UAV Development & Drone Programs Europe Military Aircraft Procurement Defense Industry & Major Contractors

DefenseNews.com • Valerie Insinna

U.S. approves $600M sale of four MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones to Belgium

The U.S. has approved a potential $600 million sale of four General Atomics MQ‑9B SkyGuardian remotely piloted aircraft to Belgium, including associated systems and support. The package strengthens Belgium's persistent ISR and NATO interoperability across maritime and regional surveillance missions.

2026-03-18T12:44:25.834018-07:00

Supply Chain Military Aircraft Procurement Defense Industry & Major Contractors Boeing

DefenseNews.com • Valerie Insinna

Industrial‑base concerns helped sway selection of Boeing’s F‑15X over rival fourth‑generation offer

By DefenseNews.com: It seems industrial base concerns were a major factor in picking Boeing over another provider of a fourth-generation capability.

2026-03-18T12:44:25.946419-07:00

F-16 Military Aircraft Procurement Orders Defense Budgets & Spending Defense Industry & Major Contractors Defense Deals Boeing

DefenseNews.com • Aaron Mehta

Morocco cleared for massive F-16 fighter buy

By DefenseNews.com: Morocco is ready to spend a lot of money on U.S. defense goods.

2026-03-18T12:44:26.273179-07:00

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

DefenseNews.com • Stephen Losey

Ellsworth to be first operational B-21 base

By DefenseNews.com: Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri and Dyess Air Force Base in Texas will follow, and receive B-21s as they become available.

2026-03-18T12:44:26.856314-07:00

North America Defense Budgets & Spending Defense Policy

DefenseNews.com • Stephen Losey, Valerie Insinna

Tyndall reconstruction may halt in May as Air Force funding runs short amid delayed congressional supplemental

By DefenseNews.com: Washington has been slow-rolling a supplemental appropriation for natural disaster recovery, so the Air Force has been moving money around to pay for reconstruction at Tyndall and now Offutt.

2026-03-18T12:44:26.935126-07:00

Leadership North America Space Defense & Militarization Defense Policy

DefenseNews.com • Valerie Insinna

Air Force’s top space officer tapped to lead US Space Command

By DefenseNews.com: If confirmed, this general will have a dual-hat role: as commander of U.S. Space Command and his current position as head of Air Force Space Command.

2026-03-18T12:44:27.047188-07:00

UAV Development & Drone Programs Military Aircraft Procurement Defense Budgets & Spending Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact Defense Policy

NEW

DefenseNews.com • Valerie Insinna

USAF to cut MQ-9 Reaper combat lines to fund next‑generation fighters, trimming ISR capacity

By DefenseNews.com: The Air Force plans to drop from 60 to 56 MQ-9 Reaper combat lines in fiscal 2022 as the U.S. military decreases its presence in the Middle East.

2026-03-18T13:05:06.094289-07:00

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

NEW

DefenseNews.com • Rachel Cohen

Biden to Nominate Andrew Hunter as Air Force Acquisition Chief

By DefenseNews.com: Andrew Hunter is known in Washington as a low-key professional and true expert on defense acquisition.

2026-03-18T13:05:06.439737-07:00

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U.S. approves $600M sale of four MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones to Belgium

Industrial‑base concerns helped sway selection of Boeing’s F‑15X over rival fourth‑generation offer

Morocco cleared for massive F-16 fighter buy

Ellsworth to be first operational B-21 base

Tyndall reconstruction may halt in May as Air Force funding runs short amid delayed congressional supplemental

Air Force’s top space officer tapped to lead US Space Command

USAF to cut MQ-9 Reaper combat lines to fund next‑generation fighters, trimming ISR capacity

Biden to Nominate Andrew Hunter as Air Force Acquisition Chief

Connectivity Under Fire: The Critical Need for Satcom Terminal Survivability

NATO says it can rapidly partner with commercial space sector across multi-orbit, multi-frequency architectures

USAF to cut MQ-9 Reaper combat lines to fund next‑generation fighters, trimming ISR capacity

Biden to Nominate Andrew Hunter as Air Force Acquisition Chief

Ellsworth to be first operational B-21 base

Air Force’s top space officer tapped to lead US Space Command

France Names Next Nuclear Aircraft Carrier 'Free France' as Paris Bolsters Naval Capabilities

Fort Rucker commander outlines training changes for Future Vertical Lift and drone-swarm operations

Air Force eyes Langley‑Eustis as new F‑22 training home after Tyndall damage

NATO says it can rapidly partner with commercial space sector across multi-orbit, multi-frequency architectures

Space Force expands PAE structure to six, assigns second tranche of mission portfolios to speed acquisitions

Baykar tests K2 loitering munition in five‑drone AI autonomous swarm

Fire aboard USS Gerald R. Ford burns 30+ hours during extended Middle East deployment as Iran warns logistics are targets

Operation Epic Fury: 6,000+ combat flights, carrier surge and Space Force EW escalate strikes on Iran

Starlink's 2024 Advances: Transforming In-Flight Wi-Fi Connectivity in Aviation

Riyadh Air: Saudi Arabia's New National Carrier Prepares for Launch Amid Regional Competition

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