Satellite   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Space Defense & Militarization  
Breaking Defense • Theresa Hitchens

SDA awards up to $3.5B for Tranche 3 Tracking Layer to Lockheed, Rocket Lab, Northrop Grumman and L3Harris

The Space Development Agency awarded up to $3.5 billion in four contracts to Lockheed Martin, Rocket Lab USA, Northrop Grumman and L3Harris to deliver and operate 18 space vehicles each for its Tranche 3 Tracking Layer. The awards expand the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture's missile-warning and missile-tracking capability.

Also: investors.lockheedmartin.com, Lockheed Martin and insidedefense.com
2025-12-19T09:09:49.185349-08:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   AI   North America   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
FlightGlobal • Ryan Finnerty

USAF to Fit X-62 VISTA with Raytheon PhantomStrike AESA to Test AI-Enabled Combat for Uncrewed Fighters

By FlightGlobal: The US Air Force will install Raytheon's PhantomStrike active electronically scanned array radar on its X-62 VISTA test aircraft, advancing autonomous combat capabilities as the service develops artificial intelligence systems for future uncrewed fighters.

Also: edwards.af.mil, The Aviationist and Aviation Week
2025-12-19T07:58:18.769640-08:00
Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Policy & Regulation  
DefenseNews.com • Valerie Insinna

Continuing resolution could delay Air Force buys — T‑X trainer and F‑35 at risk

By DefenseNews.com: A continuing resolution signed by President Donald Trump on Sept. 8 will keep the military funded — albeit at reduced levels — until Dec. 8, but Defense Department leaders have warned that a longer CR could adversely impact the Air Force's ability to buy new aircraft.

2025-12-19T07:58:13.210032-08:00
Event   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Policy & Regulation  
DefenseNews.com • Valerie Insinna

Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson on Continuing-Resolution Risks and Top Modernization Priorities

By DefenseNews.com: Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson discusses a continuing resolution, top modernization priorities with Defense News ahead of the service's biggest conference.

2025-12-19T07:58:14.125711-08:00
North America   Military Aircraft Procurement   Orders   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
DefenseNews.com • Valerie Insinna

USAF to decide this fall whether to retire A-10 and F-15 as F‑35 fleet grows

By DefenseNews.com: As the Air Force increases its F-35 buy rate and more joint strike fighters come online, the question is not if it will begin retiring its legacy combat aircraft, but when.

2025-12-19T07:58:13.809501-08:00
Europe   North America   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Export Controls & Trade Compliance  
DefenseNews.com • David Pugliese

Canada and UK escalate trade dispute with Boeing — Super Hornet purchases and aerospace jobs at risk

By DefenseNews.com: The Canadian and British governments are combining forces against Boeing in a trade dispute that threatens the purchase of fighter jets as well as aerospace jobs in both countries.

2025-12-19T07:58:12.946767-08:00