Today's Aerospace Pulse
SpaceX IPO Valuation Hits $2 Trillion, Making Musk First Trillionaire
SpaceX went public on June 12, 2026, launching the largest IPO in history with a $2 trillion market valuation and turning founder Elon Musk into the world’s first trillion‑dollar individual. The offering priced shares at $135, closing at $160.95, and reflects a portfolio that now spans hundreds of orbital launches, the dominant Starlink broadband constellation, and expanding AI and social‑media ventures.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Eaton merges mobility business with Dana in $10B deal
Apache Helicopters Downed Drones With 30mm Proximity Ammo
The U.S. Army’s AH‑64 Apache attack helicopter successfully employed 30 mm proximity‑fuzed ammunition to engage and destroy unmanned aerial vehicles during a December training exercise at Yuma Proving Ground. This marks the first documented air‑to‑air kill by an Apache using purpose‑built anti‑drone rounds. The test demonstrated the platform’s ability to transition from traditional ground‑attack roles to a credible counter‑UAS capability. Army officials view the outcome as a validation of integrating advanced munitions into existing rotary‑wing fleets.
Shareholder Advisory Firm Urges Vote Against Avio Bylaw Amendments
Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) has recommended Avio shareholders reject a set of bylaw amendments slated for a March 3 extraordinary meeting. The proposals would fix the board at nine members, giving the largest shareholder seven seats while reducing minority representation, and...
SHD Composites Opens New Wide Format Lines
SHD Composites, now part of Cambium after its December 2025 acquisition, has commissioned new wide‑format unidirectional prepreg and advanced film coating lines. The equipment, built on SHD’s own machine designs, expands material width and accelerates high‑volume production for sectors such...
Vantor Partners with Google AI to Automate Intelligence Reports for Government Agencies
Vantor, a commercial Earth‑observation satellite operator, announced a partnership with Google to run Google Earth AI models inside classified, air‑gapped government networks. The AI will automatically generate text‑based intelligence reports from Vantor’s own, third‑party, or sovereign imagery, cutting analysis time...
SpaceX Unveils Space Traffic Management System
SpaceX announced Stargaze, a space‑situational awareness platform that leverages star‑tracker cameras on its nearly 10,000 Starlink satellites to collect about 30 million observations per day. The system generates near‑real‑time conjunction data messages and will be offered free to all satellite operators...
UK Caps Launch Liability in Timely Boost for Nascent Domestic Market
On February 18, the UK enacted a €60 million liability cap for launch operators under the Space Industry (Indemnities) Act 2025, replacing the previous unlimited exposure. The cap, which must be included in launch licences, is intended to make the nascent UK...
Second and Third Prototypes of Turkey’s Kaan Fighter Have Emerged
Turkey’s Kaan fifth‑generation fighter has advanced to its second and third prototypes, designated P1 and P2, with static testing slated for 2026. The airframes show notable design tweaks, including a rearward‑shifted engine intake, wider nose, and a Tulgar helmet‑mounted display....
AFGSC at Barksdale Air Force Base Secures $86.1m in Federal Funding
The U.S. government has allocated $86.1 million in new funding to the Air Force Global Strike Command at Barksdale Air Force Base. The money will support innovation, technology, and modernization for the bomber fleet and nuclear command systems. Since 2020, total...
The F-117 Test Pilot Who Successfully Landed His Nighthawk After Its Nose Wheel Fell Off upon Take Off
In January 1982, Lockheed test pilot Tom Morgenfeld experienced a nose‑wheel loss moments after taking off the third YF‑117A prototype from Area 51. Rather than eject, he continued the flight, burned off fuel, and used the aircraft’s drag chute to execute...
Elon Musk Wants to Put a Satellite Catapult on the Moon. It's Not a New Idea
Elon Musk told xAI staff he wants a Moon‑based factory to produce AI‑focused satellites and launch them with a massive electromagnetic catapult. He believes that within two to three years space‑based compute will be the cheapest way to run AI...
Tata Advanced Systems Inaugurates Airbus H125 Helicopter Production Line to Boost India’s Vertical-Lift Capabilities
Tata Advanced Systems has opened India’s first private‑sector final assembly line for the Airbus H125 helicopter at Vemagal, Karnataka, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron. The facility will produce both civil H125 and its military...
Savoie Hélicoptères and the Airbus H125: Precision in Avalanche Control
Savoie Hélicoptères relies on the Airbus H125 to conduct precision avalanche‑control missions across the French Alps. The crew follows a rigorous pre‑flight briefing, uses 2 kg explosive‑emulsion charges and a slow‑burn fuse, then flies the helicopter away before detonation. Pilots highlight...
UK Firm to Begin Work on US Air Force Wedgetail Aircraft
A UK‑based aviation firm, STS Aviation, has been awarded a contract by Boeing to perform the initial conversion of the first two US Air Force E‑7 Wedgetail aircraft, marking the first UK‑built military aircraft for the United States in more...
ARCO Appoints Commercial Aviation Head
ARCO National Construction announced the appointment of Scott Rightnowar as head of its commercial aviation division. Rightnowar will oversee national airport, airline, hangar, and MRO development programs, leveraging more than a decade of executive aviation and industrial real‑estate experience. His...
Chinese AVIC Reveals U.S.-made V-BAT Copy Drone
China’s AVIC Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group unveiled the Yunying‑25V, a tail‑sitter VTOL UAV that closely resembles the U.S. Shield AI V‑BAT. Demonstrated at the 2026 CCTV Spring Festival Gala, the drone can launch from a 3‑by‑3‑meter footprint and transition to forward...
Polling Shows Britons Feel Less Safe than Five Years Ago
A new Adam Smith Insights poll of 2,052 British adults shows 52% feel less safe than in 2021, with over 60% reporting heightened anxiety about global security. The war in Ukraine and Middle‑East tensions appear to drive this shift, especially among...
Free Aviation Lecture by Delta Ops Leader
Free #aviation lecture, RAeS Washington DC Branch, 18 Feb, 2026 Sir Stuart Matthews Lecture - given by John Laughter, EVP, Chief of Operations and President, @Delta Technical Operations #avgeek https://t.co/FJ8pi7Q6kU https://t.co/l4RPF1BDai
Free Aviation Lectures at RAeS Solent Competition
Free #aviation lecture(s), RAeS Solent Branch, NE Rowe Lecture Competition (<22 Category), 18 Feb #avgeek https://t.co/JJra4NarBl
L3Harris Begins Work on South Korean AEW&C Aircraft, Eyes Further International Opportunities
L3Harris has begun modifying Bombardier Global 6500 jets for South Korea’s airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) program, deploying its AERIS X system. The contract, valued at roughly US $2.26 billion, was awarded in October 2025 and involves partners Bombardier, Israel Aerospace Industries, Elta...
CFD Validation Challenges Explored by Modelers and Measurers
Today (18 Feb) at RAeS HQ! RAeS #Aerodynamics Workshop 2026: CFD Validation Challenges - Perspectives from Modellers and Measurers #avgeek https://t.co/OxpGPT4vKi https://t.co/jfXuQTxXsr
BAE Systems Reports Record Sales and GBP 83.6bn Order Backlog
BAE Systems posted record full‑year 2025 sales of £30.7 billion, a 10% rise on a constant‑currency basis, and lifted its order backlog to a historic £83.6 billion. Underlying EBIT grew 12% to £3.32 billion, while free cash flow dipped to £2.16 billion as the...
UAV Navigation & Ekolot Aerospace and Defense Partner on ZEUS VTOL Platform
UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía and Ekolot Aerospace & Defense have forged a strategic partnership to embed high‑precision flight‑control and navigation systems into the ZEUS VTOL platform. The ZEUS family, with a maximum take‑off weight of 100‑250 kg and payload capacity of 30‑150 kg,...
Flyadeal’s Latest Fleet Expansion with the Airbus A320neo: More Affordable Flights From Jeddah, Riyadh, and Beyond – Everything You Need...
Flyadeal, Saudi Arabia’s fast‑growing low‑cost carrier, received its first Airbus A320neo of 2026, bringing its total fleet to 45 aircraft. The new plane, named Al‑Saqr, features 186 all‑economy seats and lower fuel consumption, enhancing both capacity and sustainability. Flyadeal operates...
Stockholm, Paris, and Venice Airports Suffer Severe Disruptions as Hundreds of Flights Are Canceled and Delayed
European hubs in Stockholm, Paris, and Venice experienced severe operational chaos on January 18, 2026, as airlines cancelled six flights and delayed more than 180 across the continent. Scandinavian Airlines, Pegasus Airlines, and Air France were the primary carriers affected,...
MOD Confirms Palantir Contract Was Direct Award
The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed that its Palantir Technologies contract for defence data analytics was awarded through a direct award under the Procurement Act 2023. The decision relied on Paragraph 6, citing a lack of viable alternatives, and Paragraph 7, highlighting...
UK Awards Contract for Nyan One-Way Effector
The UK Ministry of Defence has awarded a £4.996 million contract (≈£5 million including VAT) to Callen‑Lenz Associates for the Callen‑Lenz Nyan One‑Way Effector (OWE). The direct award under the Defence and Security regime aims to strengthen deep‑fires capability for forces deployed...
Allient Appoints New Director of Engineering to Support Motion Control Development
Allient has named Ben Vespone as Director of Engineering for its Rochester unit, overseeing new product development and value‑add design projects. Vespone brings a master’s degree from the University of Rochester and a track record launching complex electronic and electromechanical...
SatVu Raises £30M to Accelerate Its Constellation
UK‑based thermal‑imaging firm SatVu announced a £30 million equity raise, bringing its total financing to £60 million. The funding, sourced from the NATO Innovation Fund, British Business Bank and existing backers, will accelerate the deployment of its HotSat constellation after the on‑orbit...
MQ-9 Drones Sharpen US Eye on China’s Pacific Moves
The United States is deploying and upgrading MQ‑9 Reaper drones across the Indo‑Pacific, stationing them at bases in Japan, South Korea, the Philippines and other locations. The expansion creates a persistent ISR web that allies such as Japan, Taiwan and...
Strong Jet Stream Pushes JetBlue Airbus A321neo To Reach Speed Of 755mph Over New Mexico
JetBlue flight 524 from Los Angeles to New York arrived 39 minutes early after a powerful jet stream boosted its ground speed to 755 mph, far above the typical 520 mph cruise. The tailwind provided a speed boost without adding aerodynamic stress, allowing the Airbus A321neo...
Demonstrators Are No Longer Optional — They’re How Programs Stay on Track
Aerospace and defense programs are abandoning the old end‑stage validation model in favor of early demonstrators—physical or digital mockups that test designs throughout development. The Department of Defense now mandates rapid prototyping and competitive demonstration to curb cost overruns, schedule...
DOD Eyes Commercial Satellites that Can Spy on Other Satellites
The Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) has issued a solicitation for low‑cost commercial satellites capable of high‑resolution space‑to‑space imaging to monitor objects in geosynchronous orbit (GEO). The program, dubbed Ghost Recon, requires launch within two years, government ownership after three,...
PNG's Air Niugini Cancels Its B787-8 Order
Air Niugini has cancelled its order for two Boeing 787‑8 jets, leaving a gap as its aging B767‑300ERs are set to leave service in 2026. The 787s were intended to replace those wide‑bodies and support new routes to Asia, Australia...
Curiosity Enters Final Phase of Boxwork Exploration
Curiosity Blog Sols 4804-4811: Kicking Off the Final Phase of Boxwork Exploration https://t.co/fBSFId5aw8 Curiosity Navigation Curiosity Home Mission Overview Where is Curiosity? Mission Updates Science Overview Instruments Highlights Explorat… https://t.co/8GXXSFuPzc
Singapore Airshow: Part One – Aircraft Manufacturers Look to Leverage Asia Pacific Demand
CAPA’s premium analysis report highlights its extensive aviation intelligence services, offering members a 1,033‑word deep‑dive analysis alongside more than 1,000 weekly news briefs. Membership provides full access to a suite of tools, including a mobile app with customizable alerts and...
Simera Sense to Offer Larger Cameras and Enhanced Autonomy
Simera Sense, a Belgian Earth‑observation camera maker, is moving beyond its cubesat‑focused xScape100 and xScape200 lines to develop higher‑resolution optical payloads for larger satellites. The new standardized payloads aim to deliver sub‑one‑metre ground‑sample distance imagery, with first deliveries slated for...
American Airlines' Longest Nonstop Routes With The Boeing 777 In 2026
American Airlines will operate 67 Boeing 777s in 2026, making it the fourth‑largest global operator and the second‑largest holder of the older 777‑200ER variant. The carrier’s longest nonstop 777 flights include LAX‑Sydney (6,507 nm) and DFW‑Seoul (5,945 nm), while seasonal and summer...
Space Force Surveys Industry For Refueling Tech
The U.S. Space Force issued a February 13 request for information seeking satellite‑refueling systems that can be operational by 2030. It targets vehicles using the approved Orbit Fab Rapidly Attachable Fluid Transfer Interface (RAFTI) or Northrop Grumman’s Passive Refueling Module,...
BeOnd and the Kingdom of Bahrain to Establish Premium Airline
beOnd has signed a Letter of Intent with Bahrain’s Civil Aviation Affairs to explore a Bahrain‑based Air Operator Certificate, aiming to launch a premium airline. The carrier plans to base up to ten premium‑configured aircraft in the kingdom by 2030,...
Artemis II Launch Countdown Kicks Off Now
The race to the Moon is on! - @SpaceKate reports on the countdown to Artemis II launch #NASA #Artemis https://t.co/HgVrFswjLR https://t.co/P7yO0wazU1
US Deploys Air Power, Ship for Potential Iran Strike
An influx of F-22s, F-16s E-3s, a U-2 to the Middle East are adding the capabilities the U.S. would need for a sustained attack on Iran. Also, the USS Pinckney was also recently deployed to the region. https://t.co/yoVBE2PVrB
BlackSky International Customer Orders Gen-3 Satellite for Sovereign Access
BlackSky announced that an unnamed international sovereign client has purchased a dedicated Gen‑3 Earth‑observation satellite along with the company’s imagery and AI‑enabled analytics services. The Gen‑3 platform delivers 35‑centimetre resolution and will operate in tandem with BlackSky’s existing constellation, providing...
Starlink‑enabled Drones Become Ukraine War’s Deadliest Weapon
Drones now account for the majority of casualties in the Ukraine War. With Russia improving its strike range by mounting Starlink terminals to drones, Elon Musk has finally stepped in. Full analysis available on Patreon ➡️ https://t.co/LYlet7MIHM #dronewarfare #starlink #ukrainewar #geopolitics
ST Engineering iDirect to Integrate G&S SatConnect Into Intuition Platform
ST Engineering iDirect announced a strategic partnership with G&S SatCom to embed the SatConnect service‑management platform into its Intuition ground‑system suite. The integration will add both OSS and BSS capabilities, linking network operations with service definition, delivery, and lifecycle management....
US Deploys Missing Assets, Prepares Possible Iran Attack
Final Pieces Moving Into Place For Potential Attack On Iran The latest flurry of U.S. assets heading to the Middle East includes many of the missing capabilities needed for a sustained air campaign. Latest: https://t.co/26hU8ux1aD
Robinhood Ventures Backs Boom Supersonic, Democrat
Super cool to have @boomsupersonic as one of the first companies in the @RobinhoodApp Ventures fund—democratizing investor access to private companies.
How Clashes Between Sean Duffy and Bryan Bedford Intensified FAA’s Year of Turmoil
Sean Duffy entered the Transportation Secretary role just hours before a tragic mid‑air collision killed 67 people, thrusting him into the public eye as the FAA’s crisis manager. Five months later, President Trump’s pick, Bryan Bedford, assumed the FAA Administrator...
Engineer Sticks Boom Logo Atop Kilimanjaro for Contest
There's an informal contest at Boom to see who can put a Boom sticker in the most interesting place, and over the weekend Matt (manufacturing engineer) put one at the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro. (We're not jerks though, Matt took the...
RMT Spotlights Collapsible ATLAS Drawer
RMT Global Partners unveiled the Collapsible ATLAS Drawer, a lightweight galley drawer that folds flat when not in use. The snap‑open, quick‑collapse mechanism lets caterers expand the drawer instantly for loading and collapse it to reduce storage footprint across kitchens,...
US Deploys Advanced Missiles to Philippines, Bolstering 1st Island Chain
🧵 The U.S. will deploy its "cutting-edge missile and unmanned systems" to the Philippines, a step in strengthening force posture inside the 1st island chain. Beijing isn't happy — that's the point. A welcome sign given the NDS's softer tone on...