UAV Development & Drone Programs   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
Aviation Week • Brian Everstine

USMC selects GA‑ASI YFQ‑42A for MUX TACAIR Collaborative Combat Aircraft evaluation

The U.S. Marine Corps has competitively selected General Atomics Aeronautical Systems to evaluate its YFQ‑42A under the MUX TACAIR Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program. GA‑ASI will integrate a government‑provided mission package and autonomy suite into the YFQ‑42A to test manned–unmanned teaming and CCA concepts.

Also: The War Zone, The Aviationist, news.defcros.com, indiastrategic.in, ex2.com.au, ga.com, ga-asi.com, Defense Daily and suasnews.com
2026-02-10T14:09:14.192092-08:00
Europe   North America   Military Aircraft Procurement   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
Air & Space Forces Mag • Chris Gordon

US forward‑deploys six F‑35As to RAF Lakenheath as force posture tightens near Middle East after talks with Iran

By Air & Space Forces Mag: Stealthy U.S. fighter jets moved closer to the Middle East Feb. 9, with six F–35As landing at RAF Lakenheath, U.K. after U.S. talks with Iran.

Also: defence-industry.eu
2026-02-09T18:09:59.912566-08:00
Supply Chain   Military Aircraft Procurement   Orders   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
Breaking Defense • Patrick Dawson

USAF Pauses C-130J Deliveries Over Faulty Communications Package

By Breaking Defense: Despite continued expansion of C-130J usage worldwide, deliveries to the US Air Force have been temporarily paused due to an issue with the aircraft’s communications package.

2026-02-10T12:10:09.058584-08:00
Aircraft Carrier   Middle East   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
Reuters • Idrees Ali, Jana Choukeir, Phil Stewart

Trump says he may send second U.S. aircraft carrier to Middle East as talks with Iran approach

By Reuters: U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he was considering sending a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East, even as Washington and Tehran prepare to resume negotiations aimed at averting a new conflict.

Also: Stars and Stripes, The Independent, South China Morning Post and Jerusalem Post
2026-02-10T12:23:53.420363-08:00
Middle East   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
Reuters • Marine Delrue

Satellite images show US deployed mobile missile launchers at al-Udeid air base amid Iran tensions

By Reuters: U.S. forces in Qatar's al-Udeid, the biggest U.S. base in the Middle East, put missiles into truck launchers as tensions with Iran ratcheted up since January, analysis of satellite images showed, meaning they could be moved more quickly.

Also: al-monitor.com and Jerusalem Post
2026-02-10T09:59:10.647179-08:00
Middle East   L3Harris   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
FlightGlobal • Craig Hoyle

L3Harris details RE-3A upgrade activity for Royal Saudi Air Force

By FlightGlobal: L3Harris is using the third biennial World Defense Show to underscore its decades-old presence in Saudi Arabia, as work continues to upgrade Riyadh's most sophisticated airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability.

2026-02-10T10:52:59.107133-08:00