Military Aircraft Procurement   Accident   Aviation Safety & Regulation   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
Breaking Defense • Michael Marrow

Air Force weighs slowing B-52 retirement after California fatal crash derails radar upgrade program

A B-52 radar modernization effort tied to aging, Eisenhower-era bombers suffered a fatal setback after a crash in California. The Air Force is now considering whether to delay retirement of the B-52 fleet, signaling uncertainty around the upgrade-to-service timeline.

2026-07-28T09:58:03.520740-07:00
Dassault Aviation   Aerial Firefighting   Supply Chain   Aviation Safety & Regulation   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact  
AeroTime • Clement Charpentreau

Dassault moves sensitive equipment as Gironde wildfire idles Rafale plant

By AeroTime: Dassault Aviation moved sensitive equipment to its Mérignac site and Air Base 106 as the Gironde wildfire halted work at the Rafale assembly line.

Also: Aviation Week, AirForceTimes and Military Times
2026-07-28T06:46:58.691362-07:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   AI   Aviation Safety & Regulation   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
FlightGlobal • Craig Hoyle

MGI Engineering spins up autonomous Vortex for UK competition

By FlightGlobal: High-performance platform will be promoted for UK requirement. UK company MGI Engineering has launched its T-022 Vortex autonomous collaborative platform (ACP), which it says “is designed from the outset to work alongside crewed jets as part of a coordinated team”.

Also: Unmanned Airspace
2026-07-28T07:45:41.249167-07:00
Event   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Budgets & Spending   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
Breaking Defense • Ashley Roque

PACAF looks to reduce exercise participation to preserve ‘readiness’: Commander

By Breaking Defense: WASHINGTON — US Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) is reevaluating its upcoming exercise schedule to help preserve “readiness” in the face of increased commitments around the globe, including the Middle East, according to the four-star general overseeing the region.

2026-07-28T07:12:28.491494-07:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   ATC   Aerial Firefighting   Europe   Aviation Safety & Regulation   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
Associated Press • STEPHEN McGRATH, Vadim Ghirda

NATO member Romania shoots down stray drones from Ukraine war after years of incursions

By Associated Press: Romania is taking a new approach to drones entering its airspace by shooting them down. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, drones have repeatedly violated Romania's airspace.

Also: Wings and 3 more
2026-07-28T03:40:23.497039-07:00