Boeing [NYSE: BA] named Air Vice‑Marshal (Ret’d) Steve "Zed" Roberton, DSC, AM, as its new president for Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific. Starting today in Sydney, Roberton will oversee Boeing Australia Holdings as its chairperson, lead strategic initiatives, expand partner collaborations and serve as the company’s senior government liaison.
Roberton brings more than three decades of operational, command and capability development experience from his Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) career. He was a fighter pilot for 26 years and served in Australian combat units and an exchange posting with the United States Marine Corps.
Roberton was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2012.
In 2014, Roberton commanded the inaugural Operation OKRA Air Task Group in the Middle East for which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. He later served as commander of the RAAF’s Air Combat Group, the Air Commander Australia, and as Head Force Design in the Vice Chief of the Defence Force Group.
“Zed is a widely-admired leader who is committed to advancing Australia’s national security and aviation priorities," said Dr. Brendan Nelson AO, president of Boeing Global. "His decades of hands-on experience leading complex joint military operations demonstrate that he has the proven skills and values needed to guide our Oceania operations forward.”
In September 2022, Roberton retired from the RAAF and began serving as a senior advisor with McKinsey & Company for two years. He began consulting for Boeing Defence Australia in June 2025.
“I’m in awe of our broad commercial and defence portfolio across Australia and New Zealand, and I look forward to collaborating with our employees, customers and partners as we work together to define the future of aerospace in the region,” said Air Vice‑Marshal (Ret’d) Steve Roberton, DSC, AM.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Queensland and received a Master’s in Management from the University of Canberra.
Roberton succeeds Maria Fernandez who retired from Boeing in October 2025.
Source: www.boeing.com.au
Boeing stock price target raised to $277 by Bernstein SocGen
Bernstein SocGen Group has raised its price target on Boeing (NYSE:BA) to $277.00 from $267.00 while maintaining an Outperform rating. The new target represents approximately 21% upside from Boeing’s current price of $228.13, with the stock already posting a strong 33.58% return over the past year.
The research firm identified Boeing as its "top pick in the US for 2026," noting that the aircraft manufacturer has made significant progress in addressing major issues with its 737 and 787 aircraft programs over the past six months. InvestingPro data shows Boeing’s revenue grew 10.18% in the last twelve months, supporting analysts’ expectations for continued sales growth this year.
Bernstein SocGen also highlighted Boeing’s apparent turnaround in its defense division, citing "few new charges" and the company’s F-47 contract win as positive developments.
The firm expects these improvements to lead to "sharply improving free cash flow in 2027-29" for Boeing.
Bernstein SocGen previously selected Howmet as its top pick in 2024 and 2025, and while the firm "continues to see solid upside for Howmet shares," it now considers Boeing "most attractive" based on valuation. Investors looking for deeper insights can access Boeing’s comprehensive Pro Research Report, available on InvestingPro, which offers expert analysis on this prominent player in the Aerospace & Defense industry.
In other recent news, Boeing has secured several substantial contracts, highlighting its ongoing role in defense and aerospace. The company was awarded a $2.7 billion contract from the U.S. Army for Apache helicopter post-production support services, following a competitive bidding process. Additionally, Boeing has been granted an $8.6 billion contract to design, produce, and deliver 25 new F-15IA aircraft for the Israeli Air Force, with an option for 25 more jets. This work will be carried out at Boeing’s St. Louis, Missouri facility, with completion expected by the end of 2035. Furthermore, Boeing Defense Systems received a $2.04 billion task order for the B-52 Commercial Engine Replacement Program, focusing on system integration and engine modifications.
In analyst news, Tigress Financial Partners has reiterated its Buy rating on Boeing stock, setting a price target of $275, citing the company’s rebound in deliveries and increasing backlog. However, Boeing, along with Northrop Grumman, faces sanctions from China due to an $11 billion arms package for Taiwan approved by the United States. The sanctions target Boeing’s operations in St. Louis, among others. These developments underscore Boeing’s strategic importance in global defense and aerospace sectors.
Source: www.investing.com
US Awards Boeing $13bn Deal for Israel Jets, E-4B Fleet
The US Department of Defence has awarded Boeing two big contracts for about $13 billion. One is for fighter jet for Israel and the other is for strategic airborne command capabilities for the US.
The first contract, worth around $8.57 billion, is for the production of 25 F-15IA fighter jets for the Israeli Air Force as part of the Foreign Military Sales program. The agreement covers design, integration, testing, manufacturing, and delivery. There is also an option for 25 more planes, which would bring the entire fleet to 50 aeroplanes. Deliveries are set to last until the middle of the 2030s.
The Pentagon also increased Boeing's long-term service contract for the E-4B fleet of the US Air Force, bringing its total worth to almost $4.2 billion through fiscal year 2027. This was in addition to the fighter program. The agreement covers depot-level maintenance, supply chain management, system support and engine sustainment activities.
The E-4B, also known as the "Doomsday Plane," is a very specialised airborne command post that makes sure the government and nuclear command and control stay in place during nuclear war. The plane is based on a Boeing 747-200 airframe, but it has been heavily upgraded with hardened electronics, secured communications, and architecture that can withstand electromagnetic pulses.
Unlike the aircraft commonly known as Air Force One, which serves as the president’s transport, the E-4B functions as a flying national command centre capable of directing US strategic forces even if ground-based command infrastructure is compromised. Its ability to maintain secure, long-range communications with nuclear forces makes the platform a critical element of US strategic deterrence.
Together, the two contracts underline Washington’s parallel priorities of strengthening allied air power in the Middle East while preserving the resilience of its own highest-level strategic command architecture.
Source:www.turdef.com
Aleksei Andrievskii is the founder of the ANDRIEVSKII SEA WEALTH family office in Cyprus, a member of the advisory board at Bendura Bank AG, Liechtenstein