The Aviationist
• David Cenciotti
On March 4, 2026, an Israeli Air Force F-35I “Adir” shot down an Iranian Yakovlev Yak-130 over Tehran, the IDF said — the first recorded air-to-air kill by an F-35 against a manned fighter. Details about the engagement, weapons used and damage remain limited.
Air Data News
• Ricardo Meier
Reuters
By Reuters: The head of French warplane maker Dassault Aviation said he had taken note of what he described as Airbus' refusal to work with it on a next-generation fighter, and that the FCAS project would be "dead" unless that stance changed.
Wall Street Journal
• Becky Peterson, Kate Clark
By Wall Street Journal: Palmer Luckey’s defense technology company builds AI-powered autonomous weapons.
Reuters
• Alexandra Alper, Courtney Rozen, Mike Stone
By Reuters: U.S. defense contractors, like Lockheed Martin , are expected to follow the Pentagon's order to purge Anthropic's prized AI tools from their supply chains, government contracting and technology attorneys said, even though the Trump administration's ban on their use may fail in court.
SpaceNews.com
• Sandra Erwin
By SpaceNews.com: Space Force modernization push runs into acquisition workforce shortfall Space Force modernization push runs into acquisition workforce shortfall.
DefenseNews.com
• Zita Fletcher
By DefenseNews.com: Senior Master Sgt. Taylor Gow's innovation was accepted into the Air Force’s annual Spark Tank competition.
DefenseNews.com
• Michael Peck
By DefenseNews.com: As America’s Minuteman III missile force ages, the U.S. Air Force is facing another problem: obsolete transport vehicles.
AeroTime
• Clement Charpentreau
By AeroTime: Rafale jets in the UAE secured the skies above French bases as France plans anti-drone and anti-missile systems and a frigate for Cyprus.
