MUNICH - Airbus plans to offer the German Air Force an operational Uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft (UCCA) system by 2029. At its facility in Manching, Germany, the company is currently installing a European-built mission system in the first two Valkyrie UCCAs it acquired from U.S. partner Kratos Defense & Security Solutions. Flight tests are set to begin later this year.

The aircraft are equipped with the Multiplatform Autonomous Reconfigurable and Secure (MARS) system, which includes an AI-supported software suite called MindShare. The system not only replaces the missing pilot but is also capable of coordinating entire mission groups by distributing its functions across multiple manned and uncrewed platforms.

Whether operating fully autonomously or under the command of a Eurofighter, the Valkyrie will be able to take on sensitive mission tasks that would pose too great a risk to a pilot. The UCCA can support kinetic and non-kinetic mission sets across several roles.

Marco Gumbrecht, head of Key Account Germany at Airbus Defence and Space, said pairing the MARS system with an existing U.S.-sourced UCCA will allow the Luftwaffe to field an unmanned combat aircraft sooner than if the service had to develop a new platform from scratch.

To enable the Luftwaffe's Eurofighter to serve as a command aircraft with cross-platform connectivity, Airbus and Rafael are enhancing the Litening 5 Advanced Targeting Pod, already contracted for the Eurofighter fleet, with a new connectivity capability. The Luftwaffe currently flies the older Litening 3 pod on its Eurofighters, and the German parliament has authorized 90 Litening 5 systems to replace them. The fifth-generation pod features advanced optics, enhanced target generation, an optional synthetic aperture radar capable of wide-area, all-weather imaging, and support for both air-to-ground and air-to-air missions including multi-target tracking and automatic target recognition. With the connectivity upgrades Airbus and Rafael are adding for the UCCA mission, combined with minor avionics updates to the aircraft, the Luftwaffe follows in the footsteps of the Royal Air Force and Italian Air Force, whose Eurofighters are already flying with Litening 5 pods.

The Kratos Valkyrie measures 9.1 meters (29.9 feet) in length with a wingspan of 8.2 meters (26.9 feet). It has a range of more than 5,000 kilometers (3,107 miles) and a maximum takeoff weight of approximately 3 metric tons (6,614 pounds). The aircraft can operate at altitudes of up to 45,000 feet. The Valkyrie completed its maiden flight in the United States in 2019, and additional aircraft have been flying regularly since.

Source: Forecast International
Associated URL: https://www.airbus.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2026-03-airbus-is-preparing-two-uncrewed-combat-aircraft-from-kratos-for-first-flight-with-a-european
Author: D Royce 

ATLANTA, Georgia - GE Aerospace will continue its global research collaboration with Airbus Helicopters aimed at developing a revolutionary next-generation helicopter propulsion system.

First announced in 2024, the team effort is developing a more efficient engine to power rotorcraft. This next stage of the research program will focus on advancing detailed engine design concepts and evaluating component-level efficiencies, building on early findings to further mature a propulsion architecture capable of meeting future operational and sustainability requirements.

The first stage of the collaboration was centered on foundational research, and the continuation of the study will explore opportunities to significantly reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions while maintaining the performance, durability, and reliability demanded by operators.

Source: G Aerospace
Associated URL: https://www.geaerospace.com/news/press-releases/ge-aerospace-continues-next-generation-helicopter-propulsion-research-study

WASHINGTON - In February 2026, Boeing delivered 51 commercial aircraft, compared with 35 deliveries for Airbus. Boeing’s delivery performance was again driven primarily by narrowbody activity, with 43 737 aircraft handed over during the month. The remainder consisted of eight widebodies, including three 787s, three 767s, and two 777s. Airbus deliveries were also heavily concentrated in the narrowbody segment. The company delivered 33 narrowbody aircraft during February, including 25 A320neo family aircraft and eight A220-300s. Widebody activity remained limited, with just two A350 deliveries recorded and no A330 deliveries during the month.

From an orders perspective, Airbus led in February, booking 28 gross orders compared with 21 for Boeing. Airbus order activity was entirely concentrated in the single-aisle segment, with all 28 orders placed for the A320neo family, including six A320neos and 22 A321neos. Boeing’s order intake was more balanced across aircraft categories. The company recorded seven orders for the 737 MAX program alongside 14 widebody commitments, including eight orders for the 787 and six for the 767.

Boeing Deliveries

Boeing delivered 51 aircraft in February, consisting of 43 narrowbodies from the 737 program and eight widebodies. The narrowbody total was entirely composed of 737 MAX aircraft, with no 737NG deliveries recorded during the month. On the widebody side, Boeing delivered three 787 aircraft, three 767 aircraft, and two 777 aircraft. The widebody mix reflects continued but uneven production execution across Boeing’s twin-aisle programs early in the year. As in January, Boeing’s delivery performance remained heavily dependent on the 737 MAX program, which continues to drive the majority of the company’s near-term commercial delivery volume.

Airbus Deliveries

Airbus delivered 35 aircraft in February, including 33 narrowbodies and two widebodies. Narrowbody deliveries consisted of 25 A320neo family aircraft and eight A220-300s. Within the A320neo family, deliveries were led by the A321neo variant, which continues to represent the largest share of production within the program.

Airbus recorded no A330 deliveries during the month, while widebody activity was limited to two A350 aircraft. The delivery mix highlights Airbus’s continued reliance on single-aisle production, particularly the A320neo family, which accounts for the majority of Airbus’s monthly output and remains the primary driver of the company’s ability to meet its annual delivery targets.

Boeing Orders

Boeing recorded 21 gross orders in February. The company booked seven orders for the 737 MAX program, while the remainder of the month’s order activity occurred in the widebody segment. Widebody demand included eight orders for the 787 program and six orders for the 767. While overall order activity was lower than the previous month, Boeing’s February intake demonstrates continued airline interest in widebody aircraft as long-haul demand stabilizes and carriers position themselves for future international capacity growth.

Airbus Orders

Airbus recorded 28 gross orders in February, all of which were placed for the A320neo family. The order mix consisted of six A320neo aircraft and 22 A321neos, reinforcing the continued shift in airline demand toward higher-capacity single-aisle variants. No widebody orders were recorded during the month, with neither the A330 nor the A350 programs securing new commitments in February.

Backlog

Airbus backlog numbers do not include A320ceo ghost orders. Boeing backlog numbers do not include 737-800 and 777-300ER ghost orders. A320neo numbers include all variants for the family; A319neo, A320neo and A321neo As of February 28th, 2026, Airbus reported a commercial aircraft backlog of 8,770 aircraft. Based on the company’s official 2026 delivery target of 870 aircraft, Airbus’s current backlog represents approximately 10.1 years of production coverage at the targeted delivery rate. The backlog remains heavily concentrated in narrowbody aircraft, led by 7,193 A320neo family aircraft and 456 A220s. The widebody backlog includes approximately 827 A350s and 294 A330s, highlighting the continued dominance of single-aisle demand in Airbus’s order book.

Boeing’s commercial backlog stood at approximately 6,734 aircraft at the end of February. Using Forecast International’s 2026 production forecast of 684 aircraft, Boeing’s backlog equates to roughly 9.8 years of production coverage at the forecasted pace. The 737 MAX continues to dominate Boeing’s backlog with approximately 4,859 aircraft outstanding. Boeing’s widebody backlog remains significant and includes roughly 1,108 787s, about 671 777s, and approximately 96 767 aircraft.

Source: Forecast International
Associated URL: https://flightplan.forecastinternational.com/2026/03/10/airbus-and-boeing-report-february-2026-commercial-aircraft-orders-and-deliveries/
Author: Grant Holve