Northrop Grumman has delivered the first F-35 Lightning II integrated communications, navigation, and identification system ahead of schedule. The CNI system will provide more than 40 functions to F-35 pilots via the software-defined radios that enable “simultaneous support for dozens of critical capabilities while greatly minimizing size and weight,” say company officials.
If the Air Force is in line for a big budget bump from President Donald Trump’s proposed $1.5 trillion defense budget in 2027, the head of Air Combat Command said he would make aircraft spare parts his top spending priority—but cautioned that more money to buy parts won’t equal a…


