This article is based on an official press release from AIAA.

RTX Elevates Engagement with AIAA to Corporate Partner Level

RTX, the world’s largest aerospace and defense company, has officially elevated its relationship with the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) to the Corporate Partner level. The announcement was made today, January 15, 2026, at the AIAA SciTech Forum in Orlando, Florida, the world’s largest event for aerospace research and development.

By securing this designation, RTX joins an exclusive tier of engagement previously occupied only by Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman. The partnership unifies RTX’s three major business units, Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon, under a single strategic umbrella within the institute. According to the announcement, this move is designed to accelerate innovation and deepen the company’s connection with the aerospace engineering workforce.

Strategic Alignment and Industry Impact

The “Corporate Partner” status is the highest level of support within the AIAA, distinct from standard corporate membership. According to institute documentation, this tier grants RTX executive representation on the Corporate Member Strategic Advisory Committee. This position allows the company to help shape technical initiatives and engage directly with leadership from the Department of Defense (DoD), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and NASA.

Clay Mowry, CEO of AIAA, emphasized the significance of RTX’s elevated role in a statement released today:

“We’re proud to welcome RTX to the ranks of our Corporate Partners… RTX is a world-class provider of transformational aerospace technologies… Their storied history of innovation… make us proud to elevate them to the Corporate Partner tier.”

The partnership also focuses heavily on workforce development. With access to AIAA’s network of over 33,000 professional and student members, RTX aims to leverage “Meet the Employer” events and priority branding at major forums to support its recruitment efforts.

Context: Production Ramps and R&D Focus

The timing of this partnership aligns with a period of significant expansion for RTX. Data from late 2025 indicates the company is managing a record backlog of approximately $236 billion. To meet these deliveries targets, the company is in a production ramp-up phase that requires a steady pipeline of engineering talent.

Juan de Bedout, Chief Technology Officer of RTX and an AIAA Fellow, highlighted the collaborative potential of the new agreement:

“This collaboration will drive innovation, accelerate advancements in the aviation industry, and inspire the next generation of engineers by uniting the resources and expertise of the largest aerospace and defense company with the vast knowledge base and professional network of the largest aerospace professional organization.”

RTX is currently projecting an annual research and development spend of approximately $7.5 billion for the 2025/2026 period. The company is heavily investing in hypersonics, artificial intelligence, and sustainable aviation, areas where AIAA technical committees play a critical role in defining standards.

Recent Contract Awards

The push for technical talent follows a series of major contract wins for RTX in late 2025 and early 2026. These include:

• A historic $1.7 billion contract to supply Patriot air and defense systems to Spain.
• A $438 million contract from the FAA to modernize radar systems for the U.S. National Airspace System.
• The successful launch of NASA’s Pandora mission in January 2026, utilizing a satellite from RTX subsidiary Blue Canyon Technologies.

AirPro News Analysis

We view this elevation as a strategic necessity for RTX rather than a mere sponsorship. As the aerospace labor market remains tight through 2026, major primes are competing aggressively for specialized engineering talent. By locking in “Corporate Partner” status, RTX ensures it has equal footing with Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman in accessing the AIAA’s talent pool.

Furthermore, with RTX’s massive R&D budget focused on emerging technologies like hypersonics and AI, having a seat on the AIAA Strategic Advisory Committee allows the company to influence the technical standards and regulatory frameworks that will govern these technologies in the coming decade.

Sources

Sources: AIAA Press Release, RTX Corporate Reports