Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
Aviation Today • Frank Wolfe

Pentagon IG Flags Persistent F-35A/C Readiness Shortfalls Affecting Strike Operations

A Pentagon Inspector General report last month found persistent readiness shortfalls in Lockheed Martin F-35A and F-35C fleets that affected strike operations, including a U.S. strike package that deployed both variants against Venezuela on Jan. 3. The findings heighten concerns about sustainment and mission availability.

2026-01-08T13:22:23.965197-08:00
MRO   Supply Chain   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Boeing  
NEW
Aviation Today • Frank Wolfe

Boeing awarded $266M sole‑source contract to redesign C-17 flight deck; USAF warns spares for two LRUs may run out by FY2028

By Aviation Today: In mid-December, the Air Force awarded Boeing a $266 million sole source contract through 2031 to replace the flight deck of the company’s C-17 airlifter.

2026-01-08T13:49:56.027623-08:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   AI   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
NEW
Aviation Today • Frank Wolfe

USAF Officially Designates Northrop Grumman’s Project Talon CCA Prototype as YFQ‑48A

By Aviation Today: YFQ-48A is the designation for Northrop Grumman‘s Project Talon series of drone contenders for the U.S. Air Force Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, the service said on Dec.

2026-01-08T14:03:29.211057-08:00
Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
Defense Daily • Frank Wolfe

Pentagon Inspector General Warns of Ongoing F‑35 Readiness Shortfalls Amid Operational Deployments

By Defense Daily: While Air Force F-35A and Navy F-35C fighters by Lockheed Martin were in the U.S. strike package against Venezuela on Jan. 3, a Pentagon Inspector General.

2026-01-07T14:45:19.156163-08:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   AI   North America   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
Breaking Defense • Michael Marrow

Northrop Grumman, Kratos Selected to Integrate XQ-58 Valkyrie for Marine Corps MUX TACAIR Program

By Breaking Defense: Northrop Grumman will serve as the prime contractor and integrate mission systems on Kratos’s XQ-58 Valkyrie for the Marine Corps’s MUX TACAIR Collaborative Combat Aircraft program.

Also: Air Data News, DefenseNews.com, FlightGlobal, The Aviationist, Northrop Grumman, Defense Scoop, news.defcros.com, news.ssbcrack.com, Defense Daily, Defense One, defencetoday.com, euro-sd.com and 4 more
2026-01-08T06:09:17.995465-08:00
Europe   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Airport Infrastructure & Air Traffic Management   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
DefenseNews.com • Tom Kington

Italy selects Trapani‑Birgi as first F‑35 pilot school outside US; JPO and Lockheed to oversee readiness

By DefenseNews.com: The F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) and constructor Lockheed Martin will oversee the readying of the training center at Trapani-Birgi Air Base.

Also: news.ssbcrack.com, news.defcros.com and edrmagazine.eu
2026-01-08T08:35:06.980476-08:00