Defense News

Supply Chain Military Aircraft Procurement Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons Defense Industry & Major Contractors

Reuters • Mike Stone

Lockheed Martin and Pentagon Move to Accelerate AIM-260 Missile Production

Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Department of War have signed a framework agreement to accelerate production and delivery of the classified AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile for F-22 and F-35 fighters. The effort comes alongside broader moves to expand missile-industry capacity and introduce modular architectures for future variants.

Bloomberg • Anthony Capaccio

Pentagon, Lockheed Martin Accelerate Production of Classified Air-to-Air Missile

Bloomberg • David Welch

GM Defense Delivers First Patriot Missile Parts to Lockheed

Also: The Aviationist, edrmagazine.eu, defensemirror.com, defence-industry.eu, Seeking Alpha, Economic Times and 8 more

18 Sources

2026-09-17T05:35:54.116303-07:00

Eurofighter Europe Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact Defense Policy

AeroTime • Clement Charpentreau

Germany to send Eurofighters to Latvia to protect airspace during election

By AeroTime: Germany will deploy four Eurofighter jets to Latvia to protect its airspace during the October 3 parliamentary election amid repeated drone incursions.

2 Sources

2026-09-17T05:06:49.235573-07:00

UAV Development & Drone Programs Eurofighter Europe Airports Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact Defense Policy

AeroTime • Clement Charpentreau

Poland issues air attack alert as Russian jet drone nears border

By AeroTime: Poland scrambled fighters, issued an air attack alert and suspended flights at two airports as a Russian jet-powered drone approached its border.

DefenseNews.com

Germany sending fighter jets to Latvia to protect election from drone incidents

defence-industry.eu

U.S. Air Force F-16s mark 45 years in Europe with AESA radar upgrades, dispersed operations and continued missions on NATO’s eastern flank

7 Sources

2026-09-17T04:21:07.847928-07:00

Viasat Satellite Europe Space Defense & Militarization

SpaceWatch Global • Joshua Faleti

Viasat and PGZ Sign MoU to Explore Military Satellite Communications in Poland

By SpaceWatch Global: Viasat and Poland’s PGZ have signed an LoI to explore cooperation on military SATCOM, ground infrastructure and space capabilities.

2 Sources

2026-09-17T01:55:58.096952-07:00

Europe Military Aircraft Procurement Thales

AeroTime • Clement Charpentreau

France qualifies Rafale’s Talios targeting pod for upgraded Mirage 2000D

By AeroTime: France has qualified the Talios targeting pod for its upgraded Mirage 2000D fleet, replacing Damocles with improved targeting and tracking capabilities.

1 Source

2026-09-17T01:37:35.304344-07:00

Saudi Arabia Middle East Military Aircraft Procurement Accident Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact Boeing

FlightGlobal • Greg Waldron

Houthi rebels claim shoot down of Saudi F-15SA

By FlightGlobal: The F-15SA is among the most advanced versions of the venerable twin-tailed jet. Yemen’s Houthi militant group has claimed the shootdown of a Boeing F-15SA fighter operated by the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF).

aviationnews.eu

Yemen’s Houthis Claim Downing of Royal Saudi Air Force F-15 Fighter Over Marib

Janes

Houthis claim shooting down of Saudi fighter in first combat loss for Advanced Eagle

Also: FlightGlobal and militarnyi.com

7 Sources

2026-09-16T19:50:08.244740-07:00

Saudi Arabia China Middle East Military Aircraft Procurement Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact Export Controls & Trade Compliance Defense Deals Defense Policy

New York Times • Dustin Volz, Edward Wong

2026-09-16T14:50:07.547466-07:00

MRO

The War Zone • Howard Altman

How The Air Force Patched Up A Shrapnel-Damaged KC-135

By The War Zone: In addition, pushing advanced repair work closer to the front lines was critical in keeping as many airframes supporting the mission as possible.

1 Source

2026-09-16T17:05:52.362180-07:00

Lockheed Martin and Pentagon Move to Accelerate AIM-260 Missile Production

Pentagon, Lockheed Martin Accelerate Production of Classified Air-to-Air Missile

GM Defense Delivers First Patriot Missile Parts to Lockheed

Germany to send Eurofighters to Latvia to protect airspace during election

Poland issues air attack alert as Russian jet drone nears border

Germany sending fighter jets to Latvia to protect election from drone incidents

U.S. Air Force F-16s mark 45 years in Europe with AESA radar upgrades, dispersed operations and continued missions on NATO’s eastern flank

Viasat and PGZ Sign MoU to Explore Military Satellite Communications in Poland

France qualifies Rafale’s Talios targeting pod for upgraded Mirage 2000D

Houthi rebels claim shoot down of Saudi F-15SA

Yemen’s Houthis Claim Downing of Royal Saudi Air Force F-15 Fighter Over Marib

Houthis claim shooting down of Saudi fighter in first combat loss for Advanced Eagle

U.S. Intelligence Warns of China Theft Over Sale of F-35 Jets to Saudis

US intelligence warns Saudi F-35 sale could expose fighter’s technology to China

US Intelligence warns China could gain access to F-35 technology through Saudi Arabia

How The Air Force Patched Up A Shrapnel-Damaged KC-135

Lockheed Martin Unveils Next-Generation Air-to-Air Missile, Agrees to Accelerate Production

Germany to send Eurofighters to Latvia to protect airspace during election

Poland issues air attack alert as Russian jet drone nears border

Viasat and PGZ Sign MoU to Explore Military Satellite Communications in Poland

France qualifies Rafale’s Talios targeting pod for upgraded Mirage 2000D

Houthi rebels claim shoot down of Saudi F-15SA

U.S. military’s highest-ranking officer says future battlefields will extend to the moon

L3Harris moves HBTSS missile-tracking satellites into production for Golden Dome

T-7A trainer fleet to reach initial operational capability in 2027: USAF training chief

How The USAF Is Preparing For European Allies To Join The Collaborative Combat Aircraft Club

U.S. confirms first deployment of ‘on-orbit space control weapons’

U.S. Navy advances carrier drones, hypersonic weapons and autonomous resupply aircraft

Pratt & Whitney clears F-35 engine upgrade design review and licenses F100 production to Hermeus

NATO Eurofighter Shoots Down Drone After Belarus-to-Lithuania Airspace Incursion

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

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