# RTX's defense backlog grows $45 billion in a quarter Defense 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. Published 2026-10-22 by TGOs. Canonical: https://tgos.io/news/2026/10/22/rtxs-defense-backlog-grows-45-billion-in-a-quarter/ RTX's defense backlog rose $45 billion to $164 billion in the third quarter of 2026.[1][2] Commercial backlog increased $6 billion.[1] The increase shifted the company's backlog mix toward defense, which accounted for about 48% of the total, compared with about 41% in the second quarter.[1][2] RTX received Tomahawk and AMRAAM multi-year undefinitized production contracts during the quarter.[1] Its results release did not disclose their values, leaving their contribution to the defense backlog increase unspecified.[1] Chief executive Chris Calio cited more than $81 billion in new awards across commercial and defense combined.[1] RTX raised its full-year adjusted sales outlook to $97.0 billion to $97.5 billion, following an increase in July.[1][2] It also raised its 2026 organic sales growth forecast to 10% to 11%.[1] ## Why it matters The company-wide defense backlog expansion accompanied slower reported sales growth at Raytheon: the segment's third-quarter sales grew 14% year over year on both a reported and organic basis.[1][2] Reported year-over-year growth was 18% in the second quarter.[2] RTX attributed the third-quarter sales increase to higher volume on naval programs and land and air defense systems, including Patriot, Standard Missile and Tomahawk.[1] ## Sources 1. RTX Reports Q3 2026 Results, Oct. 20, 2026 2. RTX Reports Q2 2026 Results, July 23, 2026