Defense News

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Reuters

Latvia says NATO fighters shot down drone that entered its airspace as Finland restricts Baltic Sea areas

NATO air-defense fighters shot down a drone that entered Latvian airspace early Friday, according to Latvia’s armed forces. The incident comes as Finland restricted access to parts of the Baltic Sea, underscoring heightened military vigilance around NATO’s eastern flank.

Also: AeroTime and tass.com

3 Sources

2026-08-13T19:35:33.780041-07:00

Military Aircraft Procurement Defense Industry & Major Contractors Workforce & Skills Development

NEW

Vertical Mag • Oliver Johnson

Team M1 wins U.S. Army's $10B Flight School Next program

By Vertical Mag: The U.S. Army has awarded the hotly-contested Flight School Next contract to M1 Support Services, the service has announced.

1 Source

2026-08-13T20:20:32.546600-07:00

Aircraft Carrier Military Aircraft Procurement Defense Policy

Bloomberg • Anthony Capaccio

Trump Orders US Aircraft Carriers to Go Back to Steam Catapults

By Bloomberg: President Donald Trump ordered the Navy to return to using steam catapults to launch planes off of aircraft carriers, acting on a longtime complaint despite opposition from many naval officers.

Associated Press

Trump orders the Navy to return to an older system of launching jets off aircraft carriers

Navy Times

Navy should return to 'goddamned steam' on carrier, Trump says

Also: The Guardian, CNA, USNI News, The Independent and pilotonline.com

8 Sources

2026-08-13T15:36:33.651915-07:00

Aircraft Carrier UAV Development & Drone Programs Military Aircraft Procurement Boeing

The Air Current • Carter Johnston

U.S. Navy quietly arming its uncrewed aerial tanker

By The Air Current: When Boeing personnel hoisted a prototype of its MQ-25 Stingray aerial refueling drone aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz in June, the high-profile visit revealed a potential expansion of its role that has long been suspected but repeatedly denied by the Pentagon.

2 Sources

2026-08-13T16:12:59.291949-07:00

Aircraft Carrier Defense Budgets & Spending Defense Policy

Wall Street Journal • Marcus Weisgerber

Trump Orders Navy to Restore Older Tech on Aircraft Carriers, Costing Billions

By Wall Street Journal: President Trump has directed the Navy to tear out a complex system for launching jet fighters from its aircraft carriers and instead go back to using steam catapults, a move Navy officials have fought for years and will likely cost billions of dollars.

Also: Reuters

2 Sources

2026-08-13T14:29:18.361941-07:00

Aircraft Carrier Middle East Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact Defense Policy

Wall Street Journal • Shelby Holliday, Yoko Kubota

U.S. Sending Fresh Aircraft Carrier to Middle East Amid Iran War Strain

By Wall Street Journal: The USS George Washington is set to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln, as lawmakers raised concerns about reports of poor conditions aboard the Lincoln after more than 250 days at sea.

Associated Press

New aircraft carrier heads toward Mideast after reports of issues on long-deployed USS Lincoln

rnzngunners.org

USS George Washington Heading West, Lincoln Deployment Nears 9 Months

Also: Seeking Alpha, CBS News, NBC News and 5 more

11 Sources

2026-08-13T16:05:16.959957-07:00

UAV Development & Drone Programs Defense Industry & Major Contractors

The War Zone • Jamie Hunter

Meet MORFIUS: The Drone Designed To Zap Other Drones

By The War Zone: Lockheed Martin's new MORFIUS X-Rotor counter-UAS system hunts drones and can knock down dozens of them with its high power microwave payload.

1 Source

2026-08-13T14:49:57.409073-07:00

Helicopter Military Aircraft Procurement Accident