Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Defense Policy  
New York Times • Adam Goldman, Eric Lipton, Eric Schmitt, Julian E. Barnes, Tyler Pager

Officials say current Air Force One lacks the defensive countermeasures of the prior aircraft model as White House defends safet

Officials and outside experts raised concerns that the current Air Force One platform does not include defensive countermeasures present on the previous model, citing elevated risk during overseas presidential travel. The White House pushed back, defending the aircraft’s safety.

2026-07-09T18:15:39.078400-07:00
Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Boeing  
FlightGlobal • Ryan Finnerty

Boeing progressing with new factory for advanced combat aircraft

By FlightGlobal: Although not officially tied to the US Air Force's F-47 programme, the St. Louis plant is widely expected to assemble the new sixth-generation fighter.

2026-07-09T11:29:24.691499-07:00
Satellite   Defense Budgets & Spending   Space Policy & International Cooperation   Space Defense & Militarization   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact  
Via Satellite • Rachel Jewett

Telesat to Provide Mil-Ka Arctic Connectivity for Canada’s ESCP-P Program

By Via Satellite: Telesat has reached an agreement with the Canadian government to provide Military Ka-band satellite capacity for Canada’s Enhanced Satellite Communications Project – Polar (ESCP-P) program.

2026-07-09T13:15:10.877092-07:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   Europe   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Deals   Defense Policy  
Aviation Today • Frank Wolfe

Ukraine And European Union Discussing Drone Deal, As Kamikaze Drones Hit Russian Supply Lines

By Aviation Today: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is pursuing drone deals with European nations, even as the U.S. has so far delayed such a deal and as Ukraine uses increasingly long range, kamikaze “one way attack” drones to strike Russian infrastructure.

Also: Aviation Week and defcrosnews.com
2026-07-09T08:32:27.455388-07:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Defense Policy  
Aviation Today • Calvin Biesecker

Drone Challenge Program Selects 19 Vendors To Compete In Second Gauntlet

By Aviation Today: The Pentagon’s Drone Dominance Program (DDP) on July 1 said it invited 19 companies to compete in the final stage of its second challenge round in August with a chance to win production orders worth a combined $300 million.

2026-07-09T08:45:24.889088-07:00