• From T-7 to MQ-28: Boeing Defence Reveals Programme Progress and Regional Opportunities
• Boeing Defence Showcases Next-Gen Capabilities, Autonomy & Space Plans
• Inside Boeing Defence: Strategy, Stability and Smarter Partnerships

By Sangeeta Saxena

Dubai. 17 November 2025. At the Dubai Airshow, Steve Parker, President & CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security (BDS) and Bernd Peters, Vice President of Business Development & Strategy for BDS, conducted a deep-dive media briefing with a select group of journalists, outlining Boeing’s momentum across development programmes, autonomy, space systems, and global partnerships. Their central message was clear: programme execution, stability, and readiness form the backbone of Boeing’s new defence strategy. With detailed insights on the T-7A, MQ-28 Ghost Bat, KC-46, E-7 Wedgetail, F-15EX, and national security space programmes, the two leaders reiteratedd Boeing’s commitment to performance and customer trust.

Opening the session, Steve Parker set the tone, saying, “This year Boeing Defence & Space is really around driving in stability and performance into all of our projects, all of our project development projects. That is my focus. Pure programme execution. And making sure that the promises we make to our customers are fulfilled. We are using some state-of-the-art digital tools which is really impactful for us.”

Parker confirmed major progress on the trainer front, informing, “We will deliver the first T-7 to the United States Air Force next month… really excited there. The programme’s doing well in its flight test programme.”

Speaking about the MQ-28 uncrewed autonomous aircraft, Parker said, “This programme’s really getting its stride… we finished our capability demonstrations… four months ahead of schedule. A weapons demonstration is imminent. We are on track for next month.”
He described it as the most state-of-the-art advanced in the world today. When asked about the weapons load, Parker revealed, “If you were to guess it was an AMRAAM-120, you would be correct.” And confirmed, “There will be an airborne target.”

Bernd Peters explained the broader transformation within Boeing Defence, “One of the big pushes inside Boeing Defence… has been this notion of trying to accelerate and advance concepts like family of systems. We have a very robust presence in Middle East. Apaches, Chinooks, even Bluebirds, are very prominent throughout the region. We look to expand additional autonomous capabilities in the region as well.”

He also referenced Boeing’s UAS Centre of Excellence in the UAE, “That’s not just about maintaining MRO… that’s also looking to potentially expand into sovereign capability development.”

On tanker prospects Bernd reiterated “We still feel pretty bullish on KC-46s in the region. We just flew the first KC-46 with the RBS 2.0 hardware and software yesterday in Seattle… a huge milestone for the programme.”

On E-7 Wedgetail, Boeing Stands Firm and Parker reinforced Boeing’s confidence, “We believe the E-7 is the most advanced airborne capability… as evidenced by the soft-source selection.” He noted the type’s global footprint, “Turkey’s operating it, South Korea’s operating it, the UK’s operating it… and we are building the first E-7 prototype for the United States Air Force.”

Parker provided a clarity on Boeing’s space programmes, “We’re going to be ready to go next year… April is what NASA’s looking at. NASA’s talking about late February… immensely proud of what we’re doing there.”

On F-15EX’s sustained demand Parker highlighted the programme’s strong trajectory.
“We’re over 100 now… customers need different tools. F-15EX brings fifth-gen sensors, fifth-gen weapons… very survivable against fifth-gen-plus threats.”

Responding to the India- Apache Ferry Issue on the Apaches unable to transit Turkish airspace, Parker said, “Slight snag… these things happen. We’ll get those Apaches over to India as quickly as we can.”

Expanding on T-7 Global Opportunities Peters pointed out, “There is significant opportunity in Europe in the 2030–2035 timeframe… Asia-Pac also shows opportunity.” Parker added,
“We can scale up to very large volumes… well above potentially 100 aircraft a year.”

Boeing has Relentless Focus on Execution Parker concluded firmly, “24/7 is about execution… making sure every I is dotted and every T is crossed.”

The briefing by Steve Parker and Bernd Peters showcased Boeing Defence’s most detailed strategic roadmap yet—one grounded in delivering on commitments, strengthening partnerships, accelerating digital transformation, and advancing next-generation autonomous and space capabilities. With major milestones approaching across the T-7A, MQ-28, E-7, KC-46, and SLS programmes, Boeing emphasised that the coming years will be defined not by promises, but by “pure programme execution.”