Defense News

Space Force Defense Budgets & Spending Space Defense & Militarization Defense Policy

Payload • Victoria Woodburn

Space Force’s FY27 Budget Request Reaches Record $71.3B

The Space Force’s fiscal 2027 budget request drew attention earlier this year after reaching a record $71.3 billion. The proposed funding level underscores the expanding scale of U.S. investment in military space capabilities and provides an important baseline for congressional consideration and future program priorities.

1 Source

2026-08-18T10:50:03.401438-07:00

Helicopter Military Aircraft Procurement Defense Industry & Major Contractors

AINonline • Charlotte Bailey

Robinson R66 Chosen as New U.S. Army Flight School Next Trainer

By AINonline: M1 Support Services selected to provide $10 billion contract.

Also: Aviation Week

2 Sources

2026-08-18T10:06:12.342805-07:00

Aircraft Carrier Middle East Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact

New York Times • Chris Wood, Jessica Cheung, John Ismay, Lexie Diao, Marion Lozano, Mike Benoist, MJ Davis Lin, Pat McCusker, Rachel Abrams, Shannon Lin

Families Raise Concerns Over USS Lincoln’s 270-Day Middle East Deployment

By New York Times: Families of soldiers aboard the aircraft carrier — deployed in the Middle East without a break for 270 days — have raised the alarm.

1 Source

2026-08-18T07:30:39.511004-07:00

eVTOL UAV Development & Drone Programs AI

AeroTime • Miquel Ros

REGENT’s Squire seaglider completes wing-in-ground exercise with US military

By AeroTime: REGENT has showcased Squire, its wing-in-ground autonomous seaglider during an exercise with the US military.

1 Source

2026-08-18T07:05:13.622757-07:00

Israel Middle East Military Aircraft Procurement Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact

Associated Press • Leer En Español

Israeli strikes hit an air base in northwest Syria, but no casualties are reported

By Associated Press: Israeli airstrikes on an air base in northwest Syria caused material damage but no casualties, according to Syrian state TV and the Foreign Ministry.

Reuters

Israeli airstrikes hit Syrian airbase, drawing Turkish condemnation

africanews.com

Israel strikes Syrian airbase, drawing US and Turkish condemnation

Also: CBS News, ANI News Agency, The Independent, NBC News and 3 more

10 Sources

2026-08-18T02:35:15.806844-07:00

AI FlightSim Defense Policy Airbus

AeroTime • Clement Charpentreau

Airbus puts synthetic aircraft into live German Air Force exercise

By AeroTime: Airbus said its System Development Lab generated virtual allies and threats inside Timber Express, the German Air Force's annual data link exercise.

1 Source

2026-08-18T06:20:32.873596-07:00

UAV Development & Drone Programs Defense Policy

The War Zone • Thomas Newdick

Air Force Wants Family Of Expendable Target Drones That Can Mimic Everything From Stealth Fighters To UAV Swarms

By The War Zone: With rapidly evolving threats around the globe, the USAF's target drones need to start making leaps to catch up and a new family of systems is wanted for this.

1 Source

2026-08-18T05:28:11.299461-07:00

Space Force Defense Budgets & Spending Space Defense & Militarization

SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

New report takes closer look at the Space Force spending surge

By SpaceNews.com: WASHINGTON — A new analysis of the Trump administration’s fiscal 2027 defense budget finds that the proposed surge in Space Force spending is concentrated in missions like moving-target tracking, missile warning, command and control and classified programs.

3 Sources

2026-08-18T05:10:40.608928-07:00