Industry
Company leadership, financial results and business strategy.
News
- Industry · SubmarinesRolls-Royce's submarine reactor business plans large-component prototyping at a Derby technology parkRolls-Royce expects the Derby technology park to expand capacity supporting submarine programmes while allowing its Raynesway site to focus on delivery.
- Industry · Unmanned systemsKratos plans a turbojet production ramp ahead of expected salesKratos targets up to 3,000 engines produced in 2027. It forecasts about 1,500 sold, with cash flow estimates including working capital for the ramp.
- Industry · Counter-droneArmy assesses FD-1 drone interceptor to develop training for novice operatorsThe Poland assessment sought to develop operator training for wider use of the drone interceptor.
- Industry · Space buyersSpace Force Brig. Gen. Robert Schreiner becomes NRO deputy directorThe former NRO facility commander returns to help manage the agency's design, acquisition, launch and operations of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.
- Industry · MunitionsMachina selected to deploy robotic factories for LUCAS-class drone airframesThe company was selected to develop and qualify a metal airframe, then deploy two pilot robotic factories under a Department of War industrial base challenge.
- Industry · Aerospace componentsLoar's third-quarter defense sales rise 58.2%, led by original equipmentDefense original-equipment sales more than doubled in the third quarter of 2026. Loar's earnings release does not separate acquisition effects on defense growth.
- IndustryRoyal Navy launches Callen-Lenz strike drones from carrier in trialsNyan Maritime flights and a Tekever AR5 trial give the navy evidence for decisions on operating drones alongside crewed aircraft.
- Industry · Missiles and space subsystemsKarman's quarterly bookings include seven-year Lockheed Martin contractBacklog reaches $1.7 billion, up 108% from year-end 2025.
- Industry · Submarine sustainmentFairbanks Morse discusses Seawolf maintenance with Navy, Breaking Defense reportsCEO George Whittier told Breaking Defense he expects Seawolf work to follow the Los Angeles- and Ohio-class submarine overhauls.
- Industry · NavyBeacon's MISSILE test-facility software is live at the Navy's Wallops Island centerThe test-facility operations platform entered use during its prototype phase. It operates under an interim authority to connect, with a follow-on multi-year licensing contract in process.
- IndustryGermany names Army chief Freuding its next chief of defense, Defense News reportsArmy Chief Christian Freuding, who oversaw arms supplies to Ukraine, will take Germany's top military post in February 2027, Defense News reports.
- Industry · ShipbuildingNavy and Marines plan larger amphibious fleet at lower readiness, Defense One reportsThe Marine Corps thinks it needs 40 amphibious ships to keep three Amphibious Ready Groups with embarked Marine Expeditionary Units deployed at all times, Defense One reports.
- Industry · Combat aircraftEurofighter sees opportunities to sell 200-plus jets, Breaking Defense reportsThe consortium’s potential export tally has grown, but its production ramp-up plans received no update at the Munich conference, Breaking Defense reports.
- Industry · Defense suppliersCurtiss-Wright's quarterly orders grow faster than salesOrders rose 15% in the third quarter, while Defense Electronics sales grew 2% and its operating margin fell.
- Industry · Space intelligenceBlackSky's capital spending outpaces operating cash in record revenue quarterThird-quarter operating cash fell short of capital spending by about $11.8 million. BlackSky raised its full-year revenue outlook.
- IndustryTextron raises outlook with MV-75 funding now approvedTextron says its higher forecasts reflect MV-75 funding approval and associated contract modifications. Its July outlook already assumed the funding; Bell’s quarterly program volume fell.
- Industry · Naval sustainmentGastops adds Anschütz agreement to Canadian submarine sustainment plansA memorandum of understanding covers long-term support of Anschütz submarine systems in Canada, building on Gastops’ earlier teaming agreement with TKMS.
- Industry · Missile defenseMBDA-led hypersonic interceptor targets 2029 demonstrator flight, Defense News reportsMBDA-led Hydis competes with Hydef for €100 million for its next development phase, Defense News reports. The European Defence Fund plans to support only one proposal.
- Industry · Navy acquisitionNavy appoints submarine program veteran to lead surface ship acquisitionRear Adm. Jonathan Rucker brings submarine design and construction experience to Portfolio Acquisition Executive Maritime, the Navy office responsible for delivering surface ships.
- Industry · Space and defense techRedwire’s Defense Tech revenue falls 16% year over year in the third quarterSpace growth lifted Redwire’s total revenue despite lower Defense Tech sales. Its annual forecast requires fourth-quarter company-wide revenue at least 16.4% above the third quarter.
- Industry · Strategic forcesLockheed flight-tests Mk21A reentry vehicle for the Air Force's future ICBMThe unarmed, developmental vehicle flew under a contract valued at over $1 billion. Lockheed says flight data will inform design refinements and future testing.
- Industry · Unmanned and counter-UASPentagon reports fielding over 24,000 counter-drone systems for CENTCOMThe Pentagon cites approximately $782 million invested this year across counter-drone systems, one-way attack drones and unmanned vessels, with deliveries to more commands planned.
- Industry · Autonomous combat aircraftShield AI says X-BAT per-aircraft cost could fall to $25 million, Breaking Defense reportsBreaking Defense reports a higher-end sensor configuration could add $10 million. Shield AI aims to begin production in 2029.
- Industry · ShipbuildingFincantieri-Leonardo venture targets 18-month FREMM build time cut, Breaking Defense reportsExecutives aim to shorten the FREMM delivery window from 54 to 36 months, Fincantieri CEO Pierroberto Folgiero said, according to Breaking Defense.
- Industry · Missile defense trainingSafran Power Units to supply engines for UVAD's supersonic Falcon target droneThe reusable missile defense training target will use two Safran turbojets, with flight testing planned for 2027.
- Industry · Naval aviation trainingSNC exits Navy T-45 replacement competition, Breaking Defense reportsBreaking Defense reports SNC declined to bid under the Navy’s contract structure, leaving Textron’s M-346N as the service’s “one true competitor.”
- Industry · Naval systemsFincantieri and Leonardo plan stronger role for naval joint venture OSNA letter of intent seeks to strengthen the venture's industrial and commercial role as it handles Italy's DDX destroyer program.
- Industry · Uncrewed aircraftAirbus scraps Wingman combat drone, Breaking Defense reportsBreaking Defense reports that customers sought earlier service entry, prompting Airbus to pursue a design derived from its Barracuda demonstrator.
- IndustryEntrust Solutions acquisition contributes $142 million to Leidos' third-quarter revenueLeidos' revenue rose 4%, with 0.6% organic growth, while Homeland expanded and higher-margin Health contracted. A new joint venture figures in revised full-year guidance.
- Industry · AirSaab flies its own AI agents on Gripen ESaab says developing the agents and their training tools in-house gives it control over how the software operates, is verified and evolves.
- Industry · ShipbuildingHanwha Philly Shipyard names Hyuk Kim president to lead naval expansionThe Hanwha Ocean veteran takes charge as the yard adds defense work to its commercial business, with capacity and workforce development among his stated priorities.
- Industry · AIOpenAI creates national security role for former Army Secretary Dan DriscollDriscoll will advise on AI for national and cyber security, focusing on U.S. allies, and help OpenAI teams understand national security institutions’ operational needs.
- IndustryPalantir's U.S. commercial revenue overtakes U.S. government revenueU.S. commercial revenue pulls ahead even as U.S. government revenue grows 96% year over year.
- IndustryBWXT’s Government Operations margin rises to 19.2%BWXT attributed Government Operations’ third-quarter revenue growth to special materials and advanced nuclear, partly offset by lower naval propulsion volume. Segment bookings fell from a year earlier.
- IndustryV2X raises its adjusted cash forecastRevenue rose 9% in the third quarter, while nine-month operating cash flow was negative. V2X's higher cash forecast uses an adjusted measure.
- IndustryVoyager's sales growth comes with wider operating lossesThird-quarter sales rose 68% from the previous quarter, while operating losses grew 20.4%. September's convertible-note offering added cash as operations consumed it.
- Industry · Uncrewed aircraftDefense News: Oshkosh partners with Grid Aero on Lifter productionDefense News reports Grid Aero will initially handle low-rate production while Oshkosh establishes a pilot line, with production shifting to Oshkosh as customer demand grows.
- IndustryGeneral Dynamics' Marine Systems backlog more than doubles to $146.9 billionLarge submarine orders drove defense bookings, while most of the Marine Systems backlog increase was unfunded.
- Industry · Coalition C2Japanese partners use Maven on Pacific mission network, Breaking Defense reportsJapanese partners are using the AI-enabled planning and targeting platform to contribute to joint strikes, a US Indo-Pacific Command official said, Breaking Defense reported.
- Industry · ShipbuildingTOTE selects Hanwha Defense USA to build $269 million Medium Landing ShipThe Philadelphia award includes options for three additional vessels. TOTE remains in contract discussions with Bollinger Shipyards and Fincantieri Marinette Marine.
- Industry · Secure satcomMDA Space gets authorization for antenna work on 66 IRIS² satellitesThe agreement with Thales Alenia Space starts MDA's work on the EU secure-connectivity constellation, while the definitive contract remains subject to finalization.
- Industry · Missile productionUS and Japan finalize plan to assemble AMRAAM in Japan, Breaking Defense reportsJapan's defense minister outlined plans for missile assembly in Japan and technical information sharing to increase SM-3 Block IIA production, Breaking Defense reports.
- Industry · Munitions capacityStartup Destinus says Ruta cruise missile output nears 300 a month, Reuters reportsDestinus' CEO told Reuters that European customers still need to build military units and logistics capabilities to operate large numbers of systems.
- Industry · Munitions logisticsAppian reports Army munitions system’s initial release took 110 days from contract awardAppian says the Army’s munitions management system replaced disconnected emails, spreadsheets and fragmented legacy workflows with a cloud-based enterprise platform.
- IndustryNewport News drives HII's shipbuilding margin gainNewport News' profitability improved as Ingalls' declined. HII raised its full-year shipbuilding sales outlook while holding its shipbuilding margin forecast steady.
- IndustryLeonardo DRS bookings reach 1.5 times quarterly revenueLeonardo DRS raised its 2026 outlook with record funded backlog, while quarterly free cash flow fell from a year earlier.
- IndustryL3Harris missile orders run far ahead of revenueMissile Solutions posted an 11.8x book-to-bill ratio, and L3Harris listed seven-year contracts to scale missile-defense propulsion production.
- IndustryKBR's government business revenue falls 5% ahead of planned spin-offMission Technology Solutions posts higher operating income despite lower sales, while its Antarctic support contract is not yet in reported backlog ahead of the planned Trinzic separation.
- Industry · SupplierCommercial jet engines drive most of ATI's quarterly sales growthDefense sales rose 6.5% year over year in the third quarter, trailing ATI's 26% revenue growth.
- Industry · Electronic warfareUS Forces Korea commander asks industry for jam-resistant waveforms, Breaking Defense reportsAt a Honolulu conference, US Forces Korea commander Gen. Xavier Brunson urged suppliers to bring technology suited to daily electronic attack on the Korean Peninsula, Breaking Defense reported.
- IndustryHoneywell Aerospace plans $500 million plant to add internal complex machiningThe Arizona investment addresses an area the company calls constrained, with the plant expected to open in late 2028.
- Industry · Combat airBombardier and BAE Systems explore future combat air workThe companies will explore cooperation from systems integration to supply chain development. Bombardier's announcement does not identify a specific program for the agreement.
- Industry · Uncrewed AEWSaab and General Atomics flight test airborne early warning radar on MQ-9BSaab says the flight validated detection, tracking and classification of airborne targets. The evaluation program began in May.
- Industry · Capability milestoneLockheed reports redirecting a GMLRS rocket in flight to hit a moving targetThe demonstration with the Army used a datalink and guidance system integrated through Lockheed Martin’s internal funding.
- Industry · Ship repairNavy chief expects years of destroyer maintenance recovery, Breaking Defense reportsNavy leaders warn returning destroyers could strain shipyard capacity, leading to deferred maintenance, bare-minimum repair packages or skipped modernization, Breaking Defense reports.
- Industry · Solid rocket motorsCoAspire selects X-Bow for Navy CHAOS cruise missile boostersX-Bow will develop and produce ground-launched solid rocket motor boosters for CHAOS under prime contractor CoAspire.
- Industry · Technology adoptionSNC selects Skyryse to pursue flight automation retrofits for defense aircraftThe collaboration pairs SkyOS flight controls with SNC's aircraft integration and modification experience, with an initial focus on existing defense fleets.
- Industry · Qualification milestoneBAE’s Adaptable Deck Launcher completes live-fire testBAE says the launcher supports rapid replenishment with standard shipboard equipment, complementing the Mk 41 Vertical Launching System.
- Industry · Defense servicesParsons' third-quarter revenue falls 1% organicallyFederal Solutions' contract awards rose while organic revenue declined. Excluding what Parsons calls its confidential contract, the segment posted organic growth.
- Industry · DronesMDA Space's 49North qualifies for all five Canadian defence drone marketplace streamsThe subsidiary joins a pool of suppliers eligible to compete for future work spanning uncrewed and counter-drone systems, engineering, testing and training.
- Industry · SpaceHIMERA and GomSpace's Ukrainian communications test satellite is operating in orbitThe companies plan a nationwide network and local production of satellites and ground terminals, with OBRIA NANO testing intended to inform the system's design.
- Industry · New entrantsBreaking Defense: JVIS launches defense business with $13.2 million Army power contractBreaking Defense reports the Michigan automotive supplier's new company received its first contract for the Silent Watch auxiliary power unit.
- Industry · Collaborative combat aircraftGeneral Atomics adds Spirit Defense as FQ-42 fuselage design-build partnerSpirit Defense, a Boeing company, will support fuselage design and production as General Atomics seeks to scale manufacturing of its Air Force collaborative combat aircraft.
- Industry · FightersSaab and IMP sign teaming agreement for a Canadian Gripen assembly lineThe planned line depends on Canada buying Gripen E, with Magellan Aerospace and CAE also lined up for structures manufacturing and training.
- Industry · Air and missile defensePoland selected to host European PAC-3 missile maintenance facilityLockheed Martin plans a Polish facility to repair and recertify NATO allies' PAC-3 interceptors, with Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden leading supply chain integration.
- Industry · New product lineAnduril enters laptop business with QualcommThe BlueChip line starts with a laptop designed and assembled in the United States. Anduril plans to begin taking orders in 2027.
- Industry · Defense primesHRL sale gain accounts for about half of Boeing's quarterly defense profitBoeing's defense margin reaches 6.2% in the third quarter. Excluding only the HRL sale gain leaves a 3.0% margin, above the year-earlier reported result.
- Industry · Counter-droneHelsing targets fast drones with Contra interceptors, Defense News reportsCompany officials put the cost below $100,000 per shot, Defense News reports. Contra remains in testing; Helsing expects market readiness in the second half of 2027.
- Industry · CapitalArmy plans to expand private-capital program, Federal News Network reportsThe Army plans to expand the private-capital program across installations over three to five years, with another round of industry outreach expected, Federal News Network reports.
- Industry · Space communicationsUkraine signs letter of intent with ICEYE and Nokia for sovereign satcomThe planned systems would give governments ownership and control of satellite communications infrastructure. ICEYE told Breaking Defense the Ukrainian letter implies no system order.
- Industry · Supply chainCarpenter Technology targets operating income growth before planned expansion startupIts full-year and second-quarter outlooks imply higher second-half operating income, while the brownfield expansion is expected to come online in early fiscal 2028.
- IndustryCorvid Technologies plans $95 million Mooresville expansion that adds vehicle launch-system manufacturingThe employee-owned defense contractor plans an additional 400,000-square-foot manufacturing facility at its headquarters and 423 jobs in Iredell County.
- Industry · Defense electronics supply chainTTM Technologies' commercial growth outpaces aerospace and defenseThird-quarter aerospace and defense sales rose 21% year over year, while commercial sales climbed 93% on the same basis. Both segments improved their operating margins.
- Industry · ShipbuildingBreaking Defense: HD Hyundai, Kiewit plan shipyard for Navy auxiliaries and commercial vesselsBreaking Defense reports the proposed venture would build vessels and supply other shipbuilders, with construction planned for 2027 and full operations expected in 2029.
- IndustryBooz Allen's Civil and Commercial revenue falls 15%National Security's reported revenue barely grew in the fiscal second quarter, while Booz Allen kept its full-year revenue guidance midpoint unchanged.
- IndustryPratt & Whitney starts construction on $100 million engine parts facility in PolandThe Rzeszów expansion will add rotating-component manufacturing, supporting a forging investment in Georgia. Pratt & Whitney expects both projects to be fully operational by 2028.
- Industry · ArtilleryArmy seeks more domestic makers of 155mm howitzer cannon tubesThe Army wants manufacturers to describe their capacity, the equipment needed to expand it and a cost estimate for an initial batch of tubes.
- Industry · EuropeRheinmetall opens UK tank and artillery barrel plant with production under wayRheinmetall puts the plant’s peak capacity at up to 245 barrels a year. Barrel production began in June.
- Industry · PrimesRTX's defense backlog grows $45 billion in a quarterDefense reached about 48% of RTX's backlog in the third quarter, up from about 41% in the second. RTX also raised its 2026 adjusted sales outlook.
- Industry · Prime contractorsLockheed's missiles segment sales rise 24% with margin nearly steadyMissiles and Fire Control accounts for most of Lockheed's backlog increase from year-end through the third-quarter close.
- Industry · Naval propulsionFairbanks Morse starts $60 million naval propulsion expansionAustralian AUKUS funding is part of the project, which the company says will effectively double naval propulsion manufacturing capacity at its Pascagoula facility.
- IndustryDefense supplies nearly all of Thales' nine-month reported sales growthDefense delivered about 94% of the group's nine-month reported sales increase, while third-quarter defense orders fell 6% organically from a year earlier.
- IndustryDigital Imaging drives most of Teledyne's quarterly sales growthDigital Imaging supplied about 81% of Teledyne's third-quarter sales increase, with little contribution from incremental acquired sales. The company raised its full-year non-GAAP earnings-per-share outlook.
- Industry · Rocket motorsL3Harris opens GMLRS rocket motor plant designed to double capacityThe Camden, Arkansas, facility is part of a $216 million federal agreement covering several sites. Arkansas’ governor said motor production at the new plant would begin soon.
- Industry · ComponentsMoog plans nearly $12 million expansion of Utah space and defense productionThe supplier projects 89 new jobs over five years under a state agreement that provides a post-performance tax reduction.
- Industry · Command and controlArmy encounters problems integrating Anduril’s Lattice with older communications, Breaking Defense reportsThe 25th Infantry Division’s architecture largely represents what the Army must build on for other I Corps units, officials told Breaking Defense.
- IndustryCACI raises fiscal 2027 revenue outlookFirst-quarter revenue rose 8.2%, including 2.1% organic growth. Two awards accounted for about half of the quarter's recognized award value.
- Industry · Foreign supplierIndra’s $50 million Kansas plant produces FAA radars and radiosThe Olathe factory is producing equipment for FAA programs; Indra also plans to build portable navigation systems there for the Air Force.
- Industry · MunitionsLockheed's extended-range GMLRS completes operational testingSoldier-led tests in September and October fired multiple rockets in succession from an M270A2 launcher. The rocket is designed to reach as much as 150 kilometers.
- Industry · MunitionsLockheed to bring Hadrian automation into its Texas munitions plantLockheed workers will run a 24-machine cell, expected to start operating in early 2027, as the company expands its Grand Prairie manufacturing operation.
- Industry · Drone supply chainGlobal Ordnance, Sparkz sign supply deal targeting 210,000 drone battery packsThe companies plan batteries with 100% U.S. content, including domestic base materials and assembly, with availability expected in early 2027.
- Industry · Industrial baseHanwha Defense USA plans U.S. supply chain for Army’s XM1776 cannon, DefenseScoop reportsDefenseScoop reports that the Army’s nine prototypes are on overseas production lines; a full program of record would require the cannons to be made entirely in the United States.
- Industry · PrimesDefense Systems drives most of Northrop Grumman's backlog growth this yearThrough September, Defense Systems accounts for about 62% of Northrop Grumman's backlog increase since the end of 2025.
- Industry · ShipbuildingFincantieri targets wider shipyard rollout of robotics and physical AIIts BOOST² program provides for almost €100 million in investment, with employees at 13 yards, including in the United States, involved so far.
- Industry · Unmanned maritimeDefenseScoop: Navy deploys unmanned surface vessel with carrier strike groupDefenseScoop reports acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao said the Theodore Roosevelt group deployed Oct. 8 with the vessel. Its model remains unclear.
- Industry · Drone powerEnovix books a 100,000-battery drone order, with cells from South KoreaThe buyer is an unnamed multinational provider of dual-use drone systems, with deliveries scheduled for the first half of 2027. The announcement didn't give the order's value.
- Industry · MunitionsL3Harris looks to 3D-printing firm Divergent to raise Red Wolf and Green Wolf outputRed Wolf is the launched effect the Navy picked in January for a Marine Corps strike munition. The companies' announcement names no parts, volumes, value or government order.
- Industry · ServicesSAIC hires Northrop's former CFO, moving its own CFO to run its civilian businessKen Crews takes over as CFO on Dec. 7. Prabu Natarajan, the outgoing CFO, keeps oversight of Project ORBIT, SAIC's three-year savings program, while leading the Civilian Business Group.
- Industry · MunitionsLockheed lines up a share of Avio's rocket motor capacity for PrSM, ER GMLRSInitial work under the strategic cooperation agreement follows qualification, at an Avio USA plant in Hurt, Va., that is still under construction.
- Industry · Loitering munitionsAeroVironment and NIOA team to distribute and support Switchblade in AustraliaNIOA's Australian Missile Corporation is an enterprise partner in Australia's effort to build a sovereign guided weapons manufacturing industry. NIOA's release names no new order.
- Industry · PrimesGeneral Dynamics names Danny Deep CEO as Novakovic moves to executive chairmanDeep, the company's president, takes over on Jan. 1, 2027, from Novakovic, CEO since 2013.
Assessments
- Assessment · CompaniesHow much of defense companies' growth since 2021 came from M&A?Among companies disclosing acquired revenue, about a third of added revenue came from M&A, mostly three deals. The five largest growers disclose no separate acquired-revenue figure.
- Assessment · CompaniesWhere are defense companies putting their cash as buybacks drop?Into two $2 billion-plus deals, plant and dividends. Buybacks at the 25 companies on our growth leaderboard fell by two-thirds in the first half.