Paris Air Show 2025 highlights: Airbus leads, defense dominates

As the final trade day of the Paris Air Show 2025 came to a close, the prevailing tone has been one of realism and recalibration. While the industry gathered in Le Bourget under the shadow of tragedy and amid intensifying geopolitical tensions, it delivered a message loud and clear: production capacity, platform adaptability, and strategic alignment are taking priority over flashy unveilings.

In Boeing’s absence, Airbus seized center stage in the commercial aviation space. With little competition in terms of major announcements, it quickly racked up close to $20.9 billion in new orders, including an MoU with Vietjet for 100 Airbus A321neos with options for 50 more, 30 A320neos and 10 A350Fs for AviLease, 25 A350-1000s for Riyadh Air, and 40 firm A220s (plus 44 options) for LOT Polish Airlines. Starlux Airlines added 10 more A350-1000s to its long-haul fleet, bringing the total to 18, while EgyptAir expanded a 2023 order for 10 A350-900s to 16. ANA Holdings finalized a firm order for 24 A321neos and three A321XLRs. At most airshows, the two rivals trade blows in rapid succession. This year, however, Airbus set the tone almost entirely on its own.

AeroTimeThe most defense-heavy edition yet

Yet even this early flurry of orders couldn’t shift the broader impression: the 2025 edition is a defense show. More specifically, a show shaped by war and the enduring demands it places on production, logistics, and inventory. Organizers revealed that approximately 45% of this year’s show was dedicated to defense and security, marking a record-high share for Le Bourget. Air and missile defense systems, ISR platforms, and drone technologies dominated both floor space and conversations.

The wars in Ukraine and Gaza continue to influence both the tone and content of announcements across the board. This year, exhibitors seemed more preoccupied with the gritty realities of supply chains, industrial base readiness, and attrition warfare.

Legacy platforms, future missions

AeroTimeIt is a telling shift. The idea that high-end systems alone win wars has been challenged repeatedly over the past two years. In Ukraine, Russia’s reliance on quantity over quality has exposed the limits of boutique arsenals. In Israel, stockpiles have proven just as essential as sensors or networked command.

Lockheed Martin captured this mood directly. It announced a production ramp-up across its missile portfolio, with a 40% increase in tactical missile deliveries year-on-year. While many eyes were looking for flashy unveilings or next-gen prototypes, Lockheed’s real message was about scale and delivery capacity, two areas militaries increasingly care about.

Beyond missiles, a clear narrative emerged around the transformation of legacy platforms. Gone are the days when new drones or sixth-generation fighter mockups dominated every conversation. Instead, the focus has shifted toward how existing assets, some of them decades old, can be adapted to fight in tomorrow’s networked environment.

Take Airbus’s A400M, which was presented not just as a transport aircraft but as a future “mothership” platform capable of deploying UAVs and integrating into a system-of-systems battlefield. Similarly, Sikorsky gave a briefing in which its Black Hawk was showcased with concepts for integration with unmanned systems and autonomous missions, proof that even established workhorses are being reimagined for collaborative combat scenarios.

The language surrounding these announcements has changed, too. Buzzwords like “interoperability,” “modularity,” and “attritability” featured heavily, but so did references to reliability, sustainment, and production guarantees. It seems that militaries are asking fewer questions about what might be possible, and more about what will actually be delivered, on time and in quantity.

Measured announcements, focused goals

AeroTimeA headline-generating moment at Le Bourget was the launch of LBA Systems, a 50/50 joint venture between Leonardo and Baykar focused on delivering next-generation unmanned systems. The venture already had Baykar’s TB‑3 and Akinci PT-10 UAVs on static display under the LBA brand.

There were, of course, some product unveilings. Airbus confirmed that the A330 MRTT+, its next iteration of the successful multi-role tanker transport, is already in production for an undisclosed customer. The company emphasized the platform’s future-proof capabilities, including enhanced connectivity, improved defensive systems, and integration into cloud-based combat systems.

Meanwhile, France’s Turgis & Gaillard partnered with Thales to unveil a new surveillance variant of its upcoming Aarok drone, equipped with Thales new-generation AirMaster S radar. While not a revolution in form or function, the system reflects the broader French strategy of building a scalable drone ecosystem capable of supporting both domestic and export needs.

But even these announcements felt measured, designed more to demonstrate continuity than radical change. Defense firms know that credibility in 2025 means demonstrating their ability to fulfill promises made in 2023, rather than making new promises for 2030.

Embraer momentum: regional gains and tactical ambitions

AeroTimeEmbraer made headlines on both the commercial and defense fronts at this year’s show. On the regional side, SkyWest Airlines placed a firm order for 60 E175 jets with options for 50 more, a deal valued at $3.6 billion. 16 of the aircraft are intended for Delta Connection operations. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2027, reinforcing SkyWest’s position as the world’s largest operator of the E175 and highlighting continued US demand for scope clause-compliant regional aircraft.

On the defense side, the KC-390 Millennium continued to build international traction. Portugal firmed up its order for a sixth aircraft, while also activating options for up to 10 additional airframes reserved for NATO allies. Lithuania also selected the C-390 as its next military transport aircraft, with plans to acquire three aircraft. Meanwhile, the Netherlands signed a contract for a modular aeromedical evacuation kit, designed for rapid roll-on/roll-off integration. The Dutch also secured options for seven more kits on behalf of other potential partner nations. It is fair to say that the Millennium is gaining recognition as a purpose-built platform that effectively addresses the current operational and strategic needs of NATO air forces.

Elsewhere, France signed a joint declaration of intent with Saab to acquire the GlobalEye airborne early warning and control aircraft, adding momentum to Europe’s growing interest in advanced ISR platforms.

Not about surprise, but about staying the course

All told, the Paris Air Show 2025 has so far been less about surprise and more about staying the course.

This is not to say the mood was grim. The exhibition halls were full, meetings ran long, and innovation continues. But there was little of the usual spectacle and swagger. Instead, manufacturers and buyers alike appeared to be approaching this year’s airshow with a shared understanding: now shaped by global uncertainty, customers are demanding more from aerospace, and the industry must prove that it can deliver, not just on ideas, but on commitments.

Make sure to check in with AeroTime over the coming days and weeks as we continue to bring you in-depth coverage, exclusive insights, and the key takeaways from the Paris Air Show 2025, on the ground and beyond the headlines.

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