Q: What is the Export-Import (EXIM) Bank?
A: EXIM is a federally backed bank that connects American companies to global markets.

Q: How does it do that?
A: By providing financial assistance to American companies and reducing risk for foreign customers wanting to buy American products.

Q: Why do we need EXIM?
A: EXIM provides financial assistance to companies when private banks can’t, enabling American companies to sell their products on global markets.

Q: Who benefits from EXIM?
A: Machine shops, manufacturers, suppliers, small businesses, and American workers whose work ends up in exported products, such as commercial and military aircraft.

In our nation’s earliest days, agricultural manufacturing created faster and more efficient ways to cultivate the land through technological advancements in farming equipment. In 1830, the steam engine was developed – a precursor to Henry Ford’s automobile and the first-ever assembly-line in 1913.

By the early 1900s, the U.S. surpassed Britain as the largest global manufacturer and by the end of World War II, our nation was known as the “factory of the world,” producing half of global goods by the 1950s.

America’s manufacturing sector remains the backbone of our nation’s economy and is the key to sustaining independence, just as it had been at the country’s founding.

As America commemorates its 250th year, Watch U.S. Fly is proud to highlight our nation’s manufacturers and the incredible products they produce. From airplanes and rockets and everything in between, the U.S. would not be the global leader it is without our hardworking manufacturers.

The Freedom Plane is a National Archives traveling exhibition bringing nine original Founding-era documents to eight U.S. cities in commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary in 2026.

Inspired by the Bicentennial Freedom Train, the Freedom Plane National Tour will make documents fundamental to America’s founding accessible to Americans across the country.

The eight cities include:

• Kansas City, MO
• Atlanta, GA
• Los Angeles, CA
• Houston, TX
• Denver, CO
• Miami, FL
• Dearborn, MI
• Seattle, WA

What city will you see the Freedom Plane in? Share with us here!

If you answered “sub hunter” you’d be correct.

The P-8A Poseidon – known as “the sub hunter” – is a multi-role, multi-mission reconnaissance aircraft that plays a critical role in defense and deterrence.

The P-8 is the only aircraft that can detect and track adversarial submarines. It’s also used for anti-surface warfare, intelligence sharing, and surveillance operations.

Built from the tested and proven 737 commercial airframe, the P-8 is a steady and reliable aircraft that pilots trust when it matters most.

The best trends become long-term strategies that enhance national defense capabilities and provide continued opportunities for the aerospace supply chain and American workers.

Here are the top aviation trends we’re watching for 2026. Which one will have the biggest impact on aviation in 2026? Tell us here!

Autonomous Aircraft

“In 2026, autonomy will matter because it directly addresses two pressures air forces cannot escape: pilot shortages and rising platform costs.” Programs like the MQ-25 “are expected to push further into weapons integration, distributed sensing and higher levels of independence.”

AI-driven Decision Making

“Artificial intelligence quietly embedded itself across defense aviation in 2025, from predictive maintenance and logistics to sensor fusion and mission planning. What changed was tone; AI stopped being framed as experimental software and started being treated as operational infrastructure.”

Virtual Reality in Pilot Training

“In 2026, VR matters because it directly affects readiness. Faster training throughput, lower cost per hour and the ability to rehearse rare or high-risk scenarios give air forces the flexibility they cannot achieve through live flying alone. Expect closer alignment between VR, digital twins and live-virtual-constructive training environments.”

Electronic Warfare as a Defense Priority

“In 2026, electronic warfare resilience will be a defining trend. Upgrades to defensive aids, alternative navigation methods and spectrum management tools are becoming as important as new aircraft acquisitions. Air forces are increasingly treating EW survivability as a baseline requirement rather than a specialist capability.”

Modernization vs. Current Needs

“…sustainment has become a strategic issue. In 2026, air forces will be judged not just on what they plan to buy, but on how effectively they keep existing fleets safe, available and relevant.”

Thankfully, hundreds of thousands of American workers understand the importance of a job done right – no detail too small.

That includes the workers at Controlled Products Corporation (CPC) in Grand Prairie, Texas. They sweat the small stuff because they know their products are essential to the functionality of the battle-tested, battle-critical Apache helicopter.

American exceptionalism is in the details.

Share this video with the detail-obsessed aerospace enthusiast in your life!

When it comes to national defense, he writes that “the F-15EX Eagle… is a no-brainer.”

Why? For one, its speed. The Eagle II’s top speed is Mach 2.5, making it the fastest fighter jet in the world. It can also carry more munitions than its peers, with a staggering payload of 29,500 pounds.

Along with its current capabilities, the Air Force has “explored integrating the EA-18G Growler’s new Next Generation Jammer Pods” into the F-15EX, transforming it into an electronic platform “capable of penetrating contested airspace.”

Do you agree that the F-15EX Eagle II is a “no-brainer” for the U.S Air Force? Let us know here!

NASA’s tribute to this once-in-a-lifetime event will be out-of-this-world… literally.

Its signature orange rocket – the Space Launch System (SLS) – is getting a makeover.

Following its successful 2022 mission – Artemis I – SLS will take astronauts around the Moon later this year in Artemis II. It will be the first crewed lunar trip since Apollo 17 and they will do it with custom-adorned solid rocket boosters featuring the “America 250” decal.

Artemis II will last 10 days, making it the longest crewed test flight in history. The mission is also set to break the record for the furthest human spaceflight from Earth.

SLS and the Artemis II mission will be a stylish, record-breaking tribute to American excellence.

Founded in 2019 as an independent branch of the military, the Space Force was born out of the Air Force Space Command.

Known today as “Guardians,” the active military members and civilians in the Space Force are specially trained to protect our nation in, from, and to space.

Help us celebrate the Space Force by posting an anniversary message today!

Since its founding, Army National Guard units have fought in every American war. Today, there are more than 328,000 citizen soldiers serving in the Army National Guard.

Do you want to acknowledge an Army National Guard member in your life? Recognize their service with the Watch U.S. Fly community today!