Supply Chain   Military Aircraft Procurement   Orders   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Aviation Safety & Regulation   Boeing  
The War Zone • Joseph Trevithick

USAF to retrofit entire C-17 fleet with 3D-printed drag-reduction microvanes within a year, while Boeing discusses C-17 producti

The US Air Force plans to fit the full C-17 fleet with 3D-printed microvanes/microvane-style drag reduction devices within 12 months, following development with the Air Force Research Laboratory and targeting fleetwide adoption. At the same time, Congress has asked USAF to brief on the feasibility of buying new C-17s amid strain on the current fleet, with Boeing saying it is “encouraged” by discussions about restarting production.

Also: Aerospace America and voxelmatters.com
2026-06-11T11:13:01.617776-07:00
Space Force   Defense Budgets & Spending   Space Defense & Militarization   Policy & Regulation   Defense Policy  
SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

Senate NDAA backs plan to fold SDA, Space RCO into Space Force

By SpaceNews.com: WASHINGTON — The Senate Armed Services Committee on June 11 voted 18-9 to advance its version of the fiscal year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act, including a provision that would eliminate separate statutory requirements for the Space Development Agency and the Space Rapid Capabilities Office.

Also: Air & Space Forces Mag and insidedefense.com
2026-06-11T12:13:05.598628-07:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy   Airbus  
Reuters • Florence Loeve, Sabine Siebold, Tim Hepher

Exclusive: Dassault, Airbus in new Eurodrone row after fighter collapse, sources say

By Reuters: Dassault Aviation is seeking compensation from Airbus over procurement changes to the delayed Eurodrone programme, three ‌people familiar with the matter said, inflaming tensions after the collapse of their joint fighter jet project as Europe struggles to cooperate on defence.

2026-06-11T11:42:33.682288-07:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   Satellite   Europe   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Policy  
Reuters • Crispian Balmer

Italy's Meloni urges NATO rethink on defence spending as Rome lifts outlays

By Reuters: Italy will ​ramp up its official defence budget this year, but NATO allies should rethink military priorities ‌as warfare is transformed by drones, satellites and data, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Thursday.

2026-06-11T10:28:21.166363-07:00
Supply Chain   Military Aircraft Procurement   Orders   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Asia-Pacific (APAC)   Airbus  
defence-blog.com • Dylan Malyasov

India’s Tata and Airbus fly the first locally built C295

By defence-blog.com: Key Points The first Indian-assembled Airbus C295 military transport aircraft completed its maiden test flight from the Tata-Airbus Final Assembly Line in Vadodara, Gujarat.

Also: India Defense News, Times of India, Economic Times, ANI News Agency and 4 more
2026-06-11T01:57:33.989104-07:00
Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Aviation Safety & Regulation   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Policy & Regulation  
Bloomberg • Anthony Capaccio

US Sees $13.7 Billion Bill to Boost F-35 Readiness, GAO Says

By Bloomberg: The Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps need to spend an additional $13.7 billion through 2031 to boost declining readiness rates of the F-35 jet, the world’s biggest weapons program, the Pentagon told congressional auditors.

2026-06-11T07:13:53.976109-07:00