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South Korea’s F-15K ‘Slam Eagles’ to Get $2.8B Boeing Upgrade to F-15EX Standard
Feb. 2, 2026 - The U.S. Department of War has awarded Boeing a roughly $2.8 billion hybrid contract to upgrade South Korea’s F-15K Slam Eagle fleet to the modern F-15EX standard, with work carried out at Boeing’s St. Louis facility through about 2037 under a Foreign Military Sales agreement, extending the jets’ operational relevance into the 2040s. The program includes modern systems such as AN/APG-82(v)1 AESA radars, AN/ALQ-250 EPAWSS electronic-warfare suites, upgraded mission computers, enhanced cockpit displays and missile warning systems for the Republic of Korea Air Force and its Defense Acquisition Program Administration. The initiative mirrors similar Japanese efforts and reflects Seoul’s commitment to deep-strike capability and interoperability with allied air forces. (Aerospace Global News)
York Space Systems’ IPO Prices at $34, Raises $629M, Valuing Company at ~$4.75B
Feb. 1, 2026 - Denver-based satellite maker York Space Systems launched its IPO on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker YSS, pricing shares at $34 and raising about $629 million in the upsized offering of 18.5 million shares that opened trading at roughly $38, leading to an approximate $4.75 billion valuation. The company, backed by private equity firm AE Industrial Partners, aims to capitalize on strong Pentagon and broader space and defense demand, though its future growth remains tied to winning government contracts amid stiff competition and it has yet to post profitability. The listing is part of a broader surge in space and defense IPOs as investors focus on companies positioned to benefit from rising U.S. defense budgets and initiatives like the Golden Dome missile defense push. (Barron's)
Global Defense Spending to Reach $2.6 Trillion in 2026 as U.S. Leads Growth
Jan. 29, 2026 - Global defense expenditures are forecast to hit about $2.6 trillion by the end of 2026, up roughly 8.1 percent from 2025’s $2.4 trillion total, according to Forecast International analysts. The increase is driven largely by the United States as the world’s top military spender, with significant growth also seen across North America, Europe and Eurasia amid conflicts such as the war in Ukraine, and projections show spending could approach $2.9 trillion by the end of the decade as modernization and expanded programs like the proposed $1.5 trillion U.S. budget cycle figures gain attention. Regional trends include rising Russia defense outlays near $157 billion and robust Middle East and Indo-Pacific investments, while initiatives such as expanded missile defense networks are poised to inject further funding into defense markets. (National Defense Magazine)
Airbus to Begin Pre-Sales Push for Larger A220-500 Variant to Boost Competitiveness
Jan. 29, 2026 - Airbus is poised to kick off pre-sales and negotiations with airlines and lessors this year for a larger, roughly 180-seat version of its A220 regional jet, the so-called A220-500, with a potential development launch targeted for the Farnborough Airshow in July subject to board approval and key customer commitments from operators such as Delta, Air Canada and Air France. The “simple stretch” variant aims to lower production costs per seat and expand Airbus’s reach into a higher-capacity segment while slightly reducing range, addressing competitive pressures from Embraer’s E2 family and Boeing’s 737 MAX, even as the A220 program seeks to improve profitability. Airbus faces challenges in balancing investment and production efficiency, with the larger model seen as a pivotal step to broaden the A220’s market appeal without major redesigns. (Reuters)
Air India Orders 30 More Boeing 737s and Converts Airbus A321neos to A321XLRs at Wings India 2026
Jan. 29, 2026 - At the opening of Wings India 2026 in Hyderabad, Air India disclosed new orders for 30 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft — including 20 737-8s and 10 737-10s — to expand its single-aisle fleet as part of its broader modernization and growth strategy. The airline also announced the conversion of a portion of its existing Airbus A321neo orders into 15 long-range A321XLR jets to support extended medium-haul operations and strengthen its international network. These moves build on Air India’s substantial backlog with both Boeing and Airbus and signal a push to enhance competitiveness amid India’s rapidly expanding aviation market. (AeroTime)
Italy’s GCAP Sixth-Gen Fighter Program Faces Ballooning Costs and Skepticism
Jan. 27, 2026 - Italy’s planned contribution to the trilateral Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), a sixth-generation fighter jet initiative with the UK and Japan, has swelled from an initial €6 billion to about €18.6 billion for early design and development, prompting concerns over the financial burden and the jet’s prospects of ever entering service. Critics warn this cost will make GCAP Italy’s most expensive military aviation program in history—surpassing even its F-35 fleet expenditures—and underscore the strain Italy’s economy may face in sustaining long-term funding for a program of such complexity. The article highlights broader skepticism about Europe’s ability to deliver a cutting-edge warplane amid rising costs and uncertain outcomes, framing GCAP as a potentially overambitious venture with limited tangible progress relative to its escalating price tag. (National Interest)
Delta Air Lines Orders 31 Airbus Wide-Body Jets to Modernize Long-Haul Fleet
Jan. 27, 2026 - Delta Air Lines has placed a firm order for 31 new Airbus wide-body aircraft — including 16 A330-900neos and 15 A350-900s — with deliveries beginning in 2029, reflecting its strategic push to refresh its international long-haul fleet and replace older Boeing 767s. The deal also converts 10 existing options into firm orders and includes up to 20 additional wide-body options to support future growth on premium transcontinental and global routes. This move complements Delta’s broader fleet modernization program that also includes expanding its Boeing 787-10 holdings while aiming to elevate premium passenger offerings on key markets worldwide. (Reuters)
Airbus’ New Commercial CEO Lars Wagner Pledges Production Boost, Backs Larger A220 Variant
Jan. 26, 2026 - In his first major public remarks since taking over Airbus’ jet-making division on Jan. 1, newly appointed CEO Lars Wagner said his top priority is ramping up output of key aircraft including the A350 wide-body while also signaling support for developing a larger version of the A220 regional jet amid ongoing supply chain pressures and struggles to hit 75 narrow-body jets per month. Wagner, formerly of MTU Aero Engines, emphasized tackling ecosystem bottlenecks and reviewing engine technologies to balance fuel efficiency and durability for the next generation of narrow-body aircraft. During a public exchange with Air Lease Corp’s CEO, Wagner echoed interest in an enlarged A220 model, though AerCap, the world’s largest aircraft lessor, questioned current market demand. (Reuters)
U.S. Navy Shipbuilding Accounts Boosted to ~$27.2B in 2026 Compromise Funding Bill
Jan. 26, 2026 - In a newly agreed-upon fiscal 2026 appropriations compromise, House and Senate lawmakers backed the White House’s naval shipbuilding plans and added roughly $6.5 billion above the president’s budget request, bringing total shipbuilding funding to about $27.2 billion for the year. The funding is earmarked to support construction of 17 vessels — including a Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine, two Virginia-class fast attack submarines, three Medium Landing Ships and a T-AGOS anti-submarine ship — and includes about $1.5 billion for maritime industrial base investments in supplier capacity, technology and workforce training. Appropriators also made accounting adjustments to correct earlier reconciliation miscalculations and provided increases for submarine infrastructure, destroyer and auxiliary ship outfitting and prior-year completions. (Defense One)
