Boeing is ramping up 737 production to 47 aircraft per month, its fastest pace in years, with a new production line activated in July. However, the company faces a significant threat as approximately 17,000 engineers and technical workers (SPEEA members) voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike, with contracts expiring on October 6. While an engineers' strike wouldn't directly halt assembly lines like the recent machinists' strike, it could stall critical engineering support and 737-10 certification work needed for the production ramp-up to succeed.

Boeing and General Dynamics are both benefiting from increased global defense spending and military modernization. Boeing's defense revenues rose 13% to $7.48 billion with an $85 billion backlog, while General Dynamics booked $20 billion in orders with a $186.9 billion estimated contract value. However, General Dynamics is recommended as the better investment choice due to its superior debt management (21.89% debt-to-capital vs Boeing's 88.24%) and stronger recent price performance (+4.2% vs -8.6% over six months).

CFM International (GE Aerospace and Safran joint venture) increased LEAP engine deliveries by 41% in the first half of 2026, which is critical for Boeing and Airbus to ramp up production and clear their massive aircraft backlogs. While the increased engine supply relieves supply-chain bottlenecks and benefits aircraft manufacturers' revenues and margins, it creates near-term margin pressure for GE Aerospace as new engine sales are typically lower-margin compared to lucrative long-term aftermarket service agreements.

The article compares Archer Aviation, a pre-revenue electric vertical takeoff aircraft startup, with GE Aerospace, an established jet engine manufacturer. While Archer offers future growth potential in urban air mobility, GE Aerospace is recommended as the better buy due to its $210 billion order backlog, $7.3 billion free cash flow, and established market position generating double-digit growth, versus Archer's negative cash flow and speculative 2030 profitability timeline.

Boeing has returned to profitability with $89.5B in FY2025 revenue and a strong order backlog, positioning it as a stable long-term investment despite high debt levels and near-zero net margins. Joby Aviation, a debt-free electric air taxi startup, achieved massive revenue growth to $53.4M but posted a $930M net loss and faces regulatory hurdles before commercialization. The article recommends Boeing for risk-averse investors seeking value, while Joby represents a speculative bet on future urban air mobility.

Archer Aviation and SpaceX represent two different aerospace plays with vastly different maturity levels. Archer is pre-commercial with $300K revenue and $618M losses, pursuing FAA certification for eVTOL aircraft. SpaceX generates $18.7B in revenue but reported a $5B net loss in FY2025 due to massive capital requirements. The article concludes SpaceX is the wiser long-term choice despite both companies' negative cash flows, citing SpaceX's established Starlink business and market support versus Archer's high valuation multiples and regulatory uncertainties.

The article compares two aerospace ETFs: iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA) and U.S. Global Jets ETF (JETS). ITA focuses on defense contractors and aerospace manufacturers with a lower 0.37% expense ratio, higher 1-year return of 22.9%, and lower volatility (beta 0.74). JETS concentrates on commercial airlines with a higher 0.6% expense ratio and 16.9% 1-year return but greater volatility (beta 1.18). The article recommends ITA as the better long-term investment due to superior historical performance and stability.

The article compares two high-risk, pre-profitability industrial stocks: Archer Aviation, which develops electric vertical takeoff aircraft, and AST SpaceMobile, which builds a space-based cellular network. Both companies are burning significant cash with minimal revenue, but AST SpaceMobile is recommended as the better long-term buy due to its faster path to revenue growth, stronger partnerships with major carriers, and lower valuation multiples, despite higher debt-to-equity ratios.

The iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA) offers lower costs (0.37% expense ratio) and stronger 1-year returns (27.2%), but is highly concentrated with top three holdings representing 47% of the portfolio. The Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF (PPA) provides broader diversification across 62 holdings with tech exposure, delivering superior 5-year growth but at a higher expense ratio (0.58%). The choice depends on whether investors prefer concentrated exposure to major defense contractors or diversified sector exposure.

Archer Aviation's stock has plummeted 53.5% over the past year to $6.31 per share, raising questions about a potential reverse stock split. However, the article concludes a reverse split is unlikely in the near term since the stock price remains well above the $1 NYSE delisting threshold, the company maintains a $4.9 billion valuation, and management is focused on FAA approval for its Midnight eVTOL and the Boeing acquisition.

The article compares Kratos Defense and Nokia as investment options for 2026. Kratos, a high-growth defense contractor specializing in unmanned systems and hypersonic technology, trades at a premium valuation (95x forward P/E) but shows strong revenue growth of 18.5% and expects hypersonic revenue to double to $400 million. Nokia, a telecommunications infrastructure provider, offers lower valuation (27.2x forward P/E), generates $1.7 billion in positive free cash flow, and is positioned to benefit from AI network demand, though with modest 5% expected sales growth. The author recommends Kratos for long-term investors betting on increased Pentagon spending.

Rocket Lab secured a $397 million contract from the U.S. Space Force to develop, launch, and operate stackable 'Flatellites' for a missile-tracking satellite program. This represents one of the company's largest wins and is worth more than six months of its annual revenue. The contract demonstrates Rocket Lab's evolution into a vertically integrated defense contractor capable of handling all aspects of satellite missions independently.