Manufacturing / Supply Chain / Industrial Base

Elroy Air plans to become a publicly traded company through a merger with special purpose acquisition company Inflection Point Acquisition Corp. VII.

Honeywell Aerospace used to be all about boosting operating margins for its corporate parent. Now it has no excuse not to make things better.

The Next Generation Air Dominance and Collaborative Combat Aircraft programs have progressed to production contracts.

After its recent Miami expansion and acquisitions, FEAM Aero is balancing growth with a "back-to-basics" approach.

In an in-depth interview, a confident Kelly Ortberg sees the company’s financial and cultural turnaround gaining steam.

Polymer material specialist Clayens took over Vision Systems in May and now intends to ramp up production and strengthen the acquired company’s product range.

MDA Space says it has agreed to buy RTX’s smallsat-maker Blue Canyon in a deal that would give the Canadian buyer a satellite production foothold in the U.S.

USAF selects Anduril and General Atomics for CCA production contracts while continuing autonomy system competition with three other firms.

Microcracks discovered in the engine diffuser component of the Republic of Korea Army's Light Armed Helicopter “Miron” have been traced to an anomaly in the manufacturing process.

Kongsberg completed the acquisition of a 90% stake of Zone 5 Technologies, a maker of low-cost cruise and interceptor missiles already in large-scale production.

FDH Aero, an inventory service provider, plans to accelerate its global growth by adding a second private equity investor.

Dunlop Aircraft Tires is seeing aftermarket growth potential through its retread facilities in the UK, U.S., and China.

South Korea has reversed plans to scale back production of the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) KF-21 fighter, restoring the program to its original schedule.

The Pentagon’s strategy to acquire 340,000 drones by the end of next year requires industry to scale production up while driving prices down.

Final assembly of Airbus’ Super Puma in Romania looks set to be revived.

The head of Honeywell Aerospace asserted the Tier 1 aerospace supplier and defense prime will no longer be handcuffed in its investments, supply chain management and acquisitions.

For any company, standing up on its own is daunting; for Honeywell Aerospace, the bar will be even higher.

The aviation aftermarket is hot—and this is what bankers, private equity and strategic MROs are buying and looking for.

Leonardo is planning to grow its UK headcount beyond 10,000 people as the company sees greater commitments from the government on defense and security spending.

The Swiss government says its first Lockheed Martin F-35 has entered final assembly as the customer and company work toward first customer delivery next year.

The U.S. Air Force wants to regenerate the supply chain for its small Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit bomber.

Canada plans to acquire the Saab GlobalEye AEW&C aircraft to upgrade the country’s air warfare capability and bolster Bombardier as the aircraft supplier.

Global economic and political volatility is driving Eastern European and Baltic MROs to diversify sourcing and expand capacity.

Pentagon seeks advanced manufacturing solutions to address gaps in supersonic aircraft production and sustainment while preparing for next-generation programs.

Canadian supplier Meloche expands into Europe with Rossi Aero acquisition to diversify aerospace supply chains.

Navy approves Boeing MQ-25 for carrier-based refueling drone, with first production contract expected this summer.

Pentagon plans to buy 10,000 low-cost cruise missiles and 500 hypersonic missiles annually, expanding its industrial base and accelerating procurement timelines.

South Korea considers delaying KF-21 Block 2 production to 2035 as rising costs, inflation and supply chain issues impact the program.

Boeing plans to invest $1 billion over the next three years in its recently reacquired Wichita site, its top executive announced May 11.

VSE completed acquisition of PRECISION AVIATION GROUP, GA (MRO services/distribution/supply chain solutions) from GenNx360 Capital Partners for $2.025b cash/equity, increasing its revenue by ~50% on a pro forma 2025 basis.

Kongsberg is hoping to get word from the U.S. government in the coming weeks about its proposed acquisition of low-cost missile developer Zone 5 Technologies.

Firefly Aerospace has made progress building and testing the major flight components of the future Eclipse medium-lift launch vehicle, CEO Jason Kim says.

When it comes to mergers and acquisitions in the middle market aerospace and defense companies, many people turn to Alderman & Company.

Selected U.S. Military Contracts For The Week Of April 20 - 24, 2026

Stratton Aviation President Andrew Serrott, talks to Aviation Week about the power of being the one stop shop.

ITP Aero is further expanding its Pratt & Whitney GTF aftermarket position with new component repair capabilities related to two variants of the engine family.

CFM International will deliver more than 2,000 Leap engines in 2026, against a backdrop of increasing raw material prices and sustained demand.

AAR's has launched its new Airvoyant unit which is designed to streamline parts purchase by 20-30% through utilizing agentic AI.

A longtime deal-maker in mergers and acquisitions sees a changing landscape, a renaissance in small manufacturing, more transactions and cautionary tales.

Growing end markets, ample funds and government encouragement are all helping drive mergers and acquisitions to new levels.

The U.S. Army is looking at ways to do its own aerial refueling and get more training for its special operations helicopter crews, as it works to bring on modified MV-75 Cheyenne IIs for them.

Coltala Aerospace has hired MRO industry veteran Phil Bathurst as it targets organic growth but also sees opportunities for acquisitions.

Safran Aircraft Engines is upgrading its forging capabilities by investing $176 million in the acquisition of a hydraulic press at a facility in Gennevilliers.

The U.S. Space Force’s senior acquisition official is telling industry to prepare for significant satellite production contracts should the fiscal 2027 budget request.

TESTEK SOLUTIONS, MI launched ADAS 2.0 data acquisition platform for testing hydraulic aircraft components.

Raytheon Co., Tucson, Arizona has been awarded a not-to-exceed $708,939,863 undefinitized contract action for small diameter bomb increment II production.

DARPA has revealed interest in developing a new class of air-to-air missiles in which the top design requirement is mass production rather than maximizing performance.

Parts traders are adapting USM strategies to stay ahead in a crowded market.

Aftermarket companies in Florida are increasing investments in capabilities, facilities and labor as the market sees significant mergers and acquisitions.

The technique makes it more straightforward to obtain a component with a high-quality surface finish on the aluminum part, in an easily repeatable way.

Aftermarket companies are increasingly adopting new scaling and M&A strategies to address supply chain disruptions.

Aircraft seat actuation system manufacturers are facing cost turbulence, supply chain challenges and technical demands.

The U.S. Air Force will soon launch the next “giant leap” in testing for a cruise missile program.

Airbus is looking to expand its cyber capabilities in the UK with the purchase of Maidenhead, England-based Ultra Cyber Ltd.

Anduril did not win a $20 billion check from the U.S. Army on March 13, as announced, but instead a consolidated contracting vehicle.

The U.S. Air Force’s Boeing T-7A trainer program is seeing testing delays mount ahead of an imminent production decision, following a change in the acquisition approach to try to speed up fielding.

Investor sentiment for defense remains strong, but here are some factors to consider about the wave of initial public and secondary offerings.

Bain Capital has closed its acquisition of FBO APP Jet Center from Ridgewood Infrastructure for an undisclosed price, the companies announced March 11.

The DOD is crafting a supplemental spending request to both replenish existing weapons used in the conflict in Iran and buy new, improved systems.

Jon Rambeau will become Karman Space & Defense's CEO on March 23, when current CEO Tony Koblinski steps aside while remaining a director on the board.

Hensoldt says it is acquiring Dutch electro-optical sensor provider Nedinsco, with the deal set to close by midyear.

Dassault Aviation has been gradually increasing the production rate of the Rafale fighter, aiming for four aircraft per month in 2029.

The Pentagon under the Trump administration has pressed the defense industrial base to shift to a “wartime footing."

The U.S. Air Force and Northrop Grumman are investing in a B-21 capacity increase as the Sentinel program faces decision points.

Ametek MRO is adding new capabilities, digital technologies and investment in environmental controls.

Separating aerospace and defense businesses from broader industrial production is becoming the only credible route to competing with focused champions.

UK-based Senior is in talks with potential buyers after rejecting multiple cash offers, while postponing its $54 million share buyback program amid ongoing negotiations.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions said late Feb. 26 that it plans to raise $1 billion gross via a share sale of its common stock.

Rocket Lab says a manufacturing fault caused the failure of a Neutron rocket Stage 1 tank in January and has now pushed the inaugural flight for the launcher to late this year.

Airbus grows services sales by 10%, driven by life cycle solutions, spare parts, and expansion through acquisitions such as Unical Aviation via Satair

Both of the U.S. Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft prototypes are flying with mission autonomy as the service is preparing both for more intensive tests and production decisions.

Airbus Helicopters is planning to acquire 15 helicopters this year to disassemble for parts and harvest for spares as the airframer continues to fix supply chain issues.

Setna iO is acquiring a majority stake in J&C Aero, which adds Part 21 design and production capabilities to its portfolio.

IER MRO Industries CEO and Chairman Larry Howie discusses the progress of the company’s future engine MRO and test facility in Dubai.

The Southern California-based Advanced Manufacturing Company of America (Amca) has purchased Payne Magnetics for an undisclosed sum.

For Boeing and suppliers, the toughest phase of its air transport manufacturing recovery is yet to come.

Howmet Aerospace posted 21% defense sales growth in the fourth quarter, driven by engine demand from both advanced and legacy fighter jets.

India is targeting greater than 50% localization of components for future Dassault Rafale fighters made in-country, Defense Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said.

British defense startup Rotron Aerospace is being bought by U.S. autonomous systems maker Ondas.

Hutchinson, a Paris-based supplier of multi-material components, has completed its acquisition of U.S.-based anti-icing specialist Cox & Company.

Startup Atropos unveils a subscale Tacit Spear airlifter, advancing autonomous cargo aircraft development with rapid testing and military logistics ambitions.

Embraer rolled out the first C-390 Millennium ordered by South Korea as the jet-powered military transport is prepared for post-production flight tests.

Lt. Gen. Jamie Speiser-Blanchet autographed a fuselage bulkhead of the Royal Canadian Air Force's first F-35 at a ceremony in Fort Worth.

A weapons and combat aircraft manufacturing complex is rising out of Ohio soybean fields, representing Anduril’s bid to disrupt the defense industrial base.

Capza of Paris is investing in cabin component supplier UUDS Group, following on the heels of its purchase of cabin/seat specialist Echeverria.

Why are high-profile aerospace and defense companies and investors shelling out billions of dollars for humble aircraft parts makers? Commercial aerospace parts

The U.S. Commerce Department will invest $1.6 billion in Oklahoma-based USA Rare Earth and take a 10% stake in the firm.

Analysts push for breaking up defense primes to boost valuations and meet market demands.

Would your answers be different than those provided by aviation aftermarket leaders about the MRO industry in 2026?

French metallic parts supplier Mecadaq is to take over cabin and seat component specialist Echeverria and helicopter engine maintenance expert Lopez.

Bain Capital-backed interiors supplier Jamco Corp. has announced its second acquisition in as many months, agreeing to buy German lavatory specialist Schueschke

Latest MRO news and contracts from around the world.

A new executive order and presidential posts on social media target legacy defense industry spoils, but will they work?

TransDigm Group will buy proprietary aftermarket part providers Jet Parts Engineering and Victor Sierra Aviation from private equity owner Vance Street Capital.

Large defense companies and startups alike are challenging the de facto duopoly of Northrop Grumman and L3Harris-owned Aerojet Rocketdyne.

The U.S. military is opening a second acquisition track for affordable and mass-producible missiles.

South Korea’s Finance Ministry instructed DAPA to revise the mass-production schedule and budget allocation for the KF-21.

Baykar is planning a new version of Piaggio’s P.180 Avanti and looking to ramp up production of the twin-turboprop transport aircraft.

The Defense Department has unveiled a new strategy meant to hasten the adoption of new artificial intelligence technologies.

The U.S. military plans to spend $1 billion to take an ownership stake in a future L3Harris Technologies spin-off focused on solid rocket motor production for tactical missiles.

Wichita-based Lee Air, a family-owned engineering and manufacturing firm, has acquired the assets of Advent Aircraft Systems in Tulsa.

The Pentagon and Lockheed Martin have agreed to more than triple the annual output of Patriot PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement interceptors.

The Pentagon says it has agreed to boost output of Patriot PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) interceptors to 2,000 missiles per year.

Cambium Biomaterials, a California-based startup that manufactures advanced materials for aerospace and defense, raised $100 million in a funding round.

TransDigm has signed a definitive agreement with private equity firm Arlington Capital Partners for Stellant Systems for around $960 million in cash.

FlyHouse has completed its acquisition of Sun Air Jets, bringing with it the aircraft manager and charter operator’s assets, operations and personnel.

In Q4 2025, Wheels Up acquired or entered into agreements for Challenger and Phenom business jets, with plans to continue to expand those fleets.

Howmet Aerospace said Dec. 22 it is buying the Consolidated Aerospace Manufacturing fastener and fittings business from Stanley Black and Decker.

The French Defense Innovation Fund and MBDA have taken a stake in NanoXplore, a company specializing in reprogrammable special-purposes semiconductors.

The U.S. is 250 years old in 2026. Its leading aerospace and defense companies face growing competition, domestically and internationally, from younger players.

The defense technology sector is riding high heading into 2026, shrugging off concerns of a bubble.

Spanish defense company Indra says it has agreed to acquire uncrewed air system provider Wake Engineering as part of a push to grab market share in Spain.

Financial outlook tracking with improved production, delivery performance, prompting talk of hitting lofty cash-flow targets.

MROs must invest in localized supply chains and digital technologies to navigate volatile cost environments.

Boeing and Airbus announced the long-sought finalization of their complex splitting-up of Spirit AeroSystems on Dec. 8.

The Pentagon says there is a commitment to deliver a new U.S. Navy fighter even as the F/A-XX source selection process remains stalled and industrial base capacity is uncertain.

Australia will begin in-country production of Lockheed Martin’s Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) missiles as a new production line opens.

Jamco Corporation plans to buy Iacobucci HF Aerospace S.p.A., a specialist in galley inserts such as espresso and beverage makers, trash compactors and ovens.

Hanwha Aerospace has been awarded a contract to produce the L-SAM system, which will form the outermost layer of South Korea's air and missile defense network.

Alphavest Capital and Boeing have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish aerospace centers of excellence (COEs) in Morocco.

Joby’s hybrid eVTOL; maritime drone demonstrations; Tokyo air taxis; and advancing additive manufacturing.

GKN Aerospace has joined a project aimed at growing the use of additive manufacturing in aircraft production.

Hensoldt has laid out plans to further boost output to keep pace with booming demand in Europe, as the company revealed its revenue growth forecast.

The Bhopal part-out and MRO facility would face competition from urban MROs.

Arcline Investment Management has agreed to buy aerospace parts and processes provider Novaria from private equity firm KKR for $2.2 billion.

John Greene has been appointed corporate vice president and CFO of Northrop Grumman, effective Jan. 7, 2026.

The company appointed Ryan Carrithers, whose career includes spaceflight company Astra, among others, as its new chief financial officer.

Rheinmetall forecasts an immediate need for 40 satellites. The production line is now being built up.

AAR Corp. has acquired HAECO Americas for $78 million in an all-cash transaction, which significantly expands its heavy maintenance capacity in the U.S.

Developments since 2020 suggest new frameworks are emerging that could redefine the structure of the defense industry.

A decade in the making, Korea Aerospace Industries is preparing to deliver the first production versions of the KF-21 Boramae on time by the end of this year.

Lacking a strong local workforce, the UAE’s Edge Group turns to robotics and automation to scale production and expand its portfolio.

The escalating use of drones in combat is creating demand for a supply chain for uncrewed aircraft production that can meet security and sovereignty concerns.

With the acquisitions of Spirit AeroSystems given the green light in Europe, the end of an era of stand-alone aerostructures giants is in sight.

The European Commission (EC) said it has approved Boeing’s proposed acquisition of Spirit Aerosystems on the condition they divest parts of the business.

Firefly Aerospace will pay $855 million to acquire defense technology company SciTec, the Texas-based startup said on Oct 5.

India’s air force chief has expressed optimism that domestic industry will be able to deliver a new-generation indigenous combat aircraft in the 2030s.

Management teams at Aubert & Duval, which include former Airbus and Safran employees, have worked to improve customer relationships and industrial processes.

Long passed over, smaller manufacturers are gaining greater attention as merger and acquisition targets.

Efforts to localize component MRO in Malaysia are expected to gather pace in the next few years as part of its plan to grow domestic aerospace revenues.

HawkEye 360 is gearing up to start deploying a new generation of its electronic intelligence spacecraft that should slash production costs.

M&A experts say production rate increases, retiring small shop owners and a paucity of middle-market assets to buy will draw more attention to smaller companies.

Air Spares Unlimited’s CEO on how the landing gear specialist is working to reduce aftermarket bottlenecks and attract more people to the MRO workforce.

Setna iO expects recent acquisitions, capability additions and facility expansions to quadruple its MRO earnings next year.

Satellite operator Viasat announced a fivefold increase in capacity of its JetXP connectivity service for business aviation across the eastern U.S.

Menzies Aviation announced the completion of its $305 million acquisition of G2 Secure Staff, doubling its footprint in the U.S.

Threats to global trade and geopolitical upheavals are influencing the aftermarket’s dealmaking appetite.

Archer says it has three Midnight eVTOL air taxis in final assembly at its plant in San Jose, California, with three more on the way.

Signia Aerospace has acquired Precise Flight, a Bend, Oregon-based developer and manufacturer of aviation safety systems and equipment.

Ahead of its own sale to Boeing, Spirit AeroSystems has agreed a deal to offload its operations in Subang, Malaysia, to Composites Technology Research Malaysia.

Aftermarket parts supplier Aventure Aviation is adding space, equipment, staff and technology to support growing used serviceable material demand.

A year on the job, Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg appears to be squelching the fires that made the company a burning platform.

The restarted production of the U.S. Army’s FIM-92 Stinger is progressing after more than two decades of dormancy.

Frontier is not ruling out an ability to be profitable in the 2025 second half and believes it will soon have “a lot less low-cost capacity” to compete against.

German defense supplier Hensoldt is starting to develop a new phase of capacity expansion to ensure it can deliver on an anticipated order wave from 2027 on.

This snapshot of activities illustrates how joint ventures have been quickly established to address emerging needs.

The acquired business employs 4,000 people and supplies systems for 180 platforms; it will be consolidated within Safran Electronics & Defense as of Aug. 1.

Replenishing key weapons and powering space launch demands drive extensive investments in Northrop’s propulsion production.

The BAE Systems PHASA-35 high-altitude, solar-electric, uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) will carry an Aloft Sensing X-band synthetic aperture radar.

Herber Aircraft's president and CEO discusses changes in inventory management, costs and trickiness of tariffs for this second-generation family business.

The aftermarket parts supplier has acquired a dozen 737NGs that will be torn down and added to its inventory.

Israeli strike and surveillance quadcopter drone maker Xtend plans to start delivering 3,000 systems a month from a plant in Tampa, Florida.

TransDigm has acquired precision components manufacturer Simmonds from RTX for $765 million.

Rider Jet Center, Hagerstown Regional Airport's sole FBO, is an Avfuel-branded company that fuels business, military and some commercial aircraft.

The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is investigating Boeing’s planned acquisition of aerostructures supplier Spirit Aerosystems.

Werner Aero President and CEO Tony Kondo shares his plans to expand the company’s parts portfolio and global footprint.

The UK aerospace industry has reacted favorably to reforms proposed by the government’s new industrial strategy.

Diehl may make more acquisitions to support its rise in air and missile defenses output, says Helmut Rauch, the boss of the German company’s defense business.

France and Spain have committed to accelerate Airbus A400M purchases in a bid to underpin the long-term production outlook for the military transport.

Baykar’s Akinci uncrewed air system will be assembled in Italy by Piaggio as part of the Turkish company’s new joint venture with Leonardo.

Honeywell Aerospace may see a further increase in its share of defense turnover because of booming demand, but the unit’s boss says commercial revenues will still dominate in the future.