Supply Chain   North America   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
FlightGlobal • Ryan Finnerty

USAF and Northrop sign $4.5B deal to raise B-21 production 25% as EIS targets 2027

The U.S. Air Force and Northrop Grumman have agreed to a $4.5 billion production acceleration for the B-21 Raider, increasing the annual build rate by 25% to speed deliveries. The ramp follows strong ground and flight-test performance, with multiple aircraft now in evaluation and entry into service aimed at 2027.

Australian Aviation • Stephen Kuper

Northrop Grumman accelerates B-21 Raider production

Also: Aviation Week, Air & Space Forces Mag, Northrop Grumman, defence-blog.com, defensemirror.com, news.defcros.com, Defense Daily, Defense One, defence-industry.eu, insidedefense.com, miragenews.com and af.mil
2026-02-23T22:00:38.274005-08:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   Military Aircraft Procurement   Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Defense Deals  
NEW
FlightGlobal • Greg Waldron

GA‑ASI MQ‑20 Avenger teams with USAF F‑22; GA‑ASI advances MQ‑9B long‑range standoff weapons integration

By FlightGlobal: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has conducted a manned-unmanned teaming demonstration between its MQ-20 Avenger and a US Air Force F-22, while separately advancing long-range standoff weapons integration for the MQ-9B.

Also: India Defense News, Aviacionline and 6 more
2026-02-23T22:00:38.780286-08:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   AI   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
DVIDS / U.S. DoD

Collaborative Combat Aircraft program progresses through deliberate weapons integration testing

By DVIDS / U.S. DoD: The Air Force has entered the next phase of developmental testing for its Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, initiating disciplined weapons integration and captive carry evaluations using inert test munitions to validate airworthiness, safety, and systems performance.

Also: Aviation Week, Skies Magazine, defensemirror.com, Defense One, spaceanddefense.io, miragenews.com, news.defcros.com, defence-industry.eu, Seapower Magazine, UK Defence Journal and 6 more
2026-02-23T16:56:20.295578-08:00
China   UAV Development & Drone Programs   AI   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
FlightGlobal • May Lee

Inside the PLA’s push for collaborative combat aircraft — why software, not airframes, is the real contest

By FlightGlobal: From parade floats to carrier decks, China's collaborative combat aircraft programme is advancing on multiple fronts. But beneath the variety of airframes lies a simpler truth: the real competition is in the software.

2026-02-23T20:10:22.432473-08:00
Military Aircraft Procurement   Orders   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Embraer  
NEW
FlightGlobal • Ryan Finnerty

Embraer’s KC-390 demonstrator crisscrosses the globe on worldwide sales tour

By FlightGlobal: Embraer's company-owned KC-390 demonstrator has been conducting an intensive world tour since its September 2024 debut, visiting customers across Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North America as the Brazilian airframer pursues new orders for the multi-role transport.

2026-02-23T22:00:38.109353-08:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   AI   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman’s YFQ-48A 'Talon Blue': The USAF’s Next Autonomous Combat Wingman

By Northrop Grumman: Northrop Grumman is advancing the future of autonomous air combat with YFQ-48A Talon Blue, the U.S. Air Force variant within its company-funded Project Talon portfolio.

Also: The War Zone and defence-industry.eu
2026-02-23T09:10:20.547296-08:00
Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Boeing  
Bloomberg • Anthony Capaccio, Roxana Tiron

Pentagon Accelerates Development of Navy Next‑Generation Stealth Fighter, Boosting Boeing–Northrop Competition

By Bloomberg: The Pentagon will accelerate development of a next-generation stealth fighter jet for the Navy after previously pushing back — a move that could benefit either Boeing Co.

Also: Stars and Stripes and Bloomberg Law
2026-02-23T16:13:17.493865-08:00