Military Aircraft Procurement   Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Boeing  
The War Zone • Howard Altman, Joseph Trevithick

F-22 Seen with Stealth Underwing Tanks and Sensor Pods; B-52 Flies with Inert AGM-181 LRSO as Tests Intensify

New flight photos from Mojave show an F-22 Raptor with low‑observable underwing fuel tanks and sensor pods, suggesting extended range and enhanced passive sensing. A B-52H was also photographed carrying two inert AGM-181 Long Range Stand Off missiles as integration testing increases toward a possible production decision.

Also: Army Recognition, worldwarwings.com and worldwarwings.com
2026-03-23T14:29:59.109615-07:00
Aircraft Carrier   Defense Budgets & Spending   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
The Hill • Ellen Mitchell

Iran conflict strains U.S. military readiness: casualties, munitions shortages and aircraft losses

By The Hill: The U.S. war in Iran is taking a mounting toll on America’s military, with rising casualties, dwindling munitions stockpiles, a sidelined aircraft carrier and numerous downed aircraft just th….

2026-03-23T15:01:04.791919-07:00
Europe   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
NEW
FlightGlobal • Ryan Finnerty

Lockheed begins final assembly of Germany’s first F-35A

By FlightGlobal: US defence manufacturer Lockheed Martin has commenced final assembly on the first F-35A Lightning II destined for the German air force, marking a significant milestone in Berlin's acquisition of 35 conventional take-off and landing variants of the fifth-generation stealth fighter.

2026-03-23T15:35:06.001405-07:00
Military Aircraft Procurement   Accident   Aviation Safety & Regulation   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
Reuters

Colombian military C-130 involved in accident with ~110 soldiers on board, media report

By Reuters: At least one person was killed and 77 others hospitalized when a Colombian Air Force plane carrying 125 people crashed just after takeoff deep in the country's southern Amazon region on Monday, authorities said.

Also: AeroTime, FlightGlobal, Aviacionline, Simple Flying, Aviation24, Bloomberg, Air Data News, watchers.news, CTV News, CNA, news.ssbcrack.com, colombiareports.com and 17 more
2026-03-23T09:55:11.663910-07:00
Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
New York Times • Eric Schmitt, Greg Jaffe

Pentagon Considers Rapid Deployment of 3,000-Strong Airborne Brigade Within 18 Hours for Potential Iran Conflict

By New York Times: The combat forces would come from a brigade of about 3,000 soldiers capable of deploying anywhere in the world within 18 hours.

Also: The Independent, the-independent.com and Seeking Alpha
2026-03-23T11:45:34.519703-07:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   ATC   Europe   Aviation Safety & Regulation   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
AeroTime • Clement Charpentreau

Suspected cross‑border drone explodes near Lithuania–Belarus border, exposing radar detection gaps

By AeroTime: Lithuania is investigating a suspected cross-border drone that exploded near the Belarus border, with debris found and radar detection gaps exposed.

2026-03-23T12:00:41.700492-07:00