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Navy/USMC

Marines Keeping Options Open On Next ALC Phase, Fielding Decision Likely In ‘Next Couple Years’

By Matthew Beinart

Monday, April 20th, 2026

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Marines Keeping Options Open On Next ALC Phase, Fielding Decision Likely In ‘Next Couple Years’

Rendering of Airbus' MQ-72C, its offering for the Marine Corps' Aerial Logistics Connector program. Photo: Airbus.

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md.--The Marine Corps is “keeping open [its] options” on whether it will move forward with one or multiple vendors for the next phase of its Aerial Logistics Connector (ALC) program to develop an unmanned cargo-carrying air platform, an official told Defense Daily on Monday. Col. Richard Rusnok, branch head of Marine Aviation’s Cunningham Group, provided the ALC update as the service continues flight testing with industry prototypes with an aim to have a capability ready for fielding within…

Army

Army Secretary Says “We Need To Over-Invest in FLRAA To Get It Online As Quickly As Possible”

Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Calif.), chairman of the House Appropriations Committee’s defense panel (HAC-D), said on Thursday that the Army’s budget plan beginning in fiscal 2027 has more than $2 billion […]

Congress

Pentagon Fiscal 2027 Budget To Address Cannibalization Of Parts For F-35, Legislator Says

The Pentagon’s upcoming fiscal 2027 budget request will help reduce the cannibalization of parts for the F-35 fighter by Lockheed Martin [LMT], the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee’s […]

Budget

Trump’s $1.15 Trillion Request For DoD Is The ‘New Normal,” HASC Chairman Says

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—The Trump administration’s nearly $1.2 trillion baseline defense budget request for fiscal year 2027 will be adopted and will be the foundation for the “new normal” going forward, […]

Congress

Trump Wants Second Reconciliation Bill On His Desk By June 1

President Donald Trump on Wednesday called on Congress to pass and send a second reconciliation bill to his desk by June 1. The deadline follows congressional Republicans’ backing a pursuit […]