Defense News

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The Aviationist • Parth Satam

South Korea launches 14-month concept study for a tailless sixth-generation fighter

South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration is seeking industry proposals for a 14-month study defining the requirements, design and technologies for a future sixth-generation fighter. The envisioned tailless aircraft would feature broadband stealth, adaptive-cycle engines and internal weapons bays, with propulsion remaining a central challenge.

Also: AeroTime and defensemirror.com

3 Sources

2026-08-29T06:33:02.154453-07:00

Military Aircraft Procurement Defense Budgets & Spending Defense Industry & Major Contractors Defense Policy

Air Data News • Ricardo Meier

F-35 program cost jumps US$51 billion as fighter prices rise again

By Air Data News: The estimated acquisition cost of the F-35 program has increased by US$51 billion, with a new Pentagon assessment also projecting higher unit costs for all three versions of the fighter after more than a decade in which increasing production helped drive prices sharply lower.

2 Sources

2026-08-29T03:06:49.305224-07:00

Military Aircraft Procurement Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs) Defense Industry & Major Contractors Asia-Pacific (APAC) Defense Deals Airbus Embraer

Air Data News • Ricardo Meier

C-390, C-130J or A400M: What could decide India’s huge airlifter competition?

By Air Data News: Three very different aircraft are competing for an Indian Air Force requirement that could reach 60 aircraft, but performance alone is unlikely to determine India is preparing to make one of the world’s largest military transport aircraft purchases, and the three contenders could hardly be more different.

1 Source

2026-08-29T00:12:22.324901-07:00

North America Airports Airport Infrastructure & Air Traffic Management Defense Policy

FlightGlobal • Ryan Finnerty

Progress continues on Inuvik airport runway extension under Canada’s Arctic defence push

By FlightGlobal: The C$230 million ($165 million) project will lengthen the Northwest Territories airstrip by over 900 metres (3,000ft).

1 Source

2026-08-28T12:35:32.463761-07:00

F-16 SAAB Europe Military Aircraft Procurement Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs) Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact Defense Policy

AeroTime • Clement Charpentreau

Sweden to send Gripen fighters to patrol Finland’s border with Russia, SVT reports

By AeroTime: Sweden will send Gripen fighters to patrol areas near Finland's border with Russia after Helsinki requested military support, SVT reports.

The War Zone

Saab's Gripen F Two-Seater Takes To The Air For The First Time

aviationnews.eu

Saab’s Two-Seat Gripen F Fighter Completes Maiden Flight

Also: Air Data News, Aviation24, FL360aero, FlightGlobal, Reuters, Aviation Week, warsight.com, India Defense News and 6 more

22 Sources

2026-08-28T02:50:07.102452-07:00

F-16 Military Aircraft Procurement Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs) Defense Budgets & Spending Defense Industry & Major Contractors Defense Deals Boeing

Breaking Defense • Michael Marrow

F-35 lifetime price tag dips beneath $2 trillion even as buying costs rise

By Breaking Defense: The Defense Department anticipates it will spend an additional $51 billion to acquire the stealth fighter, though revised estimates have pulled the program’s total cost beneath $2 trillion, according to a recent Pentagon report.

DefenseNews.com

Air Force awards Boeing $131 billion ceiling contract for F-15 production, modernization

AirForceTimes

U.S. Air Force awards Boeing F-15 contract with $131 billion ceiling through 2037

8 Sources

2026-08-28T07:19:49.963989-07:00

Europe Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact Defense Policy Boeing Boeing 747

The War Zone • Howard Altman, Joseph Trevithick

U.S. Expanding B-52 Bomber Capacity At Moron Air Base In Spain

By The War Zone: The investment comes after Spain would not allow the U.S. to use Moron for long-range bomber missions against Iran.

1 Source

2026-08-28T10:20:06.893260-07:00

UAV Development & Drone Programs AI North America Defense Industry & Major Contractors Defense Policy

Unmanned Airspace • Kylie Bielby

US military shoots down “cartel-linked” drones with high-energy laser

By Unmanned Airspace: Joint Task Force – Southern Border (JTF-SB), operating under US Northern Command in support of US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), shot down three "cartel-linked" uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) using directed energy capabilities this week.

aviationnews.eu

US Military Uses High-Energy Laser to Shoot Down 3 Cartel Drones in Texas

AeroTime

US military laser shoots down three drug cartel drones along southern border

Also: AirForceTimes and Defense Scoop

6 Sources

2026-08-28T04:36:15.099043-07:00

South Korea launches 14-month concept study for a tailless sixth-generation fighter

F-35 program cost jumps US$51 billion as fighter prices rise again

C-390, C-130J or A400M: What could decide India’s huge airlifter competition?

Progress continues on Inuvik airport runway extension under Canada’s Arctic defence push

Sweden to send Gripen fighters to patrol Finland’s border with Russia, SVT reports

Saab's Gripen F Two-Seater Takes To The Air For The First Time

Saab’s Two-Seat Gripen F Fighter Completes Maiden Flight

F-35 lifetime price tag dips beneath $2 trillion even as buying costs rise

Air Force awards Boeing $131 billion ceiling contract for F-15 production, modernization

U.S. Air Force awards Boeing F-15 contract with $131 billion ceiling through 2037

U.S. Expanding B-52 Bomber Capacity At Moron Air Base In Spain

US military shoots down “cartel-linked” drones with high-energy laser

US Military Uses High-Energy Laser to Shoot Down 3 Cartel Drones in Texas

US military laser shoots down three drug cartel drones along southern border

South Korea Launches Next Generation Fighter Program

F-35 program cost jumps US$51 billion as fighter prices rise again

C-390, C-130J or A400M: What could decide India’s huge airlifter competition?

Progress continues on Inuvik airport runway extension under Canada’s Arctic defence push

USAF Establishes HH-60W Unit for Washington VIP Evacuation and Continuity-of-Government Missions

U.S. Expanding B-52 Bomber Capacity At Moron Air Base In Spain

Lockheed outlines industrial package for Peru F-16 buy

USAF Establishes HH-60W Unit for Washington VIP Evacuation and Continuity-of-Government Missions

Indonesia’s First Aircraft Carrier Is On Its Way From Italy

With AI hackers in mind, Air Forces Cyber develops defensive 'campaign plan'

Saab’s Gripen F two-seater completes maiden flight as Brazil orders eight

U.S. Air Force awards Boeing F-15 contract with $131.23 billion ceiling through 2037

Navy begins F/A-18 Super Hornet testing of low-cost Blackbeard hypersonic missile

Dassault to develop Rafale F5 independently, targets export sales from 2035

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

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