Defense News

UAV Development & Drone Programs AI General Atomics Defense Industry & Major Contractors

The War Zone • Joseph Trevithick

General Atomics delivers first FQ-42 Vengeance collaborative combat aircraft to Creech for flight testing

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has delivered the first FQ-42 Vengeance to the U.S. Air Force at Creech Air Force Base in Nevada. The aircraft will support test and evaluation activities, marking the first delivery of GA-ASI’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft to the base.

Aviation Week • Steve Trimble

GA-ASI Delivers First Vengeance To Creech Test Unit

Janes

USAF seeks new wide-range IR surveillance capability

Also: The Aviationist, Defense Daily, ANI News Agency, UK Defence Journal and 3 more

10 Sources

2026-09-21T10:35:09.580866-07:00

Saudi Arabia Middle East Military Aircraft Procurement Export Controls & Trade Compliance Defense Deals Defense Policy

Bloomberg • Dan Williams, Paul Wallace

Why the Sale of US F-35 Jets to Saudi Arabia Isn’t a Sure Thing

By Bloomberg: The F-35 is the most advanced American fighter jet available for export. It’s sold only to long-standing US military allies, given how sensitive its technology is.

2 Sources

2026-09-21T10:05:27.581402-07:00

Military Aircraft Procurement Defense Industry & Major Contractors Defense Policy

FlightGlobal • Brooke Ingemi

US Air Force retires its last EC-130H

By FlightGlobal: A formal retirement ceremony was held at Davis-Monthan AFB in Arizona on 18 September to honour the last EC-130H Compass Call, tail 1590, as it conducted its final operational taxi.

Also: Breaking Defense and defence-blog.com

3 Sources

2026-09-21T09:35:30.670307-07:00

Satellite Space Force LEO Defense Industry & Major Contractors Space Defense & Militarization

SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

Space Development Agency opens $369 million competition for missile-tracking ground network

By SpaceNews.com: WASHINGTON — The Space Development Agency is seeking industry proposals for a contract worth up to $369 million to expand the worldwide ground infrastructure supporting its constellation of low Earth orbit missile-warning and tracking satellites.

Air & Space Forces Mag

SDA Seeks to Expand Ground Architecture for Future Missile Tracking Satellites

Defense Scoop

Pentagon taps Northrop Grumman, True Anomaly for recon satellites that can monitor other space systems

Also: Space Intel Report and 3 more

7 Sources

2026-09-21T08:10:52.174330-07:00

Satellite Space Defense & Militarization Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact Defense Policy

SpaceNews.com • Jean-Francois Morizur

Ukraine’s Starlink experience offers a lesson for the Pentagon

By SpaceNews.com: some time now, the Ukrainian government has been seeking SpaceX’s authorization for the use of Starlink up to 200 kilometers inside Russia.

1 Source

2026-09-21T06:25:45.900279-07:00

Workforce & Skills Development

Breaking Defense • Michael Marrow

After hitting pilot training goal, resolving shortage will take years, Air Force official says

By Breaking Defense: “It’s going to take 15 or 20 years to get those types of people,” said Air Force Lt. Gen. Clark Quinn.

2 Sources

2026-09-21T06:21:27.196701-07:00

Helicopter Sikorsky Military Aircraft Procurement Defense Industry & Major Contractors

Breaking Defense • Jennifer Petersen

Lockheed Martin Offers Rapid Armed-Conversion Kits for UH-60M and S-70i Black Hawks

By Breaking Defense: Lockheed Martin’s Armed Black Hawk kits convert UH-60M and S-70i helicopters into armed attack platforms in less than three hours.

1 Source

2026-09-21T05:21:02.402124-07:00

Europe Military Aircraft Procurement Aviation Safety & Regulation

AeroTime • Clement Charpentreau

Finnish F-35 stranded in Azores after avionics fault

By AeroTime: One of Finland’s first three F-35s remains in the Azores after an avionics fault. The fighter will join the next delivery flight later this autumn.

1 Source

2026-09-21T07:06:38.587620-07:00

General Atomics delivers first FQ-42 Vengeance collaborative combat aircraft to Creech for flight testing

GA-ASI Delivers First Vengeance To Creech Test Unit

USAF seeks new wide-range IR surveillance capability

Why the Sale of US F-35 Jets to Saudi Arabia Isn’t a Sure Thing

US Air Force retires its last EC-130H

Space Development Agency opens $369 million competition for missile-tracking ground network

SDA Seeks to Expand Ground Architecture for Future Missile Tracking Satellites

Pentagon taps Northrop Grumman, True Anomaly for recon satellites that can monitor other space systems

Ukraine’s Starlink experience offers a lesson for the Pentagon

After hitting pilot training goal, resolving shortage will take years, Air Force official says

Lockheed Martin Offers Rapid Armed-Conversion Kits for UH-60M and S-70i Black Hawks

Finnish F-35 stranded in Azores after avionics fault

General Atomics FQ-42A Vengeance CCA Now Flying Together With USAF Fighters

Why the Sale of US F-35 Jets to Saudi Arabia Isn’t a Sure Thing

US Air Force retires its last EC-130H

Space Development Agency opens $369 million competition for missile-tracking ground network

Finnish F-35 stranded in Azores after avionics fault

Ukraine’s Starlink experience offers a lesson for the Pentagon

Pentagon plans phased Golden Dome buildout through 2035

Japan puts Chinook to sea aboard JS Kunisaki off Kalimantan

Tekever and UK MoD sign Corvus contract

China’s J-50/XDS may be testing new radar

Space Force seeks commercial satellites for on-demand orbital inspection and electronic-interference tracking

US Air Force to field Collaborative Combat Aircraft in large-scale exercise for first time

Air and Space Force leaders plot an immediate shift toward AI- and drone-driven warfare

Anduril says delayed US arms sales to Taiwan are affecting its business

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

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