British and Norwegian F-35 fighters escorted a US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress over the High North during Exercise Global Thunder 27 on October 24.
Defense
Bombardier and BAE Systems have signed an MoU to explore next-generation combat-air cooperation in Canada, three months after Ottawa gained observer status in GCAP. The agreement creates potential industrial opportunities as Canada strengthens its defence aerospace sector and Germany considers joining the sixth-generation fighter programme.
Discover how much US Air Force pilots earn in 2026, from Captains and Majors to senior Generals. Explore official base pay ranges, flying responsibilities, military allowances and aviation retention bonuses.
The Hudson Institute recommends that the US Air Force develop and procure 250 medium-sized blended-wing-body tankers to strengthen aerial refueling capabilities in the Indo-Pacific. The proposed aircraft could deliver more fuel over longer distances while potentially reducing 30-year fleet costs by $15.5 billion. The proposal comes as JetZero prepares for the Z4 demonstrator’s planned first flight in late 2027.
The United States and Japan have agreed to establish a facility in Japan for the final assembly and inspection of AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM), strengthening bilateral cooperation on weapons production.
The US Air Force has moved its AGM-183A ARRW hypersonic missile into production under a $694 million Lockheed Martin contract, reviving a programme that faced repeated test failures and funding uncertainty.
Exercise Rummy, held on October 20–21, 2026, advances cooperation under the Northwood Declaration while both countries retain independent nuclear forces and decision-making authority.
Canada has received its first 2 Lockheed Martin CF-35A Lightning II fighter jets at Luke Air Force Base, near Phoenix, Arizona.
The Pentagon and Lockheed Martin have announced a 10-year framework targeting 1,560 F-35 fighters at a production rate of 156 aircraft annually.
The U.S. Air Force has proposed a $1.057 billion F-47 Future Campus at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. The first phase includes an operations and maintenance hangar, reprogramming laboratory, simulator facility and aircraft apron, with construction targeted for completion in March 2031. Additional maintenance, training and support facilities are planned through 2032, while the fighter’s permanent operational basing locations remain unspecified.