Hermeus Unveils Air-Launched Ramjet-X Test Vehicle
https://aviationweek.com/defense/ai...us-unveils-air-launched-ramjet-x-test-vehicleSmart - separate the risk from the expensive air vehicle to facilitate testing.
Castelion Moves Blackbeard into Production with U.S. Navy Order Valued Up to $200 Million
Castelion Moves Blackbeard into Production with U.S. Navy Order Valued Up to $200 Million - Castelion
Castelion today announced a production delivery order from the U.S. Navy, with a total value of up to $200 million, to manufacture, assemble, test, and deliver an initial lot of Blackbeard Hypersonic Weapons to the fleet. Awarded by Portfolio Acquisition Executive Aviation (PAE(A)) through its...
www.castelion.com
Air Force secretary acknowledges the US has weapons in space
Troy Meink's statement is seen as a clear warning to China and Russia.
View: https://x.com/SwarmAero/status/2099483870278127680?s=20
Swarm Unveils Gamera: A New Category of Low-Cost, Global Reach Aircraft for Persistent Strike and Sensing to Transform Global Power Projection
Swarm Unveils Gamera: A New Category of Low-Cost, Global Reach Aircraft for Persistent Strike and Sensing to Transform Global Power Projection
Air Force Eyes New-Build F-16s to Boost Fighter Force
The Air Force will consider acquiring new F-16 Fighting Falcon jets to answer capacity shortfalls in its aging fighter fleet, sources say.
www.airandspaceforces.com
The Air Force will consider acquiring new F-16 Fighting Falcon jets to help fill capacity shortfalls in its aging fighter fleet, multiple people familiar with the matter told Air & Space Forces Magazine. These discussions are happening as the Air Force is building its proposed fiscal 2028 budget and the five-year spending plan that goes with it.
Buying new F-16s—which would be the U.S.’s first in more than 20 years—is viewed as one way to quickly build back lost fighter capacity, as Lockheed Martin continues to operate a hot production line for the aircraft. Buying F-16s from Lockheed, which also produces the F-35 Lightning II, would have parallels to the decision to acquire F-15EX Eagle IIs from Boeing, which likewise came after a yearslong gap in USAF purchases.
The new-build F-16s, potentially dubbed “F-16G” to reflect upgrades from existing F-16C and D models, could be on the agenda for discussion when Air Force four-stars gather this fall for a Corona gathering of top service officials.
Inside Defense reported in December 2025 the Air Force had made inquiries with Lockheed about the pricing for new F-16s.
Northrop Grumman, which is developing two major upgrades for existing F-16s, would also likely benefit. The company is working on the Integrated Viper Electronic Warfare Suite, or IVEWS, and an upgraded large aperture targeting pod called LITENING LA.
IVEWS, also known as the AN/ALQ-257, is an advanced electronic warfare system providing radar warning, active jamming, and detecting, identifying and locating of potential threats.
A source familiar with the issue, who asked not to be named to speak more freely, said any new F-16 would likely have IVEWS and multiple other new capabilities placing it not only beyond the legacy C and D fighters, but also the Block 70 fighters Lockheed is currently building.
“If the Air Force were to buy a new F-16, this would not be your grandfather’s F-16,” the source said. “This would be more akin to buying an F-15EX.”
The source said buying more F-16s would make sense for the Air Force, since Lockheed and Boeing are facing capacity constraints limiting how many F-35As and F-15EXs, respectively, they can build. And the service’s existing fleet of F-16s has been flown hard in the wars of recent decades, the source said.
“There’s only so many times you can do a service life extension program before you begin to lose the strength and integrity of the airframe itself,” the source said.
Buying new F-16s—which would be the U.S.’s first in more than 20 years—is viewed as one way to quickly build back lost fighter capacity, as Lockheed Martin continues to operate a hot production line for the aircraft. Buying F-16s from Lockheed, which also produces the F-35 Lightning II, would have parallels to the decision to acquire F-15EX Eagle IIs from Boeing, which likewise came after a yearslong gap in USAF purchases.
The new-build F-16s, potentially dubbed “F-16G” to reflect upgrades from existing F-16C and D models, could be on the agenda for discussion when Air Force four-stars gather this fall for a Corona gathering of top service officials.
Inside Defense reported in December 2025 the Air Force had made inquiries with Lockheed about the pricing for new F-16s.
Northrop Grumman, which is developing two major upgrades for existing F-16s, would also likely benefit. The company is working on the Integrated Viper Electronic Warfare Suite, or IVEWS, and an upgraded large aperture targeting pod called LITENING LA.
IVEWS, also known as the AN/ALQ-257, is an advanced electronic warfare system providing radar warning, active jamming, and detecting, identifying and locating of potential threats.
A source familiar with the issue, who asked not to be named to speak more freely, said any new F-16 would likely have IVEWS and multiple other new capabilities placing it not only beyond the legacy C and D fighters, but also the Block 70 fighters Lockheed is currently building.
“If the Air Force were to buy a new F-16, this would not be your grandfather’s F-16,” the source said. “This would be more akin to buying an F-15EX.”
The source said buying more F-16s would make sense for the Air Force, since Lockheed and Boeing are facing capacity constraints limiting how many F-35As and F-15EXs, respectively, they can build. And the service’s existing fleet of F-16s has been flown hard in the wars of recent decades, the source said.
“There’s only so many times you can do a service life extension program before you begin to lose the strength and integrity of the airframe itself,” the source said.
Cessna Cuts Cockpit Out Of SkyCourier Cargo Hauler For Uncrewed Logistics
Cessna Cuts Cockpit Out Of SkyCourier Cargo Hauler For Uncrewed Logistics
As China moves at warp speed on uncrewed aerial logistics, Textron is offering a similar solution to the Pentagon with SkyCourier UX.
www.twz.com
Lockheed’s New Modular JASSM Offers Swappable Noses and Launch Options
Lockheed Martin’s New Modular JASSM Offers Options
Lockheed Martin has unveiled its concept for a modular version of its Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile called the AGM-158 FLEX.
www.airandspaceforces.com
Lockheed Pitches Advanced F-16G To U.S. Air Force | Aviation Week
Lockheed Martin is pitching an upgraded variant of the F-16, called the F-16G, to the U.S. Air Force to fill Fighting Falcon units that will age out of their existing fighters.
aviationweek.com
Multiple sources told Aviation Week that the F-16G is an improved version of the latest Block 70 variant of the fighter. A source familiar with the aircraft says it will include conformal fuel tanks, 600-gal. wing tanks, both an infrared search and track and SNIPER targeting pods and a drag chute.
NASA Chief Teases Mysterious Aircraft as Agency Plans New X-Planes
An unidentified aircraft resembling the SR-71 Blackbird appeared in Jared Isaacman’s All-In Summit presentation. Asked whether it was an SR-71, the NASA
theaviationist.com
