Reuters
The U.S. Army selected M1 Support Services for its Flight School Next program, centered on Robinson R66 helicopters replacing the UH-72 Lakota, while the Pentagon signed seven-year agreements with Boeing and RTX to expand production of SM-3 Block IIA and IB components as missile defense priorities shift.
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The White House is imposing new import duties on drones and related components under a national-security rationale, with rates ranging from 25% to 100%. Lower tariffs will apply to qualifying allied supply chains, while the policy is designed to encourage domestic drone manufacturing and pressure users toward U.S.-made systems.
Pilatus has placed a new composites development and production center into operation in Nidwalden, Switzerland, its most expensive facility investment to date. The sustainable complex will consolidate composite-materials activities and house approximately 300 employees, expanding the manufacturer’s aerospace production capabilities.
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The U.S. Army selected M1 Support Services for its Flight School Next program, centered on Robinson R66 helicopters replacing the UH-72 Lakota, while the Pentagon signed seven-year agreements with Boeing and RTX to expand production of SM-3 Block IIA and IB components as missile defense priorities shift.
Boeing has completed flight testing of a 787-9 equipped with a modified Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 nacelle featuring a shorter engine inlet. The company says the design could reduce nacelle weight and aerodynamic drag, lowering fuel consumption without increasing noise on future turbofan installations.
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Airlines are gradually restoring grounded aircraft to service after a years-long engine crisis, improving fleet availability while facing a slower financial recovery. The costs of repairs, maintenance and prolonged downtime continue to weigh on operators even as aircraft return to active fleets.
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Russia’s United Engine has started delivering serially produced Aviadvigatel PD-8 engines to the Yakovlev SJ-100 program. The powerplant received approval in June, but the import-substituted twinjet has not yet secured aircraft certification, leaving a key milestone outstanding for the program.
The Pentagon’s effort to replenish missile inventories is creating opportunities for emerging manufacturers, which argue that expanding production requires more than adding factory space. Their approach focuses on redesigning how defense plants are built and operated as the U.S. seeks greater missile manufacturing capacity.
Cebu Pacific expects the full restoration of aircraft affected by Pratt & Whitney’s GTF engine problems could be delayed until 2028, despite improving shop turnaround times. The warning underscores continuing industrial risk around engine availability and the potential for prolonged fleet constraints.
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