UAV Development & Drone Programs   AI   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
Aviation Today • Frank Wolfe

USAF assigns YFQ-48A designation to Northrop Grumman’s Project Talon

The U.S. Air Force on Dec. 22 assigned the designation YFQ-48A to Northrop Grumman’s Project Talon, formally naming the Talon series prototype as a drone contender in the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) programme. The designation identifies Talon as an official prototype entry in the CCA competition.

2026-01-08T14:03:29.211057-08:00
MRO   Supply Chain   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Boeing  
Aviation Today • Frank Wolfe

Boeing awarded $266M sole‑source contract to redesign C-17 flight deck; USAF warns spares for two LRUs may run out by FY2028

By Aviation Today: In mid-December, the Air Force awarded Boeing a $266 million sole source contract through 2031 to replace the flight deck of the company’s C-17 airlifter.

2026-01-08T13:49:56.027623-08:00
Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
Aviation Today • Frank Wolfe

Pentagon IG Report Flags Ongoing F‑35A/C Readiness Shortfalls Affecting Strike Operations

By Aviation Today: While Air Force F-35A and Navy F-35C fighters by Lockheed Martin were in the U.S. strike package against Venezuela on Jan. 3, a December Pentagon Inspector General (IG) report highlighted […].

2026-01-08T13:22:23.965197-08:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   AI   North America   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
Breaking Defense • Michael Marrow

Northrop Grumman, Kratos Selected to Integrate XQ-58 Valkyrie for Marine Corps MUX TACAIR Program

By Breaking Defense: Northrop Grumman will serve as the prime contractor and integrate mission systems on Kratos’s XQ-58 Valkyrie for the Marine Corps’s MUX TACAIR Collaborative Combat Aircraft program.

Also: Air Data News, DefenseNews.com, FlightGlobal, The Aviationist, Northrop Grumman, Defense Scoop, news.defcros.com, news.ssbcrack.com, Defense Daily, Defense One, defencetoday.com, euro-sd.com and 4 more
2026-01-08T06:09:17.995465-08:00
Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
Defense Daily • Frank Wolfe

Pentagon Inspector General Warns of Ongoing F‑35 Readiness Shortfalls Amid Operational Deployments

By Defense Daily: While Air Force F-35A and Navy F-35C fighters by Lockheed Martin were in the U.S. strike package against Venezuela on Jan. 3, a Pentagon Inspector General.

2026-01-07T14:45:19.156163-08:00