Defense News

Aircraft Carrier Military Aircraft Procurement Defense Budgets & Spending Defense Policy

Associated Press • Nadja Lovadinov

Trump orders U.S. Navy aircraft carriers back to older jet-launch system at multibillion-dollar cost

President Trump has directed the U.S. Navy to restore an older aircraft-carrier launch technology, a reversal expected to cost billions of dollars. The decision would affect the fleet’s approach to launching aircraft and reopen questions about procurement priorities, transition costs and the performance of newer systems.

1 Source

2026-08-14T04:05:30.981385-07:00

UAV Development & Drone Programs Europe Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact Defense Policy

Bloomberg • Aaron Eglitis

NATO Jets Shot Down Drone That Entered Latvian Airspace

By Bloomberg: NATO jets shot down a drone that flew into Latvia’s airspace on Friday as the intensifying aerial warfare between Ukraine and Russia becomes a growing headache for the alliance’s eastern flank.

1 Source

2026-08-13T23:36:12.597323-07:00

UAV Development & Drone Programs ATC Europe Aviation Safety & Regulation Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact Defense Policy

Reuters

Italian NATO fighter jet shoots down drone in Latvian airspace

By Reuters: Ukrainian military drones have strayed into the Baltic ⁠nations' airspace several times this year.

politico.eu

NATO jets shoot down drone over Latvia

CNBC

NATO aircraft shoot down drone over Latvia, which blames 'Russian electromagnetic warfare'

Also: Reuters, AeroTime, lemonde.fr, The Independent, ANI News Agency, Kyiv Independent and tass.com

12 Sources

2026-08-13T19:35:33.780041-07:00

Military Aircraft Procurement Defense Industry & Major Contractors Workforce & Skills Development

Vertical Mag • Oliver Johnson

Team M1 wins U.S. Army's $10B Flight School Next program

By Vertical Mag: The U.S. Army has awarded the hotly-contested Flight School Next contract to M1 Support Services, the service has announced.

1 Source

2026-08-13T20:20:32.546600-07:00

Aircraft Carrier Military Aircraft Procurement Defense Budgets & Spending Defense Industry & Major Contractors Defense Policy

Bloomberg • Anthony Capaccio

Trump Orders US Aircraft Carriers to Go Back to Steam Catapults

By Bloomberg: President Donald Trump ordered the Navy to return to using steam catapults to launch planes off of aircraft carriers, acting on a longtime complaint despite opposition from many naval officers.

AeroTime

Trump orders EMALS removed from fourth Ford-class carrier USS Doris Miller

Associated Press

Trump orders the Navy to return to an older system of launching jets off aircraft carriers

Also: Navy Times, navylookout.com, The Independent, aerospaceglobalnews.com, news.ssbcrack.com, The Guardian, CNA, USNI News, The Independent and pilotonline.com

13 Sources

2026-08-13T15:36:33.651915-07:00

Aircraft Carrier Defense Budgets & Spending Defense Policy

Wall Street Journal • Marcus Weisgerber

Trump Orders Navy to Restore Older Tech on Aircraft Carriers, Costing Billions

By Wall Street Journal: President Trump has directed the Navy to tear out a complex system for launching jet fighters from its aircraft carriers and instead go back to using steam catapults, a move Navy officials have fought for years and will likely cost billions of dollars.

Also: Reuters

2 Sources

2026-08-13T14:29:18.361941-07:00

Aircraft Carrier UAV Development & Drone Programs Military Aircraft Procurement Boeing

The Air Current • Carter Johnston

U.S. Navy quietly arming its uncrewed aerial tanker

By The Air Current: When Boeing personnel hoisted a prototype of its MQ-25 Stingray aerial refueling drone aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz in June, the high-profile visit revealed a potential expansion of its role that has long been suspected but repeatedly denied by the Pentagon.

2 Sources

2026-08-13T16:12:59.291949-07:00

Aircraft Carrier Middle East Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact Defense Policy

Wall Street Journal • Shelby Holliday, Yoko Kubota

U.S. Sending Fresh Aircraft Carrier to Middle East Amid Iran War Strain

By Wall Street Journal: military is preparing to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln with the USS George Washington as part of a scheduled Middle East deployment, U.S. officials said, amid growing concerns over living conditions aboard the Lincoln and the strain on troops during the Iran war.

Associated Press