Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs) News

The Air Current

High activity

Boeing engineers and technical workers reject four-year contract, authorize strike at critical certification juncture

Members of the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace rejected Boeing’s “best and final” four-year contract offer and overwhelmingly authorized a strike. The union represents 17,000 engineers, scientists and technical workers, with the vote coming as Boeing approaches certification milestones for key aircraft models.

FlightGlobal

Saab unveils stealthy supersonic A3 combat-drone concept as Sweden advances a new turbojet

Saab displayed a full-scale mock-up of its A3 autonomous combat-aircraft concept, designed to complement Gripen E and other fighters in combat, deep-strike and electronic-warfare missions. The company says the high-end unmanned system could also influence its next crewed combat aircraft, while GKN Aerospace has demonstrated a newly developed Swedish turbojet.

Air Cargo News

High activity

Mammoth Freighters delivers first 777-200LRMF conversion to Jetran for DHL network

Mammoth Freighters has delivered its first converted Boeing 777-200LRMF, MSN 32222, to lessor Jetran. The aircraft, converted in Manchester and unveiled at Farnborough, will enter DHL Air UK’s network, forming part of a 13-aircraft placement within Jetran’s broader order of more than two dozen conversions.

Air Data News

Portugal declares Embraer A-29N Super Tucano final assembly line project of national interest

Portugal has designated the planned final assembly line for Embraer’s A-29N Super Tucano as a project of national public interest, advancing its ambitions to become the aircraft’s European production base and support a broader regional market for the military turboprop.

Reuters

High activity

Airbus abandons four-day office plan after union protests and strikes

Airbus will retain existing hybrid-work arrangements after employee protests and strikes, particularly at its Spanish facilities, forced the European manufacturer to reverse a plan that would have reduced remote work from two days per week to one on average. The decision underscores the operational impact of workforce resistance to policy changes.

Via Satellite

Sypris Electronics wins power-processing contract for unnamed LEO constellation

Sypris Electronics will manufacture power processing units for an unnamed next-generation low-Earth-orbit satellite constellation under a newly announced award. Protoflight production is scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2026, with deliveries expected to continue through 2028, signaling a multi-year manufacturing commitment.

The War Zone

China’s New Y-15 Turboprop Emerges as a Key Military Airlifter

New imagery provides the clearest view yet of China’s Y-15, a four-engine turboprop expected to become an important component of the country’s modernizing military transport fleet. The aircraft’s emergence highlights Beijing’s continued investment in indigenous airlift capacity and fleet renewal.

FlightGlobal

Germany’s first F-35A nears completion

Lockheed Martin has completed assembly of Germany’s first F-35A stealth fighter and moved the aircraft into final finishing ahead of delivery to the German air force. The milestone marks progress in Germany’s acquisition of the single-engine fighter for future service.