Boeing News

Breaking Defense

Boeing’s F/A-XX win marks a turnaround for its defense business

A report examines Boeing’s victory in the U.S. Navy’s F/A-XX competition and what it signals for the company’s defense business. It also includes reporting from western Ukraine on technology and daily life during wartime.

Leeham News

Boeing 737 Max 10 certification path clears after FAA dismisses software glitch as non-safety-critical

Certification of Boeing’s 737 Max 10 appears back on track after the FAA determined that a software glitch potentially affecting some Boeing narrowbodies is not safety critical. That assessment reduces the prospect of another lengthy delay, though the available report does not specify a revised certification timeline.

Payload

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U.S. awards Boeing $14.7B Patriot seeker contract as DoD funds Kymeta terminal upgrades and Rheinmetall-Iceye starts German SAR

Boeing’s contract supports plans to triple production of PAC-3 MSE seekers for Patriot interceptors, while the Pentagon is funding Kymeta to add edge computing, software-defined radio and RF sensing to its Osprey u8 terminal. Separately, Rheinmetall-Iceye has begun production of military SAR satellites under a 40-satellite German order.

AeroTime

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Aerospace forums and trade shows spotlight testing, Middle East growth, African space and defense systems

Coverage from 2026 aerospace events spans hybrid testing, AI and data at the Aerospace Test & Development Show; Boeing’s view that Middle East traffic will rebound, with widebody demand remaining strong; South Africa’s record company presence at IAC; and Elbit Systems’ planned showcase of unmanned, ISR, precision-fire and electronic-warfare capabilities in Marrakech.

New York Times

Trump says additional threats prompted U.S. withdrawal of B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford

President Donald Trump said the United States pulled its remaining B-1B Lancers from RAF Fairford after receiving additional threats. A German-language report characterized the threat as a planned Iranian drone attack targeting personnel at the base; the UK government said the installation remained safe after the aircraft departed.

Reuters

Boeing wins U.S. Navy’s next-generation fighter contract, drawing on carrier-jet experience and upgrade-focused design

Boeing’s selection for the U.S. Navy’s next-generation fighter reflects years of investment, decades of carrier-based fighter experience and a design approach aligned with the Pentagon’s push for aircraft that are easier to upgrade, according to people familiar with the competition. The win follows another Navy fighter contract.

Paddle Your Own Kanoo

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British Airways 777 returns to Heathrow after 28,000-foot emergency descent over Ireland

A British Airways Boeing 777 bound from London to Chicago returned to Heathrow after a reported cabin pressurization problem prompted an emergency descent over the Irish Sea. The aircraft descended 28,000 feet in seven minutes; passengers reportedly used oxygen masks, and the plane circled for four hours to burn fuel before landing.

DefenseNews.com

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Boeing wins $14.7 billion, seven-year Lockheed Martin contract to triple PAC-3 MSE seeker output

Boeing says Lockheed Martin awarded it an approximately $14.7 billion, seven-year contract to scale production and deliver seekers for the Patriot PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement interceptor. The award is an undefinitized contract action; production is to be completed at Boeing’s Huntsville, Alabama, facility.