Defense News

Helicopter Sikorsky North America

FlightGlobal • Ryan Finnerty

White House builds South Lawn helipad to address VH-92A exhaust damage

A new landing structure is under construction on the White House South Lawn to prevent the Sikorsky VH-92A presidential helicopter, known as Marine One, from scorching the lawn’s verge during landing operations. The project addresses an operational issue tied to the helicopter’s exhaust effects.

1 Source

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

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.

1 Source

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

Helicopter 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.

3 Sources

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

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

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

Helicopter Sikorsky Military Aircraft Procurement Defense Industry & Major Contractors

AINonline

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

By AINonline: Originally developed for the U.S. Military, X2 technology is in search of a new customer.

1 Source

2026-08-19T11:35:48.040984-07:00

F-16 North America Military Aircraft Procurement Defense Deals

FlightGlobal • Ryan Finnerty

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

By FlightGlobal: Two of the jets were sighted by a planespotter in Fort Worth, Texas, landing at Lockheed's F-35 production facility. The first new-build Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter jets bound for Taiwan have been seen en route to Asia from the US.

1 Source

2026-08-19T10:35:00.403987-07:00

Aviation Safety & Regulation Space Debris & Traffic Management

Space.com • Brett Tingley

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

By Space.com: A mysterious incident over the South Pacific forced a U.S. Air Force aircraft to turn around on Aug. 18, due to a possible space debris hazard.

Also: Aviation A2Z

2 Sources

2026-08-19T09:05:15.239368-07:00

White House builds South Lawn helipad to address VH-92A exhaust damage

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Vantor names new head of U.S. government business

Chinese national jailed for filming B-2 base under 1950 Truman order

Germany Launches Drone Security Centre Using Space-Based Systems

Israel strikes Syrian airbase days after restored Su-22s return to the air

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

France keeps EMALS for future carrier as Trump orders U.S. Navy back to steam catapults

Reliance and Rolls-Royce join India’s bid for an indigenous AMCA fighter engine

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

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