Defense

By Samuel Archer
For more information about Aviation Week Intelligence Network’s (AWIN) 2025 Military Fleet & MRO Forecast and other Aviation Week data products, please see: https://pgs.aviationweek.com/forecast
AWIN Knowledge Center

By Vivienne Machi
The U.S. Space Force has awarded military space launches worth $739 million to SpaceX to support future missions for the Space Development Agency and NRO.
Satellites

By Brian Everstine
The U.S. Navy awarded GE Aerospace a $1.4 billion contract for five lots of T408 engines to power the CH-53K heavy-lift helicopter for the Marine Corps.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Brian Everstine
The U.S. Air Force’s training command is set to start flying and maintaining the Boeing T-7A Red Hawk as it builds the initial, small fleet.
Light Attack and Advanced Training

By Guy Norris
Starfighters Space, an aerospace company with a unique fleet of Mach 2-capable Lockheed F-104s, is in expansive mood.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Tony Osborne
The U.S. Army is narrowing the field as it seeks a replacement for the Airbus UH-72 Lakota helicopters currently used for rotary-wing training at Fort Rucker, Alabama.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Robert Wall
The Indian government says its efforts to develop a homegrown air-breathing hypersonic missile have advanced with a recent ground test.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Tony Osborne
Airbus Helicopters is calling on operators of its H160 rotorcraft to replace main rotor system pitch rods after a ditching incident in the ocean near Brazil.
Safety, Ops & Regulation

By Robert Wall, Tony Osborne, Richard Aboulafia
Richard Aboulafia joins Check 6 to discuss how 2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for two next-generation fighter programs conceived in Europe: FCAS and GCAP.
Check 6

By Graham Warwick
Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Chen Chuanren
Aisheng Technology Group, a subsidiary of China’s state-owned arms producer Norinco, has conducted the first flight of the Lingque “Magpie” LQ-150 VTOL UAS.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble, Brian Everstine, Tony Osborne, Robert Wall
A look at why Operation Absolute Resolve has implications far beyond Venezuela.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Brian Everstine
The U.S. Army is looking for a company to integrate a new air- and ground-launched loitering munition to take out air defenses at medium range.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Tony Osborne
The Spanish defense and aerospace electronics company says the acquisition will allow it to position itself in the growing uncrewed traffic management market and bolster its UK presence.
Advanced Air Mobility

By Brian Everstine
Northrop Grumman will provide the autonomy software for the U.S. Marine Corps first loyal wingman uncrewed system.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Brian Everstine
The U.S. Air Force is reshaping its acquisition program leadership under direction from top Pentagon leadership.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Tony Osborne
An industry team made up of some of the biggest names in European missile development has secured funding to develop a hypersonic glide vehicle demonstrator.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Robert Wall
The European Space Agency plans 65 satellite launches and other missions throughout the year, a roughly 30% jump from last year’s record figure.
Budget, Policy & Regulation

By Chen Chuanren
Taiwan has grounded its fleet of F-16 fighter jets following a Jan. 6 training accident that authorities say may be related to a “mission computer malfunction.”
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Matthew Fulco
In a banner year for defense technology venture funding, C-UAS came into its own, growing faster in 2025 than any other major industry segment.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Vivienne Machi
Rocket Lab joins established primes as the U.S. Space Development Agency scales its proliferated missile-warning and tracking architecture.
Satellites

By Steve Trimble
Lockheed Martin delivered 191 F-35s in 2025, setting an annual delivery record for the international stealth fighter, the company announced on Jan. 7.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Brian Everstine
President Donald Trump wants to hike the Pentagon’s budget by 50% to $1.5 trillion in fiscal 2027.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Michael Bruno
President Donald Trump attacked the share buyback and executive pay practices of leading large U.S. aerospace and defense prime contractors.
Budget, Policy & Operations