Large submarine orders drove defense bookings, while most of the Marine Systems backlog increase was unfunded.
General Dynamics' Marine Systems backlog more than doubled in the third quarter of 2026. It reached $146.9 billion, up from $65.2 billion at the end of the preceding quarter. The segment accounted for about 97% of the company's sequential backlog increase.1
General Dynamics' unfunded Marine Systems backlog rises
Unfunded Marine Systems backlog, USD millions, quarter-end 2026
22,826End of Q2 2026
99,576End of Q3 2026
General Dynamics, third-quarter 2026 results release via PR Newswire. As of Oct. 30, 2026.
TGOs tgos.io
General Dynamics attributed its $93.8 billion in quarterly defense-segment orders to large Marine Systems orders for Virginia- and Columbia-class submarines in its Oct. 30 results release. Defense orders were 8.5 times defense-segment revenue for the quarter.1
Marine Systems revenue rose 21.1% from the year-earlier quarter. Operating margin widened to 7.9% from 7.1%.1
About 94% of Marine Systems' backlog increase was unfunded. Funded backlog increased by $4.93 billion. The results release gives no funding timetable for the submarine orders.1
Salesforce says Rune’s logistics software is already deployed with the Army and Marine Corps.
Salesforce announced Oct. 29 that it signed a definitive agreement to acquire Rune Technologies, which builds logistics and sustainment software for the U.S. military and allied nations.1
Salesforce's announcement says Rune is already deployed
a definitive agreement to acquire Rune Technologies
Rune TechnologiesU.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corpsactual
Salesforce's announcement says Rune is already deployed with the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps
transactionexpected to closeplanned
The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of Salesforce's fiscal year 2027, subject to customary closing conditions
The acquisition would add software designed to support logistics decisions. Salesforce says Rune’s models forecast demand and resupply needs and recommend resource allocation and transportation routing.1
Salesforce says its defense business is growing 80% year over year, with customers across all six U.S. military branches. It also cites a 10-year Army contract with a $5.6 billion ceiling.1
Salesforce expects the Rune transaction to close in the fourth quarter of its fiscal year 2027, subject to customary closing conditions.1
For Salesforce, the deal would add logistics and sustainment software already deployed with the Army and Marine Corps, according to its announcement. The platform is designed to operate through denied, degraded, intermittent or limited connectivity and synchronize when the network returns.1
Applications are due Nov. 30, 2026, for the Navy's cargo drone demonstration within the continental United States.
· Corrected
The Navy is seeking cargo drones for a demonstration that could lead to prototype agreements supporting Marine Corps resupply.1, 3 The Tactical Resupply Unmanned Aircraft System (TRUAS) Increment II notice was posted Oct. 30.1–2
The UAS must complete each required flight without refueling
Tactical Resupply Unmanned Aircraft System Increment II Cargo UAS Industry Demonstration
First required flight
participating UAS must fly with a 100 lb payload a total of 40 nautical miles (nm), detach the payload (either manually or automatically), fly a return flight of 40 nm with no payload, and land at the original launch site.
Second required flight
During the second flight, participating UAS must fly with a minimum 150 lb payload a total of 10 nm, detach the payload (either manually or automatically), fly a return flight 10 nm with no payload, and land at the original launch site.
Source: TRUAS Increment II Demonstration Announcement, Naval Aviation Systems Consortium. As of Oct. 31, 2026.
Successful performance during the demonstration may lead to an Other Transaction (OT) prototype agreement; selection to demonstrate does not guarantee an award. The government may award zero, one or multiple OTs.3
The demonstration is planned within the continental United States in 2027. It will run during the weeks of Jan. 25 through Feb. 5.3
The first required flight carries 100 pounds 40 nautical miles outbound. The second carries at least 150 pounds 10 nautical miles outbound. Each requires detaching the payload and returning empty to the launch site over the same distance, without refueling. The powerplant threshold calls for heavy fuel such as JP-5, JP-8 or diesel, or a hybrid fuel-battery system.3
Applicants must submit a three-to-five-page technical white paper and completed questionnaire. Applications are due Nov. 30, 2026. Selected participants will receive an email with the venue by Dec. 18.3
Applicants must be U.S.-based and U.S.-owned, using only U.S. manufacturing and repair facilities, or otherwise demonstrate strict compliance with 10 U.S.C. § 4881 and the American Security Drone Act. Naval Aviation Systems Consortium membership is unnecessary to apply or demonstrate, but selectees must join to be eligible for an OT award.3
A successfully completed prototype project may lead to a production agreement or contract without further competition. The government may also share flight performance data, upon request, with the Army-managed Drones.Mil Marketplace team. The notice describes that marketplace as a streamlined, pre-vetted procurement pathway for other Department of War and allied partners.3
Correction, November 4, 2026: An earlier version of this brief said the demonstration would be held in Huntsville, Alabama. A Nov. 2 amendment to the Navy's notice changed the location to within the continental United States, and we updated the link to the announcement.
Sources (3)
SAM.gov special notice NAWCAD-SN-26-TRUASII, Tactical Resupply Unmanned Aircraft System Increment II Cargo UAS Industry Demonstration (posted Oct. 30, 2026) sam.gov