Eurofighter   Europe   Military Aircraft Procurement   Airbus  
Air Data News • Ricardo Meier

Airbus CEO argues for European fighter industrial base as Portugal evaluates F-16 replacement (Eurofighter Typhoon vs F-35)

Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury defended reliance on European-made military equipment as Portugal prepares a competition to replace its F-16 fleet. With the Eurofighter Typhoon expected to compete against Lockheed Martin’s F-35, Airbus says it wants to ensure Europe “walks in the right direction” on defence capability and industrial sovereignty.

2026-05-21T13:56:15.284507-07:00
Helicopter   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
The War Zone • The War Zone

Night Stalker MH-47 Chinooks May Get Aerial Refueling Tanker Role

By The War Zone: Special ops MH-47 Chinooks that could refuel other aircraft midair would give the Night Stalkers their own organic tanker capability. Special ops MH-47 Chinooks that could refuel other aircraft midair would give the Night Stalkers their own organic tanker capability.

2026-05-21T13:10:44.578712-07:00
Hypersonic   Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation   Defense Policy   Boeing   Boeing 747  
AeroTime • Stephen Pope

US Missile Defense Agency conducts hypersonic flight test with Stratolaunch

By AeroTime: The US Missile Defense Agency conducted a hypersonic flight test using Stratolaunch’s Talon-A3 vehicle and a modified Boeing 747-400.

Also: Defense Daily, defence-industry.eu and aerospaceglobalnews.com
2026-05-21T12:39:25.249024-07:00
Space Force   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
NEW
SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

Space Force on path to double active-duty force by 2030

By SpaceNews.com: WASHINGTON — The U.S. Space Force plans to add 2,800 active-duty personnel and 2,000 civilian employees in fiscal year 2027 as it looks to nearly double the size of the service by the end of the decade, the service’s top officer told lawmakers this week.

2026-05-21T14:39:51.555638-07:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   AI   General Atomics   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact  
DefenseNews.com • Michael Scanlon

Air Force dubs MQ-9 the ‘MVP’ of Epic Fury as lawmakers press manned-unmanned future

By DefenseNews.com: The remotely piloted MQ-9 Reaper was the workhorse in the U.S. air campaign against Iran, Air Force leaders told Congress on May 20, even as the service’s fiscal 2027 budget request still pours the bulk of aircraft dollars into crewed fighters.

Also: AirForceTimes and Military Times
2026-05-21T11:10:25.711914-07:00
Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Aviation Safety & Regulation   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact  
FlightGlobal • Ryan Finnerty

MC-130Js destroyed in Iran could be replaced with ‘green’ Lockheed Martin transports

By FlightGlobal: The potential option involves Special Operations Command completing modifications to bring in-production C-130Js to the MC-130J standard.

2026-05-21T11:40:00.607079-07:00