Michael Scanlon
Contributor
Michael Scanlon is a defense journalist covering air and space warfare. A former U.S. Air Force A-10 crew chief, he has supported land and sea programs for the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.
All Stories By Michael
Pentagon, Lockheed sign framework deal to boost AIM-260 production
The agreement was signed to expand production of the AIM-260 JATM, laying the groundwork for a future multiyear buy of the long-range air-to-air weapon.
Lockheed to build 4 more Vectis drones, 2027 first flight remains on target
Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works is slated to build four more Vectis uncrewed aircraft, with the first expected to fly by the end of 2027.
US Air Force speeds Reaper successor timeline after Iran losses
The Air Force is accelerating its timeline for a cheaper, more expendable successor to the MQ-9A Reaper after combat losses.
Space industry lacks workers needed to rebuild satellites lost in war, report says
The U.S. does not have enough engineers, technicians and assemblers to rebuild military space assets destroyed in a war with China or Russia, per RAND.
Air Force awards Boeing $131 billion ceiling contract for F-15 production, modernization
The Air Force has awarded Boeing a sole-source contract with a $131.23 billion ceiling to produce, modernize and sustain F-15 fighters.
US Space Force, Japan launch sensor to bolster space surveillance above Indo-Pacific
In a bilateral space effort, the U.S. Space Force successfully launched a Space Domain Awareness payload aboard Japan’s Quasi-Zenith Satellite 7.
Pentagon inks deals with Boeing, RTX to boost production of SM-3 components
The Pentagon signed seven-year framework agreements Friday with Boeing and RTX to expand production of critical components for the Standard Missile-3.
Boeing unveils cheap radar seeker built from off-the-shelf parts
Seekers are among the most expensive parts of a guided weapon, and Boeing’s argument is that their cost is what limits how many the military can buy.
