Aircraft Carrier   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Asia-Pacific (APAC)  
DefenseNews.com • Associated Press

China sends 24 fighters toward Taiwan as Liaoning carrier transits Taiwan Strait

China deployed 24 fighter jets toward Taiwan in a show of force while the PLAN carrier Liaoning sailed through the Taiwan Strait, marking an escalation in near-term cross-strait military signaling. Taiwan responded by deploying air patrol forces, underscoring rising operational tempo and friction around airspace access.

Also: Stars and Stripes
2026-04-21T15:49:49.000748-07:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   AI  
The War Zone • Thomas Newdick

X-BAT Autonomous VTOL 'Fighter' Looks Dramatically Different

By The War Zone: Development of X-BAT is accelerating, including the use of a thrust vectoring nozzle from an experimental F-16 that was borrowed "Indiana Jones style." An aggressive testing timeline for X-BAT is expected to see at least one airframe loss, company officials confirm.

2026-04-21T15:27:02.479438-07:00
Airports   Military Aircraft Procurement   Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Space Defense & Militarization  
Breaking Defense • Michael Marrow

Air Force eyes massive boost for F-15EX fleet

By Breaking Defense: The service’s fiscal 2027 budget shows boosts for other aircraft like the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, while slowing retirements of platforms like the A-10 Warthog.

Also: Aviation Week, Stars and Stripes, Defense Daily, Seeking Alpha, Air & Space Forces Mag and insidedefense.com
2026-04-21T14:24:55.884165-07:00
Leadership   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Space Defense & Militarization  
NEW
SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

Trump taps Raytheon executive for top military space acquisition post

By SpaceNews.com: Erich Hernandez-Baquero LinkedIn profile picture. WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on April 21 nominated Raytheon executive Erich Hernandez-Baquero to serve as assistant secretary of the Air Force for space acquisition and integration, a position that oversees how the U.S.

2026-04-21T16:09:25.386896-07:00
ATC   Military Aircraft Procurement   Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact  
Reuters • Mike Stone

Navy arming warships with Patriot missiles to counter China's hypersonic threat

By Reuters: Lockheed Martin has been awarded a contract to integrate the Patriot missile, an Army missile interceptor, ​into the U.S. Navy's Aegis combat system, a milestone the ‌company said on Tuesday marks the first time the weapon will be fielded at sea.

Also: Naval News, Seeking Alpha, Navy Times and 5 more
2026-04-21T11:07:06.890402-07:00
Europe   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Policy & Regulation   Cybersecurity (Cyber Threats & Protection)   Airbus  
Airbus

Airbus strengthens sovereign cyber security with acquisition of Quarkslab in France

By Airbus: Airbus has entered into an agreement for the acquisition of the French cyber-security company Quarkslab.

Also: eTurboNews and 7 more
2026-04-21T01:17:30.764086-07:00