WASHINGTON - The major services and combatant commands have released unfunded priorities lists (UPL) totaling nearly $50 billion in FY26. The UPLs are a traditional component of the annual budget process. Following the release of the request, the services and combatant commanders are tasked by Congress to identify any programs or priorities that went unfunded or underfunded in the request. Lawmakers frequently make use of these wish lists during the budget markup process to allocate additional funds to certain programs.

The Department of the Air Force outlined $16 billion worth of unfunded priorities, comprising $10 billion for the Air Force and $6 billion for the Space Force. The largest item on the Air Force's list is $4.5 billion for increasing production of munitions programs. Nearly $2 billion is outlined for aircraft readiness as well. More than half of the Space Force's wish list, some $3.5 billion, would support the MILNET satellite program, which is a planned communications satellite effort being headed by SpaceX. Meanwhile, the National Guard Bureau issued a $2.4 billion UPL that included nine F-15EX and six F-35 fighters.

The Navy's list includes $1.4 billion for its F/A-XX sixth-generation fighter, which lost funding in the request, as well as $2.2 billion for to rebuild munitions stockpiles and support the munitions industrial base.

Separately, several combatant commands outlined wish lists valued at around $13 billion. Most of that funding, or nearly $12 billion, comes from U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, which wants additional money for unmanned systems and counter command, control, computing, communications, cyber, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting systems.

Source: Breaking Defense
Associated URL: https://breakingdefense.com/2025/07/from-fighters-jets-to-space-systems-military-sends-lawmakers-over-20b-worth-of-unfunded-priorities

FORT WORTH, Tex. - Bell Textron Inc. has been selected for Phase 2 of DARPA’s Speed and Runway Independent Technologies (SPRINT) X-Plane program, advancing its work on a high-speed vertical lift aircraft. The company will now proceed with detailed design, construction, ground testing, and certification of a demonstrator featuring novel stop/fold rotor technology.

This milestone builds on over a decade of development and Bell’s extensive experience with experimental aircraft. The SPRINT program aims to create an X-plane capable of both hovering in austere environments and cruising at 400-450 knots, operating from unprepared surfaces. In earlier phases, Bell completed conceptual and preliminary designs.

For Phase 2, it will move toward a flight test phase (Phase 3) after completing risk reduction efforts, including rotor folding demonstrations and propulsion integration tests. This initiative continues Bell’s legacy of pioneering VTOL technologies and follows in the footsteps of groundbreaking aircraft like the X-1, XV-3, and XV-15.

Source: Bell
Associated URL: https://news.bellflight.com/en-US/251994-bell-to-build-x-plane-for-phase-2-of-darpa-speed-and-runway-independent-technologies-sprint-x-plane-program
Author: Bell 

BRISTOL, U.k. - Vertical Aerospace is preparing its third VX4 electric aircraft prototype for flight, with final assembly taking place at Kemble after earlier work in Bristol. Two pilots have now been approved for test flights as part of a multi phase program that began with conventional takeoff and landing trials. The second prototype has already performed several flights, including multiple runs in early July, and the company expects to move into more advanced transition testing later this year. Vertical is also studying the aircraft’s rotor downwash and making design adjustments accordingly. To support continued development and extend its runway into 2026, the firm has launched a new funding round seeking 60 million dollars, adding to its existing cash reserves of 62 million pounds as of the end of June.

Source: Flight Global
Associated URL: https://www.flightglobal.com/aerospace/vertical-readies-third-vx4-prototype-for-first-flight-amid-latest-funding-push/163725.article
Author: Dominic Perry