Defense News

Aircraft Carrier Military Aircraft Procurement Defense Industry & Major Contractors Defense Policy

Bloomberg • Anthony Capaccio

Trump’s Aircraft Carrier Order Could Raise Costs, Contractor Warns

President Donald Trump has ordered a change to the warplane launch systems planned for new U.S. aircraft carriers. The contractor responsible for the systems says the switch could increase program costs, putting the administration’s carrier and naval aviation priorities at odds with established procurement plans.

1 Source

2026-08-20T02:21:18.624720-07:00

Space Force Europe Space Policy & International Cooperation Space Defense & Militarization Defense Policy

SpaceWatch Global • Christophe Bosquillon

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

By SpaceWatch Global: Christophe Bosquillon examines USSPACECOM’s SWE 2040 and what its vision of warfare, interoperability and allied integration means for Europe.

1 Source

2026-08-20T01:20:23.070005-07:00

UAV Development & Drone Programs Supply Chain Defense Industry & Major Contractors

Aviation Today • Calvin Biesecker

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

By Aviation Today: PDW currently has a 90,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Huntsville, Ala., Drone Factory 01 but the company will need to add more capacity to dramatically increase production of drones and key parts, hence the pending loan from the Pentagon’s Office of Strategic Capital.

1 Source

2026-08-19T21:21:50.727483-07:00

Hypersonic Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons Defense Industry & Major Contractors

SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

Hypersonic missile startup Castelion raises $1 billion

By SpaceNews.com: WASHINGTON — Castelion, a defense-tech startup seeking to mass produce lower-cost hypersonic weapons, has raised more than $1 billion in new financing as it moves to expand missile production and develop a broader portfolio of offensive and defensive weapons.

Also: AeroTime and Seeking Alpha

3 Sources

2026-08-19T16:45:37.474603-07:00

Helicopter North America Military Aircraft Procurement Accident Aviation Safety & Regulation

Associated Press • Associated Press

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

By Associated Press: The U.S. Army says it will resume Apache helicopter training missions following a brief pause after two soldiers were killed in a crash last week in Texas.

Simple Flying

Cessna 150 Pilot Killed, 2 Troopers Hurt In Midair Crash With State Police Helicopter

aeroxplorer.com

Army Resumes Apache Training After Fatal Texas Helicopter Crash Kills Two Soldiers

Also: NBC News, CNN and 4 more

11 Sources

2026-08-19T16:20:10.640985-07:00

Helicopter Sikorsky North America

FlightGlobal • Ryan Finnerty

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

By FlightGlobal: The new landing structure on the South Lawn will prevent the Sikorsky "Marine One" presidential transport from scorching the verge at the executive manor.

1 Source

2026-08-19T19:05:12.079169-07:00

Leadership L3Harris Defense Industry & Major Contractors

Wall Street Journal • Cara Lombardo, Drew Fitzgerald, Marcus Weisgerber

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

By Wall Street Journal: Chris Kubasik was ousted after investigation into conduct with subordinate; years earlier another employee had made a harassment complaint.

1 Source

2026-08-19T13:29:35.451497-07:00

eVTOL UAV Development & Drone Programs AI Military Aircraft Procurement

AINonline • Hanneke Weitering

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

By AINonline: Contract covers jam-resistant navigation and hardened communications links.

2 Sources

2026-08-19T15:50:28.172144-07:00

Trump’s Aircraft Carrier Order Could Raise Costs, Contractor Warns

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

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

Cessna 150 Pilot Killed, 2 Troopers Hurt In Midair Crash With State Police Helicopter

Army Resumes Apache Training After Fatal Texas Helicopter Crash Kills Two Soldiers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hypersonic missile startup Castelion raises $1 billion

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

Sikorsky’s S-97 Raider Points to a New Level of Performance For Future Helicopters

Taiwan’s first F-16 Block 70 fighters seen departing Lockheed factory

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

Vantor names new head of U.S. government business

L3Harris ousts CEO Christopher Kubasik after conduct investigation, names space chief Sam Mehta successor

U.S.-linked infrastructure push spans Indo-Pacific space surveillance and FAA air traffic control overhaul

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

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

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

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