Following congressional rebuke, Air Force awards E-7 contracts
The new awards procure an undisclosed number of developmental aircraft and address diminishing manufacturing sources for the plane’s radar.
CENTCOM confirms six dead in tanker crash in Iraq, as Iran conflict approaches third week
“The incident occurred over friendly territory in Western Iraq while the crew was on a combat mission, and, again, was not the result … of hostile or friendly fire,” Gen. Dan Caine said today.
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KC-135 tanker involved in Epic Fury goes down in Iraq: CENTCOM
According to CENTCOM, the incident was “not due to hostile or friendly fire" and occurred during Operation Epic Fury.
Europe can lead its conventional defense ‘by 2035’, EUCOM commander says
The date could signal a turning point in America’s relationship with the NATO alliance.
Powering up: Air Force eyes ‘broad reaching’ battery, energy storage research
The Department of Energy is also pursuing its own effort to boost battery technologies through the JOULES-1K program.
Air Force seeks additional vendors for radar-killing missile
Northrop Grumman was previously selected to build a new anti-radiation Stand in Attack Weapon, but a market survey released by the Air Force March 4 is probing for other vendors that could supply an “equivalent missile system.”
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In contested seas, autonomy must anticipate, not just navigate
As missions stretch farther and comms grow less reliable, predictive software could become the edge that keeps missions afloat.
How tanking, airlift could be strained by Iran ops
"Aerial refueling capacity has historically been a major constraint on the tempo of operations, and it’s likely the case today," Tim Walton, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, told Breaking Defense.
Senate poised to reauthorize key small business fund used by Pentagon
The bill resolves a months-long gridlock between the heads of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee over how to reform the SBIR program.
Space Force pauses national security launches on Vulcan
"We're still in the initial phases of that investigation, so we'll continue to to work with the United Launch Alliance and their suppliers to make sure we've got the right level of insight and understand where that investigation is headed," Col. Eric Zarybnisky said.
Air Force taps four companies to expand engine options for loyal wingman drones
Beehive Industries, Honeywell, Pratt & Whitney and a teamup of GE Aerospace and Kratos will “mature engine designs” for future drone wingmen and other autonomous platforms, according to the Air Force.
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The Future of Defense Manufacturing Will Be Distributed, Autonomous, and Software-Defined
How Roboze is helping transform additive manufacturing from a prototyping tool into production infrastructure for defense and critical industries.
‘Ringleader’: Department of Air Force to start all-encompassing sensor fusion experiments
Separately, Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said the Air Force will continue work on two rapid prototypes for the E-7 Wedgetail, though he did not appear to fully commit to the program.
Air Force flight tests drone wingman carrying (inert) weapons, competitors reveal new names
Anduril’s YFQ-44A drone wingman under development for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program has begun testing flights with a missile underwing, according to an Air Force press release.
Ursa Major unleashes HAVOC with new hypersonic missile
Ursa Major's new CEO Chris Spagnoletti told Breaking Defense that the company's new hypersonic weapon could cost $3 million a piece.
Air Force ramps up B-21 Raider production capacity, aims for 2027 delivery
A $4.5 billion spending boost for the B-21 program outlined by lawmakers as part of the 2025 reconciliation package will help fund the accelerated production.