Craig is the head of Aviation Week Network's defense data team responsible for managing the company’s defense-related databases and leading on consultancy projects.
Prior to joining Aviation Week Network in March 2019, Craig spent 12 years at Jane’s, as lead analyst and consultant for military aircraft markets and later for global defense-spending trends focusing on Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. He has extensive consulting experience on behalf of both government and industry clients. Craig has a degree in History and Politics from the University of Leicester and a Master’s in Intelligence and International Security from King’s College London.
According to Aviation Week’s recently released 2026 Military Fleet & MRO Forecast, the F-35 Lightning II represents by far the largest military aircraft program in terms of deliveries over the decade with a at least 1,468 aircraft due to be delivered to 18 different operators.
For Japan, 2026 marks the penultimate year of its five-year Defense Buildup Plan, initiated in 2022 in response to a perceived deterioration in the regional security environment.
While major new contracts generally grab the headlines within the global military aircraft market, Aviation Week’s newly released 2026 Military Fleet & MRO Forecast projects that aftermarket demand will far outstrip spending on procurement over the next decade.
