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Magazine Issue

Aviation Week & Space Technology, June 1, 2026

Digital cover of the June 1, 2026, issue of Aviation Week

Germany’s defense modernization push is in overdrive as the country looks to bolster its armed forces before the end of the decade. That has led it to ramp up acquisition of such systems as IRIS-T ground-based air defenses and to pursue new technologies, such as collaborative combat aircraft. 

Credit: Diehl Defense

SPECIAL REPORT: GERMAN AEROSPACE | DEFENSE

Helsing CA-1
article

Collaborative Combat Aircraft Battle Brews In Germany

May 28, 2026
The German market is an early proving ground for companies vying to equip European air forces with collaborative combat aircraft to augment crewed fighters.

FIRST TAKE

Hermeus Quarterhorse Mk 2.1 on runway
article

First Take, June 1, 2026

May 29, 2026
Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

SPACE

view of earth from SpaceX Starship
article

How SpaceX Is Trying To Woo Investors

May 29, 2026
SpaceX is pitching to investors in its quest for out-of-this-world valuation.
Starship Version 3 launch viewed from buoy
article

Despite Raptor Engine Issues, Starship V3 Makes Full-Duration Debut

May 29, 2026
After a seven-month hiatus, SpaceX has unveiled the next-generation Starship.
The moon
article

Aerospace Corp. Is Building Digital Twin For Lunar Collaboration

May 29, 2026
The cloud-based software is intended to allow space tech developers to test interoperability before flight.

SPECIAL REPORT: GERMAN AEROSPACE | COMMERCIAL AVIATION

Liebherr's Lindenberg facility
article

Germany’s Commercial Aerospace Sector Remains Upbeat On Growth Plans

May 28, 2026
As German civil aerospace copes with multiple overlapping crises, preparations for the next-generation narrowbody aircraft are accelerating.

DEFENSE

Russian drone
article

Digits Versus Drones Dominates The Battlefield In Ukraine

May 27, 2026
For Russia and Ukraine, the battle of electronic warfare tools versus drones is a seemingly neverending cycle of evolution.
samp/t aster 30
article

Budget Brief: Europe’s $3 Trillion Defense Decade

Apr 24, 2026
Just five years ago, prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and when U.S. security commitments to Europe looked solid, projections for defense spending on the continent appeared flat.
Europe
podcast

Podcast: Orient Express—Traversing Europe’s Defense Landscape

May 26, 2026
From the cancellation of RIAT to Turkey's newly announced ICBM, editors navigate the evolving European defense scene.
special operations MH-60
article

U.S. Special Operations Plans MV-75 Modification Approach

May 28, 2026
The command weighs upgrade options for the new MV-75 tiltrotor while modifying its existing special ops helicopter fleet.
Two J-20s, China's first stealth fighter
article

U.S. Air Force Expert Challenges China’s Stealth Strategy

May 29, 2026
Teaser: A USAF official argues that China has learned the wrong lessons from U.S. successes and failures in applying stealth technology over the last three decades.
Art credit: U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command
article

Quantum RF Sensing Enters Field Evaluations In U.S., UK, Australia

May 21, 2026
Quantum sensing technology that a DARPA official described as the “end of stealth” is moving out the laboratory and into operational testing.

SAFETY

UPS MD-11
article

UPS Accident Probe Finds Trail Of Missed Clues

May 25, 2026
Boeing did not recognize the significance of an MD-11 problem that led to November’s fatal accident.

COMMERCIAL AVIATION

worker carrying refueling tube by aircraft
article

Airlines Grapple With Consequences Of Iran War’s Fuel Price Spike

May 29, 2026
Carriers are weighing up the long-term industry impact as well as short-term operational challenges.
Malaysia Airlines Airbus A330neo taking off
article

Malaysia’s Airlines Target Fleet And Network Growth

May 27, 2026
Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia and Batik Air look to heighten connectivity at the Kuala Lumpur hub.

PROPULSION

turbofan engine
article

RISE Blades Undergo Dust Ingestion Tests On Leap-1A

May 28, 2026
Structural reorganization and Lean processes are making headway in GE Aerospace’s push to increase production capacity and tackle durability improvements.

TECHNOLOGY

Noemi firefighting aircraft concept
article

The Week In Technology, May 25-29, 2026

May 27, 2026
Electric seaplane family plan; battery team for hybrid regional; U.S. quantum computing boost; and folding-wing eVTOL UAS.

COLUMNS AND OPINION

generic wing and sunset
article

Daily Memo: The Next IATA Director General Has Their Work Cut Out For Them

May 26, 2026
Aviation has always been a political industry, and it has only gotten worse. For IATA, it makes choosing its next director general even more of a balancing act.
concept art of rockets taking off from futuristic Mars base
article

SpaceX’s AI Data Center Plan Rides A Wave Of Investor Enthusiasm

May 28, 2026
Artificial intelligence’s trillion-dollar question: When the bubble bursts, what lasting value will remain?

DEPARTMENTS

F-16
article

Letters From Our Readers, June 1, 2026

May 29, 2026
Readers write about the FAMM program, 20 Twenties, our Bill Franke interview, Virgin’s spaceplane and inflight connectivity. Plus, behind the scenes with Michael O. Lavitt.
article

New Positions, Promotions, Honors And Elections, June 1, 2026

May 29, 2026
Recent appointments, promotions and honors in the aviation and aerospace industry.
article

Aviation Week Events, June 1, 2026

May 29, 2026
A roundup of upcoming conferences and exhibitions.