Forecast International

10/17/2025

💶 Europe weighs a financial weapon against Russia — unlocking frozen central bank assets to fund Ukraine’s defense.
✍️ By Derek Bisaccio via
In 2022, the 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗨.𝗦. 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝘇𝗲 𝗵𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 in central bank reserves after the invasion of . Now, Europe faces a defining choice: 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝘇𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴-𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗞𝘆𝗶𝘃.
🔹 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗴𝗶𝘂𝗺 warns that full confiscation could trigger capital flight and damage trust in E.U. markets.
🔹 𝗜𝘁𝗮𝗹𝘆’𝘀 𝗚𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗼 𝗚𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶 cautions Europe could be liable for repayment if Moscow prevails.
🔹 𝗚𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆’𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝗿 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗠𝗲𝗿𝘇 now backs an 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁-𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 €𝟭𝟰𝟬𝗕 𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗨𝗸𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲, a major policy reversal.
🔹 The 𝗚𝟳 has also approved a $𝟱𝟬𝗕 package under a similar model.
As 𝗨.𝗦. 𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝘀𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀—after providing $𝟭𝟯𝟬.𝟲𝗕 since 2022—Europe is carrying more of the burden. A 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 (𝗢𝗰𝘁 𝟭𝟰) signals an E.U. deal could be 𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗻𝘁.
📖 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝗶𝘀 → https://dsm.forecastinternational.com/2025/10/15/e-u-eyes-frozen-russian-funds-for-ukraine/

10/16/2025

At , while much of the focus was on C-UAS and autonomous systems, Army aviation quietly delivered key modernization updates.
🔹 𝗙𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁 (𝗙𝗦𝗡) — ’s 505 and the – AW119T (building on the Navy’s TH-73A Thrasher) headline the bid for a new single-engine trainer. Army evaluations begin next year for a contractor-owned fleet to strengthen pilot fundamentals.
🔹 𝗦𝗶𝗸𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗸𝘆’𝘀 𝗨-𝗛𝗮𝘄𝗸 — Aircraft, a Martin company, unveiled the S-70UAS U-Hawk, an uncrewed UH-60L with a 25 % cargo-capacity boost and MATRIX autonomy for minimally trained operators. First flight planned for 2026.
🔹 𝗕𝗼𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴’𝘀 𝗖𝘅𝗥 — Defense, Space & Security introduced an unmanned tiltrotor drone to fly alongside the Apache, Chinook, and upcoming MV-75, extending manned-unmanned teaming into the vertical-lift domain.
📊 𝗙𝗜 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁: Army aviation’s evolution blends autonomy, modularity, and training reform to enhance readiness and reduce risk.

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝗺𝘆 𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝘀𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻?

🔗 𝗙𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝗶𝘀 → https://dsm.forecastinternational.com/2025/10/16/army-aviation-at-ausa-three-leading-stories/

10/14/2025

10/09/2025

“𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗨𝗔𝗦, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔 𝗶𝗻 𝗨𝗔𝗦 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹—𝘄𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗽. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴… 𝗪𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗱 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗨𝗦𝗩𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗨𝗨𝗩𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗲 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗮, 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀.”
– 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗱 𝗛𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝘀, 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝘁, 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝗶𝘀

As unmanned systems extend into the maritime domain, new challenges are emerging across USVs, UUVs, and littoral defense.

Near-peer adversaries are developing these capabilities too—making counter-unmanned readiness at sea and undersea just as critical as in the air.

💡 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀—𝗮𝗶𝗿, 𝘀𝗲𝗮, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗮.

📺 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝗻-𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱 (𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲):
https://events.govexec.com/emerging-defense-technologies-to-watch-at-ausa-2025/?promo_source=FILIAd12

📍 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝘁 → www.FIAerospaceHub.com

10/08/2025

🚨 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹.

“𝗔𝘀 𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱, 𝘄𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿-𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁.” – 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗱 𝗛𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝘀, 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝘁, 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝗶𝘀

From lessons in Ukraine to the growing threat of drone swarms, the mission is clear: detection, disruption, and defeat capabilities must evolve as fast as the threat.

💡 For defense planners and innovators, that means designing resilient, scalable counter-UAS systems ready for tomorrow’s fight.

📺 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗻-𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱 (𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲):
https://events.govexec.com/emerging-defense-technologies-to-watch-at-ausa-2025/?promo_source=FILIAd12

📍 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝘁 → www.FIAerospaceHub.com

Defense One

10/07/2025

The Pentagon is navigating its 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝘂𝘁𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟯, raising questions about how the military will function amid fiscal gridlock. This latest impasse stems from 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀, leaving Congress unable to pass new appropriations.

𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀:
• Half of the Pentagon’s 𝟳𝟱𝟬,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗰𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗲𝘀 face furloughs, while service members work without pay.
• 𝗡𝗼 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀 except essentials — smaller suppliers are hit hardest.
• 𝟭𝟱𝟲 𝗕 𝗶𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘀 offer temporary relief for missile defense, shipbuilding, and munitions.
• Lawmakers worry the Pentagon could use this as a “𝘀𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗵 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱.”
• Even after reopening, 𝗯𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁.

❓ 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝘂𝘁𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 — 𝗼𝗿 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲?

➡️ Full guest analysis by Shaun McDougall via International →
https://dsm.forecastinternational.com/2025/10/07/understanding-the-government-shutdowns-impact-on-the-pentagon/

10/06/2025

✈️ 𝐁𝐲 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞 𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥
Airbus led September with 81 aircraft produced, while Boeing completed 49, for a combined 130 aircraft — 113 narrowbodies and 17 widebodies.

🔹 𝐀𝐢𝐫𝐛𝐮𝐬 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
• 68 × A320neo family | 7 × A220 | 1 × A330neo | 5 × A350
• Must average ~90 A320neo family aircraft/month in Q4 to reach its 820-aircraft 2025 goal
• A350 output below target (5 vs 6/month); A330neo soft at 1 aircraft

🔹 𝐁𝐨𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
• 36 × 737 MAX | 8 × 787 | 3 × 777F | 1 × 767-300F | 1 × 767-2C
• FAA reinstated limited certification authority — may ease delays but rate cap of 38 MAXs/month remains

🔹 𝐔𝐧𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 (𝐄𝐬𝐭.)
• 𝐁𝐨𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠: 53 total → 38 MAX 8 | 3 MAX 9 | 7 787 | 3 777F | 2 767-300F
• 𝐀𝐢𝐫𝐛𝐮𝐬: 64 total → 51 A320neo family | 8 A220 | 1 A350-900 | 4 A330-900neo

🔍 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐬 → https://flightplan.forecastinternational.com/2025/10/05/airbus-and-boeing-september-2025-production-rates-and-unofficial-deliveries/

⚡ 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐦 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 → https://www.forecastinternational.com/platinum

10/04/2025

“𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗲'𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗯𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗽𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻… 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗺𝘀… 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗮 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. 𝗔𝘀 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁, 𝗖𝗨𝗔𝗦 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼𝗼.” – Thomas Freebairn, Industry Analyst, Military Periscope & Forecast International

From drone swarms numbering in the dozens (and eventually hundreds)…
To AI-driven coordination overwhelming air defenses…

The future of unmanned threats is moving quickly — and as Thomas highlights, defensive sophistication must advance in parallel.

💡 For defense leaders and contractors, this isn’t speculative — it’s the new operating environment. The question isn’t “if” but how fast CUAS innovation can keep up.

📺 Watch the full webinar on-demand (free):
https://events.govexec.com/emerging-defense-technologies-to-watch-at-ausa-2025/?promo_source=FILIAd12

📍 Meet our team of expert analysts at → www.FIAerospaceHub.com

10/03/2025

“𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝗨𝗔𝗦, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝗶𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗳𝗲𝘄 𝗯𝘂𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀.” – David Hutchins

From 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 like Anduril Industries’ Roadrunner or Raytheon’s Coyote…To 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 such as Lockheed Martin’s Helios or Epirus’ Leonidas… To 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 like handheld disruptors…

Each has strengths. Each has limits. And as David notes, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆’𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.

💡 For defense leaders, contractors, and innovators, the takeaway is clear: counter-UAS isn’t about a single “silver bullet.” It’s about 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 — and where industry should invest next.

📺 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗻-𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱 (𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲):
https://events.govexec.com/emerging-defense-technologies-to-watch-at-ausa-2025/?promo_source=FILIAd12

📍 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝘁 → www.FIAerospaceHub.com

10/03/2025

The Pentagon has awarded Lockheed Martin a $12.5 billion contract covering 296 F-35 fighters across Lots 18 & 19. Deliveries will support the United States Air Force , U.S. Navy , U.S. Marine Corps, partner nations, and FMS customers — with Germany confirmed among them.

But with delivery delays and Block 4 cost overruns, questions remain: Can the F-35 program meet its ambitious schedule?

👉Full analysis on Defense & Security Monitor by Forecast International’s Jon Hemler: https://dsm.forecastinternational.com/2025/10/01/lockheed-martin-secures-f-35-contract-for-296-fighters/