Defense News

Workforce & Skills Development

Breaking Defense • Michael Marrow

Air Force meets pilot-training goal, but shortage could take 15–20 years to resolve

The U.S. Air Force has reached its pilot-training target, but an official says rebuilding the broader pool of qualified personnel will take 15 to 20 years. The warning underscores that meeting annual training goals does not immediately eliminate enduring workforce constraints.

1 Source

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

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

NEW

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

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

UAV Development & Drone Programs Europe Military Aircraft Procurement Defense Industry & Major Contractors

FlightGlobal • Dominic Perry

Tekever and UK MoD sign Corvus contract

By FlightGlobal: Developer will supply an initial batch of six AR5 uncrewed aerial vehicles to the British Army under five-year deal.

Also: Urban Air Mobility News

2 Sources

2026-09-21T02:20:03.012140-07:00

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

Europe Military Aircraft Procurement Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs) Defense Industry & Major Contractors

AeroTime • Clement Charpentreau

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

By AeroTime: An EU-funded study identifies two options to avert Europe's heavy airlift gap: modernizing the Antonov An-124 or developing a new European aircraft.

1 Source

2026-09-20T23:52:33.944426-07:00

China

FlightGlobal • Greg Waldron

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

By FlightGlobal: Fighter prototype underlines China's aggressive push for new capabilities. Recent images from China indicate that flight testing continues with a secretive, tailless fighter developed by AVIC Shenyang.

1 Source

2026-09-20T20:04:56.368702-07:00

Air Force meets pilot-training goal, but shortage could take 15–20 years to resolve

Ukraine’s Starlink experience offers a lesson for the Pentagon

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

Tekever and UK MoD sign Corvus contract

Pentagon plans phased Golden Dome buildout through 2035

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

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

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

Japan puts Chinook to sea aboard JS Kunisaki off Kalimantan

Tekever and UK MoD sign Corvus contract

Pentagon plans phased Golden Dome buildout through 2035

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

DIU and SSC Announce Joint GHOST-R Mission

Space Force expands use of commercial satellites to track electronic interference

US Air Force fighter drones to join large-scale combat exercise for first time

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

ASELSAN demonstrates ANTIDOT electronic-warfare and FULMAR 200 SAR pods on Bayraktar TB2s

South Korea’s F-35As and French Rafales resume joint aerial exercises after three-year hiatus

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

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