China   UAV Development & Drone Programs   Military Aircraft Procurement   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact  
The War Zone • Ian Ellis-Jones, Tyler Rogoway

China ramps testing of very large stealth flying-wing drones alongside a fighter-like unmanned design at a secretive test base

Satellite/open-source observers report that China’s very large stealth flying-wing drone testing is accelerating, with multiple airframes spotted together at a covert test location. Activity also includes a separate unmanned fighter-like design, signaling progress toward next-generation attritable or stealthy unmanned combat concepts.

2026-05-01T14:55:34.201477-07:00
Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Boeing  
NEW
FL360aero

Former Qatari VIP-configured Boeing 747-8i completes flight testing as part of the VC-25B Bridge Program.

By FL360aero: The VC-25B Bridge program is an interim initiative by the U.S. Air Force to field a temporary presidential aircraft—the "Bridge Aircraft". The "Bridge Aircraft" is aimed at addressing critical capability gaps caused by significant delays in the primary VC-25B (Air Force One) replacement program.

Also: The Aviationist and insidedefense.com
2026-05-01T15:57:23.293694-07:00
Supply Chain   Military Aircraft Procurement   Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation   Space Defense & Militarization   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Asia-Pacific (APAC)  
aero-defence.tech • Induportals Media Publishing

Northrop Grumman to Support Sovereign Solid Rocket Motor Production in Australia

By aero-defence.tech: Northrop Grumman and the Commonwealth of Australia have entered a formal engagement to establish domestic solid rocket motor (SRM) manufacturing capabilities.

2026-04-30T22:49:22.481218-07:00
AI   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Space Defense & Militarization   Policy & Regulation   Cybersecurity (Cyber Threats & Protection)   Defense Policy  
Breaking Defense • Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.

Pentagon clears 8 tech firms to deploy their AI on its classified networks

By Breaking Defense: The Defense Department has made agreements with Amazon Web Services, Google, Microsoft, NVIDIA, OpenAI, SpaceX, and Reflection, according to an announcement this morning, with an eighth, Oracle, added just hours later.

Also: GeekWire, The Guardian and news.ssbcrack.com
2026-05-01T08:10:01.365316-07:00