Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Boeing  
Aviation Today • Frank Wolfe

US Air Force pins VC-25B “bridge” retrofit on Qatar-gifted 747-8i at ~$400M; program spending tops $4.2B

The Air Force estimates that modifying the Qatar-gifted 747-8i to serve as a VC-25B interim “bridge” aircraft will cost less than $400 million. The nearly decade-long VC-25B effort to field two Boeing Air Force One replacement planes has already reached more than $4.2 billion.

2026-05-14T09:30:10.040896-07:00
Supply Chain   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
NEW
Aviation Today • Frank Wolfe

USAF To Meet With Companies On Support Equipment For B-52 CERP

By Aviation Today: As the U.S. Air Force prepares to modify two B-52H bombers later this year for the Commercial Engine Replacement Program (CERP), the bomber directorate’s contracting office at Tinker AFB, Okla., […].

2026-05-14T09:30:10.827299-07:00
Military Aircraft Procurement   Orders   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
NEW
FlightGlobal • Craig Hoyle

Peru signs contract for fifth C-27J, as Leonardo logs order for its 100th Spartan transport

By FlightGlobal: Latin American operator will add fifth Spartan to its airlifter fleet. Peru has placed an order to take a fifth C-27J Spartan tactical transport, with its contract with Leonardo also marking the airframer’s 100th sold example of the twin-turboprop type.

2026-05-14T09:53:28.796088-07:00
Israel   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aviation Safety & Regulation   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
FlightGlobal • Craig Hoyle

Israel funds external fuel tank modification for F-35I Adir stealth fighters

By FlightGlobal: Range performance of "Adir" stealth fighters will be increased via new contract. Israel is funding a modification for its fleet of Lockheed Martin F-35I “Adir” fighters, with the stealthy jets to be equipped with new extended-range fuel tanks.

Also: FlightGlobal, Janes, defence-blog.com, Seeking Alpha and 3 more
2026-05-14T02:37:13.070339-07:00
Event   UAV Development & Drone Programs   Helicopter   Aviation Safety & Regulation   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Asia-Pacific (APAC)   Defense Policy  
AeroTime • Jean Carmela Lim

Australia helps boost Philippine air surveillance capability

By AeroTime: The Australian Defence Force supported Philippine air surveillance efforts during the 41st iteration of Exercise Balikatan (April 20-May 8, 2026) through subject-matter expert exchanges focused on mobile radar systems.

2026-05-14T04:41:07.466600-07:00
MRO   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Aviation Safety & Regulation   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Boeing  
FlightGlobal • Greg Waldron

GMR Aero Technic to conduct P-8I heavy checks in Hyderabad

By FlightGlobal: Contract with Boeing means a key MRO project will be undertaken locally. Maintenance, repair and overhaul company GMR Aero Technic (GAT) will perform routine heavy checks on the Indian navy’s fleet of Boeing P-8I Neptune maritime patrol aircraft.

2026-05-14T02:11:44.032868-07:00