Leadership   Policy & Regulation   Defense Policy  
New York Times • Greg Jaffe, Maggie Haberman

Flu vaccine optionality sparks mass illness at Air Force base after Defense Secretary Hegseth reverses requirement

Scores of service members at an Air Force base fell ill after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made flu vaccination optional, reversing a requirement he previously described as an “overreaching” mandate. Hegseth lifted the vaccine requirement in April, setting off renewed scrutiny over readiness and medical policy compliance.

2026-06-18T11:49:35.903939-07:00
MRO   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Embraer  
Air Data News • Ricardo Meier

Embraer signs support agreement for Brazilian Air Force KC-390 fleet

By Air Data News: Embraer has signed a new logistics support agreement for the Brazilian Air Force's KC-390 Millennium fleet. The contract covers aircraft already in service as well as the remaining units yet to be delivered, although the value of the agreement was not disclosed.

2026-06-18T10:05:24.663410-07:00
Supply Chain   Military Aircraft Procurement   Orders   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Embraer  
Breaking Defense • Michael Marrow

Embraer ramping KC-390 production, plans Czech, Uzbek, Korean deliveries this year

By Breaking Defense: At some point, company officials will need to discuss the fate of a separate production line for the A-29 Super Tucano in Jacksonville, Fla., but “[t]hat time has not come yet,” said Embraer’s Marcio Monteiro.

2026-06-18T09:35:32.616514-07:00
Helicopter   Military Aircraft Procurement   Policy & Regulation   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact  
FlightGlobal • Ryan Finnerty

US Congress pursues funding to replace MC-130Js and Little Birds lost in Iran rescue operation

By FlightGlobal: Draft legislation from the US Senate would provide $127 million to cover four MH-6 helicopters and two MC-130J special operations transports destroyed while recovering a downed American F-15E crew.

Also: The War Zone and Air & Space Forces Mag
2026-06-18T09:01:12.019681-07:00