Supply Chain   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Defense Policy  
The Air Current • Carter Johnston

F/A-XX Development Delayed as Navy, White House and Congress Clash Over Strategy and Industrial Base

Development of the Navy's F/A-XX carrier fighter has slipped as Congress, the White House and Navy disagree over the jet's strategic value and the health of the domestic industrial base. The dispute is delaying program milestones and complicating acquisition decisions for future carrier air wings.

2026-04-06T12:57:56.098923-07:00
Satellite   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Commercial Space   Space Defense & Militarization   Asia-Pacific (APAC)  
SpaceNews.com • Jason Rainbow

FOSSA Systems targets Japan’s defense market with larger, more capable smallsats

By SpaceNews.com: Spanish startup FOSSA Systems is pushing into Japan’s defense market after securing a local partner to expand its reach, building on a shift beyond tiny picosatellites used to connect low-power monitoring devices toward more capable spacecraft for broader government applications.

2026-04-06T12:16:45.482113-07:00
Space Force   Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Space Defense & Militarization   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
DefenseNews.com

US leaders tell Congress Russia could deploy nuclear weapons in space capable of disabling satellites

By DefenseNews.com: Leaders from U.S. Strategic Command and the Space Force updated Congress on adversaries’ capabilities in a range of theaters, highlighting emerging threats.

Also: AirForceTimes
2026-04-06T06:41:17.762466-07:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Asia-Pacific (APAC)  
FlightGlobal • Greg Waldron

Malaysia conducts first test flight with Anka UAV

By FlightGlobal: The Royal Malaysian Air Force has conducted a test flight with its new Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) Anka uncrewed air vehicle. The 3h test flight took place from Labuan air base on 3 April, according to the RMAF.

Also: Janes, Aviation Week and adj.com.my
2026-04-05T22:01:11.491000-07:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   Europe   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
AeroTime • Miquel Ros

France to ramp drone production 400% and boost guided‑weapons output, POLITICO reports

By AeroTime: France plans to boost drone production 400%, of guided bombs by 240%, and of Aster and MICA missiles by 30%, according to POLITICO.

2026-04-05T23:06:37.437930-07:00
Middle East   Military Aircraft Procurement   Accident   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy   Boeing  
Air Data News • Ricardo Meier

US rescues second crew member of F-15E downed in southwestern Iran after two-day search

By Air Data News: U.S. forces have rescued the second crew member of adowned F-15E Strike Eagle in southwestern Iran, ending a two-day search operation after the aircraft was.

Also: New York Times, Flying Magazine, aviationnews.eu, AirForceTimes, FlightGlobal, AeroTime, Aviacionline, DVIDS / U.S. DoD, Aviation Week, Simple Flying, Stars and Stripes, Task & Purpose and 38 more
2026-04-04T23:27:00.676918-07:00