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Magazine Issue

Aviation Week & Space Technology, Dec. 8, 2025

VOL. 187 NO. 47 December 08, 2025
Cover of the Dec. 8, 2025, Aviation Week & Space Technology

The Aviation Week Photo Contest received more complete entries in 2025 than it has for many years. The contest judges look for originality every year, and while photographs of aircraft emerging from a ring of vapor have become pretty common, we have never seen an aircraft so heavily shrouded as the Lockheed Martin F-22 on the cover, which also leads off this year’s Photography Issue section. 

Credit: Abel Tamayo

PHOTO ISSUE

U.S. Air Force Lockheed Martin F-22 shrouded in mist

Aviation Week 2025 Photo Contest Winning Entries

Dec 05, 2025
Complete entries to the Aviation Week Photo Contest surged this year by more than 16% to 1,014. That is close to a record and the most submitted in many years.
fighter aircraft formation

2025 Aviation Week Photo Contest Editors’ Picks: Defense

Dec 04, 2025
A multinational flight above Brazil, a Malaysian Su-30MKM taking off and an Australian F/A-18F are among the Editors’ Picks in the 2025 Aviation Week Photo Contest.
Boeing 787 cockpit

2025 Aviation Week Photo Contest Editors’ Picks: Commercial Aviation

Dec 03, 2025
Our Commercial Aviation picks range from a Boeing 787 flight crew over Greece at night to dropping fire retardant near an endangered house and the photographer.
SpaceX Starship 8 launch

2025 Aviation Week Photo Contest Editors’ Picks: Space

Dec 04, 2025
The images submitted to this year's Photo Contest Space category showcase a variety of launch vehicles in the U.S. and Europe's Spaceport in Korou, French Guiana.
Beechcraft Model 18 on ramp

2025 Aviation Week Photo Contest Editors’ Picks: General Aviation

Dec 04, 2025
Warbirds, vintage civilian aircraft, aerobatic aircraft in airshow performances and a glider are among the 2025 General Aviation Editors’ Picks photos.
SpaceX booster capture composite

2025 Aviation Week Photo Contest Editors’ Picks: Photo Illustration

Dec 04, 2025
Photo Illustration entries ranges from a composite of SpaceX Starship 8's launch and recovery to an airport terminal against a lightning-lit night sky.
array of photo contest winners
article

Aviation Week’s 2025 Photo Contest: The Winning Photographers

Dec 05, 2025
This year’s winners represent an assortment of first-time entrants and veteran Aviation Week Photo Contest entrants.
judges photos
article

Aviation Week’s 2025 Photo Contest Judges

Dec 05, 2025
With backgrounds in photography, journalism, art and design, our judges bring an appreciation for aesthetics and love of aviation.

FIRST TAKE

Leonardo Proteus demonstrator
article

First Take, Dec. 8, 2025

Dec 05, 2025
Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

PROPULSION

front view of Boeing 747-400
article

Engine-Makers Test Upgrades For Demanding Desert Conditions

Dec 04, 2025
The Middle East, as the crucible for challenging durability and performance conditions, is the focus for ongoing dust ingestion engine tests.
Airbus ZEROe
article

Airbus Continues Propulsion Work To Enable Zero-Emission Airliners

Dec 02, 2025
Powertrain demonstrators advance under Airbus’ rescoped effort to field a hydrogen-electric commercial aircraft.

SPACE

ESA officials at meeting
article

European Space Agency Secures Funding Boost To Preserve Relevance

Dec 04, 2025
A sense of urgency led member states to fuel ESA with record funding.
Boeing Starliner on United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket
article

NASA Scales Back Boeing Starliner Missions To The ISS

Dec 05, 2025
After three orbital flight tests, Boeing’s crewed passenger spacecraft still needs work.
drawing of synthetic aperture radar satellite capability
article

UAE Shifts Space Focus To Economy And Security

Nov 26, 2025
The United Arab Emirates is shifting its space program focus to economic gains and security, blending civil-military efforts in a bid to become a space power.

DEFENSE

Airbus A400M
article

Decision Time Nears For Next Evolution Of Airlifters

Dec 02, 2025
Strategic decisions loom for some of the biggest Western airlift programs.
TA-20
article

Defense Rivals Expand UAE Indigenous Aircraft Ambitions

Dec 01, 2025
The United Arab Emirates is emerging as a hive for light attack and training aircraft developments with further offers from Calidus and Edge Group.
Edge WSM-1
article

United Arab Emirates Locks On Missile Expansion

Dec 02, 2025
From low-cost drone interceptors to advanced cruise missiles to air-to-air missiles, the United Arab Emirates wants to do it all.
F/A-18 flying over sea
article

Boeing F/A-18 Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance Makes Strides

Nov 25, 2025
U.S. Navy and Marine Corps legacy Hornets will get the safety system in 2026; development is starting for F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and EA-18G Growlers.
U.S. Coast Guard aircraft
article

Coast Guard Grows VIP Fleet Amid Helicopter Procurement Changes

Nov 26, 2025
The U.S. Coast Guard is set to receive $24.59 billion through 2029 for fleet modernization, including a controversial $172 million G700 purchase.

COMMERCIAL AVIATION

Airbus A320neo family aircraft fuselage on a production line
article

Airbus Gives Up 2025 Delivery Target After New Supplier Flaw Emerges

Dec 05, 2025
Reaching its 2025 delivery goal was always going to be challenging for Airbus. Now it turns out it is unachievable.
Viva Aerobus A320
article

European Wet-Lease Operators Seek Counter-Cyclical Opportunities

Nov 24, 2025
ACMI operators are increasingly looking to markets in the Southern Hemisphere to pick up business in the European low season.
Emirates Airbus A380 in flight
article

Emirates Brings Manufacturing Expertise Closer To Home

Nov 25, 2025
For Emirates’ long-haul fleet, the challenge is twofold: maintaining aging widebodies while looking beyond their likely life spans to the next big thing.
rows of computers
article

Europe Bets On Automation To Improve Air Traffic Capacity And Safety

Dec 03, 2025
The controller would transition to a supervisory role, no longer dealing with routine operations such as frequency changes, automation promoters say.

TECHNOLOGY

Beta’s Alia eVTOL aircraft
article

The Week In Technology, Nov. 24-28, 2025

Nov 24, 2025
Beta’s autonomy pick; Cranfield’s hydrogen pivot; hybrid powerplant progress; flying cell tower testbed.
active-flow-control X-plane
article

The Week In Technology, Dec. 1-5, 2025

Dec 02, 2025
X-plane escapes cancellation; China’s hybrid powertrains; Modular cargo UAV, India’s indigenous aircraft.

COLUMNS AND OPINION

Vaughn College pilot student
article

Opinion: Affordable Aviation Higher Education Is A Union Of Interests

Dec 04, 2025
We need clarity about the regulations and access to loan funds for students, to ensure the pipeline of up-and-coming pilots is not slowed.
test-fire of Zone 5 Technologies cruise missile
article

Could Low-Cost Cruise Missiles Prevent A Pyrrhic Victory In Taiwan?

Dec 02, 2025
Inexpensive, mass-produced cruise missiles could ensure that the U.S. and allies have enough firepower to deter a Chinese invasion of Taiwan.
concept art of barbells carried by drones approaching a finish line
article

DARPA Wants To Revolutionize Drones And Reestablish U.S. Leadership

Dec 04, 2025
The agency’s Lift Challenge aims for at least a fourfold increase in drone payload-to-weight capability.
U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth
article

Opinion: Can Hegseth Transform U.S. Defense Acquisition?

Dec 05, 2025
The author of the 1997 U.S. defense acquisition reform plan critiques Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s new strategy.

DEPARTMENTS

SpaceX Starship and Super Heavy rockets at Starbase facility
article

Letters From Our Readers, Dec. 8, 2025

Dec 05, 2025
Readers write about coverage of SpaceX, opinion columnists, inflatable space stations, electric aviation and prospects for U.S.-China space cooperation.
article

New Positions, Promotions, Honors And Elections, Dec. 8, 2025

Dec 05, 2025
Recent appointments, promotions and honors in the aviation and aerospace industry.
article

Aviation Week Events, Dec. 8, 2025

Dec 05, 2025
A roundup of upcoming conferences and exhibitions.