Leadership   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact  
Aviation Week • Aviation Week Network Staff

Top 5 Aerospace & Defense Stories of 2025: Boeing's NGAD win, next‑gen air dominance and a USAF leadership shakeup

A roundup of 2025's five defining aerospace and defence stories. They span Boeing securing the U.S. Air Force's NGAD F‑47 fighter contract, accelerating next‑generation air‑dominance technologies and doctrine, and a surprise USAF leadership shakeup that reoriented procurement and operational priorities.

Also: Breaking Defense
2025-12-22T02:53:00.607648-08:00
China   Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Asia-Pacific (APAC)  
Reuters • Idrees Ali

Draft Pentagon report: China likely loaded 100+ ICBMs across three silo fields, resists arms-control talks

By Reuters: China is likely to have loaded more than 100 intercontinental ballistic missiles across its latest three silo fields and has no desire for arms control talks, according to a draft Pentagon report which highlighted Beijing's growing military ambitions.

Also: moderndiplomacy.eu
2025-12-22T07:28:12.779851-08:00
Supply Chain   Military Aircraft Procurement   Orders   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
tass.com • TASS

Russia’s Su-57 fighter with fifth-generation engine begins flight tests

By tass.com: The state corporation added that UAC is currently implementing a program to expand production capacity, which will allow it to increase the volume of Su-57 aircraft deliveries to the military.

Also: aerospaceglobalnews.com, Economic Times and ruavia.su
2025-12-22T00:10:27.369263-08:00
Satellite   Space Defense & Militarization   Space Debris & Traffic Management   Policy & Regulation   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact  
The Independent • John Leicester

NATO intelligence warns Russia is developing weapon to target SpaceX Starlink satellites

By The Independent: Western intelligence believes Russia is developing a new ‘zone-effect’ weapon to specifically hit Musk’s satellites.

Also: orlandosentinel.com, ABC News, The Independent, news.ssbcrack.com, prm.ua and 3 more
2025-12-21T22:28:14.484427-08:00
Aircraft Carrier   Middle East   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact  
Business Insider • Matthew Loh

Turkey revises first aircraft carrier to 984 ft, bringing it near US Nimitz/Ford-class lengths

By Business Insider: At a revised 984 feet, the new Turkish ship would approach the length range of the American Nimitz and Ford-class carriers.

2025-12-21T21:50:42.369395-08:00
Leadership   Europe   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Workforce & Skills Development  
The Aviationist • Kai Greet

Leonardo CEO Warns UK Defence Secretary That Contract Delays Could Threaten Company's UK Division

By The Aviationist: The Telegraph reports that Roberto Cingolani, CEO of Leonardo, has warned the UK Defence Secretary that further delays to contracts could threaten the.

Also: This is Money and UK Defence Journal
2025-12-21T12:29:00.785433-08:00