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Aircraft Carrier   UAV Development & Drone Programs   Military Aircraft Procurement   Boeing  
The Air Current • Carter Johnston

Boeing’s MQ-25 Stingray may be evolving from carrier tanker to armed uncrewed aircraft

Boeing personnel hoisted an MQ-25 Stingray prototype aboard the USS Nimitz in June, revealing a potential expansion of the carrier-based drone’s mission beyond aerial refueling. The move suggests the U.S. Navy may be quietly exploring an armed role long suspected but repeatedly denied by the Pentagon.

2026-08-13T16:12:59.291949-07:00
Aircraft Carrier   Middle East   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
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Wall Street Journal • Shelby Holliday, Yoko Kubota

U.S. Sending Fresh Aircraft Carrier to Middle East Amid Iran War Strain

By Wall Street Journal: The USS George Washington is set to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln, as lawmakers raised concerns about reports of poor conditions aboard the Lincoln after more than 250 days at sea.

Also: Seeking Alpha, CBS News, NBC News and 4 more
2026-08-13T16:05:16.959957-07:00
Aircraft Carrier   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Policy  
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Bloomberg • Anthony Capaccio

Trump Orders US Aircraft Carriers to Go Back to Steam Catapults

By Bloomberg: President Donald Trump ordered the Navy to return to using steam catapults to launch planes off of aircraft carriers, acting on a longtime complaint despite opposition from many naval officers.

Also: USNI News, The Independent and pilotonline.com
2026-08-13T15:36:33.651915-07:00
Aircraft Carrier   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Policy  
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Wall Street Journal • Marcus Weisgerber

Trump Orders Navy to Restore Older Tech on Aircraft Carriers, Costing Billions

By Wall Street Journal: President Trump has directed the Navy to tear out a complex system for launching jet fighters from its aircraft carriers and instead go back to using steam catapults, a move Navy officials have fought for years and will likely cost billions of dollars.

Also: Reuters
2026-08-13T14:29:18.361941-07:00
Aircraft Carrier   Middle East   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
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Reuters • Phil Stewart

Hegseth says reports about poor conditions aboard carrier are misrepresented

By Reuters: U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Thursday that reports about poor conditions aboard aircraft carrier the USS Abraham Lincoln ​in the Middle East were "completely misrepresented.".

Also: The Independent and wavy.com
2026-08-13T09:20:50.476674-07:00