Category -- Air -- The Defense Post

Feb- 2026 -

24 February

B-2 Spirit Modernization Advances With First Flight of SNC Comms Suite

SNC has completed the maiden flight of its Adaptable Communications Suite with the B-2 Spirit heavy strategic bomber aircraft.

24 February

Anduril test fires its hypersonic solid rocket motor for a US Navy missile.

Ronald Watkins

Anduril Secures $43M to Boost US Solid Rocket Motor Production

The US Department of Defense has awarded Anduril Industries $43.7 million in additional funding to expand domestic production of solid rocket motors.

24 February

Rojoef Manuel

Russia Equips Molniya Kamikaze Drones With Shahed Modems

Russia has begun installing Shahed mesh modems on its Molniya tactical unmanned aerial systems to counter Ukrainian forces.

24 February

Rojoef Manuel

General Atomics Names Loyal Wingman Prototype YFQ-42A ‘Dark Merlin’

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. has selected “Dark Merlin” as the name for its YFQ-42A unmanned aerial system bid under the US Air Force Collaborative Combat Aircraft program.

24 February

Concepts of the uncrewed fighter aircraft YFQ-42A (bottom) and the YFQ-44A are pictured in artwork. The aircraft are designed to leverage autonomous capabilities and crewed-uncrewed teaming to defeat enemy threats in contested environments. (U.S. Air Force artwork courtesy of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. and Anduril Industries)

Inder Singh Bisht

GE, Kratos Secure US Air Force Contract for Expendable ‘Loyal Wingman’ Engine

The US Air Force has awarded a joint $12.4-million contract to GE Aerospace and Kratos to design an engine for Collaborative Combat Aircraft.

24 February

Tomahawk cruise missile launch from Mk 41 Vertical Launching System

Bea Castañeda

MK 41 VLS: A Guide to the Backbone of Modern Naval Firepower

This guide breaks down the Mk 41 Vertical Launching System, explaining how its modular design enables warships to launch diverse missiles from a single system.

24 February

Barak MX air and missile defense system that Greece will use for its Achilles’ Shield. Image: RAFAEL

Akhsan Erido Elezhar

AI Joins Greece’s Achilles’ Shield, Automating Air Defense Decisions

Greece is injecting an artificial intelligence “brain” into its Achilles’ Shield air defense system, aiming to automate threat detection and interceptor selection against modern aerial threats.

24 February

Jodesz Gavilan

Northrop, US Air Force Accelerate B‑21 Raider Production

Northrop Grumman and the US Air Force are accelerating production of the B-21 Raider.

24 February

A SAMP/T air defense system is seen firing off a ballistic missile from the back of the military truck. Smoke and bright white-red fire can be seen jutting out of the missile as it flies straight upward. The background is a clear blue sky.

Jodesz Gavilan

Switzerland Considers European SAMP/T After US Patriot Delay

Switzerland is reconsidering its air defense plans after the US indefinitely delayed the delivery of Patriot missile batteries, prompting Bern to look more seriously at a European alternative.

23 February