Defense News

Space Force Defense Industry & Major Contractors Space Defense & Militarization

SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

SpaceWERX selects 11 companies to move military space technologies toward operations

The Space Force’s innovation arm selected 11 companies for a new round of public-private funding agreements designed to advance space technologies beyond the prototype stage. The initiative underscores SpaceWERX’s role in connecting commercial developers with military space requirements and operational adoption.

1 Source

2026-08-20T14:55:40.358001-07:00

ATC Aviation Safety & Regulation Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons Space Defense & Militarization Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact

Flying Magazine • Jack Daleo

Antarctica-Bound Air Force C-17 Diverted Due to ‘Planned Missile Launch’

By Flying Magazine: Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand said Russia’s Air Traffic Management Centre alerted it to “potential hazard.”.

DefenseNews.com

US Air Force flight to Antarctica turns back after Russian hazardous space activity warning

interestingengineering.com

Russia’s mysterious aerospace activity forces US Air Force to cancel Antarctica visit

5 Sources

2026-08-20T11:06:04.415163-07:00

Supply Chain Military Aircraft Procurement Defense Industry & Major Contractors Boeing

Bloomberg • Anthony Capaccio

Boeing On Pace to Replace Cracked Air Force One Parts, US Says

By Bloomberg: Boeing Co. is making “steady progress” replacing cracked metal structures inside its two Air Force One presidential transport jets, a major retrofit that must be finished before targeted delivery in mid-2028, the US Air Force said.

Also: Seeking Alpha

2 Sources

2026-08-20T09:37:23.939717-07:00

China Military Aircraft Procurement Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)

The War Zone • Thomas Newdick

Our Best Look At China’s New Y-15 Turboprop Airlifter

By The War Zone: The four-engine turboprop is expected to form a key new piece of China’s modernizing military transport fleet. The four-engine turboprop is expected to form a key new piece of China’s modernizing military transport fleet.

1 Source

2026-08-20T11:20:03.196975-07:00

Aircraft Carrier Middle East Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact Defense Policy

Washington Post • Dan Lamothe

New aircraft carrier arrives in Arabian Sea to replace long-stationed USS Abraham Lincoln

By Washington Post: The USS George Washington is relieving a vessel that has gone months without a port stop.

Associated Press

US aircraft carrier arrives in Middle East, relieving long-deployed USS Lincoln

New York Times

Live Updates: Trump Threatens Economic Penalties for Iran's Trade Partners; U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln Heads Home

Also: Forbes, Seapower Magazine, The Independent and 7 more

13 Sources

2026-08-20T08:35:38.065805-07:00

UAV Development & Drone Programs AI General Atomics Military Aircraft Procurement

Air Data News • Ricardo Meier

US Air Force tests how small teams will operate its new uncrewed fighters

By Air Data News: Exercise with Anduril YFQ-44A and General Atomics YFQ-42A is helping define how the future combat drones can be controlled, maintained and rapidly returned to Buying hundreds of relatively inexpensive uncrewed fighters is only part of the challenge facing the U.S.

The War Zone

Wildfire Is General Atomics' Successor To The MQ-9 Reaper

2 Sources

2026-08-20T10:20:04.621652-07:00

Europe Military Aircraft Procurement Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs) Defense Industry & Major Contractors

FlightGlobal • Ryan Finnerty

Germany’s first F-35A nears completion

By FlightGlobal: The single-engined jet has completed assembly and moved into final finishing. Lockheed Martin is nearing completion of the first F-35A stealth fighter bound for service with the German air force.

1 Source

2026-08-20T10:50:17.826736-07:00

Europe Military Aircraft Procurement Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs) Defense Industry & Major Contractors

Breaking Defense • Agnes Helou

Turkish Aerospace plans naval version of Hurjet as it eyes expanded NATO exports

By Breaking Defense: “We believe HÜRJET has the potential to become not only the trainer aircraft of Türkiye and Spain, but also a training platform for NATO,” CEO Mehmet Demiroglu said.

1 Source

2026-08-20T09:04:57.693141-07:00

SpaceWERX selects 11 companies to move military space technologies toward operations

Antarctica-Bound Air Force C-17 Diverted Due to ‘Planned Missile Launch’

US Air Force flight to Antarctica turns back after Russian hazardous space activity warning

Russia’s mysterious aerospace activity forces US Air Force to cancel Antarctica visit

Boeing On Pace to Replace Cracked Air Force One Parts, US Says

Our Best Look At China’s New Y-15 Turboprop Airlifter

New aircraft carrier arrives in Arabian Sea to replace long-stationed USS Abraham Lincoln

US aircraft carrier arrives in Middle East, relieving long-deployed USS Lincoln

Live Updates: Trump Threatens Economic Penalties for Iran's Trade Partners; U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln Heads Home

US Air Force tests how small teams will operate its new uncrewed fighters

Wildfire Is General Atomics' Successor To The MQ-9 Reaper

Germany’s first F-35A nears completion

Turkish Aerospace plans naval version of Hurjet as it eyes expanded NATO exports

SpaceWERX selects 11 firms to scale technologies for military space

Our Best Look At China’s New Y-15 Turboprop Airlifter

Antarctica-Bound Air Force C-17 Diverted Due to ‘Planned Missile Launch’

Germany’s first F-35A nears completion

US Air Force tests how small teams will operate its new uncrewed fighters

See photos of the US Navy’s newest aircraft carrier completing sea trials

See photos of the US Navy’s newest aircraft carrier completing sea trials

Moog Highlights Huntsville Expansion and New Hardware-in-the-Loop Lab During Space and Missile Defense Symposium

Romanian F-16 fires cannon at sea drone near Black Sea gas platform

USSPACECOM 2040: What Its Vision of Space Warfare Means for Europe

U.S. seeks Israel-Turkey-Syria deconfliction channel after Israeli strike on Syrian airbase

Space Force’s FY27 Budget Request Reaches Record $71.3B

U.S. Air Force Seeks 2031 Family of Attritable Drones, Including an MQ-9 Reaper Successor and Advanced Target Systems

L3Harris Ousted CEO Chris Kubasik After Conduct Investigation; Earlier Harassment Complaint Emerges

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

More in Defense

Trump’s Aircraft Carrier Order Will Raise Costs, Contractor Says

PDW Eyes Supplying Parts To Support U.S. Production Of One Million Drones Annually

Hypersonic missile startup Castelion raises $1 billion

Army resumes Apache helicopter training missions after Texas crash that killed 2

Elroy Air Wins $46 Million Army Contract for Chaparral Cargo Drone

New White House helipad under construction to address VH-92A exhaust issue

Women at L3Harris Shared Concerns About CEO’s Behavior Years Before Ouster

Possible space-debris hazard prompts U.S. Air Force aircraft to turn back over the South Pacific