Leadership   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
DefenseNews.com • Lara Seligman

Pentagon weapons tester flags risk of F-35 software development slipping; Air Force acquisition nominee targets sustainment cost

The Pentagon’s top weapons tester says F-35 software development could fall behind, even as the Joint Program Office maintains the broader program is on track. Separately, an Air Force acquisition nominee signals a planned deep dive on using emerging technologies to reduce F-35 sustainment costs over the program’s life—amid scrutiny of the program’s escalating price tag.

Also: Business Insider
2026-04-22T17:50:04.606055-07:00
Helicopter   Sikorsky   Europe   Military Aircraft Procurement   Boeing  
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DefenseNews.com • Lars Hoffmann

Germany Picks CH-53K , CH-47F as Options for New Helo

By DefenseNews.com: GÖTTINGEN, Germany — The German armed forces has shortlisted the CH-53K from Sikorsky and the CH-47F Chinook from Boeing - also known as Chinook - as potential successors to its aging fleet of CH-53 heavy-lift helicopters, a spokesman for the German Air Force confirmed.

2026-04-22T17:50:08.096809-07:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   Military Aircraft Procurement   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
DefenseNews.com • Aaron Mehta

USAF Looks to Global Hawk Upgrades

By DefenseNews.com: After multiple attempts to end the Global Hawk Block 30, the US Air Force has now included the high-altitude long-endurance unmanned system in two straight budget requests, giving a sense of stability to the program — and allowing operators to turn their eyes to future upgrades.

2026-04-22T16:49:52.096253-07:00
Middle East   Helicopter   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Deals  
DefenseNews.com • Awad Mustafa]}]}]}jük! I can help with that. Please provide the text from which you'd like me to extract the author name

UAE, Sikorsky Work to Weaponize Black Hawks

By DefenseNews.com: Sikorsky is close to beginning upgrades to the UAE's helicopters that would them the "most advanced armed Black Hawks ever produced," a company vice president told Defense News.

2026-04-22T16:49:52.413063-07:00
Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Workforce & Skills Development  
DefenseNews.com • Vivek Raghuvanshi

HAL To Fulfill Future Indian AF Training Needs

By DefenseNews.com: Much against the wishes of the Indian Air Force (IAF), the Defence Ministry has decided that only state-owned monopoly Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) will meet the service's future basic trainer requirements through its HTT-40 trainer, which is still under development.

2026-04-22T16:49:49.838685-07:00