Axios
• Colin Demarest
President Trump said the planned Trump-class battleship will be nuclear-powered, framing it as a decision “finally” settled publicly. The approach mirrors the Navy’s Ford-class aircraft carrier propulsion architecture, underscoring continuity in nuclear reactor selection as the service shapes future surface combatant plans.
Washington Post
• George F. Will
By Washington Post: B-52 bombers used against Iran were built before the release of the first Beatles album.
Axios
• Colin Demarest
By Axios: The Army in February awarded L3Harris Technologies a $466 million BiNOD contract.
Reuters
By Reuters: The head of European aerospace group Airbus remains optimistic about connected systems being developed for the FCAS fighter project, he said on Wednesday, despite differences with France's Dassault Aviation over the core warplane.
FlightGlobal
• Craig Hoyle
By FlightGlobal: Infrastructure refurbishment at San Pablo site will add to primary Getafe line. Airbus Defence & Space is to boost its conversion capacity for the A330 multi-role tanker transport (MRTT) to seven examples per year, as it eyes multiple additional sales opportunities for the type.
Reuters
• Andrius Sytas
By Reuters: Lithuania issued an "air danger" warning asking people to take shelter and suspended traffic at the capital's airport due to a drone violating the country's airspace, the latest in a series of security incidents in the Baltic region.
FlightGlobal
• Greg Waldron
By FlightGlobal: YFQ-48A could be pitched for future US Air Force collaborative combat aircraft competitions. The Northrop Grumman YFQ-48A Talon Blue collaborative combat aircraft prototype has conducted taxi tests, with the company also named a preferred provider under the US Department of War’s Drone Dominance effort.
FlightGlobal
• Greg Waldron
By FlightGlobal: The MQ-25 will provide an uncrewed air-to-air refuelling capability for US Navy carrier air wings. The Boeing MQ-25A Stingray uncrewed naval refuelling aircraft has secured Milestone C approval, setting the stage for low-rate initial production (LRIP).
Space Intel Report
• Peter B. de Selding
Breaking Defense
• Elisabeth Gosselin-Malo
