GLG News by Defense Industry Consultants (EU)

In the three months to January 2008 the U.S. more than doubled its use of unmanned aircraft in Iraq. Intelligence, not just firepower, is making a difference in that theater. The most heavily-used drone, the Raven, weighs in at only 4.2 lbs.

Delta and United have held informal merger talks in recent months and discussions are understood to be at an advanced level. With both airlines keen to progress further before the new administration takes office in two months, a merger such as this would be the decisive catalyst needed to launch the...

Trying to draw the sting out of its November 8th 3Q07 results, EADS today announced further problems with its military airlifter, the A400M, noting a provision for up to $2 billion in expenses as well as additional future potential delays and extra charges. The full-year earnings forecast for 2007...

Spirit AeroSystems is the key supplier and integrator on the B787. The Boeing program revolves around the Wichita, KS company. Spirit's 3Q07 results beat analysts' expectations with 2008 guidance even ahead of expectations. No talk of two-year delays here or anywhere else reputable.

After four months of speculation since it first hinted at B787 production issues, Boeing today said it won't start deiveries of the airplane until late-2008. Apart from the usual "I told you so" 20/20-retrovision doom-merchants, nobody truly saw this one coming...

MRO is big business today. With air travel demand set to double by 2020, keeping planes in the air is a lucrative and fast-expanding place to be. So if you have the money...

The primary goal of investors is to profit from their share dealings. Apparently somebody forgot to point out to EADS that the primary goal of company executives is not meant to be the same thing, not while they've a difficult job to do first anyway.

Flying almost anywhere in Europe is expensive, mile-for-mile. Low-cost carriers (LCCs) have made a big difference in the past 15 years, but there's a long, long way still to go. Europe is a geographical not a political entity, nowhere more evident than when you board a plane...

German unions are behind Airbus' current Power8 plant-sales woes and now a German regional politician has suggested an Airbus France-Germany split in order to protect German jobs. German, not French...

Vietnam Airlines yesterday provisionally ordered 10 Airbus A350XWBs. This will no doubt be hyped as an endorsement of the A350 program. It's not. And the airline readily admits it...