Space Force   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Space Defense & Militarization   Policy & Regulation   Workforce & Skills Development   Defense Policy  
SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

Space Force acquisition arm races to rebuild contracting workforce after civilian cuts

The Space Force's acquisition arm is scrambling to rebuild its contracting workforce after recent civilian reductions, accelerating hiring and backfilling to restore contracting capacity. Officials warn the gap risks slowing procurement execution and complicating oversight as the service implements broader acquisition reforms.

2026-01-22T16:13:29.931516-08:00
Event   UAV Development & Drone Programs   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
FlightGlobal • Ryan Finnerty

SOF Week to Host First Dedicated Aviation Demo Space for UAS and Counter‑UAS at 2026 Tampa Conference

By FlightGlobal: This year's edition of the annual special operations conference in Tamp, Florida will for the first time feature a dedicated space for demonstrating new aviation technologies, including uncrewed aircraft, counter UAS systems and airborne mission equipment.

2026-01-22T16:26:55.867518-08:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   AI   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
Aviation Today • Frank Wolfe

U.S. Marine Corps Awards Northrop Grumman MUX TACAIR Collaborative Combat Aircraft Contract

By Aviation Today: Kratos Defense & Security Solutions [KTOS] and Northrop Grumman [NOC] said on Jan. 8 that the Marine Air-Ground Task Force Uncrewed Expeditionary Tactical Aircraft (MUX TACAIR) Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program has […].

Also: sdbj.com
2026-01-22T14:12:38.986201-08:00
Space Force   Space Defense & Militarization   Policy & Regulation   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
Payload • Jacqueline Feldscher

Colorado Springs Groups Oppose Lawsuit Seeking to Keep U.S. Space Command Headquarters

By Payload: It’s time for the tug of war over the location of US Space Command headquarters to end for the sake of America’s military space mission, according to multiple Colorado Springs, CO-based groups.

2026-01-22T14:35:45.642045-08:00
Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Defense Policy  
Aviation Today • Calvin Biesecker

DIU Solicits Airborne Magnetic-Mapping Platforms to Advance GPS‑Denied Precision Navigation

By Aviation Today: The Defense Innovation Unit last Friday issued a solicitation seeking prototype solutions for airborne magnetic data collection platforms that would support the development of magnetic map data as an alternative […].

2026-01-22T14:17:10.025544-08:00
Helicopter   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Aviation Safety & Regulation   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
Aviation Today • Frank Wolfe

USAF Chooses Non‑HMD Degraded Visual Environment System for HH‑60W to Cut Costs

By Aviation Today: To save funds, the U.S. Air Force plans to pursue a Degraded Visual Environment System (DVES) without a helmet mounted display (HMD) for the Lockheed Martin [LMT] Sikorsky HH-60W Jolly Green II […].

2026-01-22T14:12:39.572189-08:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   Supply Chain   Europe   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
Reuters

France places first order for long‑range loitering munitions from MBDA and Aviation Design

By Reuters: France's military has placed its first order for long-range kamikaze drones from local defence firms as it seeks to develop its own drone production capacity after drawing lessons from how the war is being fought in Ukraine.

2026-01-22T07:07:56.355508-08:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   AI   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
FlightGlobal • Ryan Finnerty

Shield AI starts wind-tunnel tests of X‑Bat tail-sitting autonomous tactical jet

By FlightGlobal: American autonomy specialist Shield AI has begun windtunnel testing on its X-Bat uncrewed tactical aircraft, three months after unveiling the tail-sitting jet platform that will operate using the company's Hivemind artificial intelligence software.

2026-01-22T08:10:30.684429-08:00