F-16   Military Aircraft Procurement   Orders   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
The War Zone • Thomas Newdick

Ukrainian F-16 pilot details operational challenges, tactics and sustainment issues

A Ukrainian F-16 pilot describes frontline employment of the fighters, outlining combat tactics, maintenance and logistics shortfalls, and operational constraints that limit sortie generation. After a protracted campaign to acquire F-16s, the jets have become a critical element of Ukraine’s air combat capability but face sustainment pressure.

Also: defence-blog.com and Aviation Week
2026-01-06T09:54:10.899382-08:00
Europe   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Deals   Defense Policy  
The Aviationist • Stefano D'Urso

Ukrainian Mirage 2000s Are Now Equipped with MICA Missiles

By The Aviationist: A recently emerged photo shows a Ukrainian Mirage 2000 equipped with a MICA air-to-air missile, after being initially showcased only with the older Magic.

2026-01-05T12:41:49.890719-08:00
Supply Chain   Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Defense Policy  
Wall Street Journal • Connor Hart

Lockheed Martin to Increase Patriot Missile Production Under Pentagon Deal

By Wall Street Journal: The defense contractor committed to surging its Patriot missile output to roughly 2,000 interceptors a year in response to demand from Pentagon officials gearing up for conflicts on multiple fronts.

Also: Breaking Defense, Aviation Week, Defense Daily, defence-blog.com, Bloomberg Law, defencetoday.com, defence-industry.eu, euro-sd.com, edrmagazine.eu, insidedefense.com, miragenews.com, Lockheed Martin and 3 more
2026-01-06T09:39:31.164195-08:00
AI   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Space Defense & Militarization   Cybersecurity (Cyber Threats & Protection)  
Breaking Defense • Sydney J Freedberg Jr

DARPA seeks universal translator between different kinds of quantum computer

By Breaking Defense: With rival tech giants building different kinds of “quantum bits,” from superconductors to photonics to trapped ions, DARPA program manager Justin Cohen worries no one approach will work for every purpose — so he wants to find a way to make them work together.

Also: Breaking Defense
2026-01-06T07:35:28.922837-08:00
Leadership   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Asia-Pacific (APAC)   Boeing  
FlightGlobal • Greg Waldron

Boeing Australia names ex-RAAF air vice‑marshal Steve Roberton as president for Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific

By FlightGlobal: Boeing Australia has appointed Steve Roberton, a former Royal Australian Air Force air vice-marshal and fighter pilot, as president for Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific, effective 5 January.

Also: APAC Defence Reporter
2026-01-05T21:04:09.912089-08:00