--- title: "Inside the Aerospace Boom: Next-Gen Weapons, AI Shifts, and a Historic Airline Expansion" type: "News" locale: "en" url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/296906002.md" description: "The aerospace sector is surging as Northrop and GE land massive military contracts. Meanwhile, United plots an aggressive international expansion despite Boeing delays, and 3M pivots to AI data centers." datetime: "2026-08-25T11:32:43.000Z" locales: - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/296906002.md) - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/296906002.md) - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/296906002.md) generator: "portal-rs" --- # Inside the Aerospace Boom: Next-Gen Weapons, AI Shifts, and a Historic Airline Expansion The defense and aerospace sectors are kicking into high gear this summer. From next-generation stealth bombers to AI-powered supply chains, the industrial base is quietly retooling. Let's start with the defense heavyweights. Northrop Grumman (NOC.US) is accelerating its B-21 Raider stealth bomber program, flush with fresh funding to push the first operational jets out by 2027. They're also unifying the Army's missile defense network. On the propulsion front, General Electric (GE.US) just snagged an Air Force contract alongside Kratos for the F143 engine, securing a long-term revenue stream for unmanned platforms. Over at RTX (RTX.US), the focus is on upgrading the F-35; their Collins Aerospace division recently wrapped critical altitude testing for the jet’s next-gen cooling systems. The parts suppliers are reaping the benefits. Howmet Aerospace (HWM.US) smashed its second-quarter 2026 earnings, driven by a 32% spike in its engine products unit, prompting an immediate guidance hike and analyst upgrades. Meanwhile, industrial giant 3M (MMM.US) is shedding its legacy baggage and diving into tech, striking a massive strategic partnership with Microsoft to supply its extended beam optics for AI data centers. **Also in the mobility and logistics space:** - **United Airlines (UAL.US)** is charting its largest international expansion ever, adding 10 new global destinations for 2027. But it's not all smooth skies: management is sitting on hundreds of unused flat-bed seats thanks to years-long certification delays for Boeing's 737 MAX 10. - **Delta Air Lines (DAL.US)** had a close call when a New York-to-Italy flight was forced into an emergency landing due to engine trouble. On the software side, the carrier is rolling out an AI assistant dubbed "Delta Concierge" for its SkyMiles members. - **FedEx (FDX.US)** is streamlining its operations, offloading its supply chain division to CMA CGM for a massive enterprise valuation while expanding its deployment of physical AI robotics at key sorting hubs. ### Related Stocks - [RTX.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/RTX.US.md) - [GE.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/GE.US.md) - [NOC.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/NOC.US.md) - [HWM.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/HWM.US.md) - [MMM.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/MMM.US.md) - [UAL.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/UAL.US.md) - [DAL.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/DAL.US.md) - [FDX.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/FDX.US.md) ## Related News & Research - [United Airlines is going for global dominance. These are the 10 new international routes it just announced.](https://longbridge.com/en/news/297041202.md) - [Howmet Aerospace Inc Stock (HWM) Moved Down by 6.53% on Aug 31: Facts Behind the Movement](https://longbridge.com/en/news/297531555.md) - [United Airlines says it will resume Tel Aviv-San Francisco flights in March 2027](https://longbridge.com/en/news/297423191.md) - [United Airlines Adds Service To 10 International Cities](https://longbridge.com/en/news/296907091.md) - [United CEO expects gradual airfare increases in first half of 2027](https://longbridge.com/en/news/296930071.md) --- > **Disclaimer: This article is for reference only and does not constitute any investment advice.**