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Navy Awards Initial Production ContractThe U.S. Navy awarded Boeing a $562 million fixed-price incentive contract for the first low-rate initial production lot of MQ-25A Stingray carrier-based unmanned aircraft. The contract funds three Lot 1 aircraft and advance acquisition of long-lead components for three additional MQ-25As under Lot 2. Initial Lot 1 deliveries are expected to begin in 2029. The award follows approval in May 2026 for the MQ-25A program to enter the production and deployment phase. Navy Capt. Daniel Fucito, program manager for Unmanned Carrier Aviation, described the contract as the program’s transition from development toward operational service. Program Scope and MissionThe Navy’s program of record covers 76 aircraft, including four engineering and manufacturing development vehicles and five system demonstration test articles. Seven test aircraft are currently in production, according to the Navy. The MQ-25A is intended to provide carrier air wings with an organic aerial-refueling capability. By assuming tanker duties currently performed by F/A-18 Super Hornets, the unmanned aircraft is expected to make more fighters available for strike missions while reducing flight hours associated with the refueling role. The Stingray will operate alongside crewed aircraft and use Lockheed Martin’s Unmanned Carrier Aviation Mission Control Station. The Navy also views the platform as an initial step toward broader integration of unmanned systems into carrier aviation. Development and TestingThe MQ-25 originated in the Carrier-Based Aerial-Refueling System program, which followed the earlier Unmanned Carrier-Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike effort. Boeing was selected for the program in August 2018 and received an $805 million development contract for four aircraft. Three additional test aircraft were ordered in April 2020. The first MQ-25 test vehicle flew on Sept. 19, 2019. In June 2021, it transferred fuel to an F/A-18F Super Hornet during a roughly 4.5-hour test mission. Subsequent testing included refueling work with the E-2 and F-35C. The Navy conducted the first flight of a developmental MQ-25 in April 2026. Flight testing is expected to continue through the end of fiscal 2029. Aircraft and Unit DetailsThe MQ-25A is powered by a single Rolls-Royce AE 3007N turbofan producing more than 10,000 pounds of thrust. Published Navy data lists a length of 51 feet and a wingspan of 75 feet when extended or 31.3 feet when folded for carrier storage. A Cobham aerial-refueling store is carried externally. Unmanned Carrier Launched Multi-Role Squadron 10 at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, serves as the MQ-25 Fleet Replacement Squadron and supports development of operating and maintenance procedures. The Navy established operational squadron VUQ-11 in April 2026. It is intended to be based at Naval Air Station Point Mugu, California, after operational aircraft are delivered and developmental testing concludes. A second operational unit, VUQ-12, is planned for a later date. View full article

Navy Places Blackbeard Production OrderThe U.S. Navy has awarded Castelion a Small Business Innovation Research Phase III production delivery order valued at up to $200 million for the Blackbeard hypersonic missile. Under the order, Castelion will manufacture, assemble, test, and deliver an initial lot of Blackbeard Hypersonic Weapon All-Up Rounds for naval aviation. The Navy and company releases did not specify the number of production rounds, delivery schedule, or unit price. The production weapons will follow 50 Early Operational Capability rounds ordered in June 2026, according to Castelion. The latest order moves the program from early operational capability prototypes into production. Air-Launched Strike RoleBlackbeard is an air-launched hypersonic weapon intended to provide carrier-based strike fighters with a long-range, high-speed strike option against maritime and land targets. The Navy said the weapon is designed to extend the reach of carrier strike groups, increase available magazine capacity, and improve aircraft survivability against advanced air defenses. The program builds on previous U.S. Army and Navy platform-integration contracts. The releases did not identify specific aircraft, integration schedules, or planned dates for operational deployment. Vice Adm. John “Doc” Dougherty IV, commander of Portfolio Acquisition Executive Aviation and Naval Air Systems Command, said the award pairs the Navy’s rapid-acquisition structure with commercial manufacturing practices to expand naval aviation’s strike capacity. Acquisition and Testing ApproachPortfolio Acquisition Executive Aviation issued the order through its Future Capability Development and Integration Aviation Rapid Capabilities Cell. The cell is part of an acquisition structure in which embedded rapid-capability organizations develop and transition scalable prototypes. The Navy described the award as an early use of rapid-acquisition initiatives supported by the Department of the Navy Rapid Capabilities Office. It also cited acquisition reforms in the fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act and authorities under the Small Business Innovation Development Act as the basis for transitioning privately financed technology directly into production. According to the Navy, this structure is intended to limit duplicated non-recurring engineering work and shorten the transition between development and manufacturing. Blackbeard’s test program will use mission-engineering processes and specialized testing software to support flight-clearance and safety requirements. No flight-test results or certification timeline were included in the releases. Manufacturing LocationsWork will take place at Castelion’s Project Ranger manufacturing campus in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, and at the company’s facility in Torrance, California. Project Ranger covers approximately 1,000 acres. Castelion said its production plan combines vertically integrated operations with commercial manufacturing methods, covering activities from raw materials through finished rounds. The company has funded Blackbeard with hundreds of millions of dollars in private investment while working with the Navy, Army and Air Force, according to its release. Program TransitionCastelion co-founder and CEO Bryon Hargis said the production decision followed progress made jointly with the Navy and that Blackbeard was designed with production requirements in mind. The Navy linked the award to its broader objective of obtaining lower-cost munitions in larger quantities and improving strike options in contested maritime areas. The releases did not provide the order’s maximum period of performance or indicate whether additional production lots are planned. View full article

U.S. and Germany Sign Defense Industrial AgreementU.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius signed an agreement Sept. 15, 2026, intended to expand defense industrial cooperation between the two countries. The agreement aligns the War Department’s acquisition transformation strategy with Germany’s Procurement Acceleration Act. According to Hegseth, the framework is intended to increase opportunities for joint development, production, licensed manufacturing, maintenance and sustainment. The officials said the objective is to expand production capacity and deliver military systems to U.S., German and allied forces more quickly and at greater scale. No individual programs, contract values or implementation deadlines were announced. NATO Spending and Industrial CapacityThe agreement followed Pentagon discussions covering increased European defense spending, NATO force contributions and the U.S. and German defense industrial bases. Hegseth placed the talks within what he calls “NATO 3.0,” a proposed approach emphasizing higher defense expenditures, troop readiness, weapons production and force contributions. President Donald Trump has called for NATO members to spend 5% of gross domestic product on defense. Hegseth said Germany was moving toward the 5% commitment made at the previous year’s Hague Summit. He added that spending increases would need to be accompanied by higher production on both sides of the Atlantic. The secretary also linked the agreement to the U.S. “arsenal of freedom” plan, which he described as an effort to expand domestic manufacturing, rebuild industrial capacity and increase production of U.S.-made defense equipment. Germany Reports Spending IncreasePistorius said Germany had increased defense spending by 25%, with expenditures equivalent to about $147 billion. He described the increase as part of a broader effort by European allies to assume primary responsibility for conventional deterrence in Europe and reduce the burden on the United States. Germany is purchasing new weapon systems from U.S. suppliers while expanding its role within NATO, Pistorius said. He cited German support for Ukraine and the deployment of an armored brigade in Lithuania as contributions to NATO’s eastern flank. Pistorius also identified space systems and deep-precision strike capabilities as areas of German technology investment. Germany is scheduled to roll out its first F-35A aircraft later in the week, according to the release. Production and Sustainment PrioritiesBoth officials identified increased production capacity as the agreement’s central aim. Hegseth said coordinating the countries’ acquisition and procurement policies could support shared manufacturing and sustainment arrangements for allied systems. Pistorius said the framework would provide a basis for closer bilateral armament cooperation after more than 70 years of Germany’s NATO membership. The release did not identify specific weapons, facilities or companies that would participate. European Role in NATOPistorius said Germany supports a larger European role in NATO while maintaining the transatlantic alliance. He characterized the effort as a shift in burden-sharing rather than a reduction in U.S.-European defense ties. “Together with our allies, we are working towards a stronger Europe and a stronger NATO,” Pistorius said, adding that Germany and the United States would continue cooperating on collective defense and resilience. View full article

Pentagon IG Details Operation Epic Fury CostsOperation Epic Fury cost an estimated $33.4 billion through June 29, according to a Pentagon Inspector General report covering operations from Feb. 28 through June 30, 2026. Iranian strikes damaged or destroyed hundreds of structures at U.S. bases, while dozens of American aircraft were lost or damaged. The estimate comprises $22.3 billion in expended munitions, $7.4 billion in cumulative operational obligations and $3.7 billion in equipment losses, calculated largely at replacement cost. It excludes infrastructure repairs, broader economic effects and some costs that remain under assessment. Through June 30, seven U.S. service members were killed in action, seven died in non-hostile incidents, and 417 were wounded in action. Four additional service members were killed in action in July. Bases and Aircraft HitIranian attacks damaged or destroyed buildings at U.S. bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman and Jordan. The military has not determined the full repair cost or its future basing posture, including which facilities will be rebuilt and how much allies may contribute. Aircraft losses included four F-15Es, one A-10, an AH-64 helicopter, an MH-60 helicopter, and as many as 30 MQ-9 intelligence and surveillance aircraft. Seven KC-135 tankers were damaged or destroyed, while an F-35A, E-3 surveillance aircraft, and HH-60W helicopter were damaged. Four AH-6 helicopters were destroyed by U.S. forces after becoming unrecoverable during combat search-and-rescue operations, and an MQ-4C uncrewed aircraft was reported crashed. The State Department separately estimated about $184 million in damage to U.S. embassies, consulates and other diplomatic facilities as of June 30. Munitions and Funding ShortfallsThe Pentagon’s acquisition and sustainment office told investigators that munitions use created “strategic inventory shortfalls” and exposed industrial-base bottlenecks. Persistent constraints include solid rocket motor production, supplies of high-grade explosives and propellants, and recruitment of skilled manufacturing workers. Officials said expanding production capacity requires significant lead time. About 90% of the operation’s $7.4 billion in obligations fell under operations and maintenance. The largest disbursement categories were airlift operations at $929.6 million, flying-hour costs at $691.1 million, ship operations at $647.7 million, base support at $405 million and maneuver units at $385.3 million. Because Congress did not provide a dedicated fiscal 2026 appropriation for the operation, military components used base-budget funds otherwise intended for activities including training and maintenance. On June 24, the White House requested $87.6 billion in emergency supplemental funding, including $67.1 billion for the military, largely for Epic Fury. That request included $21 billion for munitions and $17.3 billion for operational costs. Scope of the CampaignThe United States launched Epic Fury with Israel on Feb. 28 to target Iran’s nuclear, missile, naval, and security infrastructure. More than 50,000 U.S. personnel deployed across the Central Command region. Between Feb. 28 and an April 7 ceasefire, U.S. forces struck about 13,500 targets, conducted approximately 36,000 combat sorties and carried out more than 1,800 fire missions. A blockade of Iranian ports ran from April 13 to June 18. U.S. forces redirected more than 140 vessels, disabled 10 non-compliant ships, and permitted passage for more than 50 commercial vessels supporting humanitarian aid. The report’s accounting ends June 30 and does not include the full costs and losses from renewed daily strikes in July. The complete mission statement for Epic Fury remains classified. View full article

U.S. Acknowledges Weapons in OrbitThe U.S. military has publicly acknowledged for the first time that the Space Force operates weapons in Earth’s orbit. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said during a Sept. 14 keynote at the Air, Space and Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Maryland, that the service has “on-orbit space control weapons capable of defending the Joint Force against hostile adversary action.” Meink, who oversees the Air Force and Space Force, said the disclosure was intentional and its wording “very well thought out.” He did not identify the systems, disclose how many are deployed, or say whether they use kinetic or non-kinetic methods. Details Remain ClassifiedMeink said acknowledging the weapons’ existence could support deterrence, but releasing technical or operational details would not. “We’re not going to talk about the specifics of what we’re doing, whether we’ve tested, not tested, or anything else,” he said. “I would just say that the space environment is critical for military and economic security, and we need to make sure that the U.S. can operate freely there.” An Air Force spokesperson said the systems are intended to defend the military “against space-enabled attack.” Meink similarly said the United States has taken steps to respond when threatened and must maintain its position in both air and space. China and Russia Cited as ThreatsThe Air Force said the United States has warned about Russian and Chinese weapons testing in space since 2007. China has operated spacecraft capable of damaging other satellites, while the Space Force says Russia is developing a satellite “designed to carry a nuclear weapon.” “Due to their actions, it is no longer a question that space is a warfighting domain,” the spokesperson said. “Space control is part of how the Joint Force protects national security interests.” The spokesperson added that public communication can strengthen deterrence, reduce the risk of adversary miscalculation, and normalize space operations alongside those of other military services. The disclosure represents a shift from past U.S. reluctance to discuss anti-satellite capabilities. Destroying satellites in orbit can create debris that threatens other spacecraft and astronauts. Golden Dome Programs AdvanceMeink also highlighted two Space Force projects within the Pentagon’s Golden Dome missile defense initiative: the Space-Based Interceptor program and the Space-Based Air-Moving Target Indication constellation. The interceptor program is intended to detect and defeat missile threats from space. Meink said it progressed from an initial contract to flight-ready hardware in less than a year. The Space Force is using a prize competition to assess affordability and scalability, with a possible initial capability targeted for 2028. Golden Dome Director Gen. Michael Guetlein said contractors completed the first phase, which covered design work and component-level testing. The following phases call for prototype construction, demonstrations in space and integration with the wider Golden Dome architecture. Satellite Tracking ConstellationThe Space-Based Air-Moving Target Indication program will use satellites to supplement airborne threat-tracking missions traditionally conducted by aircraft. The Space Force is working with the National Reconnaissance Office on the constellation, which is intended to remain operational against adversary anti-access and aerial-denial systems. SpaceX received a $4.2 billion contract in May to begin building the constellation. Meink said the first satellites would launch in September, but the Space Force has not disclosed the size of the initial launch or the planned number of spacecraft. View full article

Declassified Footage Details Iran Rescue OperationsNewly declassified footage shared by CBS 60 Minutes, shows how the U.S. military recovered two Air Force officers after their F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down south of Isfahan, Iran, on April 2. The crew, identified by the call signs Alpha and Bravo because of security concerns, ejected after a shoulder-fired surface-to-air missile struck their aircraft. They landed about five miles apart and were recovered in separate operations. Alpha was rescued within six hours, while Bravo remained behind enemy lines for approximately 50 hours. The mission involved combat aircraft, intelligence assets, aerial refueling, special operations aviation and more than 90 U.S. personnel on the ground. Several hundred personnel operated in the air, with several thousand supporting the operation. Shootdown and SeparationAlpha was the pilot, while Bravo was the weapons systems officer in the two-seat fighter. Their mission, according to U.S. Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper, was to strike industrial facilities associated with Iran’s drone and missile program. After the missile hit, the crew attempted to save the aircraft before ejecting. Bravo’s parachute was damaged, leaving him falling at an estimated 70 to 100 mph. He broke his back, arm and shoulder when he landed. “At one point when I looked up and saw no parachute, that was the most terrifying thing I’ve ever seen,” Bravo said. He recalled praying during the fall and later described his survival as a “modern-day miracle.” Despite his injuries, Bravo moved away from his landing site and climbed toward a ridgeline at roughly 7,000 feet. Iranian search teams reportedly came within a few hundred meters of his location. Alpha Recovered Under FireAlpha was recovered during a risky daylight operation involving 21 aircraft and an HH-60W Jolly Green II combat search-and-rescue helicopter. The rescue force encountered fire on its way into and out of the area. The team was unable to locate Bravo and withdrew after recovering Alpha. Alpha has since returned to flying but declined a public interview. In a statement, he praised the professionalism of the combat search-and-rescue specialists and other personnel involved. As night fell, Bravo sent a message confirming that he was injured but still moving. A potential rescue attempt was postponed because operational conditions did not align, leaving him exposed for another day with little food or water in the cold and wind of the high desert. Second Rescue Uses Ground ForceU.S. intelligence monitored Bravo and Iranian movements while the CIA conducted a deception campaign intended to confuse the search effort. American bombers and drones also struck nearby Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces before the second extraction began. Two MC-130 aircraft landed on an improvised desert airstrip about 10 miles from Bravo. The force then launched compact MH-6M Little Bird helicopters to reach his position in the restricted mountain terrain. More than 90 U.S. service members deployed on the ground, described by Cooper as the first American boots on the ground in Iran in 46 years. When rescuers reached Bravo near sunrise, he told them, “Let’s go.” Aircraft Lost During ExtractionThe operation faced another complication when the MC-130 aircraft became stuck in sand at the makeshift airstrip. A clandestine Air Force unit subsequently helped extract the stranded personnel. The United States destroyed the two MC-130s, each valued at about $100 million, along with the Little Bird helicopters to prevent their technology from being captured. Bravo was brought to safety about 50 hours after the shootdown, as the sun rose on Easter Sunday. The downed F-15E was valued at approximately $30 million, while the shoulder-fired missile that brought it down may have cost around $100,000. Bravo said the recovery reflected the combined effects of training, teamwork, leadership, and the military commitment to retrieve isolated personnel. View full article

Air Force Sets 2032 Deployment TargetThe U.S. Air Force plans to field at least 500 semi-autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft by 2032, pairing lower-cost uncrewed jets with conventional fighters. The service’s longer-term objective is to acquire roughly 1,000 combat-ready aircraft under the program. The first production designs are the General Atomics FQ-42 Vengeance and Anduril Industries FQ-44 Fury. Both were selected for Increment I of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, and an initial production contract calls for a combined 150 aircraft by 2030. Pricing was not disclosed. The aircraft are intended to operate alongside the F-22 Raptor, F-35 Lightning II and planned Boeing F-47. The FQ-44 is also identified as a potential partner for the F-15EX Eagle II. Operational RoleCollaborative Combat Aircraft are designed to serve as robotic wingmen in human-machine formations. Mission-autonomy software will allow them to conduct assigned tasks with limited pilot intervention, including extending sensor coverage, carrying additional air-to-air weapons and operating ahead of crewed fighters. The Air Force expects the platforms to increase the number of aircraft available in contested airspace while distributing risk across crewed and uncrewed systems. Although neither design is described as expendable, their lower projected cost is intended to let commanders accept risks that may be unsuitable for crewed fighters. “Developing semi-autonomous platforms alongside traditional fighters fundamentally expands our tactical options in modern contested airspace,” an Air Force official said at the Air & Space Forces Association’s Air, Space & Cyber Conference. FQ-42 DevelopmentThe FQ-42 is derived from General Atomics’ XQ-67A Off-Board Sensing Station demonstrator and belongs to the company’s Gambit family of uncrewed combat aircraft. Its configuration includes a single engine, dorsal-mounted inlet, slender wings, V-tail surfaces and an internal weapons bay. Planned armament includes two AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles. The YFQ-42A prototype first flew on Aug. 27, 2025. General Atomics named the prototype Dark Merlin in February 2026, while the Air Force assigned Vengeance to the production FQ-42 in September 2026. One prototype was lost shortly after takeoff on April 6, 2026. The mishap was attributed to an autopilot miscalculation involving aircraft weight and center of gravity. Flight testing resumed May 21. FQ-44 Development and SpecificationsThe FQ-44 began as an aggressor-aircraft concept developed by Blue Force Technologies, first called Grackle and later REDmedium and Fury. Anduril acquired Blue Force in 2023 and adapted the design for the Air Force program. The YFQ-44 completed its first flight on Oct. 31, 2025, and the Air Force formally retained the Fury name for the production aircraft in September 2026. The single-engine aircraft is approximately half the dimensions of an F-16, with swept trapezoidal wings, a chin-mounted inlet and external weapon stations. Estimated specifications include a 20-foot length, 17-foot wingspan and 5,000-pound maximum takeoff weight. Powered by a Williams FJ44-4M turbofan producing about 4,000 pounds of thrust, the Fury is designed for speeds up to Mach 0.95 and altitudes of 50,000 feet. It has two external weapon stations and is listed as capable of carrying as many as four AIM-120 missiles. View full article