Reuters
• Julie Zhu
Airbus’ Asia-Pacific president said the company does not see weakening demand or delivery momentum despite geopolitical tensions and supply-chain challenges. The comments underscore the manufacturer’s confidence that market appetite for new aircraft remains resilient amid broader uncertainty affecting aerospace production and trade.
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France’s DGA has awarded the THUNDART long-range strike contract to Safran Electronics & Defense and MBDA, launched initial Rafale F5 work with four major suppliers, and selected Airbus Defence and Space and Unseenlabs for the Cassiopée intelligence system. Separately, FLEX and Sentinel-3C entered orbit aboard Vega-C.
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Airbus’ Asia-Pacific president said the company does not see weakening demand or delivery momentum despite geopolitical tensions and supply-chain challenges. The comments underscore the manufacturer’s confidence that market appetite for new aircraft remains resilient amid broader uncertainty affecting aerospace production and trade.
ESA’s FLEX and Sentinel-3C Earth-observation satellites are ready for launch on Vega-C from French Guiana, while Airbus and Unseenlabs won a contract for France’s next SIGINT satellites. Cailabs is advancing shared optical ground infrastructure, and Satellogic plans three additional Earth-observation satellites.
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Etihad Airways has revealed a four-seat First Class cabin for its incoming Airbus A330-900s, with the suites more closely resembling the carrier’s latest Business Class product than its A380 First Apartments. The Abu Dhabi-based airline expects to receive its first A330neo in September 2027.
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Ten U.S. allies committed $302 million to complete funding for the Space Force’s next Wideband Global SATCOM satellite, while commercial operators advanced financing, manufacturing and procurement plans. Elveo Mobile selected Apex Space to produce 320 direct-to-device satellites, Eutelsat ordered 229 additional OneWeb satellites, and Sophia Space secured $300 million.
France has begun Rafale F5 development with contracts for Dassault Aviation, Thales, MBDA France and Safran, targeting qualification around 2033. In parallel, Pegase 2026 is deploying Rafale fighters alongside A330 MRTT Phénix tankers and A400M transports to Alaska via the Arctic.
Wizz Air plans to use only 11 of the 47 Airbus A321XLRs it acquired for their extended range, with the remainder operating like standard A321neos. The closure of Wizz Air Abu Dhabi has reduced the airline’s network of routes long enough to justify the aircraft’s six- to eight-hour capability.
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Emirates will deploy a retrofitted Airbus A380 on flights EK071 and EK072 between Dubai and Paris from October 25, 2026. The aircraft will introduce the airline’s Premium Economy cabin and its latest onboard product and service to the route.
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