As F-35 readiness lags, Pentagon seeks $13.7 billion boost: GAO
The F-35’s full mission capable rate fell to to 25 percent in FY25, the government watchdog found.
DIU ups Hermeus contract for high-speed drone
A recent award from the Defense Innovation Unit raises a total contract ceiling to $219 million, and will further develop Hermeus’ Quarterhorse drone to release payloads at speeds “up to and including Mach 3,” CEO Zach Shore told Breaking Defense.
How integrated modeling and simulation accelerates Europe’s defensive edge
Lockheed Martin’s ACES platform delivers a shared virtual battlespace that strengthens readiness, interoperability, and faster decision-making through advanced, integrated modeling and simulation capabilities designed for evolving global threats.
Air Force sees another year delay for next-gen engines
The Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion program is now projected to complete prototyping work in 2031, a cumulative delay of three years compared to earlier projections.
B-52 modernization ‘stabilized’ after cost spikes, schedule delays, Air Force official says
“It’s a lot of money. Some of us watch that money very carefully,” said Rep. Clay Higgins.
Pentagon awards Pratt & Whitney $6.6 billion for F-35 engines
A contract award covers engines for two upcoming batches of F-35 Joint Strike Fighter production.
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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How Defense Teams Can Scale AI Without Increasing Data Risk
AI is expanding the mission data footprint across defense environments, increasing the need for scalable, layered data-at-rest (DAR) protection.
With munitions and CCA in mind, small engines make a big show at AFA
“This is certainly a growth market. It’s gonna take awhile to get there, but you could easily see hundreds of air vehicles built per year in this market sometime in the early 2030s,” Richard Aboulafia, managing director at AeroDynamic Advisory, told Breaking Defense.
Lockheed, Pentagon finalize deal for 296 F-35s
The $24.3 billion deal covers 148 aircraft each in production lots 18 and 19, closing out negotiations that have stretched since 2023.
F-35 Lot 18 ‘price increase’ due to inflation, rising raw material cost: Pentagon
The rising costs have led to a row between Switzerland and the US, as Bern faces a $610 million increase for its order of 36 F-35As, a defense official told Breaking Defense.
F-35 Block 4 upgrade delayed until at least 2031: GAO
The long awaited F-35 modernization effort is delayed at least another two years since the congressional watchdog's last estimate, and a total of at least five years from its original timeline.
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Europe rearms: Battle management, counter-UAS, and real AI at the edge
Mapping Europe’s modernization from the Eastern drone wall to actual artificial intelligence resident in tanks.
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More power, no moving parts: The quest to fly a rotating detonation engine
After decades of research, tests advance innovative engine for improved military effectors.
Air Force sees over two year delay for next-gen engines
The Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion program is designing new engines that could power aircraft like the Air Force’s forthcoming F-47 stealth fighter.
Strike ends at Pratt & Whitney, but some financial impact expected: RTX CEO
“There was an impact, of course, with the four-week stoppage on our ability to ship all the GTFs and F135s that was in our plan,” RTX CEO Chris Calio told investors.
Trump wants a twin-engined F-35. Experts say it’s ‘not feasible.’
“We're going to do an F-55,” President Donald Trump announced today in Doha. “That'll be two engines and a super upgrade on the F-35.”