Military Aircraft Procurement   Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
Breaking Defense • Michael Marrow

Pentagon FY2027 budget plan: F-35 procurement, “Golden Dome” missile defense, major airpower readiness increases

The Pentagon’s FY2027 budget request totals $1.5T and highlights increased F-35 fighter procurement and investment in a new missile-defense system, “Golden Dome.” The Air Force is also seeking $26.7B for base infrastructure—more than doubling FY2026—alongside a 38% Air Force spending rise aimed at boosting readiness and air superiority.

Also: Stars and Stripes, Defense Daily, Seeking Alpha, insidedefense.com and Air & Space Forces Mag
2026-04-21T14:24:55.884165-07:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   AI  
NEW
The War Zone • Thomas Newdick

X-BAT Autonomous VTOL 'Fighter' Looks Dramatically Different

By The War Zone: Development of X-BAT is accelerating, including the use of a thrust vectoring nozzle from an experimental F-16 that was borrowed "Indiana Jones style." An aggressive testing timeline for X-BAT is expected to see at least one airframe loss, company officials confirm.

2026-04-21T15:27:02.479438-07:00
Aircraft Carrier   Supply Chain   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Defense Policy  
insidedefense.com • Nick Wilson

Navy reviewing Ford design baseline to 'increase lethality'

By insidedefense.com: The Navy is reviewing the design baseline for aircraft carrier William Clinton (CVN-82) to "further increase lethality" before deciding how to proceed with procurement of Clinton and George Bush (CVN-83), a Navy official told Inside Defense.

2026-04-21T10:28:16.698087-07:00
ATC   Military Aircraft Procurement   Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact  
Reuters • Mike Stone

Navy arming warships with Patriot missiles to counter China's hypersonic threat

By Reuters: Lockheed Martin has been awarded a contract to integrate the Patriot missile, an Army missile interceptor, ​into the U.S. Navy's Aegis combat system, a milestone the ‌company said on Tuesday marks the first time the weapon will be fielded at sea.

Also: Naval News, Seeking Alpha, Navy Times and 5 more
2026-04-21T11:07:06.890402-07:00