Military Aircraft Procurement Aviation Safety & Regulation Defense Industry & Major Contractors

DefenseNews.com • Mike Yeo

Images show Singapore F-16D Block 52s fitted with Elbit Condor 2 long-range oblique photo reconnaissance pods

Defense News has obtained images of Republic of Singapore Air Force F-16D Block 52 Fighting Falcons showing an Elbit Condor 2 long-range oblique photography reconnaissance system carried on the centerline station. The fit suggests a return of a reconnaissance-pod capability that was previously thought missing for about 15 years.

2026-04-23T15:05:57.864366-07:00

Military Aircraft Procurement Defense Budgets & Spending Defense Industry & Major Contractors Boeing

DefenseNews.com • Valerie Insinna

At a budgetary crossroads, the US Navy’s aviation wing must choose between old and new

By DefenseNews.com: The Navy plans to curtail Super Hornet production in fiscal 2022. It remains unclear, however, whether that effort will be successful.

2026-04-23T15:05:58.104161-07:00

Military Aircraft Procurement Orders

DefenseNews.com • Nick Lee-Frampton

New Zealand military buys 5 Lockheed Hercules planes for $1 billion

By DefenseNews.com: The planes will replace the military's existing fleet of Hercules, all of which are more than 50 years old and have been involved in a series of embarrassing breakdowns over recent years.

2026-04-23T15:05:59.818727-07:00

Military Aircraft Procurement Defense Policy

DefenseNews.com • Valerie Insinna

US Air Force looks to up-gun its airlift planes

By DefenseNews.com: Two demonstrations of a new "palletized munitions" concept have shown promise, an Air Force general said.

2026-04-23T15:06:00.069215-07:00

Leadership Military Aircraft Procurement Defense Policy Boeing

DefenseNews.com • Joe Gould, Leo Shane III, Valerie Insinna

Historic nomination of first black service chief to move forward after lawmaker lifts secret hold

By DefenseNews.com: Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown's nomination had been held up over a KC-46 basing decision.

2026-04-23T15:06:00.332996-07:00

UAV Development & Drone Programs AI Military Aircraft Procurement Defense Policy

DefenseNews.com • Valerie Insinna

US Air Force relaunches effort to replace MQ-9 Reaper drone

By DefenseNews.com: It's take two as the service reaches out to industry for more info on technologies for building a new combat drone.

2026-04-23T15:06:01.650157-07:00

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

DefenseNews.com • Joe Gould

Italy defense minister commits to F-35 after calls to suspend program

By DefenseNews.com: Lorenzo Guerini said he “confirmed that the program would continue,” after calls from Italy’s Five Star party to halt F-35 purchases for a year to pay for a coronavirus rebound.

2026-04-23T15:06:02.423507-07:00

AI Defense Budgets & Spending Defense Industry & Major Contractors Defense Policy

DefenseNews.com • Nathan Strout

Air Force issues 28 contracts worth up to nearly $1 billion each for ABMS

By DefenseNews.com: However, Air Force officials note that they have requested $3.3 billion to spend on ABMS over the next five years in the president's fiscal 2021 budget request.

2026-04-23T15:06:02.502542-07:00

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Images show Singapore F-16D Block 52s fitted with Elbit Condor 2 long-range oblique photo reconnaissance pods

At a budgetary crossroads, the US Navy’s aviation wing must choose between old and new

New Zealand military buys 5 Lockheed Hercules planes for $1 billion

US Air Force looks to up-gun its airlift planes

Historic nomination of first black service chief to move forward after lawmaker lifts secret hold

US Air Force relaunches effort to replace MQ-9 Reaper drone

Italy defense minister commits to F-35 after calls to suspend program

Air Force issues 28 contracts worth up to nearly $1 billion each for ABMS

Lockheed slated to miss F-35 delivery target in 2020 as supply chain struggles to keep up

Boeing begins involuntary layoffs, but defense biz to remain mostly untouched

The inside story of two supersonic flights that changed how America operates the F-35

Three European air forces approve performance benchmarks for next-gen fighter jet

Indian Air Force restructures $17 billion fighter jet program

US Air Force launches contest to replace the B-52 bomber’s engine

More than one company could get cash to build the Air Force’s AI-equipped Skyborg drone

Lockheed slated to miss F-35 delivery target in 2020 as supply chain struggles to keep up

Boeing begins involuntary layoffs, but defense biz to remain mostly untouched

KC-46, P-8 production to stop as Boeing temporarily shuts down facilities

Pentagon’s proposed FY2027 budget: $1.45T topline, $1.4B USAF air base defense, U‑2 retirement and carrier funding boost

Space Force cancels RTX OCX GPS ground-control contract over delays and cost overruns

Northrop Grumman Q1 revenue rises on stronger aeronautics demand as US seeks to expand B-21 Raider production

VerdeGo delivers first turbine-hybrid VH-4T powerplants for electrified aircraft and long-endurance UAS

Starlink's 2024 Advances: Transforming In-Flight Wi-Fi Connectivity in Aviation

Riyadh Air: Saudi Arabia's New National Carrier Prepares for Launch Amid Regional Competition

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