Defense News

Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons Defense Budgets & Spending Space Defense & Militarization Defense Policy

SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

Pentagon plans phased Golden Dome buildout through 2035

The Pentagon is planning a phased buildout of the Golden Dome missile-defense architecture through 2035, signaling a long-term implementation effort rather than a single procurement event. The timeline points to sustained requirements for funding, technology development, industrial capacity and integration across the defense enterprise.

1 Source

2026-09-21T00:00:42.899121-07:00

Europe Military Aircraft Procurement Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs) Defense Industry & Major Contractors

AeroTime • Clement Charpentreau

Europe weighs modernizing Antonov An-124 or building its own C-17 successor

By AeroTime: An EU-funded study identifies two options to avert Europe's heavy airlift gap: modernizing the Antonov An-124 or developing a new European aircraft.

1 Source

2026-09-20T23:52:33.944426-07:00

China

FlightGlobal • Greg Waldron

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

By FlightGlobal: Fighter prototype underlines China's aggressive push for new capabilities. Recent images from China indicate that flight testing continues with a secretive, tailless fighter developed by AVIC Shenyang.

1 Source

2026-09-20T20:04:56.368702-07:00

Supply Chain Military Aircraft Procurement Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact Export Controls & Trade Compliance Defense Policy

Bloomberg • Anthony Capaccio

F-35 Parts Diversion to Hong Kong Under Probe in US Congress

By Bloomberg: A US House committee that oversees defense policy is investigating the diversion of potentially sensitive F-35 fighter jet components this year from Australia to Hong Kong, a spokesperson said.

FlightGlobal

Australian F-35A components appear to go missing in Hong Kong

wonderfulengineering.com

Sensitive F-35 Parts Reportedly Vanish After Shipment Is Diverted To Hong Kong

Also: defensemirror.com and CNA

5 Sources

2026-09-20T18:05:07.249881-07:00

Satellite Defense Industry & Major Contractors Space Defense & Militarization

Payload • Victoria Woodburn

DIU and SSC Announce Joint GHOST-R Mission

By Payload: DIU and SSC announced GHOST-R, a joint effort to bring low-cost reconnaissance to GEO under SSC's RG-XX program.

1 Source

2026-09-20T20:54:47.164541-07:00

Satellite Space Force AI Commercial Space Space Policy & International Cooperation Space Defense & Militarization Space Debris & Traffic Management

SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

Space Force expands use of commercial satellites to track electronic interference

By SpaceNews.com: WASHINGTON — The U.S. Space Force is expanding the use of commercial satellites to detect and locate GPS jamming and other electronic interference, turning what began as an experiment into a standing global operation.

Also: defence-blog.com, satnews.com and keeptrack.space

4 Sources

2026-09-20T03:50:33.033125-07:00

UAV Development & Drone Programs AI

Air Data News • Ricardo Meier

US Air Force fighter drones to join large-scale combat exercise for first time

By Air Data News: The US Air Force (USAF) will put its new Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) drones into a large-scale combat exercise for the first time in December, another step toward introducing uncrewed aircraft designed to operate alongside fighters.

Also: defence-industry.eu, uasvision.com and insidedefense.com

4 Sources

2026-09-19T10:35:08.258969-07:00

F-16 Europe North America Military Aircraft Procurement Orders Defense Industry & Major Contractors Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact Defense Policy

AeroTime • Clement Charpentreau

2026-09-18T05:06:38.274395-07:00

Pentagon plans phased Golden Dome buildout through 2035

Europe weighs modernizing Antonov An-124 or building its own C-17 successor

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

F-35 Parts Diversion to Hong Kong Under Probe in US Congress

Australian F-35A components appear to go missing in Hong Kong

Sensitive F-35 Parts Reportedly Vanish After Shipment Is Diverted To Hong Kong

DIU and SSC Announce Joint GHOST-R Mission

Space Force expands use of commercial satellites to track electronic interference

US Air Force fighter drones to join large-scale combat exercise for first time

Danish F-35s land in Greenland for first time in major NATO Arctic drill

First German F-35 rolls off the line

First F-35As arrive in Finland

Pentagon plans phased Golden Dome buildout through 2035

Europe weighs modernizing Antonov An-124 or building its own C-17 successor

DIU and SSC Announce Joint GHOST-R Mission

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

F-35 Parts Diversion to Hong Kong Under Probe in US Congress

Space Force expands use of commercial satellites to track electronic interference

A.I. Gone Rogue? Trump Proposes Not New Rules but an ‘A.I. Force.’

Houthis claim attacks on ‘sensitive sites’ in Saudi Arabian capital

The US Wants China to Know It Has Weapons in Space

ASELSAN tests electronic warfare pods on Bayraktar TB2 drones

First Finnish F-35As arrive as Germany begins production and four European operators pursue a shared-fleet model

U.S. advances possible $24.3 billion sale of 48 F-35s to Saudi Arabia despite China, Israel concerns

U.S. Says It Has On-Orbit Weapons Capable of Defending Joint Forces

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

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

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