Satellite   Space Force   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Space Defense & Militarization   Defense Policy  
DefenseNews.com • Michael Peck

Pentagon seeks low-cost commercial satellites for on-orbit surveillance and close inspections

The Pentagon is seeking low-cost commercial satellites able to conduct on-orbit surveillance and close-range inspections of other spacecraft, targeting affordable platforms for persistent monitoring and proximity operations. The solicitation formalizes use of commercial providers to augment space-domain awareness and inspection capabilities.

Also: news.ssbcrack.com
2026-02-17T20:07:19.481560-08:00
North America   Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Policy & Regulation   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
Breaking Defense • Michael Marrow

USAF's Sentinel ICBM to clear key milestone this year, expected operational in early 2030s

By Breaking Defense: “We certainly have not lowered the bar, and we certainly have not taken on any risk by doing this,” Air Force Gen. Dale White told Breaking Defense.

Also: Air & Space Forces Mag, Bloomberg, Aviation Week, DVIDS / U.S. DoD, Stars and Stripes, defence-blog.com, interestingengineering.com, news.defcros.com, Defense One, news.ssbcrack.com, Military Times, afmc.af.mil and 5 more
2026-02-17T08:53:48.149477-08:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   General Atomics   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Defense Policy  
Aviation Week • Graham Warwick

DARPA’s Missile-Carrying LongShot Becomes Newest X-Plane

By Aviation Week: An air-launched missile-carrying UAS developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems for DARPA’s LongShot project has been designed the X-68A.

Also: Breaking Defense, defence-industry.eu and defence-blog.com
2026-02-17T06:11:19.361596-08:00
Supply Chain   North America   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
Bloomberg • Anthony Capaccio

Pentagon: RTX Improves but Still Falls Short on Critical Navy Missile Deliveries

By Bloomberg: RTX Corp. has improved its capability to deliver a key missile for the US Navy but the company’s performance remains below expectations, according to a Pentagon assessment that comes after President Donald Trump singled out the defense contractor in a broader assault on the sector.

2026-02-17T13:06:08.858074-08:00
MRO   North America   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Defense Policy   Boeing   Boeing 757  
CBS News • Eleanor Watson, James LaPorta, Jennifer Jacobs

U.S. Air Force VIP fleet to replace Kennedy-era blue with navy, red and gold, sources say

By CBS News: The Kennedy-era robin's egg blue that's currently on the planes is being updated to navy, red and gold.

Also: The Aviationist, CNN, Flying Magazine, Reuters, AeroTime, The Hill and avbrief.com
2026-02-17T11:21:10.672083-08:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   F-16   Europe   Military Aircraft Procurement   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
AeroTime • Clement Charpentreau

Ukraine denies ‘secret’ international F-16 squadron claim

By AeroTime: Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Yuriy Ignat has dismissed a report that US and Dutch pilots are flying Ukrainian F-16s over Kyiv, citing lack of evidence.

Also: pravda.com.ua, defensemirror.com, defence-industry.eu, prm.ua, Defence24 and 3 more
2026-02-17T07:50:02.809275-08:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   AI   Supply Chain   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
AeroTime • Stephen Pope

Venom autonomous strike aircraft completes first flight after 71-day design-to-flight build

By AeroTime: Divergent Technologies and Mach Industries say they designed, built, and flew the Venom autonomous strike aircraft in 71 days, continuing a shift toward rapid defense manufacturing.

2026-02-17T08:54:12.058579-08:00