Defense News

Accident Aviation Safety & Regulation Boeing

AeroTime • Clement Charpentreau

USAF ‘Franken-tanker’ KC-135 flies again with donor tail after Iraq collision

A USAF KC-135 that lost half its tail in a fatal mid-air collision over Iraq has returned to flight after receiving a replacement fin from a retired tanker. The repair demonstrates a fleet-recovery path for heavily damaged legacy tankers using available aircraft parts.

Also: Air Data News

2 Sources

2026-08-03T00:59:22.855255-07:00

UAV Development & Drone Programs Europe Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact Defense Policy

AeroTime • Gabriele Petrauskaite

Ukraine Claims Long-Range Drone Strike Damaged Russian Air-Defense and Radar Sites

By AeroTime: Ukraine claimed to have damaged multiple Russian air defense and radar installations during a long-range drone strike in the Krasnodar region.

aviationnews.eu

Massive Ukrainian Drone Strike Severely Damages Major Wildberries Logistics Hub in Russia’s Samara Region

Kyiv Independent

Romania scrambles F-16s as Russian drone crosses Ukraine's Danube River border

5 Sources

2026-08-02T06:17:35.755997-07:00

AI Hypersonic

Space.com • Mike Wall

Stratolaunch’s Talon-A hypersonic vehicle surpasses 10-flight milestone

By Space.com: "We are transforming hypersonic testing from a rare event into a routine service, empowering our customers to innovate at unprecedented speed.".

1 Source

2026-08-02T07:02:42.161970-07:00

Blue Origin Defense Industry & Major Contractors Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation

SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

U.S. Air Force expands Blue Origin rocket cargo contract

By SpaceNews.com: WASHINGTON — The Air Force Research Laboratory has added $11.7 million to a Blue Origin contract aimed at exploring how commercial rockets could be used to transport military supplies around the world, expanding the agreement to about $13 million.

1 Source

2026-08-02T05:06:09.147748-07:00

North America Military Aircraft Procurement Accident Aviation Safety & Regulation

The War Zone • Tyler Rogoway

F-35B Crashes And Burns At Marine Corps Air Station Miramar (Updated)

By The War Zone: The F-35B crashed near the end of the runway at the sprawling Marine Corps base at around 10AM local time. Add TWZ (opens in a new tab) More information Adding us as a Preferred Source in Google by using this link indicates that you would like to see more of our content in Google News results.

Flying Magazine

F-35 Involved in Serious Accident in San Diego

The Aviationist

U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Crashes at MCAS Miramar

Also: Associated Press, Breaking Defense, Simple Flying, Stars and Stripes, The Hill, Aerotech News, Economic Times, ANI News Agency, al.com, defensemirror.com, timesofsandiego.com, San Diego Union-Tribune and 12 more

33 Sources

2026-07-31T12:14:11.177452-07:00

Military Aircraft Procurement Defense Budgets & Spending Boeing

Air Data News • Ricardo Meier

Congressional watchdog warns of risks to $21 billion B-52 modernization

By Air Data News: Government Accountability Office (GAO) report has raised concerns about cost growth and schedule risks affecting the U.S. Air Force's effort to modernize the B-52 Stratofortress, a package of upgrades now valued at about $21 billion.

Also: Task & Purpose

2 Sources

2026-08-01T04:57:30.723286-07:00

Europe Military Aircraft Procurement Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs) Defense Industry & Major Contractors

AeroTime • Clement Charpentreau

2026-07-31T04:34:28.888098-07:00

F-16 Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact Defense Policy

Washington Post • Mark Montgomery

Ukraine Could Use F-16s to Hunt Russian Ballistic-Missile Launchers—If the U.S. Unlocks One Capability

By Washington Post: Ukraine's F-16s could hunt ballistic-missile launchers within weeks — if Washington unlocks one capability.

1 Source

2026-07-31T04:33:19.202106-07:00

USAF ‘Franken-tanker’ KC-135 flies again with donor tail after Iraq collision

Ukraine Claims Long-Range Drone Strike Damaged Russian Air-Defense and Radar Sites

Massive Ukrainian Drone Strike Severely Damages Major Wildberries Logistics Hub in Russia’s Samara Region

Romania scrambles F-16s as Russian drone crosses Ukraine's Danube River border

Stratolaunch’s Talon-A hypersonic vehicle surpasses 10-flight milestone

U.S. Air Force expands Blue Origin rocket cargo contract

F-35B Crashes And Burns At Marine Corps Air Station Miramar (Updated)

F-35 Involved in Serious Accident in San Diego

U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Crashes at MCAS Miramar

Congressional watchdog warns of risks to $21 billion B-52 modernization

Turkey’s new KAAN fighter prototype completes first taxi test ahead of flight

Turkey’s KAAN 5th-Gen Fighter Begins Runway Taxi Tests Ahead of Next Flight Testing Phase

Turkey’s Latest Kaan Fighter Prototype Begins Taxi Tests

Ukraine Could Use F-16s to Hunt Russian Ballistic-Missile Launchers—If the U.S. Unlocks One Capability

USAF ‘Franken-tanker’ KC-135 flies again with donor tail after Iraq collision

Stratolaunch’s Talon-A hypersonic vehicle surpasses 10-flight milestone

Ukraine Claims Long-Range Drone Strike Damaged Russian Air-Defense and Radar Sites

U.S. Air Force expands Blue Origin rocket cargo contract

Congressional watchdog warns of risks to $21 billion B-52 modernization

China conducts naval, air patrols around disputed shoal in South China Sea

China conducts naval, air patrols around disputed shoal in South China Sea

Light at the end of M-code's tunnel? Receivers for ships, planes to finish tests by 2027

Inside the effort to show Congress what war in space looks like

Facing a lack of kit, Space Force creates $981M pool to buy training capabilities

Marine Corps F-35B crashes near San Diego; pilot ejects with non-life-threatening injuries

Turkey’s KAAN Fighter Prototype Begins Powered Taxi Tests Ahead of First Flight

Ukraine Could Use F-16s to Hunt Russian Ballistic-Missile Launchers—If the U.S. Unlocks One Capability

GAO flags cost growth and schedule risk in $21 billion B-52 modernization

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

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