Today In Defense
Last Updated: Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, 8:12 PM PDT
2025-09-16T20:12:01.828930-07:00 2025-09-16T20:12:01.828930-07:00 (2025-09-16T20:12:01.828930-07:00)

GOP stopgap bill carves out funding for E-7 Wedgetail and Virginia-class subs to avert shutdown
By insidedefense.com: The E-7 Wedgetail airborne early warning aircraft and Virginia-class submarine would benefit from special exemptions under the new continuing resolution being proposed by senior Republicans attempting to avert an Oct.

Chinese Academy of Sciences Flying‑Wing Drone Spotted Ahead of Northeastern Airshow
By The War Zone: The uncrewed aircraft, which carries the logo of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, was spotted ahead of an airshow in northeastern China.

Boeing Defense Workers Vote on 20% Raise and $10,000 Bonus to End Six‑Week Strike
By Bloomberg: Boeing Co.’s striking defense workers will vote Friday on a contract proposal drafted by union leaders that includes a 20% guaranteed wage increase and $10,000 signing bonus aimed at ending a six-week labor standoff.

US Air Force Begins Conversion of Qatar-Gifted Boeing 747-8 for Presidential Airlift
By Aviation Week: The U.S. Air Force has begun conversion of the Qatari-gifted Boeing 747-8 to become a new presidential airlift aircraft.

TikTok, Rare Earths, Taiwan: Trump-Xi Call to Run the Gamut
By Bloomberg: US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping will have plenty to discuss this week in their first conversation since June, with TikTok, Boeing planes, rare earth magnets and Taiwan among top items for negotiation.

Raytheon F3R upgrade enables longest-known AIM-120 AMRAAM engagement from F-22 in late‑2024 tests
By FlightGlobal: Raytheon's F3R hardware upgrade has enabled the longest known AIM-120 AMRAAM engagement from a fifth-generation fighter, with late 2024 tests demonstrating significantly extended range capabilities from a US Air Force Lockheed Martin F-22.

Spain cancels $823M Israeli‑backed rocket launcher deal and bans airspace transit of arms to Israel
By Breaking Defense: “Additional measures” announced by Madrid in response to the Gaza conflict include a ban on any aircraft transiting Spanish airspace to transport defense equipment to Israel.