Defense News

Helicopter Military Aircraft Procurement Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons Defense Industry & Major Contractors

Wall Street Journal • Elias Schisgall

U.S. awards Northrop and RTX defense contracts worth up to $25.7 billion for helicopter laser protection, AMRAAM production and

The U.S. Army awarded Northrop Grumman $4.8 billion for CIRCM infrared countermeasure systems, while RTX units secured contracts worth up to $20.95 billion for AMRAAM production and Navy GPS range instrumentation, training and support through 2031.

Also: Seeking Alpha

2 Sources

2026-09-28T15:51:07.110138-07:00

China UAV Development & Drone Programs Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact

FlightGlobal • Ryan Finnerty

New Russian attack drones found to use Chinese turbojet engines

By FlightGlobal: A captured Geran-4 one-way attack drone is confirmed to have Telefly TF-TJ2000A engines.

1 Source

2026-09-28T10:20:13.611221-07:00

UAV Development & Drone Programs Defense Industry & Major Contractors

FlightGlobal • Lizzie Rix

Anduril’s Barracuda becomes first WOSA-verified system for mass production

By FlightGlobal: Company hails open architecture advance following detailed assessment for US military.

Also: FlightGlobal

3 Sources

2026-09-28T06:35:54.073833-07:00

UAV Development & Drone Programs AI Defense Industry & Major Contractors

DefenseNews.com

AFRL develops autonomous counter-drone weapon and blood-recirculation technology

By DefenseNews.com: Check out a pair of new projects in development from the AFRL: an autonomous shotgun for drone defense, and a blood recirculation machine.

AirForceTimes

Lifesaving and drone-killing tech from the Air Force Research Laboratory

AirForceTimes

Troops develop AI-driven drone defense weapons | Defense News Weekly Full Episode 9.29.26

Also: Military Times and Military Times

5 Sources

2026-09-28T06:36:31.170659-07:00

UAV Development & Drone Programs Helicopter Military Aircraft Procurement

FlightGlobal • Dominic Perry

Bidders Prepare for Next Phase of UK Apache ‘Loyal Wingman’ Drone Program

By FlightGlobal: Ministry of Defence will release invitation to tender for Apache ‘loyal wingman’ drone in the coming weeks.

1 Source

2026-09-28T07:50:03.203456-07:00

UAV Development & Drone Programs Defense Policy

DefenseNews.com

Pentagon introduces general-officer evaluation metric as long-range delivery drone is upgraded

By DefenseNews.com: The Pentagon announces a new evaluation metric for one-star generals, and a one-way drone for supply delivery gets an upgrade.

Also: AirForceTimes, Military Times and insidedefense.com

4 Sources

2026-09-28T06:36:29.454981-07:00

Supply Chain Defense Budgets & Spending Defense Industry & Major Contractors

Breaking Defense • Aerospace Industries Association

AIA-Bain study identifies investment bottlenecks despite rising private capital in defense

By Breaking Defense: “Defense does not face a shortage of capital. It faces barriers that make expanded investment, particularly in critical bottleneck areas, more difficult,” a new study by the Aerospace Industries Association and Bain & Company stated.

Also: aia-aerospace.org

2 Sources

2026-09-28T05:50:24.776489-07:00

Military Aircraft Procurement Orders Boeing Boeing 747

Air Data News • Ricardo Meier

Second Lufthansa Boeing 747-8 flies to US Air Force for presidential fleet support

By Air Data News: Aircraft will provide spare parts for the future VC-25B Air Force One fleet after leaving Frankfurt second Boeing 747-8I sold by Lufthansa to the United States Air Force left Frankfurt on Saturday (September 26) for Pinal Airpark in Arizona.

Also: Simple Flying

2 Sources

2026-09-28T05:20:48.802084-07:00

U.S. awards Northrop and RTX defense contracts worth up to $25.7 billion for helicopter laser protection, AMRAAM production and

New Russian attack drones found to use Chinese turbojet engines

Anduril’s Barracuda becomes first WOSA-verified system for mass production

AFRL develops autonomous counter-drone weapon and blood-recirculation technology

Lifesaving and drone-killing tech from the Air Force Research Laboratory

Troops develop AI-driven drone defense weapons | Defense News Weekly Full Episode 9.29.26

Bidders Prepare for Next Phase of UK Apache ‘Loyal Wingman’ Drone Program

Pentagon introduces general-officer evaluation metric as long-range delivery drone is upgraded

AIA-Bain study identifies investment bottlenecks despite rising private capital in defense

Second Lufthansa Boeing 747-8 flies to US Air Force for presidential fleet support

Raytheon Gets $20.7 Billion Contract to Accelerate AMRAAM Missile Production

New Russian attack drones found to use Chinese turbojet engines

Bidders Prepare for Next Phase of UK Apache ‘Loyal Wingman’ Drone Program

Pentagon introduces general-officer evaluation metric as long-range delivery drone is upgraded

AFRL develops autonomous counter-drone weapon and blood-recirculation technology

Anduril’s Barracuda becomes first WOSA-verified system for mass production

Rafale, Eurofighter deepen AED Cluster ties in Portugal F-16 replacement race

Defense Firms Are Rushing to Boost Missile Output. It’s Coming Too Late.

UK’s Healey puts defense in focus for reindustrialization push

Trump Jr.-backed Unusual Machines, US asset manager invest $10 million in Canada's Draganfly

Five Arrested in Suspected Terror Plot Near RAF Fairford, U.S.-Used Air Base in Britain

U.S. secures Greenland authority to expand Golden Dome missile-defense network

Space Force to Deploy Lasers for Drone Defense at Cape Canaveral

A-10 Thunderbolt II departs Nellis after nearly five decades, but retirement remains distant

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

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