AUGUST 2025AEROSPACEDEFENSEREVIEW.COM6EditorialThe European aerospace and defense sector stands at a pivotal point, where emerging technologies, security demands, and sustainability goals converge to redefine what's possible both in the skies and beyond. From optical data transmission and integrated avionics to predictive maintenance and non-destructive testing (NDT), the industry is undergoing a period of transformation driven not by volume, but by precision and purpose.This evolution is especially evident in the rise of space-based communications and modular avionics. Siegbert Martin, CTO and Head of Development and Design at Tesat-Spacecom, highlights the impact of optical laser terminals in enabling faster and more secure satellite data exchange. "The advantage of having increased access time to LEO satellites provides a real-time opportunity for data availability," he notes, pointing to a near future shaped by high-throughput space networks and quantum-safe encryption.Closer to Earth, innovations in avionics are streamlining operations for next-generation aircraft. Jorge Afonso Pereira, Head of Civil-Military Communications, Navigation, Surveillance (CNS), and Security Unit, EUROCONTROL, advocates for deeper integration through software-defined radio (SDR) architectures. "The IMA Core System processes inputs from the platform's sensors to construct any avionics system regardless of size and complexity," he explains, setting the stage for scalable, reconfigurable aircraft platforms suited for dynamic mission profiles.Across the value chain, precision is becoming a universal expectation--from fleet-wide predictive maintenance platforms to ultrasonic flaw detection in jet fuselages. Aerospace firms today are challenged not only to build faster and greener, but also to detect issues before they emerge and integrate complex systems with minimal hardware disruption.In this edition, we explore how advanced materials inspection, modular system design, high-speed connectivity, and next-gen avionics are converging to elevate performance and resilience across aerospace and defense applications.With insights from European CXOs leading these innovations, this issue captures how the industry is evolving to meet new security, mobility, and environmental imperatives--all while preserving the rigorous standards that define aerospace excellence.Let us know your thoughts!Innovation at Altitude: Aerospace Rethinks the EdgeJonathan AllredManaging Editorjonathan@aerospacedefensereview.comBusiness and Technology solutions that drive A&D industryEUROPECopyright © 2025 ValleyMedia Inc., All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part of any text, photography or illustrations without written permission from the publisher is prohibited. The publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or illustrations. Views and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the magazine and accordingly, no liability is assumed by the publisher thereof.AUGUST 15, 2025, Vol 07 - Issue 17, ISSN 2691-395XPublished by ValleyMedia Inc.To subscribe to Aerospace & Defense ReviewVisit www.aerospacedefensereview.comManaging Editor Jonathan AllredEditorial StaffAndrea FrancisJohn SmithRosalind JacobsJem ElizabethRichard Taylor Surajit Narayan DekaVisualizerHenry Smith*All Insights are based on the interviews with respective CIOs and CXOs to our editorial staffEmailsales@aerospacedefensereview.comeditor@aerospacedefensereview.commarketing@aerospacedefensereview.com
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