Attention will still be on Airbus (a subsidiary of EADS ) however, given its recently announced plan to launch its first U.S. production line in Alabama. Industry players are eager to learn further details, in particular the rationale behind the plan, given that Airbus’s other production lines are in France, Germany and China. Airbus will also hope to restore confidence in its A380, which has been working through serious issues with wing cracks .

Defense

Despite depressed defense spending in both the U.S. and Europe, all the major players will be present at Farnborough with the exception of Northrop Grumman , which cited “affordability and cost reduction goals” for skipping the show.

Highlights will include the unveiling of the Saab Gripen’s new AESA radar, plus the Irkut Yak-130 making its debut appearance at Farnborough.

Airbus’s A400M transporter will be present, but will only give a static display due to engine issues, while the Russian Knight’s (the Russian Air Force’s aerobatics team) Su-27s have pulled out completely.

Space

Commercial space transport will be in focus at Farnborough after SpaceX’s Dragon proved in May that space travel is no longer just for governments by successfully reaching the International Space Station .

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