First Take, Oct. 12, 2026

F/A-XX concept art
Credit: Boeing concept
DEFENSE Boeing beat out Northrop Grumman for a contract worth more than $20 billion to develop the F/A-XX, the U.S. Navy’s next carrier-based, crewed fighter. The Pentagon is establishing a new four-star command for autonomous warfare to develop a new acquisition model as part of its effort to field...
Joe Anselmo

Joe Anselmo has been Editorial Director of the Aviation Week Network and Editor-in-Chief of Aviation Week & Space Technology since 2013. Based in Washington, D.C., he directs a team of more than two dozen aerospace journalists across the U.S., Europe and Asia-Pacific.

Robert Wall

Robert Wall is Executive Editor for Defense and Space. Based in London, he directs a team of military and space journalists across the U.S., Europe and Asia-Pacific.

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