#defense-procurement

#defense-procurement

Built by Lockheed Martin with major contributions from BAE Systems and Northrop Grumman, the F-35 Lightning II entered front-line service in the 2010s and has quickly become integral to allied air fleets worldwide. What sets the F-35 apart from other fighter jets is its mix of stealth and supersonic cruise without afterburner (supercruise-style performance). It also features flexible payload options as it can haul roughly 18,000 pounds of ordnance when fully loaded out.

"Now, high-quality space systems are mandatory, but they're not relevant if we wait for them to be near-perfect before we put them in the hands of warfighters,"

The drone, said Mingus, "is our IED of today" - a war-transforming technology that smaller powers could use to put big powers at a disadvantage. Ukraine has demonstrated this brilliantly over the last few years through its innovative use of drones to stymie the invading Russians.

Anduril announced Tuesday that a fleet of its XL uncrewed undersea vehicle (XLUUV) "Ghost Shark" will begin operations in Australian waters next year under a massive AUS$1.7 billion (US$1.1 billion) contract. The five-year award structure is the defense-startup holy grail; it's a program of record that essentially locks in recurring revenue by becoming a line item in the country's defense budget. The contract for the platform, which provides long-range, stealthy surveillance and strike operations, covers delivery, maintenance, and continued development.

In Ukraine, low-cost drones have upended the battlefield - spotting enemy troops, foiling maneuvers, and wrecking tanks with gear sometimes worth just a few hundred dollars. Russia and Ukraine are both betting big on this inexpensive technology. Ukraine said that it made 2.2 million drones last year and aims to make 4 million this year, and Russian President Vladimir Putin said in April that Russia made more than 1.5 million drones last year. And there are plans to expand that.

India has decided to halt the procurement of new U.S. weapons and aircraft, reacting to the 25% tariffs imposed by President Trump, which has significantly strained bilateral ties.

Spain's defense ministry announced it would not pursue the US-designed F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter, choosing to invest in European-made aircraft instead. This decision was influenced by NATO concerns regarding the US commitment under President Trump's administration.