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This week in five minutes

Boeing captured the U.S. Navy’s F/A-XX sixth-generation fighter contract worth more than $20 billion, cementing a decades-long defence programme. Airbus flew the A350F freighter for the first time in Toulouse, starting a 400-hour certification campaign targeting mid-2027 entry. AAR agreed to buy a controlling stake in MRO Holdings for $1.8 billion, reshaping the global heavy maintenance market.

1. Boeing wins $20B U.S. Navy F/A-XX fighter contract

The U.S. Navy awarded Boeing more than $20 billion for full-scale development of the F/A-XX sixth-generation carrier fighter. The win secures St. Louis fighter work for a generation and sets the supplier baseline that defence primes and tier-ones will chase into the 2030s. Read the story →

2. Airbus A350F freighter completes maiden flight in Toulouse

The A350F flew for the first time from Toulouse on 29 September 2026, opening a 400-hour EASA certification campaign aimed at approval by mid-2027. First deliveries will give large-widebody cargo operators a direct alternative to the 777F and 777-8F, firming up fleet planning decisions already underway at the big integrators and freight carriers. Read the story →

3. AAR Corp. acquires 65% stake in MRO Holdings for $1.8B

AAR agreed to acquire a 65% controlling interest in MRO Holdings for $1.8 billion, combining heavy airframe maintenance footprints across the Americas. The deal creates the largest heavy maintenance provider globally and reduces hangar capacity choices for airlines negotiating long-term check contracts. Read the story →

4. FAA clears Boeing 737 MAX 10 certification after FMS review

The FAA ruled that a flight management system anomaly on the 737 MAX is not a safety risk and resumed MAX 10 certification. The decision unblocks a programme with hundreds of orders at United, Delta and Ryanair and lets Boeing restart timelines its narrowbody customers have waited years to confirm. Read the story →

5. Ethiopian Airlines orders 10 Boeing 777 freighters

Ethiopian Airlines placed a firm order for eight 777-8 Freighters and two 777 Freighters, becoming Africa’s launch customer for the 777-8F. The commitment anchors Addis Ababa as a continental cargo hub and gives the 777-8F programme a visible second operator to reference against the A350F. Read the story →

6. Avio USA breaks ground on Virginia solid rocket motor plant

Avio USA started construction of a $500 million, 900,000 sq ft solid rocket motor facility in Virginia, backed by Lockheed Martin and Raytheon. The plant adds a third major U.S. SRM supplier alongside Northrop Grumman and Aerojet, easing a bottleneck that has constrained missile deliveries to the DoD and allies. Read the story →

7. Rolls-Royce invests £300 million in UK manufacturing sites

Rolls-Royce committed £300 million to expand manufacturing and MRO capacity across five UK sites covering Civil Aerospace and Defence. The spend targets Trent widebody engine throughput at a time when operators are reporting multi-month shop-visit queues, directly affecting A350 and 787 operator fleet availability. Read the story →

8. Coast Guard awards $735M contract for six C-130J aircraft

The U.S. Coast Guard ordered six C-130J Super Hercules from Lockheed Martin for $735 million, lifting its fleet to 25 airframes. The buy extends Marietta production into the next decade and keeps the C-130J supplier base busy as parallel orders from India and allied nations stack up. Read the story →

9. Deutsche Aircraft opens D328eco final assembly line in Leipzig

Deutsche Aircraft inaugurated its €100 million D328eco final assembly line in Leipzig on 29 September 2026, with rated capacity of 48 aircraft per year. The site puts a new Western regional turboprop into production as regional operators look for replacements for ageing Dash 8 and ATR 42 fleets. Read the story →

10. Northrop Grumman YFQ-48A Talon Blue completes first autonomous flight

The YFQ-48A Talon Blue flew autonomously for the first time at Mojave on 3 October 2026, validating Northrop Grumman’s bid for USAF Collaborative Combat Aircraft Increment 2. A successful first flight keeps Northrop in a two-horse CCA race against Anduril’s Fury and sets up down-select decisions that will shape unmanned fighter supply chains. Read the story →

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1. Airbus A321neo Fuselage Defect Affects Around 500 Aircraft

Airbus notifies customers of an anti-corrosion coating defect on A321neo fuselage stringers affecting roughly 500 aircraft. Read more…

2. Boeing 737 MAX Navigation Glitch Delays Fix Until 2028

Boeing’s 737 MAX navigation software anomaly, found in 2024, faces FAA review and may delay MAX 7 and MAX 10 certification. Read more…

3. Turkish Airlines Orders Up to 150 Boeing 737 MAX Aircraft

Turkish Airlines finalizes 100 firm 737 MAX orders plus 50 options, with deliveries from 2033 to 2037 under its Vision 2033 plan. Read more…

4. Akasa Air in Talks With Boeing for 200 737 MAX Aircraft

Akasa Air is negotiating a 200+ Boeing 737 MAX order that could be decided by early 2027, extending its fleet pipeline beyond 2032. Read more…

5. Heart Aerospace ES-36 Unveiled With JSX Order for 100 Aircraft

Heart Aerospace unveiled the ES-36 hybrid-electric airliner with a deposit-backed JSX order for up to 100 aircraft and a 2031 service target. Read more…

6. Pratt & Whitney GTF Advantage Enters Service on United A321XLR

Pratt & Whitney delivered the first GTF Advantage-powered A321XLR to United Airlines on September 24, 2026. Read more…

7. Iridium Stockholders Approve Rocket Lab Acquisition

99.6% of votes cast approved Rocket Lab’s ~$8B acquisition of Iridium, expected to close mid-2027. Read more…

8. Archer Aviation Clears Antitrust Review for Boeing Acquisition

Archer Aviation’s ~$1B acquisition of Wisk Aero, SkyGrid, and Insitu clears HSR review, on track to close by end of 2026. Read more…

9. SpaceX Starship Flight 14 Targets First Orbital Mission

SpaceX targets September 28, 2026 for Starship’s first orbital flight, carrying 26 Starlink V3 satellites from Boca Chica, Texas. Read more…

10. FAA Launches SMART AI Platform in Washington D.C. Airspace

The FAA deployed its SMART AI platform at BWI, IAD, and DCA on Sept. 21, 2026, to predict and reduce flight disruptions. Read more…

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1. Korean Air Finalizes $36.2B Order for 103 Boeing Aircraft

Korean Air finalizes a 103-aircraft Boeing order valued at $36.2B to support fleet modernization and Asiana Airlines integration. Read more…

2. US Approves $24.3B F-35 Sale to Saudi Arabia

The U.S. State Department approved a $24.3B F-35A sale to Saudi Arabia, the first Arab nation cleared to buy the stealth fighter. Read more…

3. airBaltic Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, Secures 350M DIP Financing

airBaltic filed for Chapter 11 on Sept 14, 2026, securing €350M in DIP financing to restructure amid fuel costs and geopolitical pressures. Read more…

4. Aeroflot Orders 90 MC-21-310 Aircraft With 22-Year Support Deal

Aeroflot Group finalizes a firm order for 90 MC-21-310 narrowbodies, with deliveries from 2029 to 2032 and a 22-year domestic support contract. Read more…

5. Joby Aviation Completes First Autonomous US Transcontinental Flight

Joby Aviation flew 3,199 miles from California to North Carolina autonomously, with zero control inputs from the onboard safety pilot. Read more…

6. Lufthansa Orders 20 Boeing 737 MAX 10 Aircraft Worth $3.4B

Lufthansa Group exercises options for 20 Boeing 737 MAX 10s, expanding its firm order to 60 jets with deliveries from the early 2030s. Read more…

7. Airbus A350F Clears Ground Tests Before First Flight

Airbus completes Virtual First Flight program for the A350 Freighter ahead of maiden flight targeted for late September 2026. Read more…

8. Amazon Suspends 21 Air After Fatal Miami Runway Excursion

Amazon halted cargo ops with 21 Air after a Boeing 767-300 overran a Miami runway, killing five. NTSB investigation ongoing. Read more…

9. Stoke Space Raises $1B Series E to Scale Nova Rocket Program

Stoke Space closes $1B Series E, reaching $2.3B total raised, to expand infrastructure and develop the 15-ton Nova Block 2 rocket. Read more…

10. US Air Force Names FQ-42A Vengeance and FQ-44A Fury CCAs

The U.S. Air Force officially designated its first two CCAs, targeting 500 platforms in service by 2032 out of a 1,000-unit buy. Read more…

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