Platforms & Systems Archives - Page 3 of 6

E-7 Wedgetail Scrapped by Air Force Over Cost Overruns and Vulnerability Risks

The U.S. Air Force has decided to halt the E-7 Wedgetail airborne early-warning and control program, ending a three-year effort to replace the aging E-3 Sentry fleet with a more modern, radar-equipped 737 derivative. Defense officials disclosed the move during the FY-26

July 1, 2025

Aircraft Propulsion

Italian Air Force Orders 54 EJ200 Powerplants from EUROJET for Upcoming Eurofighter Batch

EUROJET Turbo GmbH has agreed to deliver up to fifty-four new EJ200 engines for the Italian Air Force's forthcoming batch of twenty-four Eurofighter Typhoons. Defense officials confirm the deal was signed in Rome with the NATO Eurofighter & Tornado Management Agency (NETMA)

June 30, 2025

Space Systems

FY 2026 Request: Space Force Seeks $277M for MILNET and Pauses Tranche 3 Transport Layer

The Space Force wants $277 million next year to launch the Military Internet (MILNET) constellation and has frozen money for the Space Development Agency's Tranche 3 Transport Layer. Defense officials confirm the shift appears in the service's fiscal 2026 budget books, released

June 30, 2025

Aircraft

Weapons Tester Cites Further F-35 Challenges (excerpt)

The Pentagon’s Director of Operational Test and Evaluation has sent fresh shockwaves through the F-35 community. His memo to senior leaders says the Joint Strike Fighter remains far from its promised combat edge even though the U.S. Air Force just marked the

August 23, 2016

Aircraft

Aviation Week Reader Comments Above Story

Lockheed Martin’s F-35 program has drawn thousands of reader remarks on Aviation Week since the aircraft reached initial service. The most pointed thread this week grew out of a comment by retired Marine officer Don Bacon. He noted that “150 to 160

September 20, 2017

Helicopters

Bell Textron Delivers First MV-75 FLRAA Virtual Prototype to U.S. Army for Early Testing

Bell Textron has handed the first MV-75 virtual prototype to the U.S. Army, marking a concrete step in the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft program. Defense officials confirm the hand-off took place at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, on 24 June, only eighteen months after

June 26, 2025

Aircraft

UK Commits to Purchase 12 F-35A Fighters for NATO Nuclear Sharing Mission

The United Kingdom confirmed it will acquire at least twelve F-35A Lightning II fighters, adding a land-based nuclear mission to the Royal Air Force for the first time since 1998. Defense officials confirm the jets will form part of NATO's Dual-Capable Aircraft

June 25, 2025

Aircraft

Lockheed F-16V, Saab Gripen Compete for Slovakian Order

Slovakia has reached the point of decision after more than a decade of debate over its MiG-29 replacement. Formal offers now sit on the defence minister’s desk from two camps: Lockheed Martin with the F-16V Block 70/72 and Sweden’s Saab with the

April 12, 2018

Aircraft

USAF Plans for Radical F-35 Upgrade Reveal Obsolescence

Foreign air forces that bought the F-35A woke up this week to a blunt statement from Major Gen. Jeffrey Harrigian, the U.S. Air Force officer who runs the program. He told Reuters on April 7 that engineers had started scoping a new

April 8, 2015

Space Systems

Chinese Shijian-25 and -21 Satellites Execute Close GEO Rendezvous for Refueling Test

WASHINGTON — The Chinese spacecraft Shijian-21 and Shijian-25 have come within docking range high over the equator twice this month, and data suggest a third close pass is hours away. According to industry sources, the two satellites occupy nearly identical geostationary slots

June 21, 2025

Platforms & Systems - Page 3