Lucas Meyer, Author at DEFENSE-AEROSPACE

U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Joshua Magbanua

Turkish C-130 Broke Up Over Georgia After Leaving Azerbaijan, Killing All 20 on Board

A Turkish Air Force C-130E Hercules that departed Ganja International Airport in Azerbaijan on 11 November broke apart in midair over eastern Georgia, killing all 20 people on board. Video shot from the ground shows the center section descending in a spin

November 11, 2025

U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. Alexandria Romanack

Contracts & Deals

Three Indian Army AH-64E Apaches Return to Arizona After An-124 Delivery Flight Stalls in the UK

On 8 November, Antonov An-124 heavy transport UR-82008 returned to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport in Arizona carrying three AH-64E Apache Guardian helicopters for the Indian Army. The aircraft had left the same airfield a week earlier for India and was due to make

November 10, 2025

Defense Budgets / Policy

Senate Confirms Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach as 24th U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff

The Senate confirmed Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach as the 24th Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force following Gen. David W. Allvin’s early retirement effective around November 1. The Senate approved the nomination by unanimous consent on October 30 after

November 5, 2025

U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. John Raven

Contracts & Deals

Boeing Defense Posts Positive Q3 Results Despite St. Louis Labor Stoppage

Boeing reported about $23.3 billion in third-quarter revenue, including a core loss driven by a $4.9 billion charge tied to the commercial 777X program’s updated certification schedule. Free cash flow was slightly positive, and the FAA cleared a step-up of 737 production

October 29, 2025

Aircraft

Trump Flags Possible Bad Fuel in Back-To-Back USS Nimitz Crashes in South China Sea

Two aircraft from USS Nimitz went down in the South China Sea on October 26 within roughly thirty minutes. A U.S. Navy MH-60R Sea Hawk from Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 73 and an F/A-18F Super Hornet from Strike Fighter Squadron 22 were

October 29, 2025

Air & Missile Defense Systems

Anduril Wins Army Counter-UAS Fire-Control Competition

The Army named Anduril the winner of its competition for a new counter-drone fire-control system run with the Defense Innovation Unit. Defense officials confirm the October 15 selection followed competitive testing. The award covers fire-control software for counter-UAS that fuses sensor tracks

October 18, 2025

AI & Autonomy

YFQ-44A Flight Imminent, Anduril Advances Early Autonomy for Air Force Collaborative Combat Aircraft

Air Force leadership set mid-October for the first flight of Anduril’s YFQ-44A, the company’s entrant in the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program. The aircraft will use push-button departure and recovery with no conventional stick and throttle while human operators watch from the ground.

September 24, 2025

Missiles / Drones / Directed Energy

Army to lead Joint Interagency Task Force 401, consolidating Replicator 2 and DoD counter-drone programs

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the Army to establish a new joint interagency task force to speed delivery of counter-drone systems across the U.S. military. The entity, designated Joint Interagency Task Force 401, will sit under the Deputy Secretary of Defense

September 12, 2025

Aircraft

First Flight for General Atomics Collaborative Combat Aircraft Starts Edwards and Nellis Test Campaigns

General Atomics' YFQ-42A collaborative combat aircraft completed its first flight on August 27, 2025, with the U.S. Air Force announcing the milestone the same day.

September 12, 2025

Cybersecurity & Electronic Warfare

Defense memo orders JIATF 401 under Army leadership to fast-track acquisition and fielding of counter-small UAS

The Pentagon has ordered the Army to stand up Joint Interagency Task Force 401 and shut down the Joint Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office once the new team is in place.

September 5, 2025

Lucas Meyer

Turkish C-130 Broke Up Over Georgia After Leaving Azerbaijan, Killing All 20 on Board

Three Indian Army AH-64E Apaches Return to Arizona After An-124 Delivery Flight Stalls in the UK

Senate Confirms Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach as 24th U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff

Boeing Defense Posts Positive Q3 Results Despite St. Louis Labor Stoppage

Trump Flags Possible Bad Fuel in Back-To-Back USS Nimitz Crashes in South China Sea

Anduril Wins Army Counter-UAS Fire-Control Competition

YFQ-44A Flight Imminent, Anduril Advances Early Autonomy for Air Force Collaborative Combat Aircraft

Army to lead Joint Interagency Task Force 401, consolidating Replicator 2 and DoD counter-drone programs

First Flight for General Atomics Collaborative Combat Aircraft Starts Edwards and Nellis Test Campaigns

Defense memo orders JIATF 401 under Army leadership to fast-track acquisition and fielding of counter-small UAS

Authors

Julien Mercier

Clara Nguyen

Priya Shah

Michael Adler

Lena Kovacs

Diego Ramos

Peter Johansson

Lucas Meyer