Defense News

Space Force Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation

Politico • Audrey Decker

Space Force faces launch-provider pressure as SpaceX retires a major rocket

The Space Force is scrambling as SpaceX prepares to retire a major rocket, while delays at other launch companies leave the Pentagon with fewer ready alternatives. The shift puts pressure on military launch planning as the U.S. government depends on commercial providers to deliver payloads to orbit.

1 Source

2026-10-22T03:37:08.459279-07:00

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

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Reuters

Lockheed, Pentagon strike initial deal to produce 850 F-35 jets

By Reuters: Lockheed Martin has entered an initial production and sustainment agreement with the Department of Defense for at least 850 F-35 Lightning II fighter jets over ‌the next 10 years, they said on Thursday.

1 Source

2026-10-22T04:04:23.001323-07:00

aviation eVTOL UAV Development & Drone Programs Defense Industry & Major Contractors Beta Technologies

NEW

AINonline • Charlotte Bailey

Skyfly Secures $10 million To Commercialize Axe personal eVTOL aircraft

By AINonline: Hybrid-electric uncrewed defense variant also revealed.

Also: Aviation Week, India Defense News and defenseandmunitions.com

4 Sources

2026-10-22T04:04:57.822906-07:00

Eurofighter Military Aircraft Procurement Defense Deals

Reuters

Turkey says it is waiting for sale contract from Qatar for Eurofighter Typhoon jet procurement

By Reuters: Turkey is waiting for Qatar to send it a sale contract and a draft training programme as part of its deal with Britain to procure ‌Eurofighter Typhoon jets, the Turkish Defence Ministry said on Thursday.

2 Sources

2026-10-22T03:04:24.110731-07:00

Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons Defense Industry & Major Contractors Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact

NEW

Reuters • Aatreyee Dasgupta, Mike Stone

Lockheed lifts annual forecast as missile, jet production ramps up

By Reuters: Lockheed Martin raised its annual sales and profit forecasts on Thursday after beating Wall Street estimates for third-quarter results, as ‌ongoing geopolitical conflicts drove demand for its missile defense systems and fighter jets.

1 Source

2026-10-22T04:04:22.740387-07:00

F-16 North America Military Aircraft Procurement Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs) Defense Budgets & Spending Boeing

The War Zone • Joseph Trevithick

Any Decision To Buy New-Build F-16s Not An "Urgent" Priority: USAF

By The War Zone: A top USAF general said new F-16s are "maybe the lazy" route, but are an option as the service strives for 1,509 combat-coded fighters by 2035.

DefenseNews.com

US Air Force outlines the fighter fleet it needs by 2035

Breaking Defense

Air Force needs 1,509 combat-ready jets by 2035, service tells Congress

Also: Aviation Week, Air Data News, news.ssbcrack.com and 3 more

9 Sources

2026-10-21T11:05:24.502598-07:00

Space Force Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space Space Defense & Militarization

SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

U.S. Air Force explores military resupply from space in latest SpaceX Starfall flight

By SpaceNews.com: WASHINGTON — The U.S. Air Force is testing whether military supplies can withstand the rigors of spaceflight aboard SpaceX’s new Starfall reentry capsule, part of a Pentagon effort to explore using commercial space vehicles to deliver critical equipment to forces around the world.

1 Source

2026-10-21T17:49:09.897661-07:00

Satellite Space Defense & Militarization

Wall Street Journal • Drew Fitzgerald, Marcus Walker

How Does the Ukrainian Military Use Starlink?

By Wall Street Journal: Ukraine is using a basic Starshield service, which uses Starlink’s standard equipment with different features.

1 Source

2026-10-21T17:49:18.213034-07:00

Space Force faces launch-provider pressure as SpaceX retires a major rocket

Lockheed, Pentagon strike initial deal to produce 850 F-35 jets

Skyfly Secures $10 million To Commercialize Axe personal eVTOL aircraft

Turkey says it is waiting for sale contract from Qatar for Eurofighter Typhoon jet procurement

Lockheed lifts annual forecast as missile, jet production ramps up

Any Decision To Buy New-Build F-16s Not An "Urgent" Priority: USAF

US Air Force outlines the fighter fleet it needs by 2035

Air Force needs 1,509 combat-ready jets by 2035, service tells Congress

U.S. Air Force explores military resupply from space in latest SpaceX Starfall flight

How Does the Ukrainian Military Use Starlink?

Lockheed lifts annual forecast as missile, jet production ramps up

Lockheed, Pentagon strike initial deal to produce 850 F-35 jets

Skyfly Secures $10 million To Commercialize Axe personal eVTOL aircraft

Space Force scrambles as Musk’s SpaceX retires its major rocket

Turkey says it is waiting for sale contract from Qatar for Eurofighter Typhoon jet procurement

How Does the Ukrainian Military Use Starlink?

AIM-174B, AIM-260A seen together on Super Hornet for the first time

RTX Reports $59 Billion in Third-Quarter Awards, Backlog Reaches $340 Billion

Pentagon chief appears with new Sierra Nevada E-4C ‘Doomsday’ jet

ESPI AC 2026 - €35 Billion for Space: Is Germany Entering a New Space Era? | Klaus-Peter Willsch

Musk ordered a slowdown of Ukraine’s military-grade Starlink service, raising concerns over Kyiv’s reliance on the network for w

French Mirage 2000D crashes during night training flight, killing one crew member; second remains missing

UK to deploy Typhoons, Voyager tanker and A400M to support Saudi defensive operations against Houthi attacks

Russian satellite closes to within 3,281 feet of U.S.-registered ICEYE radar satellite

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

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