North America   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Policy & Regulation  
Wall Street Journal • Nate Rattner, Shane Shifflett

DHS spent $35 billion on deportation push and border-wall contracts, awarding major deals to Anduril and Fisher Sand

The Department of Homeland Security has awarded roughly $35 billion in contracts since President Trump retook office, directing major deals to defense‑tech firm Anduril and construction company Fisher Sand. The spending is aimed at expanding deportation capacity and accelerating construction of border barriers.

2026-02-02T20:48:34.198133-08:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Boeing  
FlightGlobal • Ryan Finnerty

Boeing targets rate production of MQ-28 Ghost Bat within two years as Block II enters ground testing

By FlightGlobal: Boeing plans to begin assembling operational MQ-28 Ghost Bat autonomous fighters within two years, as the first Block II aircraft enters ground testing and Australia prepares to transition the programme towards combat readiness.

Also: Aviation Week and AINonline
2026-02-02T20:34:38.420210-08:00
Israel   Helicopter   Supply Chain   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Asia-Pacific (APAC)   Defense Deals  
FlightGlobal • Greg Waldron

Bird Aerosystems wins Asia-Pacific helicopter self-defence contract

By FlightGlobal: Israeli defence specialist Bird Aerosystems has secured a multi-million dollar contract to supply directed infrared countermeasures equipment for a helicopter upgrade programme in the Asia-Pacific region, with dozens of SPREOS DIRCM units to be delivered under a technology transfer agreement.

Also: aviation-defence-universe.com, news.defcros.com and edrmagazine.eu
2026-02-02T18:27:40.964061-08:00
Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Space Exploration & Science Missions   Commercial Space   Defense Policy   NASA  
Bloomberg Law • Jen Judson, Loren Grush, Sana Pashankar

Defense Secretary Praises Blue Origin, Seeks Bezos' Help to Reform Pentagon Procurement

By Bloomberg Law: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth heaped praise on Jeff Bezos-backed Blue Origin in a visit to the space venture’s facility, recruiting another billionaire in his effort to reform government weapons buying and pressure traditional defense contractors.

2026-02-02T10:58:09.443593-08:00