Defense Industry & Major Contractors News

Reuters • Dan Catchpole

Boeing completes acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems, reabsorbing 737 fuselage production

Boeing completed its acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems, regaining control of 737 fuselage production and key aerostructures. Spirit's Belfast site becomes Short Brothers, a Boeing company, and Spirit Defense will operate as a non-integrated defense subsidiary to address production and quality concerns after an in-flight 737 part incident.

2025-12-08T05:57:58.126094-08:00

FlightGlobal

GKN Aerospace to invest in Kongsberg additive-manufacturing hub with Norwegian Catapult partner

2025-12-08T05:45:21.564822-08:00

European Spaceflight

Avio wins €35m defence contract; forecasts €600m+ in ESA awards after CM25 funding

2025-12-08T03:33:05.902277-08:00

Business Wire

Vertical Aerospace names Syensqo long‑term composite and adhesive supplier for VX4 as it pushes toward 2028 certification

2025-12-08T01:10:49.821623-08:00

Defense Industry & Major Contractors News Timeline

FlightGlobal

Babcock to operate Aero Vodochody L‑39 Albatros jets for France's EPNER and DGA Babcock International will operate Aero Vodochody L‑39 Albatros jet trainers to support France's EPNER test pilot school and the DGA, providing training, test and simulation sorties — including flight‑characteristics assessment and mock‑adversary roles — as an interim solution while France seeks an Alpha Jet replacement.

2025-12-08T09:31:25.346774-08:00

Babcock to operate Aero Vodochody L‑39 Albatros jets for France's EPNER and DGA

Air Data News

Lockheed wins $1.14bn modification to fund materials for 198 F-35s Lockheed Martin received a $1.14 billion contract modification from the U.S. Department of War to fund materials supporting production of 198 F-35 aircraft. The award underpins immediate supply‑chain purchases and helps secure material flow for upcoming deliveries in the program.

2025-12-08T06:12:31.828178-08:00

Lockheed wins $1.14bn modification to fund materials for 198 F-35s

Reuters

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Boeing completes acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems, reabsorbing 737 fuselage production Boeing completed its acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems, regaining control of 737 fuselage production and key aerostructures. Spirit's Belfast site becomes Short Brothers, a Boeing company, and Spirit Defense will operate as a non-integrated defense subsidiary to address production and quality concerns after an in-flight 737 part incident.

2025-12-08T05:57:58.126094-08:00

Boeing completes acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems, reabsorbing 737 fuselage production

FlightGlobal

GKN Aerospace to invest in Kongsberg additive-manufacturing hub with Norwegian Catapult partner GKN Aerospace Norway has signed a strategic agreement with Norwegian Catapult Manufacturing Technology to invest millions of pounds expanding additive-manufacturing (3D‑printing) capacity in Kongsberg. The move will scale local AM production and capabilities to support aerospace component manufacturing and sustainment across civil and defence programmes.

2025-12-08T05:45:21.564822-08:00

GKN Aerospace to invest in Kongsberg additive-manufacturing hub with Norwegian Catapult partner

smh.com.au

Australia to buy six MQ-28A Ghost Bat combat drones in A$1 billion production deal after missile test Australia will sign an A$1 billion (US$663m) contract with Boeing Australia to move the MQ-28A Ghost Bat into production, buying an initial six collaborative combat drones. The deal follows tests in which a Ghost Bat-launched air-to-air missile successfully engaged an aerial target, clearing a key weapons-integration hurdle.

2025-12-08T03:37:55.137439-08:00

Australia to buy six MQ-28A Ghost Bat combat drones in A$1 billion production deal after missile test

European Spaceflight

Avio wins €35m defence contract; forecasts €600m+ in ESA awards after CM25 funding Avio secured a €35 million defence contract and said it expects more than €600 million in new ESA awards following CM25 funding commitments, a development that could materially expand the company’s funded space programme backlog while strengthening near‑term defence revenue visibility.

2025-12-08T03:33:05.902277-08:00

Avio wins €35m defence contract; forecasts €600m+ in ESA awards after CM25 funding

Business Wire

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Vertical Aerospace names Syensqo long‑term composite and adhesive supplier for VX4 to accelerate industrialisation Vertical Aerospace has appointed Syensqo as a long‑term supplier of high‑performance composite and adhesive materials for the VX4, selecting components already used in its prototype programme to support production‑grade airframes and speed industrialisation ahead of a targeted 2028 certification.

2025-12-08T01:10:49.821623-08:00

Vertical Aerospace names Syensqo long‑term composite and adhesive supplier for VX4 to accelerate industrialisation

FlightGlobal

U.S. clears up to $4.7B in missile and air‑defence sales to Denmark and Italy, including potential JASSM‑ER integration on F‑35s The State Department approved potential Foreign Military Sales clearing Denmark to buy 200 AIM‑120C‑8 AMRAAMs and an integrated battle‑command/ground‑based air‑defence package (~$3.73B), and authorising Italy to acquire JASSM‑ERs with options to integrate them onto F‑35s; combined approvals total up to $4.7B.

2025-12-07T23:48:05.095438-08:00

U.S. clears up to $4.7B in missile and air‑defence sales to Denmark and Italy, including potential JASSM‑ER integration on F‑35s

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