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.
The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.
