Defense

Aviation Week editors discuss just how much missiles have become central to the Pentagon’s modernization strategy and more.

The Boeing T-7A advanced jet trainer can enter a belated low-rate initial production phase, the U.S. Air Force said on May 4.

FIREFLY supporting Golden Dome... BOEING gets Saudi F-15 training award... New president for EUROCAE...

The Week Ahead in Aerospace & Defense

A portion of the retired Boeing KC-10 Extender fleet could be back in service and refueling U.S. military aircraft by year’s end.

The U.S. Air Force, Boeing and Rolls-Royce will start modifying the first B-52 as part of a reengining effort this year.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has hinted that the long-awaited, much-delayed Defense Investment Plan could emerge “in the coming weeks.”

The UAE government says it has ordered 10 Embraer C-390 airlifters with options to buy another 10.

When General Dynamics reported first-quarter 2026 earnings last week, the company blew past Wall Street’s expectations for earnings per share.

Hanwha Group has increased its stake in Korea Aerospace Industries to 5.09%.

The National Geospatial Intelligence Agency established its own Rapid Capabilities Office at the beginning of fiscal 2026, the agency’s number two executive said May 3.

Israel has given the green light for the procurement of additional Lockheed Martin F-35s and Boeing F-15IAs.

Ocean Ships, Inc. has been awarded a $1,114,495,567 contract for the operation and maintenance of seven government-owned Oceanographic Survey vessels.

COLLINS gets Chinook avionics award... THINKOM announces new C-UAS... IRELAND to sign Artemis Accords...

The Boeing 747-8i given to President Trump to serve as an interim Air Force One has completed flight testing and will roll out this summer, the service says.

The U.S. Army on April 30 released a 3 1/2-year schedule for reselecting a supplier for the Precision Strike Missile (PRSM) Increment 4 program.

The U.S. Marine Corps is increasing its adoption of the CH-53K King Stallion with 12 aircraft on Sikorsky’s production line.

Ukraine says it has struck a facility housing Russian Su-57 fighters and Su-34 fighter bombers.

Turkish Aerospace Industries has delivered the first military example of the T625 Gokbey twin-engine medium helicopter to Turkey’s army.

The White House has nominated Lt. Gen. Douglas A. Schiess to serve as the Pentagon’s third Chief of Space Operations.

After more than a decade of suffering an erosion of its launch prowess, Russia is trying to make a comeback with the inaugural launch of a new Soyuz rocket.

The cover of Aviation Week & Space Technology’s April 28, 1975, issue featured the first four Franco-German Alpha Jet trainer/close- support aircraft in close formation during flight test over Istres, France.

York Space Systems is acquiring All.Space, a UK-based satcom terminal provider, to expand connectivity solutions for the U.S. military and others customers.

The Pentagon’s proposed Future Years Defense Program calls for a sharp increase in aircraft procurement in fiscal 2027-31.

LOCKHEED gets $1.13b HIMARS award... GA TELESIS donates to Broward College... HONEYWELL gets C-5 support award...