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AirAsia Seals US $12.25B Airbus A321XLR Deal in Paris on Prime Minister’s Visit
July 4, 2025 - AirAsia’s parent Capital A signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Paris to purchase 50 Airbus A321XLR aircraft, with options to convert existing orders for 20 more—totaling up to US $12.25 billion—during Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim’s France state visit, witnessed alongside Airbus Commercial chief Christian Scherer and CEO Tony Fernandes. The long-range jets, designed to serve routes across Central Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, are scheduled for delivery starting in 2028 through 2032. (Aerotime)
July 3, 2025 - The U.S. Space Force has awarded Boeing a sole-source contract worth $2.84 billion to develop and produce two Evolved Strategic Satellite Communications (ESS) satellites—with options for two more—through Dec. 31, 2033, bolstering the U.S. nuclear command, control, and communications (NC3) architecture. The program delivers geostationary satellites with advanced anti-jamming, encrypted waveforms, and cyber-hardened classified technologies; the first satellite is expected to be delivered by 2031, with work centered in El Segundo, California, and initial FY 2025 RDT&E funds of $100 million already obligated. (Americanbazaar)
July 2, 2025 - German defense firm Rheinmetall has finished constructing a state-of-the-art facility in Weeze, North Rhine-Westphalia, investing approximately €200 million to manufacture up to 36 F-35A center-fuselage sections per year under a long-term framework to deliver at least 400 units over 17–20 years. The factory, spanning nearly 30,000 m², currently employs around 200 workers—a number expected to grow to over 400 by late 2026—and represents the world’s second integrated assembly line for these fuselage components, working in strategic cooperation with Northrop Grumman and aligning with Lockheed Martin’s F-35 production. (Defense Industry)
Missile Defense Agency Awards Lockheed Martin Aegis Contract Worth Up to $2.97B
July 1, 2025 - The U.S. Missile Defense Agency has awarded Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems in Moorestown, New Jersey, a sole-source, 10-year indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with a ceiling of $2,968,000,000 to serve as the Combat Systems Engineering Agent (CSEA) for the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) program. Under the deal, Lockheed will lead design, development, integration, sustainment, software engineering and system upgrades across Aegis-equipped cruisers, destroyers, Aegis Ashore sites, the Aegis Guam System and the hypersonic Glide Phase Interceptor program from July 2025 through June 2035. (Envzone)
Rheinmetall Targets €40–50B in Sales and Nearly €10B Profit by 2030
July 1, 2025 - CEO Armin Papperger told RTL/NTV the German defense and automotive group aims to boost annual revenues from ~€9.8 billion in 2024 to €40–50 billion by 2030, with profit “just under €10 billion.” To support this expansion, the workforce is set to grow from 40,000 to 70,000 employees over two to three years. The strategy reflects Rheinmetall’s push to lead amid surging European defense budgets, notably driven by NATO rearmament. (Reuters)
Boeing to Acquire Spirit AeroSystems' Belfast Facility Amid Strategic Merger
July 1, 2025 - Boeing is set to acquire the non-Airbus operations of Spirit AeroSystems' Belfast facility, following unsuccessful attempts to find a third-party buyer. This move is part of Boeing's $4.7 billion all-stock deal to reacquire Spirit, aiming to streamline operations and enhance quality control. The Belfast site also produces components for Bombardier business jets, with Bombardier actively engaging with stakeholders to ensure continuity and quality. (Reuters)
