Aviation Week & Space Technology, Feb. 9, 2026 is available to both Aviation Week & Space Technology and AWIN subscribers.

Subscribe now to read this content, plus receive critical analysis into emerging trends, technological advancements, operational best practices and continuous updates to policy, requirements and budgets.

Already a subscriber to AW&ST or AWIN? Log in with your existing email and password.

Subscribe    Log in    
Magazine Issue

Aviation Week & Space Technology, Feb. 9, 2026

VOL. 188 NO. 6 February 09, 2026
Digital cover of Aviation Week for Feb. 9, 2026

Electra.aero is developing the EL9 Ultra Short, a nine-passenger hybrid-electric regional aircraft designed to take off and land in just 150 ft. not only from runways, but also taxiways, ramps, fields and even vertiports. Electra is aiming for service entry in 2030. Aviation Week was given the opportunity to fly in Electra’s EL2 technology demonstrator. Chief Test Pilot Cody Allee showcased the aircraft’s capabilities for Executive Editor for Technology Graham Warwick.

Credit: Dave Koch/Electra.Aero

ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY

Electra EL2 in flight
article

Flying In Electra’s Ultra-Short-Takeoff-And-Landing Tech Demonstrator

Feb 04, 2026
Aviation Week flies in the EL2 demonstrator to see how it helped Electra and its customers understand the power of blown-lift ultra-STOL.

FIRST TAKE

MC-55A Peregrine
article

First Take, Feb. 9, 2026

Feb 06, 2026
Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

SPACE

SpaceX Starship rocket
article

SpaceX Makes Big Bet On AI For Space

Feb 06, 2026
SpaceX’s purchase of xAI marries Elon Musk’s love of artificial intelligence and space.
Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft on launcher against rising Moon
article

Artemis II Wet Dress Rehearsal Shows More Work Is Needed

Feb 06, 2026
NASA learned a lot about managing hydrogen leaks ahead of Artemis I, but another tanking test is needed before the next Space Launch System flies.
concept art of satellites over Earth
article

Europe Seeks Unity of Purpose As Space Projects Mushroom

Feb 03, 2026
Fear of fragmentation grips European space leaders as national initiatives ramp up in parallel with collective programs.

SAFETY

NTSB inspector studying aircraft wreckage
article

DCA Probe Prompts NTSB Push To Improve Pilot Situational Awareness

Feb 05, 2026
A complex investigation yields 50 recommendations, led by urging the FAA to change how aircraft receive traffic data and alert pilots to collision risks.

SINGAPORE AIRSHOW REPORT | COMMERCIAL AVIATION

Starlux A350-1000
article

Airbus Closes In On Decision To Stretch The A350

Feb 06, 2026
Boosting widebody production is a key strategic priority for Airbus, which might offer a larger A350 that could enter service in the early 2030s.
Star Air Embraer 175 on tarmac
article

Embraer’s India Move: Strategically Obvious, But Hard To Implement

Feb 06, 2026
The Brazilian airframer wants to take advantage of the huge growth of India’s air transport industry. But regional flying must first become a viable business.
A350-1000 at Singapore
podcast

Podcast: Commercial Aviation Insights From The Singapore Airshow

Feb 05, 2026
Listen in as editors sit down at the end of Day Two of the 2026 Singapore Airshow to break down what has—and hasn't—happened in commercial aviation at the event.
SIA Day 1 news wrap
videos

Video: News Wrap—Day One At Singapore Airshow

Feb 03, 2026
Aviation Week's Jens Flottau and Robert Wall outline the biggest news on a quiet first day at Singapore Airshow 2026, with orders for ATR and Boeing while Embraer shared news on the defense side.
Day Two Wrap in Singapore
videos

Video: News Wrap—Day Two At Singapore Airshow

Feb 04, 2026
Aviation Week's Jens Flottau and Robert Wall take you through the major news from the second day at Singapore Airshow 2026.

SINGAPORE AIRSHOW REPORT | DEFENSE

Boeing KC-46
article

Trump’s Strategic Defense Pivot Pressures U.S. Suppliers

Feb 06, 2026
International competitors see an uptick in interest for military equipment amid uncertain American trade policy.
Greenland
podcast

Podcast: Unpacking The Pentagon's New Strategy—Greenland, Golden Dome And Budget Implications

Jan 30, 2026
Listen in as Aviation Week editors break down the Pentagon's new National Defense Strategy and what it means for the budget.
Singapore Airshow flying display
podcast

Podcast: From TacAir To Transports—Defense At Singapore Airshow

Feb 06, 2026
Listen in as editors report from the Singapore Airshow, sharing what they've been hearing about different military programs in the evolving geopolitical environment.

SINGAPORE AIRSHOW REPORT | SPACE

methane engine technology
article

Geopolitics Cement Space Launcher Proliferation

Feb 05, 2026
Rising security concerns and the drive for space autonomy may ward off the expected consolidation among launch service providers.

MILITARY SPACE

concept art of nuclear-powered spacecraft in orbit
article

U.S. Space Nuclear Plans Are Rescued After 2025 Setback

Feb 04, 2026
Nuclear propulsion for space may be back in favor as the U.S. seeks technology to power vehicles going to Mars and beyond.
fission surface power system
article

Taking Nuclear Power To The Moon

Feb 04, 2026
The U.S. is aiming to develop a lunar surface reactor by 2030.

BUSINESS

PAC-3 missile in factory
article

U.S. Defense CEOs Promise More Investment And Shareholder Returns

Feb 03, 2026
Several executives have acknowledged Trump’s pressure on their companies to accelerate delivery of warfighting capabilities.

DEFENSE

U.S. Army demonstration of a drone strike
article

U.S. Army Releases Performance Details As Laser Weapons Enter Service

Feb 04, 2026
High-energy lasers are entering service, and a U.S. Army solicitation document breaks down the expectations for their performance.

MANUFACTURING

xCell factory
article

Pentagon Experiments With 3D-Printing Drones At Front Lines

Feb 03, 2026
The Pentagon hopes that a previously conceived notion to 3D-print war materiel on the front line could help troops during a future military conflict.
Divergent 3D printed fuselage structure
article

Divergent Eyes 3D Printing And Robotic Assembly Of Up To 10,000 Units

Feb 03, 2026
The California-based company finds itself at the center of multiple UAV and cruise missile projects.

COMMERCIAL AVIATION

tails of United Airlines and American Airlines aircraft at airport
article

American And United Prepare For Showdown In Chicago

Feb 05, 2026
United and American kick off a fierce battle at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport—one that may have broader implications for other players.

SUSTAINABILITY

klm aircraft in flight creating contrails
article

Research Highlights Key Efficiency Role In Aviation Decarbonization

Jan 26, 2026
The University of Oxford study highlights the potential for efficiency-focused policy to cut aviation fuel use without affecting capacity.

PROPULSION

Airbus A320 frame under construction
article

Single-Aisle Production Rate Increases Keep Pressure On Engine-Makers

Feb 02, 2026
Engine-makers are fighting to match production rates to those of Airbus and Boeing. But as single-aisle delivery rates continue to increase, can they keep up?
Open Fan
article

CFM Hybrid Open Fan On Display At Singapore Airshow

Feb 03, 2026
GE Aerospace is displaying a large-scale model of a CFM Open Fan configured with a notional hybrid power system at the Singapore Airshow.
Guy Norris With A GTF Engine In Singapore
article

Video: How P&W Is Pioneering Robotic Engine Assembly In Singapore

Feb 03, 2026
Aviation Week's senior editor Guy Norris outlines how Pratt & Whitney is pioneering the use of robotic and automated engine assembly in Singapore as the engine-maker steps up efforts to cut the number of grounded aircraft.

TECHNOLOGY

active twist rotor model
article

The Week In Technology, Feb. 2-6, 2026

Feb 02, 2026
Active twist rotor; vertical takeoff assist for eVTOL; propeller energy recovery; and tailored microbes for SAF production.

COLUMNS AND OPINION

Bob Liebeck
article

An Appreciation: Aerospace Pioneer Robert Liebeck

Feb 05, 2026
Aerodynamicist Bob Liebeck pioneered the blended wing body and Gurney flap, revolutionizing aerodynamics for NASA, race cars and future air travel.

DEPARTMENTS

space shuttle discovery
article

Letters From Our Readers, Feb. 9, 2026

Feb 06, 2026
Readers write about U.S.-China space cooperation, space shuttle Discovery, quality journalism and the A320. Plus: Behind the Scenes at the Singapore Airshow.
article

New Positions, Promotions, Honors And Elections, Feb. 9, 2026

Feb 06, 2026
Recent appointments, promotions and honors in the aviation and aerospace industry.
article

Aviation Week Events, Feb. 9, 2026

Feb 06, 2026
A roundup of upcoming conferences and exhibitions.