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UAV Development & Drone Programs   AI   Defense Policy  
The War Zone • Howard Altman

Army eyes hundreds of balloons for surveillance, deception and drone attacks in future conflict

The Army’s plan would send hundreds of balloons into enemy territory to survey broad areas, draw or confuse air defenses, extend communications networks and launch drone attacks behind the lines. The concept combines persistent presence and multiple battlefield roles in a low-cost airborne platform, according to the report.

2026-10-19T13:05:08.192602-07:00
Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Defense Deals   BAE Systems  
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Defense Daily • Cal Biesecker

BAE Agrees To Increase APKWS Production Under Multi-Year Framework With DoD

By Defense Daily: BAE Systems will “surge” production of its Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) to 25,000 annually for the Defense Department under a new agreement that also creates a path to further increase production to 35,000 units per year to meet international demand.

2026-10-19T10:55:21.683248-07:00
Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Boeing   Textron  
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Air Data News • Ricardo Meier

US awards US$91 million contract to redesign V-22 Osprey flight control system

By Air Data News: The US Navy has awarded Bell Boeing a US$90.8 million contract to redesign the flight control system of the V-22 Osprey, a military tiltrotor aircraft operated by the US Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force.

2026-10-19T10:54:57.037954-07:00
AI  
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Breaking Defense • Diana Stancy

DIU unveils next phase in unmanned vessel competition

By Breaking Defense: The DIU solicitation said that it wants USVs outfitted with “mature hard-kill Counter-Air effectors and clutter-resilient sensor suites.".

2026-10-19T12:04:39.283801-07:00
Military Aircraft Procurement   Asia-Pacific (APAC)   Defense Deals  
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Air Data News • Ricardo Meier

Singapore emerges as customer behind secret F-35 variant development program

By Air Data News: A US Department of Defense contract for the development of an F-35 configuration tailored to an unidentified foreign customer can be linked to Singapore through other US government procurement records, as the country approaches the delivery of its first fighter.

2026-10-19T09:35:21.213849-07:00