Defense News

F-16 Europe Accident

AeroTime • Clement Charpentreau

USAF F-16 crashes near Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany; pilot ejects safely

A U.S. Air Force F-16 assigned to Spangdahlem Air Base crashed in western Germany on Sept. 22 while returning from a routine local training mission. The pilot ejected before impact and was receiving medical treatment; the aircraft operates in the base’s “Wild Weasel” mission set.

DefenseNews.com

F-16 fighter jet crashes at US air base in western Germany

The War Zone • Howard Altman

USAF F-16 Crashes At Spangdahlem Air Base In Germany

Also: Air & Space Forces Mag, aviationnews.eu, Aviation24, Aviation A2Z, The Aviationist, The Guardian, The Independent and 8 more

32 Sources

2026-09-22T08:08:26.674279-07:00

Military Aircraft Procurement Defense Policy

FlightGlobal • Ryan Finnerty

US Air Force acquisitions chief unconvinced by industry proposals for survivable tanker

By FlightGlobal: The service will now expand its focus on how to more broadly ensure tanker access in contested zones. After much fanfare about plans to develop a next-generation tanker aircraft, the US Air Force is now walking back its ambitions.

1 Source

2026-09-22T10:05:32.585669-07:00

politico.eu • Rixa Fürsen

Security-Update: Nukleare Abschreckung ohne die USA?

By politico.eu: Präsentiert von Lockheed Martin.

1 Source

2026-09-22T10:16:57.833634-07:00

Military Aircraft Procurement Defense Budgets & Spending Boeing Boeing 737

ch-aviation • Luciano Braganca

United States Air Force to acquire VIP B737-8 MAX

By ch-aviation: The United States Air Force is acquiring a VIP-configured B737-8 using USD250 million budgeted under the fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), covering the period between October 1, 2025, and September 30, 2026, to expand the service's C-40 fleet based on the B737-700(BBJ).

Also: aerospacemanufacturinganddesign.com

2 Sources

2026-09-22T09:20:27.203354-07:00

Helicopter Accident Aviation Safety & Regulation

FlightGlobal • Dominic Perry

Mistaken engine cut-off condemned Merlin HC4 helicopter to fatal ditching: report

By FlightGlobal: Crew of ill-fated Merlin had intended to practice deck landings from carrier at night Crown Copyright Two serviceable powerplants were shut down as Royal Navy crew attempted to make an emergency landing on deck of HMS Queen Elizabeth.

1 Source

2026-09-22T08:05:23.826215-07:00

Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons Defense Industry & Major Contractors

FlightGlobal • Brooke Ingemi

GE-Kratos GEK800 turbofan engine passes ignition test

By FlightGlobal: Low-cost design clears inaugural assessment before eventual integration with cruise missiles.

Also: Seeking Alpha, interestingengineering.com and defence-industry.eu

4 Sources

2026-09-22T09:05:12.461245-07:00

Saudi Arabia Middle East Military Aircraft Procurement Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact Export Controls & Trade Compliance Defense Deals

AINonline • Charlotte Bailey

F-35 Buy Approved As Saudis Struggle to Counter Houthi Threat

By AINonline: Trump administration says $24.3 billion deal will bolster Saudi Arabia's self-defense capability.

1 Source

2026-09-22T04:51:13.321443-07:00

UAV Development & Drone Programs Satellite Defense Industry & Major Contractors Asia-Pacific (APAC) Boeing

Breaking Defense • Mike Yeo

Boeing picks Lite Coms for Aussie BLOS SATCOM terminals

By Breaking Defense: Australia's LAND 4140 program aims to modernize the Australian military's land-based C4I architecture across all domains.

Also: Via Satellite and aerospace-innovations.com

4 Sources

2026-09-22T06:50:38.938114-07:00

USAF F-16 crashes near Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany; pilot ejects safely

F-16 fighter jet crashes at US air base in western Germany

USAF F-16 Crashes At Spangdahlem Air Base In Germany

US Air Force acquisitions chief unconvinced by industry proposals for survivable tanker

Security-Update: Nukleare Abschreckung ohne die USA?

United States Air Force to acquire VIP B737-8 MAX

Mistaken engine cut-off condemned Merlin HC4 helicopter to fatal ditching: report

GE-Kratos GEK800 turbofan engine passes ignition test

F-35 Buy Approved As Saudis Struggle to Counter Houthi Threat

Boeing picks Lite Coms for Aussie BLOS SATCOM terminals

Security-Update: Nukleare Abschreckung ohne die USA?

US Air Force acquisitions chief unconvinced by industry proposals for survivable tanker

United States Air Force to acquire VIP B737-8 MAX

GE-Kratos GEK800 turbofan engine passes ignition test

F-16 crashes near Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany, pilot ejects

Mistaken engine cut-off condemned Merlin HC4 helicopter to fatal ditching: report

RAF Voyager tanker to refuel Saudi fighter jets amid Houthi attacks

Marble Imaging and msg Systems Partner on European Sovereign ISR Capabilities

Think tank calls for specialised, missile-toting CCA to escort support aircraft

Chinese Next-Generation Submarine Developments Spotted In New Satellite Imagery

General Atomics delivers FQ-42A Vengeance to Creech for test and evaluation

F-35A components diverted from Australia to Hong Kong, prompting U.S. congressional probe

Space Force seeks commercial satellites for on-demand orbital inspection and electronic-interference tracking

China’s J-50/XDS tailless fighter may be testing a new radar

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