Aerospace & Defense

Sector journalism and trade press.

• Aviation Week & Space Technology $
  The benchmark publication of the aerospace and defense industry.
• Defense News
  Daily defense industry news; budget, programs, contracts.
• Breaking Defense
  US defense and national-security insider reporting.
• Janes $
  Authoritative open-source defense intelligence.
• Air & Space Forces Magazine
  Official AFA publication; airpower, space, doctrine.
• FlightGlobal $
  Commercial aviation and aerospace news, fleet data.
• The War Zone
  Defense reporting with deep dives on platforms and operations.
• Inside Defense $
  DC defense policy and program reporting.

Membership bodies, advocacy, standards.

• AIA — Aerospace Industries Association
  Trade association for US aerospace and defense manufacturers.
• NDIA — National Defense Industrial Association
  Industry-government collaboration on defense.
• AIAA — American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics
  Professional society for aerospace engineers.
• ASD-Europe — AeroSpace and Defence Industries
  European trade association.
• GAMA — General Aviation Manufacturers Association
  Business and general aviation manufacturers.
• Royal Aeronautical Society
  UK-based global aerospace professional society.

Where deals get done and announcements happen.

• Paris Air Show (Le Bourget)
  Largest aerospace event globally; biennial, June.
• Farnborough International Airshow
  Alternates with Paris; biennial UK aerospace event.
• Dubai Airshow
  Premier Middle East aerospace and defense exhibition.
• AUSA Annual Meeting
  Association of the US Army's flagship event, October.
• Sea-Air-Space (Navy League)
  US Navy's largest exposition; National Harbor, April.
• AFA Air, Space & Cyber Conference
  Air Force Association's annual policy and tech event.
• Space Symposium
  Premier space industry conference; Colorado Springs, April.
• AIAA SciTech Forum
  Largest aerospace science and tech research event.

Sector-specialist analysts and data providers.

• Teal Group $
  Aerospace and defense market analysis.
• Forecast International $
  Defense and aerospace industry forecasts.
• CAPA Centre for Aviation $
  Commercial aviation market intelligence.
• IBA Group $
  Aviation valuations and analysis.
• SIPRI
  Stockholm International Peace Research Institute; arms transfers data.
• CSIS Defense-Industrial Initiatives
  Defense industry policy research.

Agencies that govern the sector.

• FAA
  Federal Aviation Administration — civil aviation regulator.
• EASA
  European Union Aviation Safety Agency.
• ICAO
  UN agency for international civil aviation standards.
• DoD
  US Department of Defense — primary defense customer.
• DCMA — Defense Contract Management Agency
  Manages DoD contracts post-award.
• DCAA — Defense Contract Audit Agency
  Audits DoD contractor financials.
• DDTC (ITAR)
  State Dept directorate enforcing ITAR export controls.
• BIS — Bureau of Industry & Security
  Commerce Dept; dual-use export controls.

Bellwethers and notable executives.

• Boeing
  Kelly Ortberg, CEO. Commercial, defense, space, services.
• Airbus
  Guillaume Faury, CEO. Commercial aircraft, defense, helicopters.
• Lockheed Martin
  Jim Taiclet, CEO. F-35, missiles, space; #1 US defense contractor.
• RTX (Raytheon Technologies)
  Christopher Calio, CEO. Pratt & Whitney, Collins, Raytheon missiles.
• Northrop Grumman
  Kathy Warden, CEO. B-21 Raider, space, cyber.
• General Dynamics
  Phebe Novakovic, CEO. Combat systems, marine, IT, Gulfstream.
• BAE Systems
  Charles Woodburn, CEO. UK-based; defense electronics, vehicles.
• L3Harris
  Christopher Kubasik, CEO. C4ISR, communications, electronic warfare.
• Safran
  Olivier Andriès, CEO. Engines (CFM JV with GE), aerospace equipment.
• Rolls-Royce
  Tufan Erginbilgiç, CEO. Civil and defense aero engines, power systems.
• Embraer
  Francisco Gomes Neto, CEO. Brazilian regional jets, defense.
• SpaceX
  Elon Musk, CEO. Falcon launches, Starlink, Starship.
• Anduril Industries
  Palmer Luckey, founder. AI-driven defense systems; new entrant.