US firms to begin production of autonomous fighter jets that can team up with crewed jets
The U.S. Air Force has awarded production contract for its Collaborative Combat Aircraft program. The engineering and manufacturing development and production contracts have been awarded to General Atomics, FQ-42, and Anduril, FQ-44 for CCA Increment 1.
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Go Big on Airpower
The Pentagon’s record $1.5 trillion defense budget reveals interesting differences in how each service seeks to spend its share of this trove of national treasure. The Army and Navy are going big on procurement. The Space Force is investing across the board. And the Air Force leaders prioritized near-term readiness—with good reason.
RAAF and US Air Force conduct first joint F-35A weapons integration flight test
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has announced the completion of its first joint Weapon Fill Measurement Vehicle flight test on an F-35A Lightning II, carried out in tandem with the United States. Officials consider this to be a milestone that will help accelerate the integration of weapons onto the advanced fighter jet.
US Air Force deploys Hivemind software to enable autonomous multi-aircraft combat
Shield AI has secured a U.S. Air Force production contract to deploy its Hivemind autonomy software as part of the service’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, marking a key step in the military’s effort to field autonomous wingmen alongside crewed fighters.
Belgium Has Seven More F-16s for Ukraine—and Says More Could Be Coming
Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken has outlined new plans for the delivery of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, announcing an increase in both the number and operational status of aircraft to be transferred, according to UNITED24 Media correspondents.
British aircraft carrier launches fighter jets in Arctic
British F-35B stealth fighters have embarked on the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales and are flying from her deck as the fleet flagship conducts heightened vigilance in the North Atlantic under NATO’s Arctic Sentry mission, the Royal Navy has said.
India’s 5G Fighter Aircraft Dilemma
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has a 5G problem, not the telecom one, but an aerospace problem. At the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on June 5, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered India joint production of the SU-57 fifth-generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) without any “issues or limitations.”
Two French Rafales intercept Russian military aircraft over the Baltics, and the mission shows how quickly NATO’s warning line is moving
Six Russian military aircraft operating over the Baltic on June 2, 2026, triggered a NATO response that brought French Rafale fighters and Swedish Gripen jets into the air. The mission ended without reported escalation after the aircraft were visually identified and escorted until they left the Baltic area of responsibility, according to the source material and subsequent reporting.
Anduril Wins Production Contract for U.S. Air Force CCA Program
A new era of airpower focused on autonomy and affordable mass is moving into mass production: today, the Air Force selected Anduril for the production phase of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program. Under the contract, Anduril will deliver an initial set of production FQ-44 semi-autonomous fighter aircraft to support continued testing, validation, and, ultimately, operational fielding. The contract also establishes a structure for the Air Force to buy additional lots of production FQ-44 aircraft across the next several years, providing a clear path for the Air Force to rapidly and affordably expand fighter capacity.
Mexico Weighs 12 Fighter Jets in Air Defense Overhaul
Mexico’s Ministry of National Defense (SEDENA) has initiated a market analysis to acquire 12 modern combat aircraft to replace its aging fleet of Northrop F-5E/F Tiger II fighter jets. The procurement project, targeted for completion by 2028, aims to strengthen Mexico’s airspace surveillance, protection, and defense capabilities.
