UAV Development & Drone Programs Military Aircraft Procurement Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs) Defense Industry & Major Contractors

Aviation Week • Brian Everstine

Northrop Grumman Unveils Project Talon Collaborative Combat Aircraft

Aviation Week reports: Northrop Grumman’s Scaled Composites on Dec. 3 unveiled Project Talon, the company’s latest design of an uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft.

Also: The War Zone, Axios and Breaking Defense

2025-12-03T17:49:10.206841-08:00

Today In Defense

Last Updated: Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, 8:17 PM PST

2025-12-03T20:17:25.817061-08:00 2025-12-03T20:17:25.817061-08:00 (2025-12-03T20:17:25.817061-08:00)

UAV Development & Drone Programs

Aviation Week • Graham Warwick

DARPA’s Lift Challenge Seeks 4x Drone Payload‑to‑Weight Gain to Reclaim U.S. Leadership

By Aviation Week: The agency’s Lift Challenge aims for at least a fourfold increase in drone payload-to-weight capability.

2025-12-03T15:29:21.522574-08:00

North America Military Aircraft Procurement Orders Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)

Air & Space Forces Mag • Greg Hadley

U.S. Air Force Receives 100th KC-46 Pegasus, Marking Fleet Milestone

By Air & Space Forces Mag: The U.S. Air Force’s KC-46 Pegasus fleet hit a major milestone Dec. 2 with the delivery of its 99th and 100th aircraft.

Also: DVIDS / U.S. DoD

2025-12-03T17:48:44.145879-08:00

F-16 North America Accident Aviation Safety & Regulation Defense Industry & Major Contractors

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avweb.com • Matt Ryan

F-16 Crash in California Near County Line; Pilot Hospitalized, Investigation Underway

By avweb.com: Emergency crews respond to likely F-16 accident near county line.

Associated Press

Thunderbirds F-16 Crashes in California Desert; Pilot Ejects Safely

The Aviationist

Pilot Safe After USAF Thunderbirds F-16 Crashes in California

Also: AirForceTimes, The Independent, Military Times, Stars and Stripes and 15 more

2025-12-03T12:55:18.834803-08:00

Cybersecurity (Cyber Threats & Protection) Workforce & Skills Development

Breaking Defense • Barry Rosenberg

US Air Force Reserve forms offensive cyber squadron to retain veteran operators

By Breaking Defense: As cyber veterans exit active duty, a new Reserve offensive squadron gives them a way to keep executing missions, an officer told Breaking Defense.

2025-12-03T14:26:04.489358-08:00

Satellite Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons Defense Budgets & Spending Defense Industry & Major Contractors Space Defense & Militarization Policy & Regulation

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DefenseNews.com • Stephen Losey

Pentagon Pre-Qualifies 1,000+ Firms — Including BAE, L3Harris and Elbit America — as Potential Vendors for 'Golden Dome' Missile-Defense Program

By DefenseNews.com: BAE Systems, L3Harris and Elbit America are some firms the Missile Defense Agency selected as potential vendors for a national missile defense shield.

SpaceNews.com

MDA Clarifies 'SHIELD' Vendor Selection Is Not a Preview of Golden Dome Award

Air & Space Forces Mag

MDA Invites 1,000+ Contractors to Compete for 'Golden Dome' and Other Homeland Defense Programs

Also: Defense Daily, news.ssbcrack.com and Defense & Security Monitor

2025-12-03T11:17:28.247428-08:00

Satellite Supply Chain M&A Defense Industry & Major Contractors Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation

Via Satellite • Rachel Jewett

Applied Aerospace and PCX Aerosystems Merge to Scale Aerospace Manufacturing Capabilities

By Via Satellite: Applied Aerospace and PCX Aerosystems, are merging to create greater scale as a supplier of precision hardware and systems for aircraft, rotorcraft, satellites, launch vehicles, and missile defense.

2025-12-03T13:05:02.602687-08:00

UAV Development & Drone Programs Satellite Middle East Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact

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The War Zone • Tyler Rogoway

Images of Shahed-136 clone drones sent to the Middle East reveal satellite datalinks and swarming capabilities

By The War Zone: Images of the LUCAS drones sent to "flip the script" on Iran give insights into their advanced capabilities.

Also: Aviation Week

2025-12-03T08:44:18.237819-08:00

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Northrop Grumman Unveils Project Talon Collaborative Combat Aircraft

Today In Defense

DARPA’s Lift Challenge Seeks 4x Drone Payload‑to‑Weight Gain to Reclaim U.S. Leadership

U.S. Air Force Receives 100th KC-46 Pegasus, Marking Fleet Milestone

F-16 Crash in California Near County Line; Pilot Hospitalized, Investigation Underway

Thunderbirds F-16 Crashes in California Desert; Pilot Ejects Safely

Pilot Safe After USAF Thunderbirds F-16 Crashes in California

US Air Force Reserve forms offensive cyber squadron to retain veteran operators

Pentagon Pre-Qualifies 1,000+ Firms — Including BAE, L3Harris and Elbit America — as Potential Vendors for 'Golden Dome' Missile-Defense Program

MDA Clarifies 'SHIELD' Vendor Selection Is Not a Preview of Golden Dome Award

MDA Invites 1,000+ Contractors to Compete for 'Golden Dome' and Other Homeland Defense Programs

Applied Aerospace and PCX Aerosystems Merge to Scale Aerospace Manufacturing Capabilities

Images of Shahed-136 clone drones sent to the Middle East reveal satellite datalinks and swarming capabilities

DARPA’s Lift Challenge Seeks 4x Drone Payload‑to‑Weight Gain to Reclaim U.S. Leadership

U.S. Air Force Receives 100th KC-46 Pegasus, Marking Fleet Milestone