Aerospace & Defense Insights | McKinsey & Company
Aerospace & Defense Insights
CollectionThe Next Normal – The future of space: It’s getting crowded out there
March 29, 2022 – Could you soon be taking trips to outer space? Some experts think so. Rocket launches have become much less expensive, so thousands more satellites—and many more people than ever before—can venture into orbit. But more objects in space also mean more space debris and higher risks of collisions. In this edition of The Next Normal, McKinsey experts and industry executives envision the space industry’s next decade.
ArticleThe $773 billion question: Inflation’s impact on defense spending
March 28, 2022 – How will the Defense Department deal with possible long-term inflation and price increases for its most important programs?
InterviewMaking aerospace ‘diverse and dynamic’: An interview with Airbus U.S.’s Debra Facktor
March 22, 2022 – One of the highest-ranking female executives in the aerospace industry foresees a space economy—and a space workforce—that look very different from today’s.
ArticleWar in Ukraine: Lives and livelihoods, lost and disrupted
March 17, 2022 – As uncertainty weighs on decision making, scenarios can provide guidance.
InterviewDon’t leave points on the table: An interview with Lockheed Martin’s Stephanie Hill
January 28, 2022 – McKinsey sits down with Hill, an executive vice president at the aerospace giant, to discuss the new and emerging challenges of leadership and technology, as well as the importance of work–life balance.
InterviewLockheed Martin’s Joe Landon on the emerging space economy
February 14, 2022 – We may be approaching an age in which companies conduct business in orbit or on the moon, says Lockheed Martin executive Joe Landon.
InterviewBuilding a better planet with satellite data
February 4, 2022 – Spire CEO Peter Platzer says the answers to some of Earth’s biggest problems can be found in space.
Article – McKinsey QuarterlyA military veteran knows why your employees are leaving
January 31, 2022 – She also knows what you can—and can’t—do about it. Here are three surprising lessons from a veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
ArticleSpace: Investment shifts from GEO to LEO and now beyond
January 27, 2022 – Investors have recently focused on space ventures in low-Earth orbit, but interest is growing in lunar and beyond orbital regimes. Here’s what you need to know about this ongoing trend.
InterviewSeeing Earth from space: The power of satellite images
December 13, 2021 – Satellite images don’t just show Earth’s beauty—they can also help improve society and the global economy, says Planet Labs cofounder Robbie Schingler.
ArticleR&D for space: Who is actually funding it?
December 10, 2021 – Government still funds most space-sector R&D, but private companies have recently driven a notable uptick in overall investment.
CollectionThe Next Normal – The future of air mobility: Electric aircraft and flying taxis
November 19, 2021 – Look! Up in the sky! Not a bird … or a plane … it’s an eVTOL! An eVTOL (pronounced “ee-vee-tol”) is an electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft—and thousands of them could be flying above cities by 2030. Hear McKinsey experts and industry pioneers describe what’s coming in the world of “advanced air mobility” (AAM) and how it could affect passengers, pilots, and our planet.
ArticleFinal approach: How airports can prepare for advanced air mobility
November 19, 2021 – Advanced air mobility is becoming a reality. Airport operators need to assess the opportunity and integrate it into their planning.
VideoAdvanced air mobility in 2030
November 19, 2021 – In this video, three McKinsey experts on aerospace and mobility describe a future in which electric flying vehicles are a safe, affordable, and sustainable way to travel.
InterviewRideshares in the sky by 2024: Joby Aviation bets big on air taxis
November 19, 2021 – Joby executive Bonny Simi sees a future in which aerial ridesharing is popular, traveling between rural and urban areas is quick and easy, and the pilot workforce is much more diverse.
Interview‘Speeding up everyday travel’: Lilium prepares for takeoff
November 19, 2021 – Daniel Wiegand, CEO of air-mobility company Lilium, believes that electric passenger aircraft will be commonplace by 2030.
InterviewWill VoloCity transform urban transportation?
November 19, 2021 – Electric air taxis such as VoloCity, made by Germany’s Volocopter, are poised to revolutionize not just city travel but also the global mobility industry, says CEO Florian Reuter.
ReportThe sky is the limit: Perspectives on the emerging European commercial aircraft value chain recovery and beyond
October 20, 2021 – Demand for European commercial aircraft is poised to recover. How should the industry respond?
ArticleUsing a cost-control tower to drive affordability in defense
November 16, 2021 – Cost-control towers help companies in many industries stay within budget and reduce costs. It’s time for defense companies to learn about their benefits.
FEATURED BLOG
Future Air Mobility blog
Perspectives and analyses on urban air mobility, drones, electric aviation, and more
FEATURED VIDEOS
InterviewGeneral James Mattis on leading in a crisis and thriving in the next normal
April 30, 2020 – The former US defense secretary shares lessons on how to emerge from the pandemic and prepare for what comes next, in a conversation with McKinsey global managing partner Kevin Sneader.
VideoA former European defense chief offers leadership lessons for tackling coronavirus
March 27, 2020 – The former chief of defense of the Netherlands armed forces, Tom Middendorp, describes his approach to crisis management amid a complex situation like the coronavirus outbreak.
RELATED INSIGHTS
Discussion Paper – McKinsey Global InstituteBuilding a more competitive US manufacturing sector
April 15, 2021 – A fresh sense of urgency and new opportunities could give the sector momentum.
SurveyThe state of AI in 2020
November 18, 2020 – Our 2020 AI survey shows artificial intelligence has become more of a revenue driver. Companies earning the most from AI plan to invest in it more in response to COVID-19.
Discussion Paper – McKinsey Global InstituteConnected world: An evolution in connectivity beyond the 5G revolution
February 20, 2020 – Connectivity is undergoing evolutionary change in most parts of the world—and, in select areas, a genuine leap into the frontier.
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MORE INSIGHTS
Blog PostHow a manufacturing moonshot was made
April 6, 2022 – During COVID-19, the global respiratory medical-device pioneer Vyaire faced an extraordinary demand situation. With partnership…
SurveyOpportunities for industry leaders as new travelers take to the skies
April 5, 2022 – A new global survey points to a greener future for air travel.
ArticleTaking stock of the pandemic’s impact on global aviation
March 31, 2022 – Although air cargo soared on the tailwinds of increased demand and high freight rates, airlines continued to be the worst performers…
Podcast – McKinsey Global InstituteThe rising toll of the war in Ukraine
March 30, 2022 – Lives lost and upended. Soaring food and energy prices. Supply chains at risk. Much is at stake as the war continues.
VideoOuter space in 2030
March 29, 2022 – In this video, three of McKinsey’s aerospace experts describe the ways in which future activity in space will benefit people…
CommentaryExpectations versus reality: Commercial satellite constellations
November 15, 2021 – Despite a steady, sizeable uptick in announced commercial constellations over the past few years, many constellation operators…
ArticleDefense affordability: It’s time for a new approach
October 22, 2021 – As annual growth in defense spending slows, defense companies need new strategies for reducing the cost of their products and…
ArticleLook out below: What will happen to the space debris in orbit?
October 1, 2021 – With more satellites and space debris in orbit, it’s time for a new approach for mitigating collisions.
ArticleImplementing a digital transformation at industrial companies
May 27, 2021 – Six building blocks can help industrial companies create a strong digital strategy and generate top value from digitization.
CommentaryWall Street to Mission Control: Can space tourism pay off?
May 12, 2021 – With the COVID-19 pandemic curtailing earthly travel, space tourism may seem like a far-fetched dream—but some companies are betting…
ArticleDigital: The next horizon for global aerospace and defense
May 11, 2021 – Digital can help A&D become more resilient, efficient, and innovative. Here’s how.