China   Military Aircraft Procurement   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Asia-Pacific (APAC)  
FlightGlobal • May Lee

China’s KJ-3000 AEW&C prototypes expand the airborne early-warning fleet—but survivability remains the central question

Two Xian KJ-3000 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) prototypes are making frequent appearances over Xian, signaling accelerating development and fielding momentum. The reporting frames the effort against growing doubts over how survivable dedicated AEW&C platforms can be in modern, high-threat combat environments.

2026-04-17T19:45:21.193767-07:00
Museums   UAV Development & Drone Programs   AI   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
FlightGlobal • Ryan Finnerty

Pratt & Whitney PW500 engine will power Northrop Grumman YFQ-48 autonomous fighter

By FlightGlobal: The Northrop jet is the first uncrewed fighter prototype to officially feature a Pratt & Whitney engine. Military airframer Northrop Grumman has selected a business jet engine from Pratt & Whitney to power the company’s new YFQ-48A Talon Blue uncrewed fighter jet.

Also: Defense Daily and 3 more
2026-04-17T15:16:11.915042-07:00
Satellite   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Human Spaceflight & Space Stations   Space Policy & International Cooperation   Space Defense & Militarization   Policy & Regulation  
Breaking Defense • Theresa Hitchens

Lockheed Martin nabs $105M ground system contract to support next-gen GPS

By Breaking Defense: The upgrade to be performed under then new contract would allow Lockheed Martin's AEP ground system to replace RTX's long-troubled OCX program for future GPS IIIF birds.

Also: Satellite Evolution and indiastrategic.in
2026-04-17T15:37:15.080655-07:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   AI   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
Breaking Defense • Sydney J Freedberg Jr

Northrop Grumman’s Talon IQ testbed hot-swaps AI brains mid-flight

By Breaking Defense: “While the aircraft was flying, the software was queued up so that we could have different companies’ behaviors take control of the platform and fly [it]," said Dan Salluce, Northrop’s senior director for aerospace systems.

Also: Janes
2026-04-17T15:37:14.670447-07:00
Satellite   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Budgets & Spending   Space Defense & Militarization   Policy & Regulation   Defense Policy  
Breaking Defense • Michael Marrow

Air Force secretary eyes multi-year deals for satellites, aircraft

By Breaking Defense: Pentagon officials are seeking lawmakers’ authorization to buy weapon systems through multi-year deals “across the board, not only with munitions, but actually with the production of aircraft, with the production of spacecraft,” said Air Force Secretary Troy Meink.

2026-04-17T15:37:14.693819-07:00
Space Force   Commercial Space   Space Defense & Militarization   Industry Leader Profiles & Interviews  
SpaceNews.com • SpaceNews Editor

The Space Force’s ‘commercial first’ strategy in action with Col. Tim Trimailo

By SpaceNews.com: In this episode of Space Minds, Mike Gruss talks with Col. Tim Trimailo on how the Space Force is working with industry. They discuss what the service wants to see from new companies, how they’re casting a wider net and what’s driving this need for speed.

2026-04-17T17:42:41.533122-07:00