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Lockheed Martin backs self-funded prototypes and brings 6th-gen upgrades to F-35 and F-22 fighters
Oct. 25, 2025 - Lockheed Martin is investing in full-scale, self-funded prototypes to demonstrate advanced capabilities to the United States Air Force, with CEO Jim Taiclet citing space-based interceptors (for a 2028 demonstration) and an autonomous Black Hawk helicopter as examples. The company is retrofitting its F 35 and F 22 fleets with sixth-generation technologies from its Skunk Works unit—tailored stealth, propulsion, inlets and coatings—to deliver “80 % of the NGAD’s capability at 50 % of its cost.” Within the quarter, Lockheed reported a backlog of 265 F-35s (plus 151 new additions) and aims for 175-190 deliveries in 2025 alongside completing the Block 4 upgrade via the Technology Refresh 3 package, while Belgium and Denmark plan additional purchases of 11 and 16 jets respectively. (Defence Industry Europe)
Gripen maker Saab AB posts 16% operating-profit rise amid defense-spending boom
Oct. 24, 2025 - Saab reported a third-quarter operating profit of SEK 1.374 billion, up 16% from SEK 1.187 billion a year earlier, with organic sales growth of 18.3% to SEK 15.871 billion. (Saab)
Safran raises full-year outlook after 18.3 % Q3 revenue jump led by jet-engine services
Oct. 24, 2025 - French aerospace group Safran reported Q3 2025 revenues of €7.85 billion, up 18.3 % from a year earlier, driven by a 25.6 % rise in propulsion revenue and a 21.1 % increase in civil-aftermarket services. The company raised its full-year guidance to 11 %-13 % revenue growth (from “low-teens”), raised operating income outlook to €5.1-5.2 billion and free cash-flow to €3.5-3.7 billion, while forecasting LEAP-engine deliveries up over 20 % in 2025. (Reuters)
UK sets defence-industry boom to £75 billion and export goal to £28 billion
Oct. 23, 2025 - The UK government announced a new “Defence Industrial Strategy” alongside its recent Strategic Defence Review, pledging approximately £75 billion in additional defence investment over the next six years aimed at making the UK a major defence industrial power by 2035. The plan establishes targets of raising defence spending to 2.6 % of GDP by 2027 and 3.5 % by 2035, alongside creating a £400 million innovation fund, establishing regional defence “ecosystems” via a £250 million investment, and doubling exports from £14 billion to £28 billion by 2035. (National Defense Magazine)
Airbus forecasts 45% growth in global freighter fleet by 2044
Oct. 22, 2025 - Airbus SE projects the worldwide fleet of dedicated freighter aircraft will climb to 3,420 units over the next 20 years — marking a 45% increase — comprised of 815 current freighters and 2,605 additional ones. (Reuters)
Textron appoints internal executive Atherton as CEO, Donnelly transitions to board chair
Oct. 22, 2025 - Textron Inc. announced that Lisa Atherton, currently the president and CEO of its Bell business, will become CEO effective Jan. 4 2026, while Scott Donnelly will move into the role of executive chairman and continue providing counsel to the new CEO. (Reuters)
Airbus inaugurates second A320 assembly line in China
Oct. 21, 2025 - Airbus has opened a second final assembly line in Tianjin, China, boosting production capacity for its A320-family aircraft and supporting its target of assembling 75 jets per month by 2027. (Reuters)
Embraer backlog reaches record $31.3 billion amid delivery momentum
Oct. 21, 2025 - Brazilian aerospace firm Embraer ended Q3 2025 with a firm order backlog of US$31.3 billion, up 38 % year-on-year, and delivered 62 aircraft in the quarter (versus 59 a year earlier). The strong backlog places commercial aviation and executive jet segments at historic highs and supports robust production ramp-up plans. The company highlighted continued global demand and said the surge underpins medium-term revenue visibility. (AVweb)
USAF prepares for expanded B-21 production as multiple aircraft enter ground testing
Oct. 21, 2025 - Northrop Grumman reports that several B 21 Raider stealth bombers are undergoing ground testing ahead of flight and that the U.S. Air Force is in active negotiations to accelerate low-rate initial production (LRIP) Lots 3 and 5, citing the $4.5 billion Congressional funding to expand production capacity. (Air & Space Forces Magazine)
GE Aerospace supply-chain fixes help meet Airbus engine delivery targets
Oct. 21, 2025 - GE Aerospace CEO Larry Culp said recent improvements in the company’s supply-chain are starting to pay off, enabling progress in reducing jet-engine delivery delays to Airbus SE during the third quarter. (Reuters)
Rheinmetall shares surge as $4 billion combat vehicles order heralds defence-spending drive
Oct. 20, 2025 - Shares in German arms-maker Rheinmetall rose about 5 % to €1,744.50 following announcement of the approximately US$4 billion contract for armoured combat-vehicles, reflecting broader European defence-spending momentum. (Wall Street Journal)
Embraer breaks ground on new $70 million maintenance hub at Fort Worth
Oct. 20, 2025 - Brazilian aerospace company Embraer is investing up to US $70 million to build a new maintenance, repair and overhaul facility at Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport, scheduled to open in 2027. The facility will create 250 new skilled aviation jobs, boost Embraer’s U.S. service capacity by 53 %, and serve its E-Jet models used by major U.S. carriers such as American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Alaska Airlines. The hangar will join Embraer’s global network of more than 80 authorized service centres and 13 company-owned centres worldwide. (The Dallas Morning News)
Germany to order 15 more U.S.-made F-35 jets, costing around €2.5 billion
Oct. 20, 2025 - Germany plans to procure an additional 15 F-35 Lightning II fighter jets from Lockheed Martin at an estimated cost of €2.5 billion, according to a parliamentary source and a report by Der Spiegel. The purchase would raise Berlin’s total planned fleet to 50 jets and comes as Germany seeks to replace its aging Tornado aircraft and boost NATO-capable deterrence. The decision follows earlier German denials of further orders and may heighten tensions with France over the joint Future Combat Air System project. (Reuters)
