Defense Stocks: Military, Aerospace and Contractor Companies

Northrop Grumman is a prime aerospace and defense contractor building the B-21 Raider stealth bomber and the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile, two of the largest U.S. strategic modernization programs. It also produces solid rocket motors, space and missile-defense systems, autonomous aircraft, and electronic warfare equipment for U.S. and allied forces.

L3Harris Technologies is a defense prime focused on tactical communications, electronic warfare, avionics, night vision, and space and missile-tracking sensors. It also produces solid rocket motors and propulsion for missile and missile-defense programs. The company supports air, land, sea, space, and cyber missions and ranks among the largest U.S. defense contractors.

Elbit Systems is an Israeli defense company that supplies electro-optical and surveillance systems, unmanned aircraft, electronic warfare suites, rocket artillery, munitions, and helmet-mounted displays to many militaries. European modernization and rearmament programs have become a large source of new orders, and its U.S. subsidiary serves American defense programs. Defense is essentially the whole business.

Huntington Ingalls Industries is the largest U.S. military shipbuilder and the sole builder of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, including Ford-class ships. It also builds Virginia-class and Columbia-class submarines alongside General Dynamics, and its mission-technologies segment provides unmanned systems, cyber, and intelligence services to the Navy and other agencies.

Leonardo DRS supplies defense electronics, systems, and military support services to U.S. forces and allies. It builds advanced sensing, network computing, force-protection, and electric power and propulsion technologies, including ship propulsion for the U.S. Navy. The Department of Defense is its dominant customer, which makes it one of the few listed pure-play defense electronics companies.

AeroVironment designs unmanned aircraft, loitering munitions, counter-drone systems, and directed-energy weapons for military customers. Its Switchblade loitering munitions and small reconnaissance drones serve U.S. and allied ground forces, and the BlueHalo acquisition added laser counter-drone systems, space technology, and electronic warfare. Defense and government customers account for essentially all of its business.

Palantir Technologies develops data-integration and artificial-intelligence software used by defense and intelligence agencies for mission planning, targeting, and decision support. Its Gotham and AIP platforms support U.S. and allied military operations, alongside a growing commercial business. Government work remains a core part of the company.

The defense, space, and security segment of Boeing produces military aircraft including the F-15EX, KC-46 tanker, and P-8 Poseidon, plus Apache and Chinook rotorcraft, weapons, satellites, and the MQ-25 unmanned tanker. Boeing was selected to build the U.S. Air Force F-47 next-generation fighter. Defense is a substantial part of a company also focused on commercial jets.

Rocket Lab provides launch services and spacecraft for defense, intelligence, and commercial customers. Its Electron rocket deploys military and reconnaissance satellites, its suborbital HASTE variant flies hypersonic test payloads for the Department of Defense, and its larger Neutron rocket is in development. The space systems unit builds spacecraft and components for national-security programs.

Curtiss-Wright supplies engineered products for aerospace, defense, and naval programs, including flight-control actuation, data-acquisition systems, embedded computing, and naval reactor and propulsion components. Its content appears on aircraft carriers, submarines, combat aircraft, and ground vehicles, and defense represents a large share of company revenue.

Leidos is a science and technology services company serving defense, intelligence, civil, and health markets. It provides IT modernization, systems integration, cybersecurity, data analytics, and mission support to the Department of Defense and intelligence agencies, and develops autonomous maritime and sensor systems for military customers.

BWX Technologies is the sole manufacturer of nuclear reactors and fuel for U.S. Navy submarines and aircraft carriers, making it essential to naval propulsion. It also produces nuclear components, manages government nuclear operations, and supplies missile and space nuclear-related systems for national-security programs.

CACI International provides technology and expertise for U.S. national-security missions, including signals intelligence, electronic warfare, cyber operations, secure communications, and enterprise IT. The company supports defense and intelligence-community programs, with a large majority of its revenue coming from U.S. government customers.

Kratos Defense develops unmanned aircraft, target drones, tactical jet drones, rocket and hypersonic propulsion, satellite communications, and missile-defense systems. It focuses on affordable systems for contested environments and supplies the U.S. military with training targets and collaborative combat aircraft, including the Valkyrie unmanned platform.

Booz Allen Hamilton provides technology, analytics, cyber, and consulting services concentrated in the U.S. defense, intelligence, and civil sectors. The company supports Department of Defense and intelligence agency missions in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, digital modernization, and systems engineering, with government work making up the large majority of revenue.

SAIC is a pure-play government technology services contractor providing systems engineering, IT modernization, artificial intelligence, training, and simulation to U.S. military branches and intelligence agencies. The company supports defense digital infrastructure, mission operations, and modernization programs across the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Space Force.

Amentum provides engineering, logistics, and mission-support services to the U.S. military, intelligence agencies, and allied governments. Its work spans base and range operations, contested logistics, threat reduction, systems engineering, and technology integration. Government contracts account for essentially all revenue, and the company holds prime contracts with defense agencies including the Defense Threat Reduction Agency.

Karman Holdings, operating as Karman Space & Defense, designs and produces mission-critical systems for missiles, missile defense, hypersonics, launch vehicles, and unmanned aircraft. Its products include payload protection systems, aerodynamic interstage structures, and solid rocket propulsion subsystems for U.S. strategic and tactical defense programs.

Ondas builds autonomous drones and counter-drone systems for defense and government customers. Its drone unit supplies surveillance and strike platforms to military and border-security buyers, and its counter-drone products detect and defeat hostile unmanned aircraft around airports and bases. Acquisitions added counter-drone technology and a U.S. defense engineering business that works directly with the Department of Defense.

V2X provides mission support, logistics, engineering, and technology integration services to the U.S. military and allied governments across many countries. Its work spans base operations, aerospace and aircraft maintenance, training, contested logistics, and cyber and special systems integration for defense and intelligence customers.

Red Cat Holdings develops small unmanned aircraft systems for military and government users. Its Black Widow reconnaissance drone was selected for a U.S. Army short-range reconnaissance program, and the company also supplies first-person-view attack drones and takes repeat orders from the U.S. Air Force. Defense and government customers account for the large majority of sales.

Unusual Machines makes drone components, including motors and flight controllers, at U.S. factories for buyers that require domestically produced parts. Its customers include American military drone manufacturers that must meet federal sourcing rules for defense procurement. The company also sells components through commercial channels while expanding its domestic manufacturing base.

BlackSky operates a constellation of small imaging satellites and sells high-revisit geospatial intelligence to defense and intelligence customers. U.S. government agencies and allied defense ministries are its main buyers, and it holds multi-year awards including a sole-source U.S. government contract and development work with the National Reconnaissance Office. Analytics products turn the imagery into monitoring and alerting services.

Kopin makes microdisplays and optical systems used in military helmet displays, thermal weapon sights, targeting systems, and armored vehicle viewers. It produces thermal imaging assemblies for major defense primes under multi-year production contracts and manufactures organic light-emitting diode displays for military equipment in the United States. Defense programs supply the large majority of its revenue.

AIRO Group Holdings builds unmanned aircraft, avionics, and military training systems. It manufactures RQ-35 reconnaissance drones at a U.S. facility, supplies allied forces in Europe, and holds a U.S. Navy award for a coastal defense training upgrade. The company listed on the Nasdaq in 2025, and its drone platforms carry U.S. defense procurement eligibility.

GE Aerospace designs and produces jet engines and propulsion systems for commercial and military aircraft. Its military engines power platforms such as the F-15, F-16, and B-1, and it supplies the T700 turboshaft used on Army helicopters and the T408 that powers the CH-53K. The company is also developing engines for collaborative combat aircraft.

Howmet Aerospace manufactures jet-engine components, titanium structural parts, and fastening systems for military and commercial aircraft. Its engineered castings and forgings are used on fighter, transport, and rotorcraft engines and airframes, supplying major defense aerospace programs as a key materials and components provider.

TransDigm Group designs and produces highly engineered aircraft components, including flight controls, pumps, valves, ignition systems, and actuators, many sole-sourced to defense programs. With strong aftermarket positions, it supports U.S. and allied military fleet maintenance, and defense is a significant portion of total revenue.

Honeywell Aerospace became an independent public company after separating from Honeywell in 2026. It supplies engines, avionics, auxiliary power units, navigation systems, and connectivity for military and commercial aircraft, including turbine engines for helicopters and guidance products used on defense platforms. Defense and space is one of its named business lines alongside commercial aviation.

HEICO Corporation manufactures replacement parts, electronics, and subsystems for aerospace and defense markets through its Flight Support and Electronic Technologies groups. Its products support military aircraft fleets and defense electronics programs, and the company supplies parts used across numerous deployed military platforms and missile systems.

Teledyne Technologies makes electronic and instrumentation systems including imaging sensors, surveillance and reconnaissance payloads, unmanned underwater and marine systems, and electronic components used on defense platforms. Its sensing and imaging products serve military aircraft, naval, space, and ground applications for U.S. and allied forces.

Woodward designs control systems and components for aerospace and defense, including fuel systems, actuation, and combustion controls for military aircraft, missiles, and weapons. Its technologies support military turbine engines and precision-guided munitions, and defense aerospace is a meaningful part of its aerospace segment.

The defense portfolio of Textron includes Bell military rotorcraft such as the V-22 Osprey and the tiltrotor chosen for the Army future long-range assault aircraft program, now designated the MV-75. It also supplies unmanned systems, weapons, and armored vehicles through Textron Systems. Defense is a meaningful part of a company that also makes civil aircraft.

Embraer builds the C-390 Millennium military transport and tanker and the A-29 Super Tucano light attack and training aircraft, sold to air forces across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Its defense and security unit also supplies radar, border surveillance, and command and control systems. Commercial and executive jets make up the larger share of company revenue.

Moog designs precision motion-control components and systems for military aircraft, missiles, and space vehicles, including flight-control actuation and turret controls for combat vehicles. Its actuation and controls enable precision-guided weapons and military satellite positioning, and defense is a meaningful share of company revenue.

Oshkosh makes specialty vehicles and equipment. Through Oshkosh Defense it supplies heavy and medium tactical trucks, recovery vehicles, and vehicle sustainment to the United States and allied forces. Its broader business spans access equipment, fire apparatus, and vocational trucks, so defense is one part of a diversified industrial company.

Planet Labs operates earth-imaging satellite constellations and sells the imagery and analytics to governments and businesses. Defense and intelligence customers are a major part of the business, including the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and allied European defense ministries, and the company was selected as a prime contractor on a Department of Defense geospatial contract vehicle.

Parsons provides defense, intelligence, and critical-infrastructure solutions, including missile defense, cyber, intelligence analysis, space, and electronic warfare. It also delivers engineering and technical services for government facilities and protected infrastructure, with defense and intelligence forming a substantial part of its federal business.

Mercury Systems provides secure processing, sensor, and electronics subsystems for aerospace and defense. It adapts commercial computing technology for defense use in radar, electronic warfare, and signal and image processing, and supplies trusted microelectronics embedded in numerous U.S. defense platforms and missile programs.

Firefly Aerospace builds launch vehicles, orbital transfer vehicles, and lunar landers, and it listed on the Nasdaq in 2025. Its SciTec business supplies missile-warning, sensor-processing, and battle-management software to the U.S. Space Force and Air Force. National security programs and NASA missions together account for most of its contracted work.

Redwire is a space and defense technology company providing spacecraft components, in-space manufacturing, power systems, sensors, and digital engineering. Its acquisition of Edge Autonomy added unmanned aerial systems used by military customers, and that business now operates inside Redwire rather than as a separate brand. Government and national-security customers drive most of its revenue.

Voyager Technologies is a defense technology and space company. Its defense and national security segment supplies communications, guidance, navigation and control, and precision control components used in missile and missile-defense programs. The company also builds space infrastructure and lunar systems, and U.S. government work makes up most of its revenue.

BigBear.ai provides artificial intelligence and analytics software for defense, intelligence, and government customers. Its platforms support decision intelligence, predictive analytics, and computer vision used in mission planning, force protection, and border security. The acquisition of Ask Sage added a generative artificial intelligence platform accredited for use on government and defense networks.

Cadre Holdings makes body armor, blast protection, explosive ordnance disposal equipment, and duty gear for military, law enforcement, and first responder customers. Its defense work includes blast-attenuating crew seats for armored vehicles and protective equipment sold to armed forces. Law enforcement remains a large end market alongside the military and federal agencies.

National Presto Industries manufactures 40mm ammunition, fuzes, and related energetic products for the U.S. Army through its defense segment, which is the largest part of the company. It has supplied Army ammunition programs for decades and works under multi-year production contracts. A housewares and small appliance line accounts for the rest of company sales.

Axon Enterprise makes TASER conducted-energy devices, body-worn cameras, and digital evidence software used primarily by law enforcement. Its Dedrone business supplies airspace security systems that detect and defeat hostile drones around military bases, airports, and allied airspace. That counter-drone line gives the company a real role in base defense alongside its core public-safety market.

ATI Inc. produces specialty metals and materials, including titanium, nickel-based superalloys, and forgings used in military jet engines and airframes. Its materials are designed into defense aerospace programs and other demanding applications requiring high-strength, high-temperature alloys.

Carpenter Technology manufactures specialty alloys and engineered materials, including high-performance steels and titanium and nickel alloys for aerospace and defense. Its materials are used in military engine components, fasteners, and structural parts across defense aerospace platforms.

Viasat provides secure satellite communications and networking for U.S. and allied militaries, including tactical data links, encrypted communications, and resilient connectivity. Its government-systems business supplies battlefield communications and cybersecurity products, forming a significant part of revenue within a broader satellite and telecommunications company.

KBR provides engineering, technology, and mission-support services to government and commercial customers. Its Government Solutions business supports the U.S. and allied militaries with logistics, base operations, systems engineering, and specialized defense and intelligence technical services.

OSI Systems provides security screening, inspection, and optoelectronic systems through its Security and Optoelectronics divisions. Its cargo, baggage, and personnel screening products serve military bases, border security, and government installations, and its optoelectronic components are used in defense and aerospace electronic systems.

Ducommun provides engineering and manufacturing for aerospace and defense, producing structural assemblies and electronic systems for military aircraft, missiles, and space programs. As a tier-two supplier to defense primes, it builds airframe structures, electronic warfare subsystems, and components for strategic and tactical platforms.