UAV Development & Drone Programs Satellite North America Military Aircraft Procurement Space Defense & Militarization Defense Policy

The War Zone • Howard Altman

NORAD Canada commander warns of rising drone threat, urges new satellites and airborne radar jets

Maj. Gen. Chris McKenna, commander of NORAD Canada, warned that proliferating drones pose a rising threat to North American airspace and urged urgent investment in new surveillance satellites and airborne radar‑equipped jets to close detection gaps and strengthen response and attribution.

2026-01-08T12:08:16.431172-08:00

Europe Military Aircraft Procurement Airport Infrastructure & Air Traffic Management Defense Budgets & Spending Defense Industry & Major Contractors Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact Defense Policy

DefenseNews.com • Tom Kington

Italy selects Trapani‑Birgi as first F‑35 pilot school outside US; JPO and Lockheed to oversee readiness

By DefenseNews.com: The F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) and constructor Lockheed Martin will oversee the readying of the training center at Trapani-Birgi Air Base.

The Aviationist

Italy Approves First Multinational F-35 Pilot Training Center Outside The U.S.

news.defcros.com

Italy designates Sicily air base as the inaugural F-35 pilot training school outside the United States.

Also: news.ssbcrack.com, news.defcros.com and edrmagazine.eu

2026-01-08T08:35:06.980476-08:00

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

Breaking Defense • Michael Marrow

Northrop Grumman, Kratos Selected to Integrate XQ-58 Valkyrie for Marine Corps MUX TACAIR Program

By Breaking Defense: Northrop Grumman will serve as the prime contractor and integrate mission systems on Kratos’s XQ-58 Valkyrie for the Marine Corps’s MUX TACAIR Collaborative Combat Aircraft program.

The War Zone

Northrop Grumman Joins Kratos to Missionize XQ-58 for USMC Under New Contract

Aviation Week

Northrop Grumman to Provide Autonomy Software for USMC’s First 'Loyal Wingman' Uncrewed System

Also: DefenseNews.com, FlightGlobal, The Aviationist, Northrop Grumman, Defense Daily, Defense One, defencetoday.com, euro-sd.com, defence-industry.eu, GlobeNewswire, ir.kratosdefense.com and insidedefense.com

2026-01-08T06:09:17.995465-08:00

Leadership Defense Industry & Major Contractors

Vertical Mag • News Release

Leonardo DRS names Sally Wallace as chief operating officer

By Vertical Mag: Wallace, who has been with the company since 2002, will assume her new responsibilities effective immediately.

2026-01-08T05:47:33.499400-08:00

aviation Aerial Firefighting Helicopter

Vertical Mag • Gerrard Cowan

How helicopter firefighting technology is revolutionizing wildfire defense in the wildland-urban interface

By Vertical Mag: New technologies and tactics are redefining how helicopters defend communities on the edge of the wildland–urban interface.

2026-01-08T05:47:31.853849-08:00

Satellite Space Force Supply Chain Defense Industry & Major Contractors Space Defense & Militarization Defense Policy

Payload • Dan Knight

Why Golden Dome’s Fate Will Hinge on Sensor Endurance — How to Make Its Eyes Last

By Payload: Golden Dome’s first fight will be won or lost on its ability to see.

2026-01-08T05:04:18.202323-08:00

aviation China Military Aircraft Procurement Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs) Defense Industry & Major Contractors Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact

Air Data News • Ricardo Meier

AVIC video shows J-35 prototype in green primer after test flight, signaling start of production

By Air Data News: Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) released images and video showing a J-35 stealth fighter in green primer completing a flight at the Shenyang.

2026-01-08T02:31:52.616967-08:00

Military Aircraft Procurement Orders Defense Industry & Major Contractors Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact Asia-Pacific (APAC) Defense Policy

FlightGlobal • Greg Waldron

Southeast Asia accelerates fighter procurement amid heightened geopolitics

By FlightGlobal: Regional air forces are recapitalising combat fleets as geopolitical tensions prompt governments to prioritise defence capabilities, with Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand leading procurement efforts despite funding constraints and fragmented acquisition strategies.

2026-01-08T04:08:10.223761-08:00

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