UAV Development & Drone Programs   AI   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aviation Safety & Regulation   Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Space Defense & Militarization   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
Breaking Defense • Michael Marrow

US Air Force and Anduril’s YFQ-44A Collaborative Combat Aircraft completes first live air-to-air missile shot with an AIM-120 AM

The U.S. Air Force test over the Mojave Desert marked the first time its Collaborative Combat Aircraft drone fired a live air-to-air missile, launching an externally carried Raytheon AIM-120 AMRAAM from the developmental YFQ-44A prototype at a digital target. The service says the event is an important step in autonomous combat aircraft development.

Also: Wall Street Journal, FlightGlobal, The Aviationist, AirForceTimes, Aviation Week, Air & Space Forces Mag, DVIDS / U.S. DoD, defence-blog.com, Defense Daily, Military Times, Seapower Magazine and 6 more
2026-07-15T08:17:03.882731-07:00
Space Force   Defense Budgets & Spending   Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation   Space Policy & International Cooperation   Space Defense & Militarization   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

Saltzman’s farewell warning: Prepare for war in space to preserve peace

By SpaceNews.com: WASHINGTON — Gen. Chance Saltzman in his final public address as chief of the U.S. Space Force warned that a conflict extending into orbit would expose the satellites of every nation, arguing that the best way to deter such a war is to build military forces capable of fighting and prevailing in space.

2026-07-15T11:28:54.845851-07:00
Satellite   Space Force   Leadership   L3Harris   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation   Space Exploration & Science Missions   Human Spaceflight & Space Stations   Space Policy & International Cooperation   Space Defense & Militarization   Policy & Regulation   Defense Policy  
SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

Space Force awards Slingshot $69 million for AI-enabled training technology

By SpaceNews.com: WASHINGTON — Slingshot Aerospace has won a $69.2 million U.S. Space Force contract to develop artificial intelligence-based training environments that will allow military operators to rehearse satellite defense missions and respond to simulated adversary actions in orbit.

Also: Breaking Defense, SpaceQ, Aviation Week, Aerospace America, defensetalks.com, Defense One, Defense Daily and 5 more
2026-07-15T12:24:48.342197-07:00
Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Defense Policy  
FlightGlobal • Craig Hoyle

UK Royal Air Force studying total future fleet size for nuclear-capable F-35A

By FlightGlobal: Initial purchase of 12 conventional take-off jets will support operational conversion unit, service says. The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) is working to determine its future fleet requirement for the Lockheed Martin F-35A, as the service works toward regaining an air-launched nuclear weapons capability from next decade.

2026-07-15T06:59:06.790764-07:00
Leadership   Europe   Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Deals   Defense Policy   Airbus  
Breaking Defense • Elisabeth Gosselin-Malo

MBDA to replace CEO with Airbus executive

By Breaking Defense: During his time at MBDA, Éric Béranger oversaw the firm’s major industrial ramp-up.

Also: AeroTime, Reuters and Seeking Alpha
2026-07-15T05:30:17.815035-07:00
China   Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
DefenseNews.com • Military Times staff

First the coast guard, then an ICBM: China tests new, long-term ways to hold off rivals in Asia

By DefenseNews.com: Experts say Beijing used both methods to try out new, attention-grabbing and long-term ways to deter others from challenging its territorial claims.

Also: Military Times
2026-07-15T08:45:42.111077-07:00