Fitch Ratings has upgraded its outlook for the aerospace and defense industry, citing record aircraft backlogs, rising defense spending, and supply chains showing signs of recovery. Airlines are flying more passengers and long-haul travel has rebounded, giving manufacturers clearer visibility into production.
In keeping with tradition, lawmakers' fiscal 2026 defense policy bill released late Sunday tweaks several key Pentagon programs, including the Air Force's E-7 Wedgetail program and Army helicopter procurement. The FY26 National Defense Authorization Act would boost the Pentagon's topline by $8 billion above what the Trump administration requested.
The Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation into whether major US airlines complied with its emergency order requiring carriers to cut flights at 40 of the nation's busiest airports during the 43-day federal government shutdown. The agency has contacted airlines that operate more than 10 daily flights at any affected airport and is seeking documentation showing compliance.
House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith provided new details on the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act at the Reagan National Defense Forum, Breaking Defense reports. Smith expressed frustration with the Pentagon's secrecy regarding combat operations, criticizing the Trump administration for failing to disclose orders to Congress.
Breaking Defense spoke with Yoav Amitai, CEO of Elsight, on the challenges of traditional military communications. Elsight's Halo platform is designed to provide persistent BVLOS communications in warfare conditions.
The US Army has combined its forces under a single four-star headquarters, Western Hemisphere Command (USAWHC), with Gen. Joseph Ryan at the helm.
Comac Business Jet (CBJ) has made its debut in VIP form at the Dubai Airshow 2025, showcasing a polished cabin walkthrough video on YouTube. The aircraft targets typical layouts and offers high-speed broadband via phased-array satellite equipment.
The Pentagon's top acquisition official, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Michael Duffey, recently announced plans to create several new Director for Major Weapons Program posts. The initiative aims to streamline the process and reduce bureaucracy, with program czars reporting directly to Deputy Defense Secretary Steven Feinberg.
Boeing has completed its $4.7 billion acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems, reabsorbing a critical supplier of airplane structures for commercial jets as well as defense aircraft such as the KC-46 and B-21. The acquisition allows Boeing to acquire all of Spirit's Boeing-related operations, including fuselage construction for the 737 and other commercial jets that are the basis for military planes like the P-8A Poseidon maritime aircraft.
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has launched a new competition, Lift, aimed at revolutionizing small drone operations. The contest seeks to design unmanned systems that can carry heavy payloads, with a goal of achieving a four-to-one payload-to-weight ratio.
The US National Security Strategy has shifted focus away from Europe, but a strong transatlantic munitions base could be key to maintaining defense ties. Europe is investing heavily in its munitions industry, with the EU's ASAP program aiming to produce 2 million shells per year by 2025.
Australia has moved to procure its first operational batch of MQ-28 Ghost Bat uncrewed aircraft, signing a reported contract worth approximately AU$1 billion (USD$660 million) with Boeing for an initial six air vehicles. This milestone marks a critical transition of the Ghost Bat program from extended flight testing into formal acquisition by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), making the MQ-28 the first Australian-designed military aircraft to enter service since the GAF Nomad in the 1970s.
After two years of combat operations in Gaza, a senior Israeli official recounted the technological leaps in ground combat, calling it the 'first robotics war.' Yaron Sarig, Head of the Israel Ministry of Defense's AI and Autonomy program, spoke about the development of ground robotics and its potential to work alongside armored vehicles. The IDF is pushing robotics further with a new program focused on force build-up efforts to improve operational gain.
Boeing and Airbus have completed landmark acquisitions of Spirit AeroSystems assets, fundamentally reshaping the commercial aerospace manufacturing landscape. The finalized deals, announced on December 8, 2025, represent a pivotal moment for both manufacturers and signal the end of Spirit’s tenure as an independent aerostructures supplier. Boeing’s Comprehensive Integration Boeing confirmed the acquisition of all Spirit-related commercial operations, including fuselages for the 737 program and major structures for the 767, 777, and 787 Dreamliner. The deal also encompasses commercially procured fuselages for military platforms including the P-8 and KC-46. Notably, the transaction brings Spirit’s extensive spare-parts business in-house, significantly expanding Boeing’s maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) capabilities and strengthening its aftermarket portfolio.
All Nippon Airways Retires Iconic C-3PO Boeing 777 as Star Wars Collaboration Nears End All Nippon Airways (ANA) has officially announced the retirement timeline for its beloved C-3PO-themed Boeing 77...
KLM Retires First Boeing 737-800 as €7 Billion Fleet Renewal Accelerates KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has retired its first Boeing 737-800, marking a pivotal moment in the carrier’s comprehensive fl...
Two crew members have been seriously injured following an accidental activation of an ejection system at a Russian bomber unit on December 7, 2025. According to reports from the Fighterbomber Telegram channel, affiliated with the Russian Air Force, the ejection system of a military aircraft sheltered on the ground fired unexpectedly while both the pilot and navigator were inside the aircraft.
SYDNEY - Ukraine’s approach to military logistics is fundamentally reshaping how modern warfare manages equipment supply chains. Rather than relying on traditional warehousing systems that have defined military operations for centuries, front-line Ukrainian troops now order drones and ground robots through blockchain-enabled platforms that deliver directly from manufacturers to the battlefield within 24 hours. Lyuba Shipovich, head of the volunteer organization Dignitas Ukraine, unveiled this innovation at the Sydney Dialogue conference organized by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. The system, called Blockchain Defense, operates similarly to commercial platforms like Amazon, enabling military units to place orders through a website and receive equipment rapidly without intermediary storage facilities.
The US Air Force has officially entered a new chapter in pilot training with the arrival of its first Boeing-Saab T-7A Red Hawk advanced trainer aircraft at Air Education and Training Command (AETC) facilities. On December 5, 2025, the service confirmed that the T-7A Red Hawk had joined the 12th Flying Training Wing at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, marking what Air Force leadership describes as “the beginning of a new era for developing the next generation of aviators.
Air Transat Braces for Potential Pilot Strike as Contract Negotiations Stall Canadian leisure carrier Air Transat has begun suspending flights after the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) issued a man...