Leadership   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
DefenseNews.com • Lara Seligman

Pentagon weapons tester flags risk of F-35 software development slipping; Air Force acquisition nominee targets sustainment cost

The Pentagon’s top weapons tester says F-35 software development could fall behind, even as the Joint Program Office maintains the broader program is on track. Separately, an Air Force acquisition nominee signals a planned deep dive on using emerging technologies to reduce F-35 sustainment costs over the program’s life—amid scrutiny of the program’s escalating price tag.

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2026-04-22T17:50:04.606055-07:00
Helicopter   Sikorsky   Europe   Military Aircraft Procurement   Boeing  
DefenseNews.com • Lars Hoffmann

Germany Picks CH-53K , CH-47F as Options for New Helo

By DefenseNews.com: GÖTTINGEN, Germany — The German armed forces has shortlisted the CH-53K from Sikorsky and the CH-47F Chinook from Boeing - also known as Chinook - as potential successors to its aging fleet of CH-53 heavy-lift helicopters, a spokesman for the German Air Force confirmed.

2026-04-22T17:50:08.096809-07:00
Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Workforce & Skills Development  
DefenseNews.com • Vivek Raghuvanshi

HAL To Fulfill Future Indian AF Training Needs

By DefenseNews.com: Much against the wishes of the Indian Air Force (IAF), the Defence Ministry has decided that only state-owned monopoly Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) will meet the service's future basic trainer requirements through its HTT-40 trainer, which is still under development.

2026-04-22T16:49:49.838685-07:00