Helicopter   Sikorsky   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)  
The War Zone • Joseph Trevithick

US Army Improved Turbine Engine Program promises performance gains for Night Stalker MH-60M—upgrade path remains uncertain

The Army’s Improved Turbine Engine Program is positioned as a major performance boost for the Night Stalker MH-60M Black Hawk upgrade effort, but the program’s near- and mid-term outlook is described as “murky.” The development raises questions about how quickly (and whether) turbine power improvements will translate into fleet fielding.

2026-05-21T10:15:22.719373-07:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   AI   General Atomics   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact  
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DefenseNews.com • Michael Scanlon

Air Force dubs MQ-9 the ‘MVP’ of Epic Fury as lawmakers press manned-unmanned future

By DefenseNews.com: The remotely piloted MQ-9 Reaper was the workhorse in the U.S. air campaign against Iran, Air Force leaders told Congress on May 20, even as the service’s fiscal 2027 budget request still pours the bulk of aircraft dollars into crewed fighters.

Also: DefenseNews.com, AirForceTimes and nationalsecurityjournal.org
2026-05-21T11:10:25.711914-07:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   General Atomics   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact  
FlightGlobal • Craig Hoyle

General Atomics flies MQ-9B for first time carrying Saab LoyalEye AEW radars

By FlightGlobal: Combination is described as the 'world's first unmanned AEW solution'. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) has flown a company-owned MQ-9B remotely piloted aircraft for the first time carrying pod-housed airborne early warning (AEW) radar arrays produced by Saab.

2026-05-21T09:38:36.247976-07:00
Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Aviation Safety & Regulation   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact  
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FlightGlobal • Ryan Finnerty

MC-130Js destroyed in Iran could be replaced with ‘green’ Lockheed Martin transports

By FlightGlobal: The potential option involves Special Operations Command completing modifications to bring in-production C-130Js to the MC-130J standard.

2026-05-21T11:40:00.607079-07:00