The War Zone
• Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway
The US Air Force says the Qatar-donated Boeing 747-8i—undergoing test flights—remains on track for delivery this summer as an interim Air Force One. The milestone follows rapid conversion efforts aimed at limiting changes to compress the VIP modification schedule.
SpaceNews.com
• SpaceNews Editor
By SpaceNews.com: The Space Force’s ‘commercial first’ strategy in action with Col. Tim Trimailo.
Breaking Defense
• Theresa Hitchens
By Breaking Defense: The upgrade to be performed under then new contract would allow Lockheed Martin's AEP ground system to replace RTX's long-troubled OCX program for future GPS IIIF birds.
Breaking Defense
• Michael Marrow
By Breaking Defense: The Space Force did not disclose when the contracts were awarded or their individual dollar values.
FlightGlobal
• Ryan Finnerty
By FlightGlobal: The Northrop jet is the first uncrewed fighter prototype to officially feature a Pratt & Whitney engine. Military airframer Northrop Grumman has selected a business jet engine from Pratt & Whitney to power the company’s new YFQ-48A Talon Blue uncrewed fighter jet.
Aviation Week
Breaking Defense
• Sydney J Freedberg Jr
By Breaking Defense: “While the aircraft was flying, the software was queued up so that we could have different companies’ behaviors take control of the platform and fly [it]," said Dan Salluce, Northrop’s senior director for aerospace systems.
Breaking Defense
• Michael Marrow
By Breaking Defense: Pentagon officials are seeking lawmakers’ authorization to buy weapon systems through multi-year deals “across the board, not only with munitions, but actually with the production of aircraft, with the production of spacecraft,” said Air Force Secretary Troy Meink.
DefenseNews.com
• Cristina Stassis
By DefenseNews.com: Airmen operated Auduril's YFQ-44A jet-powered combat drone, which could someday fly alongside piloted fighters.
Air Data News
• Ricardo Meier
