Military Aircraft Procurement Defense Industry & Major Contractors Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact Asia-Pacific (APAC)

The War Zone • Tyler Rogoway

Pentagon to contract seaplane fleet for Indo‑Pacific to address amphibious aircraft gap

The Pentagon plans to contract a seaplane fleet for the Indo‑Pacific to close a long‑standing American shortfall in amphibious aircraft capability, a gap made more urgent by rising Sino‑US tensions and the prospect of high‑intensity operations across dispersed island chains.

2025-12-23T13:48:06.232688-08:00

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

NEW

Reuters

Pentagon increases Lockheed Martin C-130J contract from $15B to $25B

By Reuters: A previously awarded contract to Lockheed Martin related to C-130J aircraft delivery, development and engineering worth $15 billion has been increased to $25 billion, the Pentagon said on Tuesday.

2025-12-23T14:45:47.843022-08:00

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

Reuters

Pentagon awards Boeing $2 billion contract for B-52 commercial engine replacement program

By Reuters: Boeing has been awarded a $2 billion order related to the B-52 commercial engine replacement program, the Pentagon said on Tuesday.

2025-12-23T14:24:50.361230-08:00

ATC Middle East Africa Accident Aviation Safety & Regulation Airport Infrastructure & Air Traffic Management Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact

Reuters

Radio contact lost with private jet believed to carry Libya’s army chief over Ankara; flights diverted

By Reuters: The Libyan army's chief of staff, Mohammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad, died in a plane crash on Tuesday after leaving Turkey's capital Ankara, the prime minister of Libya's internationally recognised government said, adding that four others were on the jet as well.

AeroTime

Libya confirms death of army chief after Falcon 50 crash in Turkey

news.ssbcrack.com

Private jet carrying Libya’s military chief crashes in Turkey, killing all on board

Also: The Independent, The Guardian, horizon.mt, CNBC, ABC News and 8 more

2025-12-23T11:35:41.175896-08:00

UAV Development & Drone Programs AI SAF North America Military Aircraft Procurement Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs) Defense Industry & Major Contractors

The War Zone • Joseph Trevithick

US Air Force Designates Northrop Grumman Talon as YFQ-48A, Calls It a ‘Strong Contender’ for CCA Increment 2

By The War Zone: The USAF says the Talon drone is a "strong contender" in its Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, Increment 2 of which has now kicked off.

Air Data News

USAF assigns YFQ-48A designation to Northrop Grumman’s Talon uncrewed prototype

The Aviationist

USAF designates Northrop Grumman’s Project Talon as YFQ-48A, calls it a “strong contender” for the CCA program

Also: Air & Space Forces Mag, DVIDS / U.S. DoD, FlightGlobal, asdnews.com, Aviation Week, news.defcros.com, Defense One, defence-blog.com, grandfleet.info, insidedefense.com and 6 more

2025-12-22T09:05:19.203995-08:00

MRO Supply Chain Military Aircraft Procurement Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs) Aviation Safety & Regulation Defense Industry & Major Contractors

insidedefense.com

DOD IG Finds Shortcomings in Oversight of F‑35 Sustainment Contracts

By insidedefense.com: The Dec. 19, 2025 Defense Department inspector general's report assesses "DOD’s oversight of contractor performance on air vehicle sustainment contracts for the F‑35 Joint Strike Fighter (F‑35) aircraft.".

Reuters

Pentagon watchdog: Lockheed maintenance shortfalls left F‑35 mission-capable only ~50% in 2024

stocktwits.com

DoD OIG: F‑35 Availability Fell to ~50% in 2024 — Pentagon Blames Lockheed Martin

Also: Bloomberg Law and Stars and Stripes

2025-12-23T08:26:31.187821-08:00

Europe Military Aircraft Procurement Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons Defense Budgets & Spending Defense Industry & Major Contractors Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact

Reuters • Apratim Sarkar

RTX unit Raytheon wins $1.7B contract to supply four Patriot air and missile defence systems to Spain

By Reuters: Raytheon Technologies, a unit of RTX Corp , won a $1.7 billion contract to deliver four Patriot air and missile defense systems to Spain, the U.S. defense contractor said on Tuesday.

rtx.com

RTX’s Raytheon wins $1.7B FMS contract to deliver four Patriot air‑and‑missile defence systems to Spain

Defense Daily

RTX Awarded $1.7 Billion FMS Contract To Supply Patriot Systems To Spain

Also: Economic Times and defence-industry.eu

2025-12-23T07:04:03.246691-08:00

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

Airbus • News Release

Spain orders 18 C295 transport aircraft

By Airbus: The Spanish Ministry of Defence has acquired 18 Airbus C295 transport aircraft to replace the CN235 and C212 fleets of the Spanish Air and Space Force.