Aircraft Carrier   Military Aircraft Procurement   Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
DVIDS / U.S. DoD

U.S. Navy completes test flights of turbojet-powered JDAM Long Range (JDAM-LR), extending carrier air-wing standoff strike to ~2

The U.S. Navy demonstrated the JDAM Long Range (JDAM-LR) variant on early-April test flights, using a powered evolution of JDAM to deliver a cruise-missile-like standoff capability. Across two events, the turbojet-powered weapon flew about 200 nautical miles, supporting a new option for affordable, producible long-range carrier strike.

Also: The Aviationist, AeroTime and The War Zone
2026-04-20T06:11:33.155146-07:00
Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Policy  
Aviation Week • Steve Trimble

One F/A-XX Bidder 'Can’t Deliver' On Navy Schedule, CNO Says

By Aviation Week: One of the two companies vying for the F/A-XX contract lacks the capacity to deliver the fighter on time, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle says.

Also: Breaking Defense
2026-04-20T08:20:47.941579-07:00
Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Defense Policy  
NEW
DefenseNews.com

DARPA develops synthetic blood for the battlefield | Defense News Weekly Full Episode 4.21.26

By DefenseNews.com: DARPA is overseeing the development of synthetic blood, which could drastically change battlefield medicine. How soon could one see it in their kit?.

2026-04-20T08:42:42.434370-07:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   AI   Helicopter   Europe   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Airbus   GKN Aerospace  
Airbus

Airbus and partners sign NH90 Block 2 architecture study contract

By Airbus: The NATO agency in charge of the NH90 programme, NAHEMA, has signed a contract with NHIndustries to launch the NH90 Block 2 architecture study.

Also: Aviation Week, aviation-defence-universe.com, AeroTime, Vertical Mag, Janes and 6 more
2026-04-20T02:45:15.734683-07:00
Helicopter   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
Vertical Mag • Bell Press Release

Bell: Nacelle improvement elevates V-22 readiness

By Vertical Mag: The first of nine CV-22s with the 20th Special Operations Squadron at Cannon Air Force Base received the NI upgrade in 2021, and the program has produced a 75% reduction in maintenance hours, Bell said.

Also: AeroTime
2026-04-20T06:48:20.675987-07:00
Europe   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Airbus  
Air Data News • Ricardo Meier

New FCAS talks collapse, casting doubt over Europe’s next-generation fighter program

By Air Data News: Mediation between Airbus and Dassault fails to resolve dispute over sixth-generation system, according Efforts to resolve a dispute between the industrial partners of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) have failed, raising fresh uncertainty over one of Europe’s most ambitious defense programs.

2026-04-20T05:29:48.136301-07:00
Aircraft Carrier   China   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Asia-Pacific (APAC)  
aviationnews.eu • Rob Vogelaar

China’s Fujian Aircraft Carrier Set to Reach Full Operational Capability by End of 2026

By aviationnews.eu: Aviation News – China’s newest aircraft carrier, the Fujian, is expected to achieve full operational capability by the end of 2026, marking a major step in expanding the country’s naval power and global reach.

Also: Air Data News
2026-04-19T15:09:24.204125-07:00