Air Data News
• Ricardo Meier
The U.S. Air Force is planning nearly $1.7 billion in upgrades to keep the Rockwell B-1B Lancer and Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit bombers flying longer than the service previously targeted for an early-2030s retirement. The shift reflects how the B-21 transition schedule has stretched.
Bloomberg
• Katrina Manson, Kiel Porter, Sana Pashankar
By Bloomberg: SpaceX is part of a group of companies developing the operating system underpinning President Donald Trump’s Golden Dome initiative, according to people familiar with the matter, underscoring the deep ties between Elon Musk’s rocket-and-satellite maker and the US government.
FlightGlobal
• Ryan Finnerty
By FlightGlobal: The squadron that qualifies new A-10 pilots for combat duty graduated its last class of students in April, as the US Air Force moves haltingly toward retiring the venerable ground attack fighter.
SpaceNews.com
• Sandra Erwin
By SpaceNews.com: The awards, announced April 24 by the Space Systems Command, cover 20 agreements made in late 2025 and early 2026 using Other Transaction Authority contracts, a flexible acquisition tool designed to fund multiple competing designs rather than select a single prime contractor early in the process.
Air & Space Forces Mag
Air Data News
• Ricardo Meier
By Air Data News: Northrop Grumman delivered the first production unit of the new system, which is also planned for the Navy’s E-2D U.S. Air Force’s Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor is set to receive a new navigation upgrade designed to keep the stealth fighter operating in environments where GPS signals are jammed or unavailable.
DefenseNews.com
• Rudy Ruitenberg
By DefenseNews.com: “Everyone in Europe is convinced that we need options for conventional ballistic missile for deep strike given the expansion of conflicts,” Bruneau said.
FlightGlobal
• Dominic Perry
By FlightGlobal: First flight of uncrewed air vehicle is targeted for later this year in line with French DGA schedule. French manufacturer Aura Aero says it remains on track to achieve a first flight this year of the Enbata medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) drone it is building for its home nation.
The War Zone
• Thomas Newdick
By The War Zone: The latest evolution of Ukraine’s rugged An-28 Cash turboprop counter-drone platform combines interceptor drones and Minigun armament. The latest evolution of Ukraine’s rugged An-28 Cash turboprop counter-drone platform combines interceptor drones and Minigun armament.
DefenseNews.com
• Valerie Insinna
