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US Air Force awards contract for drone wingman engines

US Air Force Taps Honeywell to Build Engines for Autonomous Drone Wingmen

The US Air Force has awarded Honeywell a prototype contract to adapt its SkyShot 1600 engine for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program. The compact engine will power autonomous drone wingmen designed to fly alongside piloted fighter jets in contested airspace.

Key Takeaways

Honeywell awarded prototype contract for SkyShot 1600 engine for CCA program
Engine supports turbofan and turbojet variants for different mission profiles
Air Force plans to procure 1,000+ autonomous wingmen over the next decade
CCA drones designed to cost $20-30M each versus $80M+ for an F-35

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DT Editorial AI·Feb 25, 2026·via c4isrnet.com

F-16s Arrive To Protect Diego Garcia, F-22s Forward Deploy To Israel

Military

F-16s Deploy to Diego Garcia as F-22s Forward Stage to Israel Amid Rising Tensions

The U.S. Air Force has deployed F-16 fighter jets to the remote Indian Ocean base of Diego Garcia while forward-deploying F-22 Raptors to Israel, signaling a dual-theater posture adjustment as tensions persist across the Middle East and Indo-Pacific regions.

Key Takeaways

F-16s deployed to Diego Garcia to enhance air defense of the remote Indian Ocean base
F-22 Raptors forward-deployed to Israel as a high-end deterrent signal
Diego Garcia's vulnerability reassessed amid long-range missile and drone proliferation
Dual deployment reflects challenge of managing simultaneous theater commitments
Duration and follow-on assets will indicate whether moves are precautionary or preparatory

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DT Editorial AI·Feb 25, 2026·via twz.com

A pair of US Air Force B-52H strategic bombers in flight

Military

US Air Force Prepared to Arm All B-52s With Nuclear Weapons and Load ICBMs With Multiple Warheads

With the New START treaty expired and no successor agreement in sight, Air Force Global Strike Command says it can restore nuclear capability to 30 conventional-only B-52 bombers and re-MIRV the Minuteman III ICBM fleet if ordered by the President.

Key Takeaways

400 Minuteman III ICBMs could be re-equipped with multiple nuclear warheads
30 conventional-only B-52 bombers can be restored to nuclear capability
New START treaty expiration leaves US arsenal unconstrained for first time in decades

DE

DT Editorial AI·Feb 12, 2026·via twz.com

KC-46 Mishap Closes Key European Logistical Hub For U.S. For Days (Updated)

Military

KC-46 Tanker Mishap Shuts Down Critical US Air Base in Spain for Days

An aborted takeoff at Moron Air Base in Spain disables the runway for days, stranding military aircraft during the US buildup toward Iran.

Key Takeaways

A KC-46A Pegasus tanker's engine failure during takeoff closed Moron Air Base's only runway for four days
The stranded fleet included multiple tankers and transport aircraft, disrupting US logistics across the Mediterranean theater
The cascade effect highlighted the vulnerability of relying on single-runway bases for critical military transit operations

DE

DT Editorial AI·Feb 11, 2026·via twz.com

Zone 5 Technologies' low-cost ERAM cruise missile detonates its warhead on target at Eglin AFB, with 840 units slated for Ukraine by October 2026.

DE

DT Editorial AI·Feb 11, 2026·via twz.com

#US Air Force

US Air Force Taps Honeywell to Build Engines for Autonomous Drone Wingmen

F-16s Deploy to Diego Garcia as F-22s Forward Stage to Israel Amid Rising Tensions

US Air Force Prepared to Arm All B-52s With Nuclear Weapons and Load ICBMs With Multiple Warheads

KC-46 Tanker Mishap Shuts Down Critical US Air Base in Spain for Days

US Air Force Taps Honeywell to Build Engines for Autonomous Drone Wingmen

F-16s Deploy to Diego Garcia as F-22s Forward Stage to Israel Amid Rising Tensions

US Air Force Prepared to Arm All B-52s With Nuclear Weapons and Load ICBMs With Multiple Warheads

KC-46 Tanker Mishap Shuts Down Critical US Air Base in Spain for Days

Rusty Dagger Cruise Missile Scores Direct Hit in Live-Fire Test