Satellite   Bombardier   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Budgets & Spending   Space Defense & Militarization   Defense Policy  
The War Zone • Thomas Newdick

USAF to retire the E-11A BACN fleet by 2028, shifting battlefield data fusion and communications relay to space-based systems

The U.S. Air Force is seeking to scrap its E-11A Battlefield Airborne Communications Nodes—seven aircraft in the current fleet—by 2028. Service officials say space-based systems will take over the E-11A role, with a hybrid SATCOM terminal positioned as a bridge during the transition.

Breaking Defense • Michael Marrow, Theresa Hitchens

Air Force seeks to scrap its E-11 BACN fleet

Also: The Aviationist, Aviation Week and Defense Daily
2026-04-30T12:22:56.118625-07:00
AI   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Policy & Regulation   Defense Policy  
DefenseNews.com • Michael Scanlon

From prototypes to production: US Air Force seeks nearly $1B for initial CCA procurement

By DefenseNews.com: In a first, the Air Force is asking Congress to fund the purchase of Collaborative Combat Aircraft, marking the beginning of the “loyal wingman" era.

Also: AirForceTimes, Military Times and news.ssbcrack.com
2026-04-30T11:50:00.555823-07:00
Europe   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aviation Safety & Regulation   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
FlightGlobal • Craig Hoyle

New-build Saab Gripen fighter arrivals bolster Hungarian air force fleet

By FlightGlobal: New arrivals boost nation's fleet to 16 of the Swedish-built jets. Hungary has taken delivery of two new-build Saab Gripen C fighters, with the pair having arrived at its Kecskemet air base on 29 April.

Also: aviation-defence-universe.com and 6 more
2026-04-30T04:04:19.204103-07:00
China   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Asia-Pacific (APAC)   Defense Deals  
AeroTime • Jean Carmela Lim

Chinese fighter jet sales rise after India-Pakistan conflict puts them to test

By AeroTime: China’s fighter jet manufacturers are seeing a sharp rise in sales following the 2025 India-Pakistan conflict, where Chinese-built aircraft were credited by Pakistan with playing a decisive role in aerial combat.

2026-04-30T07:45:07.940758-07:00
Event   Space Force   Leadership   Space Policy & International Cooperation   Space Defense & Militarization  
DVIDS / U.S. DoD

U.S. Space Command Takes Operational Control of Facility at Redstone Arsenal

By DVIDS / U.S. DoD: During an official ribbon-cutting ceremony, Gen. Stephen Whiting, Commander of U.S. Space Command, announced the command’s operational control of a facility located on Redstone Arsenal, April 29, 2026, in Huntsville, Alabama.

2026-04-29T19:20:27.369997-07:00
Hypersonic   Military Aircraft Procurement   Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy   Boeing  
The Aviationist • Stefano D'Urso

AGM-183 ARRW Shown on B-1B Bomber for the First Time

By The Aviationist: The U.S. Air Force released for the first time a short clip showing a B-1B Lancer bomber flying with an AGM-183 ARRW hypersonic weapon carried externally.

2026-04-29T18:28:28.884658-07:00
ATC   Africa   Airports   Airline Industry & Market Trends   Aviation Safety & Regulation   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Deals   Airlines  
DefenseNews.com • Linus Höller

Investigation: Russian shadow airlines use Algeria as base for secretive missions

By DefenseNews.com: Algeria has become a key customer for Russian arms at a time when Moscow has seen a slump in its military-export business after the invasion of Ukraine.

2026-04-30T04:41:46.834849-07:00