Défense 9 March 2026 - 8 May 2026

L3Harris Lands U.S. Air Force ABMS Role, Putting Digital Battlefield Networks in Focus
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L3Harris Lands U.S. Air Force ABMS Role, Putting Digital Battlefield Networks in Focus

L3Harris Technologies has been chosen by the U.S. Air Force to develop secure digital infrastructure for the Advanced Battle Management System. The company did not disclose the contract value. L3Harris reported first-quarter orders of $7.8 billion and a backlog of $40.7 billion. The Air Force has begun fielding ABMS-related systems, including operational deployments in Africa.
May 11, 2026
Boeing F-47 Puts Japan’s GCAP Sixth-Generation Fighter Plan Under Fresh Pressure
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Boeing F-47 Puts Japan’s GCAP Sixth-Generation Fighter Plan Under Fresh Pressure

U.S. Air Force plans show F-47 research funding rising to over $5 billion in 2027 and nearly $5.3 billion in 2028. Japan’s Ministry of Defense says the Mitsubishi F-2 will retire around 2035, putting pressure on the joint GCAP fighter program with Britain and Italy. Delays in GCAP funding have kept U.S.-built options like the F-35 and F-47 under consideration in Tokyo.
May 8, 2026
Rheinmetall Stock Falls Below €1,300 After JPMorgan Downgrade: Why the Defense Rally Is Cracking
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Rheinmetall Stock Falls Below €1,300 After JPMorgan Downgrade: Why the Defense Rally Is Cracking

Rheinmetall shares fell below 1,300 euros Friday, hitting a one-year low after JPMorgan downgraded the stock and cut its price target. The company reported first-quarter sales of 1.94 billion euros, missing analyst forecasts, and said operating free cash flow dropped by 527 million euros to minus 285 million euros. Order backlog rose to 73 billion euros at the end of March.
May 8, 2026
Pentagon’s $500 Million Scale AI Deal Puts Big Tech’s War Work Back in the Spotlight
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Pentagon’s $500 Million Scale AI Deal Puts Big Tech’s War Work Back in the Spotlight

The Pentagon has raised Scale AI’s contract ceiling to $500 million, expanding the startup’s role in military data sorting and decision support. The agreement, five times larger than the previous $100 million award, covers computer vision and generative AI tools. Scale’s systems will operate on both classified and unclassified networks. The move follows new classified-network deals with Google, OpenAI, and Microsoft.
May 7, 2026
BAE Systems Faces £120 Million Lawsuit as Fresh Arms Sales Put Defence Giant in Spotlight
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BAE Systems Faces £120 Million Lawsuit as Fresh Arms Sales Put Defence Giant in Spotlight

BAE Systems faces a £120 million legal claim in the UK High Court from Kenya’s EnComm Aviation over the withdrawal of support for Advanced Turbo-Prop aircraft used in African aid flights. EnComm alleges the move forced cancellation of humanitarian contracts and left its aircraft fleet nearly worthless. The case comes as BAE is named in new U.S.-backed arms sales to Qatar, Israel, and the UAE. BAE declined to comment on the ongoing litigation.
May 2, 2026
BAE Systems Faces 10-Week Fighter-Jet Funding Test as Buyback Rolls On
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BAE Systems Faces 10-Week Fighter-Jet Funding Test as Buyback Rolls On

BAE Systems has 10 weeks to secure new UK government funding for the GCAP fighter-jet programme or risk breaking up project teams, the Financial Times reported. The first international design contract, awarded to Edgewing, expires June 2026. BAE bought 532,418 shares for cancellation last week as part of an ongoing buyback. Shares rose 1.1% to 2,042 pence by early afternoon in London.
April 27, 2026
BAE Systems Stock Hit as £10 Billion Norway Frigate Deal Reopens Royal Navy Worries
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BAE Systems Stock Hit as £10 Billion Norway Frigate Deal Reopens Royal Navy Worries

BAE Systems shares fell 2.9% to 2,020.5 pence in London on Friday after reports that build slots for three UK Type 26 frigates had been given to Norway. The Times said the first UK vessel is expected in 2028. Defence minister Luke Pollard told parliament the Norway deal covers eight British and five Norwegian ships. BAE’s order backlog stood at £83.6 billion at the end of 2025.
April 25, 2026
BAE Systems’ Norway Frigate Win Hits a UK Navy Bottleneck as Shares Slip
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BAE Systems’ Norway Frigate Win Hits a UK Navy Bottleneck as Shares Slip

A UK defence minister confirmed Royal Navy frigate build slots were ceded to Norway under a £10 billion deal with BAE Systems, with no new UK orders yet to fill the gap. BAE shares fell 1.8% Friday as concerns grew over delays in replacing older Type 23 ships. The first new UK Type 26 frigate is expected in 2028, with production stretching into the mid-2030s. Norway plans to buy at least five Type 26 ships.
April 24, 2026
BAE Systems plc Wins $180 Million Sweden Air-Defence Order as Europe Rushes to Counter Drones
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BAE Systems plc Wins $180 Million Sweden Air-Defence Order as Europe Rushes to Counter Drones

BAE Systems won a $180 million contract from Sweden for its Tridon Mk2 air-defence system, part of a $916 million package to boost protection against drones and aerial threats. Deliveries are set for 2027–2028 under Sweden’s GUTE II anti-drone program. Saab also secured a 2.6 billion crown order for a mobile anti-drone system. The Tridon Mk2 has been tested in Ukraine against Shahed drones.
April 2, 2026
BAE Systems plc buyback filing lands as defence orders pile up from the U.S. to Europe
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BAE Systems plc buyback filing lands as defence orders pile up from the U.S. to Europe

BAE Systems bought back 505,128 shares for cancellation between March 23 and 27, paying between 2,052 and 2,202 pence per share. The move comes as the Pentagon pushes BAE and others to increase munitions output, and U.S. officials urge defence firms to prioritise production over shareholder returns. BAE’s order backlog reached a record £83.6 billion in February. Recent contracts include fighter and naval deals with Britain, Turkey, and Norway.
March 30, 2026
BAE Systems Stock Price Falls Again Despite Fresh Pentagon and NATO Spending Push
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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