A Forecast International blog about the arms trade, geopolitics, defense and security, and military spending.
The past few weeks have yielded a burst of updates on the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, one of the U.S. Air Force’s fastest-moving and high-profile defense initiatives. Since …
AI Pilots, Names, Missiles, and Engines: The Air Force Ups the Pace on Wingman Drones Read More
Boeing and Lockheed Martin’s combined fourth-quarter reports indicate a banner year for fighter aircraft deliveries, but a deeper look reveals important context and program-specific headwinds from 2025. Overall, the only …
American Fighter Primes in Review: A Breakdown of Boeing and Lockheed Martin’s 2025 Jet Deliveries Read More
On Tuesday, a U.S. Marine Corps F-35C Lightning II fighter operating from the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) aircraft carrier shot down an Iranian drone in the Arabian Sea. Reports indicate …
U.S. F-35C Downs Iranian Drone Amid Escalation in the Gulf Read More
In end-of-year contract action, the Pentagon announced on December 29 an $8.58 billion award to Boeing to build 25 new F-15IA aircraft for Israel. The ten-year Foreign Military Sale …
Israeli Order for F-15IAs Underscores Eagle II’s Potential Read More
Lockheed Martin closed 2025 with a record number of 191 F-35 deliveries across all three variants. The figure eclipses the airframer’s previous high mark in 2021 by nearly 50 units. …
Record F-35 Deliveries Bolstered by Catch-Up Read More
Executing the first order of a broader contract, the U.S. Navy has awarded BAE Systems $322 million to produce Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) kits to equip the Army, …
U.S. Initiates BAE Laser-Guided Munitions Contract Amid C-UAS Growth Read More
Contract awards are continuing to pile up for Boeing and the U.S. Army’s CH-47 Block II Chinook program, proving the service’s commitment to the modernized variant. In late September, the …
Boeing Wins Big in Recent Chinook Push Read More
Recent months have produced a blur of activity in the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) market segment, most notably with developments related to the Air Force’s CCA or drone loyal wingman …
U.S. CCAs: Breaking Down the Field Read More
With activity at this year’s Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) exposition in Washington swirling around C-UAS, Air Launched Effects, and unmanned ground vehicles, the show also delivered on several …
Army Aviation at AUSA: Three Leading Stories Read More
In the flurry of last-minute defense spending before the fiscal year’s end, the Pentagon moved to formalize Lot 18 and 19 F-35 production with a $12.5 billion contract for Lockheed …
Lockheed Martin Secures F-35 Contract for 296 Fighters Read More