New York, January 6, 2026, 13:24 EST — Regular session
- GE Aerospace shares rose in midday trade, extending the prior session’s gains.
- Starfighters Space disclosed it completed supersonic captive-carry test flights for GE Aerospace’s ATLAS propulsion program.
- Investors are also looking ahead to GE Aerospace’s Jan. 22 earnings webcast.
GE Aerospace stock was up about 0.7% at $326.65 on Tuesday, after a contractor said it had wrapped up a supersonic flight test campaign tied to GE’s high-speed propulsion work.
The disclosure keeps attention on defense-linked development programs as the Pentagon backs newer propulsion options and seeks faster test cycles. For GE, any sign of progress in advanced propulsion adds to a narrative that goes beyond its core jet-engine aftermarket business.
The update also comes with the company’s next quarterly report in view. GE Aerospace is scheduled to hold its fourth-quarter 2025 earnings webcast on Jan. 22, a key checkpoint for investors tracking engine deliveries and the pace of higher-margin services work.
Starfighters Space said its F-104 aircraft conducted three supersonic “captive-carry” flights from Kennedy Space Center, carrying GE Aerospace’s ATLAS test vehicle; captive-carry means the test article is carried on the aircraft rather than released. The program uses a solid-fuel ramjet — an air-breathing engine that sustains speed by burning solid fuel — and is funded by the U.S. Department of Defense under Title III of the Defense Production Act, the contractor said. “Commercially operated test aircraft like Starfighters play an important role in accelerating development timelines,” Mark Rettig, a vice president at GE Aerospace, said in the statement. Starfighters Space
Aerospace and defense names were broadly firmer as Wall Street inched higher and investors focused on Friday’s U.S. jobs report for clues on the rate outlook. RTX was up about 0.5%, Boeing gained about 0.7% and Lockheed Martin rose about 3.3%.
GE has pushed back toward Monday’s intraday high of $329.43, a level chart watchers often treat as near-term resistance. A move above that area would put the stock back in breakout territory, while a pullback toward $320 would test the most recent support zone.
Analysts expect GE to earn about $1.43 a share for the quarter, according to Yahoo Finance’s earnings calendar. Investors will be listening for management’s read on aircraft build rates and any pinch points in the supply chain that can slow new engine deliveries.
But development wins do not always translate into production-scale contracts, and defense priorities can shift with procurement cycles and politics. Any renewed disruption in aircraft deliveries — or a sharper slowdown in travel demand — could also pressure new engine shipments and the timing of aftermarket work.
The next macro catalyst is the U.S. employment report for December, due Friday, Jan. 9 at 8:30 a.m. ET, before GE Aerospace’s Jan. 22 earnings webcast sets the next company-specific test for the stock.
