Defense News

Military Aircraft Procurement Defense Industry & Major Contractors Defense Policy

FlightGlobal • Brooke Ingemi

U.S. Air Force retires final EC-130H Compass Call after more than four decades of electronic warfare service

The U.S. Air Force formally retired EC-130H Compass Call aircraft 1590 at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, on Sept. 18, following its final operational taxi and flight. The C-130-based electronic warfare platform served for more than 40 years before the EA-37B transition.

Also: Breaking Defense and defence-blog.com

3 Sources

2026-09-21T09:35:30.670307-07:00

Satellite Space Force LEO Defense Industry & Major Contractors Space Defense & Militarization

SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

Space Development Agency opens $369 million competition for missile-tracking ground network

By SpaceNews.com: WASHINGTON — The Space Development Agency is seeking industry proposals for a contract worth up to $369 million to expand the worldwide ground infrastructure supporting its constellation of low Earth orbit missile-warning and tracking satellites.

2 Sources

2026-09-21T08:10:52.174330-07:00

Satellite Space Defense & Militarization Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact Defense Policy

SpaceNews.com • Jean-Francois Morizur

Ukraine’s Starlink experience offers a lesson for the Pentagon

By SpaceNews.com: some time now, the Ukrainian government has been seeking SpaceX’s authorization for the use of Starlink up to 200 kilometers inside Russia.

1 Source

2026-09-21T06:25:45.900279-07:00

Workforce & Skills Development

Breaking Defense • Michael Marrow

After hitting pilot training goal, resolving shortage will take years, Air Force official says

By Breaking Defense: “It’s going to take 15 or 20 years to get those types of people,” said Air Force Lt. Gen. Clark Quinn.

2 Sources

2026-09-21T06:21:27.196701-07:00

Europe Military Aircraft Procurement Aviation Safety & Regulation

AeroTime • Clement Charpentreau

Finnish F-35 stranded in Azores after avionics fault

By AeroTime: One of Finland’s first three F-35s remains in the Azores after an avionics fault. The fighter will join the next delivery flight later this autumn.

1 Source

2026-09-21T07:06:38.587620-07:00

Helicopter Sikorsky Military Aircraft Procurement Defense Industry & Major Contractors

Breaking Defense • Jennifer Petersen

Lockheed Martin Offers Rapid Armed-Conversion Kits for UH-60M and S-70i Black Hawks

By Breaking Defense: Lockheed Martin’s Armed Black Hawk kits convert UH-60M and S-70i helicopters into armed attack platforms in less than three hours.

1 Source

2026-09-21T05:21:02.402124-07:00

Aerial Firefighting Helicopter Asia-Pacific (APAC)

AeroTime • Clement Charpentreau

Japan puts Chinook to sea aboard JS Kunisaki off Kalimantan

By AeroTime: Japan is splitting its Chinook firefighting fleet between a landing ship and a port in Indonesia, expanding its first overseas military firefighting mission.

1 Source

2026-09-21T04:51:06.555049-07:00

Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons Defense Budgets & Spending Space Defense & Militarization Defense Policy

SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

Pentagon plans phased Golden Dome buildout through 2035

By SpaceNews.com: WASHINGTON — Gen.

1 Source

2026-09-21T00:00:42.899121-07:00

U.S. Air Force retires final EC-130H Compass Call after more than four decades of electronic warfare service

Space Development Agency opens $369 million competition for missile-tracking ground network

Ukraine’s Starlink experience offers a lesson for the Pentagon

After hitting pilot training goal, resolving shortage will take years, Air Force official says

Finnish F-35 stranded in Azores after avionics fault

Lockheed Martin Offers Rapid Armed-Conversion Kits for UH-60M and S-70i Black Hawks

Japan puts Chinook to sea aboard JS Kunisaki off Kalimantan

Pentagon plans phased Golden Dome buildout through 2035

US Air Force retires its last EC-130H

Space Development Agency opens $369 million competition for missile-tracking ground network

Finnish F-35 stranded in Azores after avionics fault

Ukraine’s Starlink experience offers a lesson for the Pentagon

After hitting pilot training goal, resolving shortage will take years, Air Force official says

Lockheed Martin Offers Rapid Armed-Conversion Kits for UH-60M and S-70i Black Hawks

Tekever and UK MoD sign Corvus contract

Europe weighs modernizing Antonov An-124 or building its own C-17 successor

F-35 Parts Diversion to Hong Kong Under Probe in US Congress

China’s J-50/XDS may be testing new radar

Space Force seeks commercial satellites for on-demand orbital inspection and electronic-interference tracking

US Air Force to field Collaborative Combat Aircraft in large-scale exercise for first time

Air and Space Force leaders plot an immediate shift toward AI- and drone-driven warfare

Top NATO commander joins Pentagon briefing on review of U.S. defense engagement in Europe

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

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