration in an operational flight environment.

2026-03-12T08:18:19.143028-07:00

Leonardo to demonstrate M-346 commanding two Baykar uncrewed fighters by mid‑year

Air Data News

Saudi Arabia drops off Embraer’s priority list for C-390 campaign Embraer CEO Francisco Gomes Neto said Saudi Arabia is no longer a priority market for the C-390 Millennium military transport. The remark signals weaker prospects for Embraer’s campaign in Riyadh as the Brazilian OEM recalibrates its export push for the tactical transport.

2026-03-12T03:39:36.003539-07:00

Saudi Arabia drops off Embraer’s priority list for C-390 campaign

Menu

Military Aircraft Procurement News

Pentagon reveals LUCAS loitering munition: Shahed-136 derivative with 434 nm range and sub-$55k unit cost, first used operationally in Middle East

Airbus to flight‑test two Kratos XQ‑58A Valkyrie with European MARS; aims UCCA operational for Germany by 2029

Embraer presents KC-390 Millennium to Poland’s WZL‑2, formalising Poland-based MRO support

USAF awards Boeing roughly $2.3–2.43B to develop E-7A Wedgetail rapid-prototype mission segment

News Timeline