Today's Aerospace Pulse
Icelandair to retire B757‑200 fleet by late 2026
Icelandair announced it will retire its Boeing 757‑200 aircraft in late 2026 as part of fleet modernization. In the same coverage cluster, Flexjet’s Irish subsidiary received regulatory approval to operate in the United States.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Eaton merges mobility business with Dana in $10B deal
DHL Express and LODD Autonomous Partner to Develop Hili-Based UAV Cargo Services
DHL Express and LODD Autonomous have signed an MoU to explore integrating LODD’s Hili unmanned aircraft into DHL’s express network. The Hili UAV can lift up to 250 kg, carry two Euro pallets, and fly 700 km with VTOL capability. Both parties will launch operational workshops to pinpoint priority routes and refine payload, turnaround and system interoperability. The partnership targets the UAE, where road congestion is driving demand for aerial logistics solutions.
Leonardo UK “Optimistic” On Further Proteus Funding, Confirms International Interest
Leonardo UK announced optimism about securing additional funding for its Proteus autonomous‑system demonstrator ahead of the UK Defence Investment Plan. The programme, backed by a £60 million MoD contract awarded in 2022, completed its maiden flight in January 2026, proving key...
Etihad Airways Profits Soar Nearly 50% as Fleet Network Expansion Support Strong Demand
Etihad Airways reported a near‑50 percent profit surge to $698 million in 2025, driven by a 21 percent rise in passenger numbers to 22.4 million and a fleet expansion to 127 aircraft. Load factors averaged 88 percent, with the airline targeting multiple days above 90 percent...
Resilient Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) | GeoBuiz Summit 2026
At the GeoBuiz Summit 2026, a panel of industry leaders highlighted the escalating threat of GPS disruptions, spoofing, and jamming worldwide. They discussed emerging resilient PNT solutions such as low‑Earth‑orbit satellite constellations, quantum timing technologies, and secure multi‑layered architectures. Real‑world...
3D Printed Pipe Embeds Heater And Sensor For Space
A European consortium has 3D‑printed a 150 mm spacecraft‑grade pipe in 316L stainless steel that embeds a 60 W resistive heater, internal wiring, a D‑sub connector, and an aerosol‑jet‑printed temperature sensor. The design‑for‑additive‑manufacturing approach eliminates separate Kapton heaters and fragile leads, aiming...
AIRHART Chosen as Heathrow Airport’s New Digital Backbone
Smarter Airports, the joint venture of Copenhagen Airports and Netcompany, announced that Heathrow Airport has selected the AIRHART platform as its new digital backbone. The multi‑year agreement will replace Heathrow’s legacy Airport Operational Database and embed collaborative decision‑making and predictive...
The Real Reason Why Delta Air Lines Brought Back The Boeing 747
Delta Air Lines reintroduced the Boeing 747 after an 18‑year gap, driven primarily by its 2008 merger with Northwest Airlines. The acquisition added a sizable 747 fleet that supported Delta’s expanded trans‑Atlantic and Pacific long‑haul network. The aircraft served as a...
Prometheus Starts Work on New Indiana Solid Rocket Motor Campus
Prometheus Energetics, a joint venture between Kratos Defense and RAFAEL, broke ground on a 600‑acre solid rocket motor campus in Bloomfield, Indiana. The facility will house four production lines capable of delivering up to 800 tons of domestic energetics annually, with...
EReport: End-to-End Asset Management for Future-Ready Airports
The International Airport Review eReport outlines how airports are modernising asset management to cope with rising operational, regulatory and sustainability pressures. It highlights a shift from traditional CAPEX/OPEX splits toward a whole‑life TOTEX model that integrates planning, delivery, operation and...
SecFund Invests in Advanced Composite Manufacturer Arceon
Arceon, a Delft‑based advanced composite maker, received new capital from SecFund and Tenzing Alpha to commercialise its carbon‑based material Carbeon. The single‑step silicon infiltration process makes Carbeon lighter, stronger and faster to produce, targeting rockets, satellites and hypersonic platforms. The...
Israel Upgrades UH-60 Fleet with Synthetic Vision Helmet System
Elbit Systems will equip the Israeli Air Force’s UH‑60 Black Hawk fleet with its Helmet Display and Tracking System (HDTS), delivering synthetic vision, head‑tracking, and multi‑sensor integration. The helmet provides three‑dimensional terrain and obstacle symbology directly in the pilot’s line...
Deepinder Goyal’s LAT Aerospace Acquires Sharang Shakti To Foray Into Defence Tech
LAT Aerospace, the aviation startup backed by former Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal, announced the acquisition of early‑stage defence tech firm Sharang Shakti. The move enables LAT to integrate Sharang’s anti‑drone radar and hard‑kill interceptor technology into both defence and civil...
U.S. Air Force Tests YFQ-44 ‘Fighter Drone’ with AMRAAM Missile
The U.S. Air Force unveiled the first image of Anduril’s YFQ‑44 Fury drone carrying an inert AIM‑120 AMRAAM, marking the start of captive‑carry weapons integration testing under the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program. The tests focus on airworthiness, structural performance,...
US Prepares Israel to House CH-53K ‘Pereh’ Helicopter Fleet
The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded a $96 million contract to New York‑based Exyte to ready Israel’s Tel Nof air base for a fleet of 12 CH‑53K heavy‑lift helicopters, designated “Pereh.” The new fleet will replace Israel’s aging CH‑53D “Yas’ur” helicopters, with...
New Illustrations Show Mystery DARPA LongShot Missile Drone
DARPA has unveiled new illustrations of its X‑68A LongShot program, an air‑launched unmanned aircraft designed to carry air‑to‑air missiles. Built by General Atomics, the drone can be released from a variety of host platforms and operate ahead of crewed formations....
Boeing Starts Assembly of Canada’s CP-8A Poseidon Aircraft
Boeing has begun fuselage integration on the Royal Canadian Air Force’s first CP‑8A Poseidon, the Canadian variant of the P‑8A maritime patrol aircraft. The aircraft, serial number 9627, marks the start of production for Canada’s effort to modernize long‑range surveillance...
Boeing Highlights F-15 Evolution Into Multi-Role Combat Platform
Boeing confirmed the U.S. Air Force is fielding the F‑15EX Eagle II, the latest evolution of the F‑15 family first introduced in 1974. The new variant features modern avionics, open‑architecture systems, and expanded payload capacity, giving it longer range and the...
Nearly 40 Inches Of Pitch: Delta Air Lines Unveils Seat Map Of New Premium-Heavy Airbus A321neo
Delta Air Lines announced a new Airbus A321neo configuration that includes an unusually large premium cabin. The aircraft will carry 44 first‑class seats with a 38‑inch pitch across the front two‑thirds of the jet. Behind it, a 54‑seat Delta Comfort+...
Artemis Space Launch System Technical Overview
The Space Launch System (SLS) is NASA’s primary heavy‑lift vehicle for the Artemis program, using a modular block architecture that evolves from Block 1 to Block 2. It integrates heritage RS‑25 engines, five‑segment solid rocket boosters, and advanced upper stages to lift...
Weather Delays SLS Rollback, Artemis II Crew Invited to SOTU
Due to weather, the SLS/Orion rollback has been postponed from tomorrow to Wednesday. https://t.co/iy74WqbbdT Meanwhile, since they're not in quarantine anymore, per Axios House Speaker Johnson has invited the Artemis II crew to tomorrow's State of the Union address.
Meink Lays Out New Vision for Acquisition
Secretary Troy E. Meink announced the creation of 27 Portfolio Acquisition Executives (PAEs) – 18 for the Air Force and nine for the Space Force – to give a single leader end‑to‑end authority over requirements, development, and sustainment. The new...
YFQ‑44A Fury Drone Begins AMRAAM Integration Testing
YFQ-44A Fury Now Flying With AIM-120 AMRAAM Missile The USAF says its Collaborative Combat Aircraft drone program has entered the weapons integration and captive carry testing phase. New: https://t.co/gL0UcfTkZm
Boeing Demonstrates Large Language Model for Space-Grade Hardware
Boeing Space Mission Systems engineers have proven that a large language model can run on commercial off‑the‑shelf hardware and interpret satellite telemetry in natural language. The lab‑based test showed the model can generate human‑readable health reports, reducing latency compared with...
Alaska Airlines Passengers Arrive At Destination 7 Hours Late After Power Bank Catches Fire
A power bank ignited on Horizon Air flight AS2117, causing a thermal‑runaway fire aboard an Embraer E175. The crew extinguished the blaze and the pilot returned to Wichita for an emergency landing, where a passenger received minor burns. The aircraft underwent...
Collaborative Combat Aircraft Program Progresses Through Deliberate Weapons Integration Testing
The U.S. Air Force has moved the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program into the next developmental testing stage, conducting disciplined weapons‑integration and captive‑carry trials with inert munitions. These tests validate airworthiness, structural integrity, aerodynamic performance, and safe separation before any...
Space Force Starts Briefing Stakeholders on 15-Year Vision
The U.S. Space Force unveiled the prototype of its 15‑year force structure roadmap, detailing expected systems, support and personnel through 2040. Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman highlighted three core mission areas—navigation warfare, space domain awareness, and satellite communications—and...
Northrop Grumman Renames Fighter Drone Talon Blue
Talon Blue Is The New Name For Northrop Grumman’s YFQ-48A ‘Fighter Drone’ Talon harkens back to the company's T-38 Talon heritage, while Blue is likely a reference to Tacit Blue, which was a technological leap at the dawn of...
CCAs Start Carrying Inert Missiles, Live Fire Shots Expected Later This Year
The U.S. Air Force has equipped its Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) prototypes – General Atomics' YFQ-42A and Anduril's YFQ-44A – with inert AIM‑120 missiles, marking the first weapons‑carriage milestone for the uncrewed fighter program. Live‑fire testing is scheduled for later...
Anduril YFQ-44A CCA Tested with Inert AIM-120
New photo of the @Anduril YFQ-44A CCA carrying an inert AIM-120 as part of captive carry tests: https://t.co/zlKJ5RntBF
Meink, Saltzman Make Case for Space Force Expansion
U.S. Space Force Secretary Troy Meink announced a push for sustained expansion as mission sets broaden, citing the need for more personnel and specialized skills. A key immediate step is enlarging the Space Warfighting Analysis Center to guide force design...
COMAC's Reality Check: Supply Chains and Sanctions Mean Slower Output; Western Access Narrows
COMAC showcased its C919 at the Singapore Airshow, underscoring its ambition to become a global competitor. However, heightened US‑China tensions and dependence on Western suppliers have forced the Chinese OEM to cut 2025 production and delay deliveries. Supply‑chain disruptions, regulatory...
Inside Pakistan’s Pivot: From Assembling Kits to Designing Advanced Defence Solutions
At the 2026 World Defence Show in Riyadh, Pakistan’s defence industry announced a strategic shift from licence‑based kit assembly to indigenous design and systems integration. State‑run firms displayed a range of home‑developed products, including GIDS’s Shahpar UAVs and Blaze loitering...
Albany International Corp (AIN) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Albany International reported Q4 2025 revenue of $1.2 billion and full‑year sales of $4.6 billion, the strongest top line since 2012. Adjusted EBITDA rose 11% YoY to $232 million in the quarter and $859 million for the year, pushing the margin to 19.7%, a...
Leonardo DRS Inc (DRS) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Leonardo DRS reported Q2 FY2025 revenue of $829 million, up 10% year‑over‑year, and adjusted EBITDA of $96 million, expanding margin to 11.6%. Bookings reached $853 million with a 1.0 book‑to‑bill ratio and total backlog grew 9% to $8.6 billion. The company raised its full‑year...
DAF Increases B-21 Raider Production Capacity to Deliver Combat Capability Faster
The Department of the Air Force and Northrop Grumman have signed an agreement to expand B‑21 Raider production, leveraging $4.5 billion authorized in FY 2025 legislation. The deal raises annual production capacity by 25 %, compressing delivery timelines while preserving cost and performance...
B-2 Spirit Flies with Adaptable Communications Suite 4.0
Sierra Nevada Corporation and Northrop Grumman have completed the first flight of a B‑2A Spirit equipped with the Adaptable Communications Suite (ACS) 4.0. The upgrade embeds a secure, open‑mission computing environment that plugs the bomber into the Combined Joint All‑Domain Command...
SCOTUS Rejects Boeing Appeal Regarding MAX Suit
The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Boeing's appeal, allowing the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association lawsuit to continue in Texas appellate courts. The case alleges Boeing interfered with the union’s business and fraudulently induced pilots to operate the 737 MAX, seeking...
Picogrid and Guardian RF Partner to Deliver Drone Defense for Space Launch Operations at Vandenberg Space Force Base
Picogrid and Guardian RF have secured a joint contract to protect Vandenberg Space Force Base from unauthorized drone activity. The deal integrates Guardian RF’s low‑SWaP Scout passive RF sensors with Picogrid’s Expeditionary Command and Control Nodes, creating a unified, real‑time...
Airbus Presents Rotorcraft Concepts For NATO Study
Airbus Helicopters, together with Collins Aerospace, Raytheon and MBDA, has submitted two next‑generation rotorcraft concepts to NATO’s Next Generation Rotorcraft Capabilities study. The proposals include a conventional helicopter and a high‑speed compound aircraft that share common systems, training and maintenance...
![Calling In Sick After Your Vacation? Union Says United Airlines Is Using Tech To Fire Flight Attendants [Roundup]](https://hixhlmpcokxhartfkpyi.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/images/thumbnails/06273bc5ad5a3007ed5c98c15cd238ed.webp)
Calling In Sick After Your Vacation? Union Says United Airlines Is Using Tech To Fire Flight Attendants [Roundup]
United Airlines has deployed an algorithmic system to identify flight attendants it deems to be abusing sick‑leave, flagging crew who fail to trade assigned trips or who call in sick after denied time‑off requests. The technology cross‑references scheduling disputes and...
4colors Research & Partners Secure Funding to Tackle Aircraft Loading with Quantum Computing
A consortium led by 4colors Research, together with Airbus, DNV, NQCC and ORCA Computing, has received an NQCC SparQ grant to develop a hybrid classical‑quantum solution for aircraft cargo loading. The project, titled “Quantum‑Accelerated Mixed‑Integer Optimisation for Aircraft Loading,” will...
Can Marine to Deploy Eutelsat OneWeb for Asia-Pacific Maritime Connectivity Services
Singapore‑based Can Marine announced a multi‑year agreement to leverage Eutelsat’s OneWeb low‑Earth‑orbit satellite constellation for maritime connectivity across the Asia‑Pacific region. The partnership will serve merchant shipping and offshore energy customers, providing end‑to‑end satellite communications, network design, and support. Financial...
Defense Budget Must Prioritize Airlift Over Kinetic Weapons
If they are really going to do a $1.5T defense budget, additional heavy airlift assets (C-17 line restart or whatever) absolutely needs to be in that and in a big way. It's more important than the kinetic stuff (which even...
UK Parts Director Jailed for Fraud That Grounded Planes
UK aircraft parts company director jailed for fraud that led planes to be grounded https://t.co/EY2dfisdKf
Securing the Future of the Orbital Environment
Industry briefings under the "Securing the Future of Space" campaign stress a sovereign‑commercial nexus to protect an increasingly congested Low Earth Orbit. Experts like Dr. Moriba Jah advocate a shift from space conquest to environmental stewardship, leveraging AI to monitor...
Pentagon Speeds up Navy Stealth Fighter, Boosting Boeing, Northrop
Just in on long-delayed F/A-XX (Bloomberg) -- The Pentagon will accelerate development of a next-generation stealth fighter jet for the Navy after previously pushing back — a move that could benefit either Boeing Co. or Northrop Grumman Corp., which are...
General Minihan Warns U.S. Airlift Shortfalls Amid China Threat
Straight Talk On State Of U.S. Airlift Capabilities From General Who Ran Air Mobility Command General Minihan's frankness about the China threat ended his career, but now as a civilian, he has much more to say. Exclusive: https://t.co/voeW7vfCc8
China's Mysterious Shenlong Space Plane Recently Launched on Its 4th Mission. What Is It Doing up There?
China’s reusable Shenlong space plane lifted off from Jiuquan on Feb 6, 2026, marking its fourth orbital mission. The vehicle’s prior flights ranged from a two‑day test to multi‑year stays, each releasing one or more satellites. Unlike the U.S. X‑37B, Shenlong...
Starlink Monopoly Will Dominate Residential Broadband Future
Enjoyed my panel today during the opening session at #RTIME2026 here in Orlando. My message: Elon Musk doesn't care about your economics. And in 5 years time, your biggest issue will be what to do about Starlink's monopoly in residential...
Marines Retire Harvest Hawk Kits, Ending C‑130 Close‑air Support
KC-130J’s Hellfire Missile-Firing Harvest Hawk Kits Retired By Marines Developed to turn USMC C-130s into close air support platforms during the Global War on Terror, Harvest Hawk's relevance has waned. https://t.co/FWdjbg1wcs