Tag: Aerospace News

Aerospace America Opens the Year with its January–March Issue

FROM THE INSTITUTE
After a landmark year for aerospace, 2026 is shaping up to be even more pivotal. In the first print issue of the year, Aerospace America explores efforts to modernize U.S. air traffic control, the influence of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on small drone development, the state of hypersonics research, and much more.
Full Story (Aerospace America)

Air Force Taps Boeing to Begin B-52 Commercial Engine Replacement

Defense News reports, “In December the Air Force awarded Boeing Defense Systems a more than $2 billion contract to start the first engine replacements on the B-52H Stratofortress, marking a major step forward for the overhaul of the venerable Cold War-era bomber. In a Dec. 23 contract announcement, the Pentagon stated that the task order for the Commercial Engine Replacement Program, or CERP, requires Boeing to modify a pair of B-52s with new engines and associated subsystems — and then test the aircraft.”
Full Story (Defense News)

AIAA Publishes 2025 Year in Review Special Report

FROM THE INSTITUTE
AIAA has released a special roundup of the year’s biggest aerospace achievements and milestones, authored by AIAA’s technical and integration and outreach committees. From reusable rockets to lunar landings and AI-piloted jets, explore the innovations that shaped the future.
Full Story (Aerospace America)

SpaceX Stacks Super Heavy Booster for Starship’s 12th Test Flight

SpaceX recently stacked the giant Super Heavy booster that will help launch the upcoming 12th test flight of the company’s Starship megarocket. SPACE reports, “On Christmas Eve (Dec. 24), the company posted a photo on X of the shiny Super Heavy booster that will conduct Starship Flight 12 standing in a high bay at its Starbase facility in South Texas.”
Full Story (SPACE)

Heavy-Lift Cargo Drones Streamline Alpine Logistics at Val Gardena World Cup

Unmanned Systems Technology reports, “The organizers of the FIS Ski World Cup in Val Gardena recently integrated FlyingBasket heavy-lift cargo drones into their preparation phase to manage logistics in complex alpine environments. Between December 15 and 16, the FlyingBasket FB3 cargo drone was deployed to transfer television production equipment and technical materials to key locations on the slopes. Designed to carry loads of up to 100 kg, the drone operated at altitudes that typically necessitate the use of heavy vehicles or intensive manual labor.”
Full Story (Unmanned Systems Technology)

 

 Video

FB3 Cargo drone
FlyingBasket; YouTube

Airbus Delivers Nearly 800 Jets in 2025, Topping Revised Target

Aerotime reports, “Airbus is set to slightly exceed its revised 2025 aircraft delivery target, according to a Bloomberg report citing people familiar with the matter. Bloomberg reported that Airbus delivered 793 commercial aircraft in 2025, above the manufacturer’s revised target of ‘around 790.’ Airbus confirmed on January 3, 2026, that it will publish its audited annual commercial figures on January 12, 2025.”
Full Story (Aerotime)

SpaceX and China Power Record-Breaking Year for Orbital Launches

Space News reports, “Orbital launch activity set another annual record in 2025, although future growth may depend on factors different from those that fueled the recent surge. There were 324 orbital launch attempts worldwide in 2025, according to a SpaceNews analysis of open-source data. The total excludes suborbital launches, such as five test flights of SpaceX’s Starship that did not reach orbit by design, as well as three launches of the HASTE variant of Rocket Lab’s Electron.”
Full Story (Space News)