UAV Development & Drone Programs   AI   General Atomics   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact  
DefenseNews.com • Michael Scanlon

USAF calls MQ-9 Reaper “MVP” for Epic Fury; GE/Kratos land contract for the GE426 expendable drone engine

US Air Force leaders told Congress the MQ-9 Reaper has been a “workhorse” in the campaign against Iran as the service’s FY2027 budget still prioritizes crewed fighters. In parallel, GE Aerospace and Kratos won a May 19 contract to design the GE426 expendable drone engine for autonomous aircraft—signaling continued momentum toward attritable, autonomy-enabled strike systems.

Also: DefenseNews.com, AirForceTimes and nationalsecurityjournal.org
2026-05-21T11:10:25.711914-07:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   General Atomics   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact  
FlightGlobal • Craig Hoyle

General Atomics flies MQ-9B for first time carrying Saab LoyalEye AEW radars

By FlightGlobal: Combination is described as the 'world's first unmanned AEW solution'. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) has flown a company-owned MQ-9B remotely piloted aircraft for the first time carrying pod-housed airborne early warning (AEW) radar arrays produced by Saab.

2026-05-21T09:38:36.247976-07:00
Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Aviation Safety & Regulation   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact  
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FlightGlobal • Ryan Finnerty

MC-130Js destroyed in Iran could be replaced with ‘green’ Lockheed Martin transports

By FlightGlobal: The potential option involves Special Operations Command completing modifications to bring in-production C-130Js to the MC-130J standard.

2026-05-21T11:40:00.607079-07:00