Defense News

UAV Development & Drone Programs AI Military Aircraft Procurement Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs) Defense Industry & Major Contractors Boeing

FlightGlobal • Greg Waldron

USAF reiterates 2028 first-flight target for Boeing F-47 as B-21 and CCA programs advance

A senior U.S. Air Force officer said the Boeing F-47 remains on track for a first flight in 2028, while efforts to deploy Northrop Grumman’s B-21 bomber next year and field collaborative combat aircraft continue advancing. The comments reaffirm timelines for three central elements of the USAF’s next-generation combat-air strategy.

1 Source

2026-07-30T20:18:04.079180-07:00

Aircraft Carrier Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact Asia-Pacific (APAC) Defense Policy

NEW

Bloomberg • Philip Heijmans

US Aircraft Carrier Makes Vietnam Port Call Amid Sea Tensions

By Bloomberg: A US Navy aircraft carrier arrived in the central Vietnamese city of Da Nang on Thursday for a rare port call, underscoring deepening security ties as Hanoi navigates rising maritime tensions with China.

1 Source

2026-07-30T20:48:12.190891-07:00

UAV Development & Drone Programs AI Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons Space Defense & Militarization Defense Policy

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Bloomberg • Andreas Kluth

The Real Reasons to Be Terrified About AI and WMD

By Bloomberg: Artificial intelligence is already transforming warfare, whether it’s waged by missile, drone or satellite; on land or sea, or in the air, space or cyberspace.

1 Source

2026-07-30T21:33:22.317190-07:00

Satellite Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons Space Defense & Militarization Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact

The Atlantic • Missy Ryan, President Zelensky, Simon Shuster

Zelensky Asked Trump to Enable Starlink Support for Strikes on Russian Missile Launchers

By The Atlantic: Ukraine wants to start using Musk’s Starlink to target ballistic-missile launchers inside Russia.

1 Source

2026-07-30T15:48:33.808046-07:00

Hypersonic Military Aircraft Procurement Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact

The War Zone • Thomas Newdick

Japanese F-2 Fighter Appears With New Large Stealth Cruise Missile Under Its Wings

By The War Zone: The previously unseen missile could be the air-launched Type 25, dramatically expanding the F-2’s standoff strike reach. The previously unseen missile could be the air-launched Type 25, dramatically expanding the F-2’s standoff strike reach.

2 Sources

2026-07-30T12:44:49.928235-07:00

Satellite Middle East Space Defense & Militarization Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact

Ars Technica • Jeremy Hsu

Iran struck Amazon data centers again amid widening war, satellites show

By Ars Technica: Satellites show burn scars and fires at AWS data centers and Saudi oil refinery.

1 Source

2026-07-30T13:48:28.993338-07:00

Military Aircraft Procurement Aviation Safety & Regulation Defense Industry & Major Contractors

Aviation Today • Frank Wolfe

F135 Engine Core Upgrade Set For Key Design Review Next Month, As CCA Engine Picture Clarifies

By Aviation Today: DAYTON, Ohio—Pratt & Whitney‘s Engine Core Upgrade (ECU) for the F-35 fighter’s F135 engine is to have a critical design review (CDR) in August.

Also: Defense Scoop and insidedefense.com

3 Sources

2026-07-30T10:48:59.506073-07:00

Military Aircraft Procurement Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs) Aviation Safety & Regulation Defense Policy

Aviation Today • Frank Wolfe

Air Force Modifying B-52 To Resume Radar Modernization Program Testing

By Aviation Today: DAYTON, Ohio–The Air Force is modifying a B-52H to resume Radar Modernization Program (RMP) testing for the bomber.

1 Source

2026-07-30T10:33:10.172657-07:00

USAF reiterates 2028 first-flight target for Boeing F-47 as B-21 and CCA programs advance

US Aircraft Carrier Makes Vietnam Port Call Amid Sea Tensions

The Real Reasons to Be Terrified About AI and WMD

Zelensky Asked Trump to Enable Starlink Support for Strikes on Russian Missile Launchers

Japanese F-2 Fighter Appears With New Large Stealth Cruise Missile Under Its Wings

Iran struck Amazon data centers again amid widening war, satellites show

F135 Engine Core Upgrade Set For Key Design Review Next Month, As CCA Engine Picture Clarifies

Air Force Modifying B-52 To Resume Radar Modernization Program Testing

The Real Reasons to Be Terrified About AI and WMD

US Aircraft Carrier Makes Vietnam Port Call Amid Sea Tensions

USAF general reiterates 2028 first flight for F-47

Zelensky Asked Trump to Enable Starlink Support for Strikes on Russian Missile Launchers

Iran struck Amazon data centers again amid widening war, satellites show

Japanese F-2 Fighter Appears With New Large Stealth Cruise Missile Under Its Wings

Inzpire lands international training deal for General Atomics’ MQ-9B and RAF Protector fleets

Israeli Air Force reopens Squadron 193 with new Sikorsky Seahawk helicopters

Poland scrambles F-16 after unidentified object crashes in Lublin region

Rolls-Royce CEO says major hyperscaler nuclear deal is imminent as data center demand soars

Boeing logs record $715B backlog while Air Force One VC-25B replacement costs balloon

France mobilizes an Airbus A400M to combat Gironde wildfires, disrupting Airbus and Rafale-area aerospace operations

US pushes autonomous aircraft swarms and “robot wingman” CCAs alongside B-21 automation and new airborne-systems buys

Bell wins $300M SPINE upgrade contract for up to 49 US Marine Corps H-1-family helicopters

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

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