Defense News

UAV Development & Drone Programs AI Defense Policy

FlightGlobal • Greg Waldron

Think tank calls for missile-armed collaborative combat aircraft to escort vulnerable support aircraft

A think tank is advocating specialized, missile-carrying collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) to protect airborne support assets from China’s growing long-range air-to-air missile capability. The concept would use uncrewed aircraft as escorts to counter threats against tankers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms, and other high-value enablers.

1 Source

2026-09-21T22:05:16.689107-07:00

Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact Defense Policy

The War Zone • Joseph Trevithick, Thomas Newdick

Chinese Next-Generation Submarine Developments Spotted In New Satellite Imagery

By The War Zone: A Chinese submarine now taking shape at Bohai Shipyard has a number of significant features and offers new insights into China's undersea ambitions.

1 Source

2026-09-21T17:37:00.209478-07:00

Military Aircraft Procurement Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons Defense Industry & Major Contractors

Reuters

Lockheed wins US Army missile contract worth up to $1.2 billion

By Reuters: Lockheed Martin said on Monday it had secured a contract worth up to $1.2 billion from ‌the US Army to produce the Increment 2 variant of the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM).

Aviation Week

Lockheed Enters Production Mode For Next PRSM Variant

worldairnews.co.za

LOCKHEED MARTIN DELIVERS FIRST PAC-3 MSE COMPONENTS FROM GM DEFENSE IN 22 DAYS

Also: Economic Times, defence-industry.eu, Seeking Alpha and l3harris.com

7 Sources

2026-09-21T15:36:25.324727-07:00

UAV Development & Drone Programs AI General Atomics Military Aircraft Procurement Defense Industry & Major Contractors

The War Zone • Joseph Trevithick

General Atomics FQ-42A Vengeance CCA Now Flying Together With USAF Fighters

By The War Zone: CCAs are participating in ever-more realistic demonstrations, including with crewed counterparts, as actual teaming trials are on the horizon.

DefenseNews.com

General Atomics delivers FQ-42 Vengeance to Nevada air base

aviationnews.eu

Danish F-35 Stealth Fighters Touch Down in Greenland for Historic NATO Arctic Mission

Also: FlightGlobal, aviation-defence-universe.com, Janes, Aviation Week, The Aviationist, defencestar.in, Defense Daily, ANI News Agency, UK Defence Journal and 9 more

23 Sources

2026-09-21T10:35:09.580866-07:00

Saudi Arabia Middle East Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact Defense Policy

Reuters

UK's Burnham agrees to Saudi request for refuelling support

By Reuters: British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Monday he had agreed to a request from Saudi Arabia to provide defensive air-to-air refuelling for a limited time period, a move ‌he described as helping to stabilise the wider region.

2 Sources

2026-09-21T14:20:06.121097-07:00

Satellite Defense Industry & Major Contractors Space Defense & Militarization

Via Satellite • Rachel Jewett

Intellian to Develop Multi-Band WGS Terminals With Network Innovations

By Via Satellite: Intellian Technologies and Network Innovations plan to jointly develop and distribute multi-band Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) flyaway terminals for military and government customers under a new strategic partnership announced last week.

1 Source

2026-09-21T13:16:03.009208-07:00

Saudi Arabia Middle East Military Aircraft Procurement Export Controls & Trade Compliance Defense Deals Defense Policy

Bloomberg • Dan Williams, Paul Wallace

Why the Sale of US F-35 Jets to Saudi Arabia Isn’t a Sure Thing

By Bloomberg: The F-35 is the most advanced American fighter jet available for export. It’s sold only to long-standing US military allies, given how sensitive its technology is.

Also: overtdefense.com

4 Sources

2026-09-21T10:05:27.581402-07:00

Military Aircraft Procurement Defense Industry & Major Contractors Defense Policy

FlightGlobal • Brooke Ingemi

US Air Force retires its last EC-130H

By FlightGlobal: The retirement formalises the transition to the new EA-37B jet, which has assumed the Compass Call name. A formal retirement ceremony was held at Davis-Monthan AFB in Arizona on 18 September to honour the last EC-130H Compass Call, tail 1590, as it conducted its final operational taxi.

Also: Breaking Defense and defence-blog.com

3 Sources

2026-09-21T09:35:30.670307-07:00

Think tank calls for missile-armed collaborative combat aircraft to escort vulnerable support aircraft

Chinese Next-Generation Submarine Developments Spotted In New Satellite Imagery

Lockheed wins US Army missile contract worth up to $1.2 billion

Lockheed Enters Production Mode For Next PRSM Variant

LOCKHEED MARTIN DELIVERS FIRST PAC-3 MSE COMPONENTS FROM GM DEFENSE IN 22 DAYS

General Atomics FQ-42A Vengeance CCA Now Flying Together With USAF Fighters

General Atomics delivers FQ-42 Vengeance to Nevada air base

Danish F-35 Stealth Fighters Touch Down in Greenland for Historic NATO Arctic Mission

UK's Burnham agrees to Saudi request for refuelling support

Intellian to Develop Multi-Band WGS Terminals With Network Innovations

Why the Sale of US F-35 Jets to Saudi Arabia Isn’t a Sure Thing

US Air Force retires its last EC-130H

Think tank calls for specialised, missile-toting CCA to escort support aircraft

Chinese Next-Generation Submarine Developments Spotted In New Satellite Imagery

Lockheed wins US Army missile contract worth up to $1.2 billion

UK's Burnham agrees to Saudi request for refuelling support

Intellian to Develop Multi-Band WGS Terminals With Network Innovations

General Atomics FQ-42A Vengeance CCA Now Flying Together With USAF Fighters

Space Development Agency opens $369 million competition for missile-tracking ground network

After hitting pilot training goal, resolving shortage will take years, Air Force official says

Ukraine’s Starlink experience offers a lesson for the Pentagon

Finnish F-35 stranded in Azores after avionics fault

F-35A components diverted from Australia to Hong Kong, prompting U.S. congressional probe

Space Force seeks commercial satellites for on-demand orbital inspection and electronic-interference tracking

US Air Force to field Collaborative Combat Aircraft in large-scale exercise for first time

China’s J-50/XDS tailless fighter may be testing a new radar

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

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