UAV Development & Drone Programs AI Supply Chain Military Aircraft Procurement Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs) Defense Industry & Major Contractors

Aviation Week • Brian Everstine

Northrop Grumman Unveils Project Talon Collaborative Combat Aircraft

Aviation Week reports: Northrop Grumman’s Scaled Composites on Dec. 3 unveiled Project Talon, the company’s latest design of an uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft.

Axios • Colin Demarest

Northrop unveils Project Talon unmanned 'wingman' designed for multiple missions

Breaking Defense • Valerie Insinna

Northrop Grumman unveils Project Talon loyal‑wingman drone design for fighter integration

Also: The War Zone, Defense One and news.defcros.com

2025-12-03T17:49:10.206841-08:00

Today In Defense

Last Updated: Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, 8:17 PM PST

2025-12-03T20:17:25.817061-08:00 2025-12-03T20:17:25.817061-08:00 (2025-12-03T20:17:25.817061-08:00)

UAV Development & Drone Programs Air Cargo & Freight Logistics Defense Industry & Major Contractors

Aviation Week • Graham Warwick

DARPA’s Lift Challenge Seeks 4x Drone Payload‑to‑Weight Gain to Reclaim U.S. Leadership

By Aviation Week: The agency’s Lift Challenge aims for at least a fourfold increase in drone payload-to-weight capability.

2025-12-03T15:29:21.522574-08:00

F-16 North America Accident Aviation Safety & Regulation Defense Industry & Major Contractors

❗️❗️

avweb.com • Matt Ryan

F-16 Crash in California Near County Line; Pilot Hospitalized, Investigation Underway

By avweb.com: Emergency crews respond to likely F-16 accident near county line.

Associated Press

Thunderbirds F-16 Crashes in California Desert; Pilot Ejects Safely

The Aviationist

Pilot Safe After USAF Thunderbirds F-16 Crashes in California

Also: AirForceTimes, The Independent, Military Times, Stars and Stripes and 19 more

2025-12-03T12:55:18.834803-08:00

North America Military Aircraft Procurement Orders Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)

Air & Space Forces Mag • Greg Hadley

U.S. Air Force Receives 100th KC-46 Pegasus, Marking Fleet Milestone

By Air & Space Forces Mag: The U.S. Air Force’s KC-46 Pegasus fleet hit a major milestone Dec. 2 with the delivery of its 99th and 100th aircraft.

Also: DVIDS / U.S. DoD

2025-12-03T17:48:44.145879-08:00

Satellite Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons Defense Budgets & Spending Defense Industry & Major Contractors Space Defense & Militarization Policy & Regulation

❗️

DefenseNews.com • Stephen Losey

Pentagon Pre-Qualifies 1,000+ Firms — Including BAE, L3Harris and Elbit America — as Potential Vendors for 'Golden Dome' Missile-Defense Program

By DefenseNews.com: BAE Systems, L3Harris and Elbit America are some firms the Missile Defense Agency selected as potential vendors for a national missile defense shield.

SpaceNews.com

MDA Clarifies 'SHIELD' Vendor Selection Is Not a Preview of Golden Dome Award

Air & Space Forces Mag

MDA Invites 1,000+ Contractors to Compete for 'Golden Dome' and Other Homeland Defense Programs

Also: Defense Daily, news.ssbcrack.com and Defense & Security Monitor

2025-12-03T11:17:28.247428-08:00

Cybersecurity (Cyber Threats & Protection) Workforce & Skills Development

Breaking Defense • Barry Rosenberg

US Air Force Reserve forms offensive cyber squadron to retain veteran operators

By Breaking Defense: As cyber veterans exit active duty, a new Reserve offensive squadron gives them a way to keep executing missions, an officer told Breaking Defense.

2025-12-03T14:26:04.489358-08:00

UAV Development & Drone Programs Satellite Middle East Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact

❗️

The War Zone • Tyler Rogoway

Images of Shahed-136 clone drones sent to the Middle East reveal satellite datalinks and swarming capabilities

By The War Zone: Images of the LUCAS drones sent to "flip the script" on Iran give insights into their advanced capabilities.

Also: Aviation Week

2025-12-03T08:44:18.237819-08:00

Satellite Supply Chain M&A Defense Industry & Major Contractors Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation

Via Satellite • Rachel Jewett

Applied Aerospace and PCX Aerosystems Merge to Scale Aerospace Manufacturing Capabilities

By Via Satellite: Applied Aerospace and PCX Aerosystems, are merging to create greater scale as a supplier of precision hardware and systems for aircraft, rotorcraft, satellites, launch vehicles, and missile defense.

2025-12-03T13:05:02.602687-08:00

Today In Defense

More in Defense