Supply Chain   North America   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation   Commercial Space  
Aviation Week • Robert Wall

Avio to build $500M solid rocket motor plant in Hurt, Virginia

Italian rocket-maker Avio will build a $500 million solid rocket motor manufacturing facility in Hurt, Virginia, creating domestic SRM production capacity and expanding the company's U.S. industrial footprint. The plant signals increased onshore manufacturing for launch and defense propulsion hardware.

European Spaceflight • Andrew Parsonson

Avio to Build $500 Million Facility in Hurt, Virginia

2026-02-24T03:26:42.761244-08:00
Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
The War Zone • Thomas Newdick

Scale Model Reveals F-22 'Raptor 2.0' Upgrades: Stealth External Tanks and Underwing IR Pods

By The War Zone: A scale model of the new-look F-22 Raptor reveals details of its new stealthy external fuel tanks and underwing infrared sensor pods. A scale model of the new-look F-22 Raptor reveals details of its new stealthy external fuel tanks and underwing infrared sensor pods.

2026-02-24T09:53:49.446296-08:00
Supply Chain   Europe   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Export Controls & Trade Compliance  
Aviation Week • Tony Osborne

Italian investigators probe €17 million loss of military aircraft spare parts

By Aviation Week: Italian authorities are investigating the loss of roughly €17 million ($20 million) in spare parts inventory for military aircraft.

Also: Euronews
2026-02-23T14:51:35.152393-08:00
AI   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Defense Policy  
The War Zone • Joseph Trevithick

AI Is Now Helping The F-35 Spot Enemy Air Defenses

By The War Zone: New artificial intelligence technology is giving the F-35 the ability to pick out confusing threat emissions and get them properly identified faster.

Also: edrmagazine.eu and realcleardefense.com
2026-02-24T05:34:12.673226-08:00
Supply Chain   North America   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
FlightGlobal • Ryan Finnerty

USAF reaches deal with Northrop to accelerate B-21 production by 25%

By FlightGlobal: The US Air Force (USAF) and Northrop Grumman have agreed to a $4.5 billion production acceleration for the B-21 Raider stealth bomber, increasing the annual build rate by 25% to expedite delivery of the next-generation strategic aircraft.

Also: aviationnews.eu, Australian Aviation, The War Zone, AeroTime, The Aviationist, Aviation Week, Air & Space Forces Mag, Northrop Grumman, Stars and Stripes, defence-blog.com, autonomyglobal.co, aerospaceglobalnews.com and 19 more
2026-02-23T22:00:38.274005-08:00
Aircraft Carrier   China   Satellite   Middle East   Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Deals   Defense Policy  
Reuters • Gavin Finch, John Irish, Parisa Hafezi

Exclusive: Iran nears deal to buy supersonic anti-ship missiles from China

By Reuters: Iran is close to a deal with China to purchase anti‑ship cruise missiles, according to six people with knowledge of the negotiations, just as the United States deploys a vast naval force near the Iranian coast ahead of possible strikes on the Islamic Republic.

Also: Economic Times, defensemirror.com, moderndiplomacy.eu, abcnews.com and realcleardefense.com
2026-02-24T02:06:17.901529-08:00