January 12, 2026

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AVIATION WEEK'S 68TH ANNUAL LAUREATE AWARDS

For nearly seven decades, the Aviation Week Laureate Awards have honored extraordinary achievements in aviation, defense and space. Each year, our editors review dozens of internal and external nominations from around the globe and choose exemplary individuals, teams and accomplishments.

COMMERCIAL AVIATION

BITTERSWEET SUCCESS

> THE AIRBUS A32ONEO HAS TRANSFORMED THE MARKET AND FRUSTRATED OPERATORS > ENGINE MATURITY SHORTFALLS AND SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES COUNTERBALANCE PROGRAM GAINS > INCREMENTAL UPGRADES HAVE BEEN APPLIED, BUT NO NEW DERIVATIVES ARE IN DEVELOPMENT

By Jens Flottau9 min

PROPULSION

POWER PATH

> BOOM SUPERSONIC ENGINE WORK SPEEDS UP AFTER AI BOOST > TESTS OF THE SUPERPOWER POWERPLANT ARE SET FOR LATE 2026 > CORE TESTS EARLY THIS YEAR WILL INFORM BOTH SYMPHONY AND SUPERPOWER ENGINE DEVELOPMENT

By Guy Norris9 min

SUPPLY CHAIN

HEADWAY IN SEATING

> ECONOMY SEAT MANUFACTURERS IMPROVE DESIGNS BUT STRUGGLE TO DELIVER > EFFORTS IN WEIGHT REDUCTION, COMFORT, SAFETY AND SUSTAINABILITY COME TO FRUITION > CERTIFICATION LEAD TIMES CREATE BOTTLENECKS

By Thierry Dubois8 min

TECH TAKE

Skyryse has completed the first flight of a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter equipped with its SkyOS automated flight control system. The U.S. startup had signed a cooperative research and development agreement with the U.S. Army in January 2025 to develop an optionally piloted capability for the Black Hawk.

By Graham Warwick8 min

TECHNOLOGY

Quantum Computers Offer Huge Advantages-If They Work

> THE TECHNOLOGY COULD RAPIDLY TEST AERODYNAMICS, LOGISTICS AND MATERIALS POSSIBILITIES > DEVELOPERS SAY THEY ARE CLOSE TO BREAKTHROUGHS, BUT THE STATE OF THE ART IS DEBATED

By Garrett Reim8 min

COMMERCIAL AVIATION

European Wet-Lease Operators Seek Countercyclical Opportunities

> SPECIALISTS SEEK OFF-SEASON ACTIVITY TO BOLSTER OPERATIONS > AVIA SOLUTIONS GROUP EXPECTS MEXICO CERTIFICATE SOON

By Helen Massy-Beresford7 min

TECHNOLOGY

QUANTUM RACE

> CHINA, THE EU, JAPAN AND THE U.S. RACE TO GAIN A QUANTUM ADVANTAGE > QUANTUM SENSORS MIGHT THREATEN MODERN STEALTH AIRCRAFT > CHINA’S BRUTE-FORCE STRATEGY OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IS A CONCERN

By Garrett Reim7 min

TECHNOLOGY

Quantum Sensors Boost Magnetic Navigation as an Alternative to GPS

> NAVIGATION USING MAGNETIC ANOMALY MAPS PROVES ROBUST > QUANTUM SENSORS INCREASE SENSITIVITY AND ACCURACY

By Graham Warwick6 min

DEFENSE

RAID ON CARACAS

> SECRETIVE RQ-17O SUPPORTED U.S. PLANNING FOR VENEZUELA MISSION > RUSSIAN AIR DEFENSES FELL SHORT > U.S. OPERATION EXPANDS TO SEIZING GHOST FLEET IN CARIBBEAN AND NORTH ATLANTIC

By Steve Trimble,Brian Everstine,Tony Osborne6 min

DECEMBER 22-JANUARY 112025

January 12, 2026

January 12, 2026