China   UAV Development & Drone Programs   AI   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
FlightGlobal • May Lee

China’s collaborative combat aircraft push: the software race outpacing airframes

Beijing is advancing multiple collaborative combat aircraft airframes, but analysts argue the decisive contest is in autonomy, mission software and networking rather than hardware. China’s emphasis on AI-enabled command-and-control aims to field interoperable ‘drone wingmen’ and integrated sensor networks at scale.

2026-02-23T20:10:22.432473-08:00
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
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
L3Harris   Military Aircraft Procurement   Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Defense Deals  
FlightGlobal • Ryan Finnerty

L3Harris expands SkyWarden close‑air‑support role with gun pod, long‑range missiles and SIGINT sensor; eyes international orders

By FlightGlobal: US defence manufacturer L3Harris is significantly expanding the capabilities of its SkyWarden close air support turboprop, adding new weapons including a gun pod, signals intelligence sensors and long-range missiles.

Also: Aviation Week
2026-02-23T18:00:18.883319-08:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   AI   General Atomics   North America   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Defense Policy  
ga-asi.com

GA‑ASI and USAF Demonstrate Manned‑Unmanned Teaming Between F‑22 Raptor and MQ‑20 Avenger at Edwards AFB

By ga-asi.com: In collaboration with the U.S. Air Force, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) conducted its latest demonstration performing an autonomous mission out of Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California using its MQ-20 Avenger® unmanned jet and an F-22 Raptor equipped with the latest government reference autonomy software.

Also: aviationnews.eu, AirForceTimes, c4isrnet.com, Defense One, Business Insider, interestingengineering.com, news.ssbcrack.com, defence-industry.eu, Defense Daily, indiastrategic.in, realcleardefense.com, Military Times and 3 more
2026-02-23T04:06:13.688501-08:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   Honeywell   North America   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
FlightGlobal • Ryan Finnerty

USAF awards small-turbofan development contracts to Honeywell and GE-Kratos for uncrewed fighter (CCA) engines

By FlightGlobal: Both Honeywell Aerospace and the team of GE Aerospace and Kratos were awarded contracts to complete development of new designs for small turbofan engines meant to offer low-cost propulsion for the emerging category of uncrewed fighter aircraft.

Also: GE Aerospace, GlobeNewswire, Defense Daily and 5 more
2026-02-23T12:30:35.063185-08:00