Military Aircraft Procurement   Asia-Pacific (APAC)   Defense Policy  
FlightGlobal • Greg Waldron

Australia to retire RAAF C-27J Spartans, shifting Pacific logistics airlift to “commercial” fleet

Australia’s 2026 National Defence Strategy directs retirement of the RAAF’s 10 C-27J Spartan tactical transports, replacing them with a “commercial aircraft fleet” to maintain airlift for Pacific partner logistics. Defence Minister Pat Conroy announced the withdrawal timeline in April 2026, alongside budget reallocation toward new capabilities.

AeroTime • Clement Charpentreau

Australia to retire C-27J Spartan fleet

Also: Scramble and The Aviationist
2026-04-16T23:24:31.483594-07:00
Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
NEW
FlightGlobal • Craig Hoyle

Northrop Grumman poised for critical design review of E-2D Advanced Hawkeye’s Block II upgrade

By FlightGlobal: A major system upgrade for Northrop Grumman’s E-2D Advanced Hawkeye airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft will undergo its critical design review (CDR) in May, as the airframer eyes fresh sales opportunities for the platform.

2026-04-17T04:23:21.441900-07:00
Event   Space Force   Europe   Space Policy & International Cooperation   Space Defense & Militarization   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact  
Via Satellite • Rachel Jewett

Space Force, NATO Commanders Share Threat Perspectives

By Via Satellite: New space capability is being actively identified by the U.S. Space Force, which is monitoring and managing threats from adversaries while creating missions to defend assets in this country and around the world.

Also: Washington Times
2026-04-16T18:16:59.084816-07:00
Military Aircraft Procurement   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
DefenseNews.com • Michael Scanlon

Combat search and rescue’s uncertain future: As A-10s phase out, US Air Force faces questions of what comes next

By DefenseNews.com: The U.S. Air Force is moving forward with plans to retire the A-10, which for decades has proven ideally suited for combat search-and-rescue operations.

Also: AirForceTimes and 3 more
2026-04-16T13:40:12.737867-07:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   General Atomics   Aviation Safety & Regulation   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
Aviation Today • Frank Wolfe

GA-ASI Lays Out No Date for Resumption Of YFQ-42A Flights After Mishap

By Aviation Today: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has paused flight testing of the company’s YFQ-42A Dark Merlin prototype drone for the Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft program after a mishap about […].

2026-04-16T14:50:46.363033-07:00