Aircraft Carrier   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Asia-Pacific (APAC)  
DefenseNews.com

China sends 24 fighters toward Taiwan as Liaoning carrier transits Taiwan Strait

China deployed 24 fighter jets toward Taiwan in a show of force while the PLAN carrier Liaoning sailed through the Taiwan Strait, marking an escalation in near-term cross-strait military signaling. Taiwan responded by deploying air patrol forces, underscoring rising operational tempo and friction around airspace access.

Also: Stars and Stripes
2026-04-21T15:49:49.000748-07:00
Military Aircraft Procurement   Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
Breaking Defense • Michael Marrow

Air Force eyes massive boost for F-15EX fleet

By Breaking Defense: The service’s fiscal 2027 budget shows boosts for other aircraft like the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, while slowing retirements of platforms like the A-10 Warthog.

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