Defense News

China

FlightGlobal • Greg Waldron

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

Recent images indicate that flight testing continues on the secretive tailless fighter developed by AVIC Shenyang. The apparent radar activity offers another indication of China’s aggressive push to develop new combat-aircraft capabilities, although the aircraft’s configuration and testing objectives remain undisclosed.

1 Source

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

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

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.

Also: FlightGlobal, wonderfulengineering.com and defensemirror.com

4 Sources

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

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 and uasvision.com

3 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

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

By AeroTime: Danish F-35s landed in Greenland for the first time during a NATO Arctic training mission involving US and Canadian fighters, a French tanker and AWACS.

Breaking Defense

First German F-35 rolls off the line

Janes

First F-35As arrive in Finland

Also: defence-industry.eu and defence-industry.eu

6 Sources

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

Space Force AI Defense Policy

New York Times • David E. Sanger, Tim Balk

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

By New York Times: The president proposed a follow-up to his Space Force but continued to dismiss worries about A.I.’s pace or potential for harm.

2 Sources

2026-09-19T18:05:04.044681-07:00

Saudi Arabia UAV Development & Drone Programs Middle East Airports Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact

Washington Post • Sammy Westfall

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

By Washington Post: Video footage showed a large plume of black smoke rising from an area near Riyadh’s international airport.

Also: Simple Flying and lemonde.fr

3 Sources

2026-09-19T13:35:07.502210-07:00

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

DIU and SSC Announce Joint GHOST-R Mission

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

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

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

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

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

Trump administration advances Saudi F-35 sale despite China security concerns

The US Wants China to Know It Has Weapons in Space

ASELSAN tests electronic warfare pods on Bayraktar TB2 drones

‘Our task is to adapt right now’: Air Force leaders gather to plot future of warfare

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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