StandardAero has secured a contract from the United States Air Force to deploy its predictive maintenance diagnostic tools across the F100-220 engine fleet powering F-15 fighter aircraft.

The agreement, announced in an October 6 press release, marks the fifth engine type in the military branch’s fleet to integrate the company’s Maintenance Insight suite. The technology utilizes artificial intelligence, machine learning, and digital twin models to forecast engine failure modes and optimize readiness for the combat aircraft.

Expanding predictive capabilities for the F-15 fleet

The integration of Maintenance Insight into the F100-220 program aims to transition engine support from reactive repairs to proactive management. StandardAero’s system analyzes operational data to forecast supply chain demand and optimize work scopes, which the company states will improve time-on-wing and reduce overall maintenance costs for the operator.

Marc Drobny, President of the StandardAero Military, Helicopters and Energy Division, noted the military’s role in advancing these technologies and the potential for broader application across other fleets.

“We are excited to partner once again with the USAF’s Propulsion team on the critical F100-220 military platform. Our solution can deliver long term reduction of maintenance costs, and improvements in deployment readiness and time on wing for the fleet. We stand ready to expand this solution to other engine platforms powering USAF aircraft, as well as commercial aerospace fleets.”

Two decades of diagnostic development

StandardAero has developed its suite of reliability models and predictive maintenance tools over a 20-year period. The Maintenance Insight platform is currently hosted on the United States Air Force cloud computing ecosystem, allowing for secure data processing and integration with existing military maintenance frameworks.

Prior to the F100-220 award, the Scottsdale, Arizona-based maintenance, repair, and overhaul provider successfully deployed these diagnostic applications for four other military engine fleets. These include the T56 engine powering the C-130, the J85 engine for the T-38, the TF33 engine on the B-52, and the TF39 engine utilized by the C-5 Galaxy.

StandardAero, founded in 1911, operates as an independent provider of aerospace engine aftermarket services. The company transitioned to the public markets with an initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange in October 2024. Employing approximately 8,000 people globally, StandardAero has continued to expand its defense and commercial aftermarket service contracts throughout 2026. In May 2026, the company detailed the expansion of its Dispatch or Deployment Readiness Tools and Fleet Fly Forward Forecasting capabilities, signaling plans to extend the technology further into commercial aerospace markets.

AirPro News analysis

The F100-220 contract represents a steady consolidation of StandardAero’s position within the United States Air Force propulsion infrastructure. By embedding its proprietary diagnostic software into a fifth major engine platform, the company deepens its integration with military supply chains and maintenance schedules. We view this contract as a strong proof of concept for the commercial sector, where airlines are increasingly seeking artificial intelligence-driven predictive maintenance to mitigate supply chain bottlenecks and reduce unscheduled engine removals. Following its October 2024 public listing, securing recurring, technology-driven defense contracts provides StandardAero with stable revenue streams to balance the more cyclical commercial aviation aftermarket.

The Boeing Company and the U.S. Navy have successfully demonstrated Manned Unmanned Teaming software that allows crewed fighter aircraft to directly command the autonomous MQ-25A Stingray aerial refueler. Announced on October 5, 2026, the test validates the use of the military standard Link 16 communications network to control the drone, a capability designed to streamline carrier strike group operations and extend mission reach.

The flight tests took place during the Emerald Flag military exercise at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida and utilized open-architecture command-and-control messaging. According to a press release from Boeing, the software is platform-agnostic and aims to turn the unmanned tanker into a force-multiplier by reducing logistical friction during aerial refueling operations.

Validating autonomous coordination over Link 16

The recent tests at Eglin Air Force Base involved collaboration across several Boeing divisions, including the Phantom Works, MQ-25, F/A-18, and F-22 teams. To demonstrate the software in flight, the company utilized a Beechcraft 1900D and a Beechcraft King Air E90 as surrogate test aircraft.

By routing command-and-control messaging through Link 16, the primary tactical data network used by the U.S. military and allied forces, the Manned Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) software allows pilots in crewed fighters to directly task the MQ-25A. This eliminates the need to relay refueling requests through a carrier-based control station or a third-party airborne controller.

Boeing MQ-25 Avionics Integrated Product Team Lead Mark Dunn highlighted the operational benefits of the system.

“Having this software embedded into the MQ-25A, we enable autonomous coordination with manned platforms, improving tanker responsiveness, reducing logistical friction, and multiplying the carrier strike group’s operational tempo.”

The platform-agnostic design of the software means it could potentially serve numerous platforms across both the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Air Force.

“Integrating this software into the MQ‑25A will give manned platforms control of aircraft, turning the tanker into a force-multiplier that streamlines refueling operations and expands mission reach,” said Kayla Stice, MQ-25 Advanced Design Program Manager at Boeing.

The MQ-25A Stingray development pathway

Developed by the Boeing Defense, Space & Security division, the MQ-25A Stingray is the first operational carrier-based unmanned aircraft for the U.S. Navy. Its primary mission is unmanned aerial refueling. By taking over tanking duties, the MQ-25A frees up crewed fighters like the F/A-18 Super Hornet to focus exclusively on strike missions, thereby extending the overall range and endurance of the carrier air wing.

The program has achieved several critical milestones leading up to the recent MUM-T software tests. On June 4, 2021, the Boeing MQ-25 T1 test asset successfully refueled a U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet for the first time. The T1 asset subsequently demonstrated its capabilities by refueling an E-2D Hawkeye and an F-35C Lightning II.

On April 25, 2026, the first operational U.S. Navy MQ-25A Stingray completed its inaugural two-hour test flight over southern Illinois. That flight validated basic flight controls and operations with the Unmanned Carrier Aviation Mission Control System (UMCS). Shortly after, on May 19, 2026, the U.S. Navy announced the MQ-25A Stingray had reached Milestone C, officially clearing the program for low-rate initial production (LRIP).

Production contracts and future integration

Following the Milestone C decision, the U.S. Navy awarded Boeing a contract on September 14, 2026, for the low-rate initial production of three additional MQ-25A Stingray aircraft. Designated as Lot 1, this award brought the total number of MQ-25A aircraft currently under U.S. Navy contract to 14.

Boeing and the U.S. Navy plan to conduct additional test flights to validate the MUM-T capability before integrating it into the operational software of the MQ-25A. The initial deployment goal is to field the capability on the MQ-25A Stingray and the F/A-18 Super Hornet.

Procurement is expected to continue expanding, with Lot 2 of the low-rate initial production planned to be awarded in 2027.

AirPro News analysis

The successful demonstration of MUM-T over Link 16 represents a critical de-risking step for the broader autonomous aviation strategy of the U.S. military. By utilizing an existing and widely deployed tactical data link rather than requiring a bespoke communications architecture, Boeing and the U.S. Navy are lowering the barrier to entry for integrating unmanned assets into established carrier air wings. If the platform-agnostic nature of the software functions as intended in operational environments, this architecture could eventually allow a wide variety of U.S. and allied combat aircraft to dynamically task refueling assets in contested airspace. We view this as a fundamental shift in how strike packages will be managed, moving control of logistical assets directly into the cockpit of the fighters that depend on them.

Lockheed Martin is seeking to integrate additional Moroccan manufacturers into its global aerospace and defense supply chain, following an executive delegation tour of industrial facilities in Tangiers.

In a press release issued on December 12, 2024, the manufacturer detailed the visit, which was conducted in collaboration with the Moroccan Agency for Investment and Export Development (AMDIE). The initiative aligns with Morocco’s broader ambitions to establish itself as a major regional aerospace hub supporting advanced platforms, including the F-35 Lightning II.

Expanding the Moroccan supply chain

The delegation was led by Tim Cahill, president of Lockheed Martin’s Missiles and Fire Control division, and Joseph Rank, chief executive for Lockheed Martin in Africa and Saudi Arabia. The facility tour followed the company’s participation in the Marrakesh International Airshow, which took place from October 30 to November 2, 2024.

During the tour, executives visited Eaton-Souriau Tangiers, a facility that produces essential aerospace components and has been part of Lockheed Martin’s supply chain for almost two decades. The manufacturer stated that this existing collaboration supports its defense systems across multiple platforms while building the local industrial workforce. The group also evaluated Ausare, a Mecachrome Group company, for potential future collaboration.

Lockheed Martin’s long history of collaboration with Morocco reflects our shared commitment to advancing defense capabilities, fostering local industrial growth and creating new economic opportunities.

Cahill stated that the company intends to expand its presence to support the country’s defense priorities while generating employment and attracting regional investment.

A half-century of defense partnership

Lockheed Martin’s engagement with Morocco began in 1974 with the delivery of the first C-130H aircraft to the Royal Moroccan Air Force. The country has since become a primary regional partner, operating platforms that include the F-16 Fighting Falcon, Sikorsky Helicopters, and various radar systems.

In 2022, Lockheed Martin supported the establishment of Maintenance Aero Maroc (MAM), a joint venture designed to provide maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services. The MAM facility supports both Moroccan and regional operators of F-16 and C-130H fleets, anchoring the manufacturer’s long-term sustainment footprint in the region.

The manufacturer stated that expanding its relationship with Moroccan suppliers is part of a broader effort to leverage the country’s advanced manufacturing capabilities for its global operations, marking a continuation of a 50-year industrial partnership.