Defense News

F-16 North America Accident

Associated Press • Ed White, Rebecca Boone

Texas Air National Guard F-16 crashes during Michigan training; pilot ejects safely

An F-16 assigned to the Texas Air National Guard’s 149th Fighter Wing crashed in rural northern Michigan during a routine training exercise. The pilot safely ejected, while witnesses reported a large plume of black smoke and repeated explosions; authorities have not provided further details on the cause.

The War Zone • Howard Altman

F-16 Crashes In Michigan

Stars and Stripes • Gary Warner

Pilot safely ejects from crash of Texas Air National Guard F-16 in northern Michigan

Also: AeroTime, The Independent, CNN, tass.com and news.ssbcrack.com

9 Sources

2026-09-17T13:20:24.646173-07:00

Military Aircraft Procurement Defense Policy Boeing

NEW

DefenseNews.com • Cristina Stassis

U.S. Air Force to Extend B-1 and B-2 Service Lives as Crews Transition to B-21

By DefenseNews.com: The service lives of the B-1 Lancer and B-2 Spirit will be extended, with their pilots to be some of the first to fly the B-21 Raider.

Also: AirForceTimes and Military Times

3 Sources

2026-09-17T13:35:48.332410-07:00

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

Reuters • Mike Stone

Lockheed Martin Unveils Next-Generation Air-to-Air Missile, Agrees to Accelerate Production

By Reuters: Lockheed Martin unveiled on Thursday details of a next-generation air-to-air missile developed to counter threats from China and a new agreement with the Defense Department to ‌boost production as the Pentagon rebuilds munitions stockpiles.

The War Zone

Pentagon Cuts New AIM-260 Air-To-Air Missile Production Deal, Testing Accelerating

The War Zone

New-Build F-16s For The USAF Is An Idea That Won’t Go Away, For Good Reason

Also: FlightGlobal, Bloomberg, DefenseNews.com, Aviation Week, aviationnews.eu, defence-blog.com, Breaking Defense, Aviation A2Z, The Aviationist, defence-industry.eu, Seeking Alpha, edrmagazine.eu and 24 more

41 Sources

2026-09-17T05:35:54.116303-07:00

Aircraft Carrier Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact Defense Policy

DefenseNews.com • Michael Peck

US Navy should target carriers in fight with China, report says

By DefenseNews.com: A U.S. think tank devised a strategy to target Chinese aircraft carriers by using similar tactics that China has planned against American ships.

Also: Navy Times, news.ssbcrack.com and Military Times

4 Sources

2026-09-17T10:21:18.306161-07:00

UAV Development & Drone Programs Military Aircraft Procurement Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs) Defense Industry & Major Contractors Embraer

NEW

FlightGlobal • Ryan Finnerty

Embraer working with undisclosed Super Tucano operator to add counter-UAS capability

By FlightGlobal: The airframer is already marketing the A-29 as a cost-effective option for air-to-air counter-drone defence. Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer is working with one of its existing customers to certify a counter-UAS capability to the company's A-29 Super Tucano light attack turboprop.

1 Source

2026-09-17T13:35:38.158506-07:00

North America Military Aircraft Procurement Orders

FlightGlobal • Craig Hoyle

Canada welcomes its first two Pilatus PC-21 ‘Siskin II’ trainers

By FlightGlobal: Lead pair of Swiss-built turboprops complete ferry flight from Europe. Canada has welcomed its first pair of Pilatus PC-21s, with the basic trainers to be fielded as part of Ottawa’s overarching Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) programme.

1 Source

2026-09-17T09:50:14.255902-07:00

UAV Development & Drone Programs Eurofighter F-16 Europe Airports Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact Defense Policy

AeroTime • Clement Charpentreau

Eurofighter Europe Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact Defense Policy

AeroTime • Clement Charpentreau

Germany to send Eurofighters to Latvia to protect airspace during election

By AeroTime: Germany will deploy four Eurofighter jets to Latvia to protect its airspace during the October 3 parliamentary election amid repeated drone incursions.

2 Sources

2026-09-17T05:06:49.235573-07:00

Texas Air National Guard F-16 crashes during Michigan training; pilot ejects safely

F-16 Crashes In Michigan

Pilot safely ejects from crash of Texas Air National Guard F-16 in northern Michigan

U.S. Air Force to Extend B-1 and B-2 Service Lives as Crews Transition to B-21

Lockheed Martin Unveils Next-Generation Air-to-Air Missile, Agrees to Accelerate Production

Pentagon Cuts New AIM-260 Air-To-Air Missile Production Deal, Testing Accelerating

New-Build F-16s For The USAF Is An Idea That Won’t Go Away, For Good Reason

US Navy should target carriers in fight with China, report says

Embraer working with undisclosed Super Tucano operator to add counter-UAS capability

Canada welcomes its first two Pilatus PC-21 ‘Siskin II’ trainers

Poland issues air attack alert as Russian jet drone nears border

Germany sending fighter jets to Latvia to protect election from drone incidents

Poland Scrambles Fighters After Russian Drone Attack Near Ukrainian Border

Germany to send Eurofighters to Latvia to protect airspace during election

U.S. Air Force to Extend B-1 and B-2 Service Lives as Crews Transition to B-21

Embraer working with undisclosed Super Tucano operator to add counter-UAS capability

Military: An F-16 crashes during training in Michigan; pilot ejects safely

US Navy should target carriers in fight with China, report says

Canada welcomes its first two Pilatus PC-21 ‘Siskin II’ trainers

Lockheed Martin Unveils Next-Generation Air-to-Air Missile, Agrees to Accelerate Production

Viasat and PGZ Sign MoU to Explore Military Satellite Communications in Poland

France qualifies Rafale’s Talios targeting pod for upgraded Mirage 2000D

U.S. Intelligence Warns of China Theft Over Sale of F-35 Jets to Saudis

Houthi rebels claim shoot down of Saudi F-15SA

U.S. confirms first deployment of ‘on-orbit space control weapons’

U.S. Navy advances carrier drones, hypersonic weapons and autonomous resupply aircraft

Pratt & Whitney clears F-35 engine upgrade design review and licenses F100 production to Hermeus

NATO Eurofighter Shoots Down Drone After Belarus-to-Lithuania Airspace Incursion

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

More in Defense

How The Air Force Patched Up A Shrapnel-Damaged KC-135

China warns US space weapons could fuel arms race

L3Harris moves HBTSS missile-tracking satellites into production for Golden Dome

T-7A trainer fleet to reach initial operational capability in 2027: USAF training chief

Space Force gives SpaceX latitude on design of $2.3 billion satellite network

How The USAF Is Preparing For European Allies To Join The Collaborative Combat Aircraft Club

U.S. Space Force Confirms Orbital Weapons and Details Space-Control Mission

B-52 engine and radar upgrades top US$23 billion as USAF moves to recover schedule