Défense 22 February 2026 - 26 March 2026

BAE Systems Stock Price Falls Again Despite Fresh Pentagon and NATO Spending Push

BAE Systems Stock Price Falls Again Despite Fresh Pentagon and NATO Spending Push

BAE Systems shares fell 1.2% to about 2,070 pence Friday, extending Thursday’s 2.92% drop, despite new defence contracts from Norway and the U.S. Pentagon. MBDA, part-owned by BAE, forecast a 40% output jump in 2026 as missile demand rises. The FTSE 100 slipped 0.05% as Middle East tensions persisted. NATO said European allies and Canada would raise defence spending 20% in 2025.
March 27, 2026
BAE Systems Stock Price Holds Near Record High After New U.S. Air Force Contract

BAE Systems Stock Price Holds Near Record High After New U.S. Air Force Contract

BAE Systems shares rose 0.4% to about 2,331 pence Tuesday after announcing new U.S. Air Force work on the U-2’s electronic warfare system. The stock held near record highs despite a broader pullback in European defence shares. BAE’s backlog hit £83.6 billion last month, with 2026 sales and profit growth forecast. Sector peers saw mixed moves as investors focus on delivery and margins.
March 17, 2026
Electro Optic Systems Stock Jumps 18% After $45 Million Counter-Drone Orders

Electro Optic Systems Stock Jumps 18% After $45 Million Counter-Drone Orders

Electro Optic Systems shares surged 18.34% to A$11.74 after announcing US$45 million in new counter-drone orders, including a US$42 million deal with a Middle East customer. The ASX 200 slipped 0.14%. EOS’s new contracts follow regulatory scrutiny over past disclosures and recent volatility triggered by short seller activity. The company’s backlog reached A$459.1 million at the end of 2025.
March 14, 2026
RTX Corporation’s Pratt & Whitney Wins Leidos AGM-190A Engine Contract as U.S. Pushes Missile Output

RTX Corporation’s Pratt & Whitney Wins Leidos AGM-190A Engine Contract as U.S. Pushes Missile Output

Pratt & Whitney secured a new contract from Leidos Dynetics to supply TJ150 engines for the AGM-190A small cruise missile, with no financial terms disclosed. The deal follows a Pentagon push for higher weapons output after recent operations and comes as Leidos’ missile received its official U.S. Air Force designation. RTX and other defense contractors are increasing factory investment and scaling missile production.
March 10, 2026
Palantir Technologies Faces Fresh Pentagon AI Risk as Anthropic Lawsuit Clouds Maven Work

Palantir Technologies Faces Fresh Pentagon AI Risk as Anthropic Lawsuit Clouds Maven Work

Anthropic sued to overturn a Pentagon blacklist barring its AI from military contracts, raising uncertainty for Palantir’s $1 billion Maven program, which uses Anthropic’s Claude. Palantir shares fell 0.4% early Tuesday. U.S. agencies have begun phasing out Anthropic products, switching to OpenAI and Google. The Pentagon has signed separate AI deals worth up to $200 million each with Anthropic, OpenAI, and Google.
March 10, 2026
Palantir Technologies Faces Fresh Pentagon AI Risk as Anthropic Lawsuit Clouds Maven Overhaul

Palantir Technologies Faces Fresh Pentagon AI Risk as Anthropic Lawsuit Clouds Maven Overhaul

Anthropic sued the Pentagon on Monday, challenging its blacklisting and seeking to block enforcement of the “supply-chain risk” designation. Palantir’s Maven military software, partly built with Anthropic’s Claude model, now faces a forced rewrite, threatening over $1 billion in Defense Department contracts. Palantir shares fell 1.28% to $155.16. Microsoft-backed OpenAI and Lockheed Martin are moving to remove Anthropic tools from military projects.
March 9, 2026
Ondas to buy defense prime Mistral in $175 million stock deal, eyes bigger U.S. contracts

Ondas to buy defense prime Mistral in $175 million stock deal, eyes bigger U.S. contracts

Ondas Inc. agreed to acquire defense contractor Mistral in an all-stock deal valued at $175 million, with closing targeted for the second quarter. The agreement includes escrowed shares and staged releases over three years. Ondas reported preliminary 2025 revenue above prior guidance but expects a net loss of about $53 million. Ondas shares fell about 4% in late-morning trading.
March 9, 2026
Peraso stock cools after 151% spike on Israeli drone-defense win as cash strain remains

Peraso stock cools after 151% spike on Israeli drone-defense win as cash strain remains

Peraso Inc. shares dropped 3.9% to $1.96 in premarket trading Monday after soaring 151.5% Friday on news its mmWave chips were selected by Israeli defense firm InTACT for a drone IFF system. The company, facing cash concerns and exploring strategic options, did not disclose the program’s value or deployment timeline. Peraso ended September with $1.865 million in cash and warned of doubts about its ability to continue operating.
March 9, 2026
Palantir’s Pentagon AI Tool Hit by Anthropic Ban, Forcing Risky Rebuild

Palantir’s Pentagon AI Tool Hit by Anthropic Ban, Forcing Risky Rebuild

Palantir must remove Anthropic’s Claude AI from its Maven Smart Systems after a Trump administration order halted contractor work with Anthropic. The overhaul could take months and affects U.S. defense contracts worth over $1 billion. Lockheed Martin and other contractors face similar pressure as Washington considers labeling Anthropic a supply-chain risk. Palantir, the Pentagon, and Anthropic declined to comment.
March 5, 2026
Nuburu (BURU) signs Maddox Defense JV for mobile 3D printing of drone parts

Nuburu (BURU) signs Maddox Defense JV for mobile 3D printing of drone parts

Nuburu signed a binding joint venture with Maddox Defense to develop a mobile 3D-printing system for drone and defense parts, funding up to $4 million for Phase I. The partners plan to form a 60/40 commercialization company if initial tests succeed. Nuburu shares traded at $0.28 pre-market. The company recently completed a reverse stock split after a trading halt on NYSE American.
March 4, 2026
RTX stock jumps as Middle East war jitters send money into defense names

RTX stock jumps as Middle East war jitters send money into defense names

RTX shares jumped 4.7% to $212.16 in after-hours trading Monday after U.S. and Israeli air strikes killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, raising fears of wider conflict. Defense and energy stocks gained as oil prices climbed and investors anticipated higher military spending. U.S. stocks closed mixed after a volatile session. Traders are watching Middle East headlines and Friday’s U.S. jobs data.
March 3, 2026
Boeing stock stands out as defense ETFs jump after Iran strikes — what’s driving the trade

Boeing stock stands out as defense ETFs jump after Iran strikes — what’s driving the trade

Boeing shares rose 0.3% to $228.22 on Monday as aerospace and defense ETFs outperformed the S&P 500, following U.S. military strikes in Iran. A MarketWatch screen highlighted Boeing’s low price-to-sales ratio and high projected sales growth despite a high earnings multiple. Traders watched support near $230 as the stock pulled back from January highs. Boeing plans to open a fourth 737 MAX line in Everett, Washington this summer.
March 2, 2026
Kratos Defense stock jumps in premarket as Middle East shock lifts defense names

Kratos Defense stock jumps in premarket as Middle East shock lifts defense names

Kratos Defense shares jumped 10.2% to $94.96 in premarket trading Monday, following a $1.17 billion stock offering priced at $84 per share. The move came as defense stocks rallied after Middle East tensions pushed U.S. futures lower and oil higher. Lockheed Martin and RTX gained around 6%, AeroVironment over 10%. Kratos’ offering is expected to close Monday, with underwriters holding a 30-day option for more shares.
March 2, 2026
Northrop Grumman stock jumps in premarket as Iran conflict puts defense names back in focus

Northrop Grumman stock jumps in premarket as Iran conflict puts defense names back in focus

Northrop Grumman shares jumped 5.5% to $764.40 in premarket trading Monday after U.S. B-2 bombers, built by the company, struck Iranian targets over the weekend. U.S. stock index futures fell more than 1% as oil prices surged 8% and traders shifted into defense stocks. Some oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz were suspended following the attacks. Investors await fresh U.S. economic data later Monday.
March 2, 2026
BAE Systems share price jumps nearly 8% as Middle East conflict lifts FTSE defence stock

BAE Systems share price jumps nearly 8% as Middle East conflict lifts FTSE defence stock

BAE Systems shares rose 7.9% to 2,278 pence in early London trading Monday, nearing a 52-week high after a new buyback filing. The move followed heightened Middle East tensions and rising oil prices, with Brent crude up 6.4% to $77.57. BAE reported buying 103,006 shares for cancellation at an average price of 2,126.09 pence. The stock ended Friday at 2,112 pence.
March 2, 2026
RTX stock price heads into Monday after Navy clears Raytheon StormBreaker; dividend shift in play

RTX stock price heads into Monday after Navy clears Raytheon StormBreaker; dividend shift in play

RTX shares closed at $204.92 Friday, trading ex-dividend for a 68-cent payout. Raytheon said the U.S. Navy cleared its StormBreaker weapon for operational use on F/A-18E/F Super Hornets. About 10.3 million RTX shares changed hands as investors watched for updates on Pratt & Whitney engine supplies. Airbus this week blamed Pratt & Whitney for jet output shortfalls.
February 22, 2026