Over the Finnish line: Helsinki welcomes home first two F-35 jets
In 2021, Helsinki ordered 64 of the stealth aircraft in a deal valued at $9.4 billion as a replacement for aging US-made F/A-18 Hornet fourth-generation fighters.
Riyadh gets closer to F-35s, Damascus presses sovereignty and an expert take on Iran
Middle East Bureau Chief Agnes Helou reviews top news from the region before speaking with defense analyst Ryan Bohl.
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Biodefense is force protection: Ready today, prepared for tomorrow
A decorated combat aviator and biotech CEO advocates preparing for novel viral threats before the next crisis.
Aussie defense chief confirms missing F-35 parts, says none are ‘sensitive’
After parts reportedly made their way to Hong Kong, a Lockheed Martin spokesperson told Breaking Defense that the missing components “are unserviceable and deemed low risk for exploitation."
First German F-35 rolls off the line
German defense minister Boris Pistorius called the F-35 “a promise that Germany will step up to defend itself and defend its allies.”
Nammo CEO warns European rupture with US risks 10-year capability gap
"This industrial base among our allies is already very interconnected, so we cannot break it up," said Morten Brandtzæg.
F-35 engine upgrade clears key design review, Pratt says
“It means that the design is solid. It means that we're ready to move forward from an industrial base as well,” Jill Albertelli, the president of Pratt & Whitney's military engines business, told Breaking Defense.
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Three exercises that proved a new approach to C-UAS
Architecture that linked sensors, C2, RF effects, and lasers into a distributed c-UAS kill chain.
Rafael integrating SPICE 1000 stand-off munition on Israeli F-35s
The Israeli firm said integrating the weapon on Israeli F-35s was a step towards them being equipped on other countries' fleets.
F-35 costs jump in latest production lots
Compared to recent contracts, the average flyaway cost of an F-35A and F-35B rose by over 11 percent, while the price of an F-35C climbed over 8 percent, according to figures supplied by the F-35 Joint Program Office.
F-35 lifetime price tag dips beneath $2 trillion even as buying costs rise
The Defense Department anticipates it will spend an additional $51 billion to acquire the stealth fighter, though revised estimates have pulled the program’s total cost beneath $2 trillion, according to a recent Pentagon report.
Air Force eyes next-gen engine ‘integration’ by 2030
An engine with so-called adaptive turbofan technologies “could” go on the forthcoming F-47 stealth fighter, John Sneden, the chief of the Air Force’s propulsion directorate said, though he emphasized no final decisions have been made.
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Building the stand-off and stand-in weapons needed for the fight
Threats have changed the range, seeking and attack capabilities necessary to ensure effectiveness.
America’s fighter force is running out of margin: Rep. Biggs
The current demand signal for US air power abroad is not sustainable without significantly growing the force, argues Rep. Sheri Biggs, R-S.C.
USAF Chief Wilsbach on hardened shelters, T-7 flight and F-35 delays
In a one-on-one with Breaking Defense, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach laid out his big concerns for the service.
Canada to join GCAP next-gen fighter program as observer: Reports
While Ottawa previously confirmed its first order for 16 Lockheed Martin F-35s, it has spent the last year reviewing its future fighter jet fleet options.
Pentagon seeks to shift $4.3B to pay for increasing operation and personnel costs
In a 47-page omnibus reprogramming notification, the Pentagon outlines an array of weapon and tech programs it wants to strip dollars from to pay for “unforeseen military requirements" which are "determined to be necessary in the national interests."