Defense News

UAV Development & Drone Programs SAAB AI General Atomics Defense Industry & Major Contractors

AeroTime • Clement Charpentreau

GA-ASI and Saab flight-test LoyalEye AEW radar on MQ-9B, tracking fighters, airliners and maritime targets

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and Saab say an MQ-9B equipped with Saab’s LoyalEye radar tracked fighter jets, commercial aircraft and maritime targets during flight tests. The radar is installed in new airborne early-warning pods, which first flew in May 2026.

Also: The Aviationist

4 Sources

2026-10-28T09:34:32.641352-07:00

Satellite Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact

Reuters • Mark Trevelyan

Putin salutes Musk's genius as Russia plays catch-up with Starlink

By Reuters: President Vladimir Putin hailed Elon Musk as a genius on Wednesday, acknowledging Russia is only beginning to roll out its ‌answer to his Starlink satellite internet system.

Bloomberg

Putin Says Russia Coordinates With ‘Genius’ Musk on Satellites

Kyiv Independent

Putin calls Musk 'genius' as Ukraine recovers from Starshield throttling

Also: RTE and moderndiplomacy.eu

5 Sources

2026-10-28T09:04:33.637674-07:00

The War Zone • Howard Altman

Confessions Of An SR-71 Blackbird Pilot

By The War Zone: What it was like to sit at the controls of the Skunk Works' legendary Blackbird while hurtling over hostile territory at Mach 3.3.

1 Source

2026-10-28T09:05:53.087145-07:00

UAV Development & Drone Programs Europe General Atomics Industry Leader Profiles & Interviews

Breaking Defense • Breaking Defense Video

How General Atomics views Europe's unmanned future

By Breaking Defense: In this fireside chat, Dave Alexander of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems talks through his company's strategy for the European market.

1 Source

2026-10-28T09:04:47.321049-07:00

Military Aircraft Procurement Defense Industry & Major Contractors Boeing

NEW

Air Data News • Ricardo Meier

Boeing says new fighter contracts will avoid costly mistakes of past defense programs

By Air Data News: F-47 and F/A-XX are part of a growing defense portfolio that Boeing says has been structured to reduce the financial risks seen in earlier military programs.

1 Source

2026-10-28T10:05:35.357958-07:00

Satellite Space Force Defense Industry & Major Contractors Boeing

NEW

SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

Boeing to be awarded sole-source deal worth up to $946 million to maintain military satellites

By SpaceNews.com: GTON — The U.S. Space Force plans to award Boeing a sole-source contract worth up to $945.9 million to maintain and modernize military communications satellites and ground systems, citing the company’s ownership of proprietary technical data and software needed to perform the work.

1 Source

2026-10-28T10:20:41.285988-07:00

aviation UAV Development & Drone Programs North America

Bloomberg • Arvelisse Bonilla Ramos

Drone Stocks Face Deeper Drop as Midterm Blue Wave Risks Grow

By Bloomberg: Shares of drone makers and suppliers, once the hottest names in the US stock market, are poised to fall further as investors worry a blue wave in the US midterm elections could squeeze funding for the industry.

1 Source

2026-10-28T08:05:21.483429-07:00

Europe Military Aircraft Procurement Asia-Pacific (APAC) Defense Policy

Reuters • Tamiyuki Kihara

(JA) Japan and Germany leaders meet; Merz signals interest in fighter jet development program, while Takaichi raises strong concerns over EV issue

By Reuters: 高市早苗首相とドイツのメルツ首相は２８日、首相官邸で会談した。人工知能（ＡＩ）や重要鉱物など幅広い分野で戦略的連携を強化することで一致する中、メルツ氏は日英伊３カ国が進める戦闘機共同開発への参画に意欲を示した。日本外務省によると、高市‌氏は日本側が懸念する日本製電気自動車（ＥＶ）が欧州で優遇措置の対象外となる問題について強い懸念を伝えた。.

1 Source

2026-10-28T07:28:27.690200-07:00

GA-ASI and Saab flight-test LoyalEye AEW radar on MQ-9B, tracking fighters, airliners and maritime targets

Putin salutes Musk's genius as Russia plays catch-up with Starlink

Putin Says Russia Coordinates With ‘Genius’ Musk on Satellites

Putin calls Musk 'genius' as Ukraine recovers from Starshield throttling

Confessions Of An SR-71 Blackbird Pilot

How General Atomics views Europe's unmanned future

Boeing says new fighter contracts will avoid costly mistakes of past defense programs

Boeing to be awarded sole-source deal worth up to $946 million to maintain military satellites

Drone Stocks Face Deeper Drop as Midterm Blue Wave Risks Grow

(JA) Japan and Germany leaders meet; Merz signals interest in fighter jet development program, while Takaichi raises strong concerns over EV issue

Boeing to be awarded sole-source deal worth up to $946 million to maintain military satellites

Boeing says new fighter contracts will avoid costly mistakes of past defense programs

MQ-9B drone tracks fighter jets at long range with Saab’s LoyalEye radar

How General Atomics views Europe's unmanned future

Confessions Of An SR-71 Blackbird Pilot

Putin salutes Musk's genius as Russia plays catch-up with Starlink

U.S. intelligence report publishes clear image of China’s secretive spaceplane

Components Ready for Starfighters’ F-104 Mach 2 Testbed

Startup Biosphere wins Pentagon contract to scale up production of key chemicals

The attrition advantage: Why passive mobility is essential for resilient sensor architectures

Philippines grounds SF-260 fleet after training collision kills four pilots

US Air Force awards Lockheed Martin $694 million to put once-canceled ARRW hypersonic missile into production

Cosmos 2612’s close approach to ICEYE-X36 raises questions about NATO’s response to Russian space operations

Astroscale proposes 'bodyguard' spacecraft to protect satellites from orbital attacks

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

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