Aviation Week & Space Technology

Military customers focus on upgrades in the absence of clarity and funding for new programs, while the civil market races ahead in technology and numbers, but remains relatively small in value.

The gap between the Defense Department’s plans and actual funding is about $15 billion.

With deployments in Afghanistan, Mali and northern Iraq, Germany is increasing its defense budget beyond original plans, with new weapons systems accounting for much of the rise.

To counter distant threats, Israel has reinforced its “long arm”—first established to deter missile attacks—enabling the military to operate thousands of miles from Israel’s borders.

Despite some new programs and higher spending in some categories, overall defense spending in Europe has declined for seven consecutive years.

Big orders for antisubmarine warfare aircraft and helicopters, sea-based V-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft, a new-technology submarine and surveillance aircraft are priorities in Japan’s 2016 defense budget.

South Korea's 2016 defense budget request is 4% higher than the 2015 budget, a slight slowdown from the 4.9% increase of 2015. The share of investment for new equipment in the total defense budget will hit 30%.

While challenges remain for some legacy carriers, prospects for the Asia-Pacific airline industry appear positive for 2016.

Middle East nations arm themselves for continuing conflict, from fighting the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria to operations in Yemen.

The merger of Aeroflot’s subsidiaries is part of an effort to avoid competition between the groups carriers in a shrinking market, and strengthens the group’s position in all its segments.

Latin American airlines continue to struggle with weakened currencies and recessions in their home countries.

The tension between flight-hour maintenance support and operating leases could ease if the MRO agreements could transfer between operators.

Jan. 4-8—AAIA/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Conference. Manchester Grand Hyatt. San Diego. See aiaa-scitech.org/SDM Feb. 2-4—The Unmanned Systems Conference and Exposition. World Forum. The Hague, Netherlands. See tusexpo.com

Aviation Week’s list of avionics companies and MRO services that help companies prepare for the FAA’s 2020 ADS-B Out mandate.

New standards should change how mechanics are taught and how manuals are distributed.

Pros and cons of registering “drones,” reactions to Person of the Year choice

Today, small satellites must hitch a ride into orbit, but an array of small-payload vehicles are under development that promise low-cost, quick-response launches of spacecraft as slight as cubesat-size.

Airline-representative flight testing continues as Bombardier builds the CS100’s maturity ahead of service entry with launch customer Swiss International Air Lines.

Air cargo continues to battle weak yields and overcapacity as multi-modal transport gains traction.

Commercial lows and military highs help define a challenging time for the rotorcraft industry.

Expanded Tables Online Download expanded specifications on in-production and under-development business aviation aircraft and search more than 3,100 other systems at AviationWeek.com/specs

Expanded Tables Online Download expanded specifications on in-production and under-development unmanned aircraft and search more than 3,100 other systems at AviationWeek.com/specs

Smaller, more capable satellites enter satcom market as U.S. military demand for new spacecraft stalls.

Retirements are down, MRO efficiency is up—what’s it all mean for the aftermarket?

In the next 10 years, as major spacefaring nations renew their fleets, the space-launch sector will be molded by the growing popularity of small satellites, increasing commercialization of space transportation, reusable launch vehicles and manned space programs.