Aviation Week's Check 6 Podcast

Aviation Week's Robert Wall and Garrett Reim are joined by Russ Matijevich, space industry veteran and a judge in the Space Tech Challenge Awards. Nominations are now open for the awards—could your solution be a winner? Find out more and apply here: https://spacetechchallenge.aviationweek.com/ The Space Tech Challenge Awards connect execution-ready innovations with the government agencies, prime contractors, and commercial operators actively seeking them. From lunar operations to Mars missions, the space industry faces nearly 200 validated capability gaps. The Aviation Week Space Tech Challenge Awards recognize solutions already in development — prototypes tested and advancing toward deployment. Presented at Space Tech Expo USA, this program connects working technologies with government agencies, prime contractors, and commercial operators ready to integrate them.

Airframers' 2025 delivery totals are in. Aviation Week's team grades Airbus, Boeing and the smaller OEMs on their production performance last year.

Analyst Byron Callan joins Aviation Week editors to discuss U.S. President Donald Trump's attack on contractor profits and his plan to boost defense spending by 50%. Find out more about Aviation Week's Defense Conference here

In this engaging conversation, Richard Aboulafia, Managing Director of Aerodynamic Advisory and aerospace industry analyst, dives into the competitive landscape of next-generation fighter programs like GCAP and FCAS. He highlights how GCAP’s strategic partnerships and favorable geopolitical circumstances position it for success. The discussion also touches on the limitations of U.S. fighters in the global market and the potential for Australia to favor GCAP due to collaborative needs. As Richard outlines, 2026 could be a pivotal year for these programs.

In the annual Flubs & Forecasts edition of Check 6, editors reflect on what they got right and wrong in 2025 and make their predictions for 2026. Listen in as Aviation Week & Space Technology Editor-In-Chief Joe Anselmo hears from Christine Boynton, Michael Bruno, Brian Everstine, Guy Norris, Garrett Reim, Lee Ann Shay, Robert Wall and Graham Warwick. Check 6 will be back in 2026. Thank you to our sponsor GE Aerospace. Learn more about how GE Aerospace and its partners are defining flight for today, tomorrow, and the future here

In this special anniversary episode of Check 6 Revisits, Pratt & Whitney President Shane Eddy and Aviation Week editors Guy Norris and Christine Boynton delve into the engine-maker's achievements over its first century. This episode explores how Pratt & Whitney's propulsion innovations have made it a global powerhouse, navigating highs and lows throughout the decades—and all dating back to a revolutionary little engine developed in a former Connecticut tobacco warehouse space. Visit Pratt & Whitney's website to learn more about a century of innovation. Check 6 Revisits delves into Aviation Week's more than 100-year archive. Subscribers can explore our archive here and read key Aviation Week articles relating to this podcast here: New Radial Engine Ready Soon (Jan. 11, 1926) The Pratt and Whitney Wasp Engine (Feb. 15, 1926) AF Permits First Look at P&WA J57 (Nov. 16, 1953) Pratt & Whitney Evolves Turbofan From J57 Program (Jan. 26, 1959) P&W Comes Back—Strong (March 13, 1950) Power Pioneer: Pratt & Whitney's First Century (July 22, 2025)

In this engaging discussion, guests include Steve Trimble, a senior defense editor with expertise in U.S. weapons acquisition; Tony Osborne, who navigates NATO and European security; and Brian Everstine, specializing in U.S. defense policy. They dive into the rapid production of low-cost missiles, Europe's resurgence in ground-based air defense, and budgeting trends affecting military priorities. The conversation also touches on the F-47 program and the strategic importance of space superiority, painting a vivid picture of defense dynamics in 2025.

Jens Flottau, an executive editor with expertise in airframe issues, Sean Broderick, a safety editor focused on operational implications, and Michael Bruno, a chief business editor with a financial lens, dive into the challenges facing Airbus and the resurgence of Boeing. They discuss Airbus's cut in its 2025 delivery target due to supplier issues, operational safety concerns stemming from an EASA software rollback, and Boeing's improving financial outlook with reduced cash burn forecasts. The panel examines who should be held accountable for Airbus's struggles and the constraints on increasing production rates.

The podcast dives into the buzz from the Dubai Airshow, focusing on Trump’s approval of F-35 sales to Saudi Arabia and its ripple effects in the region. The UAE's shifting stance on the F-35 is explored, alongside discussions on competing fighter jet offers. Political dynamics and the significance of MBZ’s visit to the Russian pavilion add intrigue. Ukraine's modernization efforts with France and Sweden are highlighted, along with Colombia's Gripen deal. The session wraps up with Boeing's trainer partnership and the Red Arrows looming transition.

Boeing and Airbus are both now looking at the feasibility of upsizing their largest twin-aisles at the behest of Emirates, which led the way for orders at Dubai Airshow. Listen in as Christine Boynton, Jens Flottau, Guy Norris and Graham Dunn discuss that and other commercial highlights in this special episode recorded at the event. Thank you to our sponsor GE Aerospace. Learn more about how GE Aerospace and its partners are defining flight for today, tomorrow, and the future here