Aerospace & Defense

Tucson – – October 12, 2026 -- Raytheon, an RTX (NYSE: RTX) business, completed three developmental tests of its Coyote Block 2C+RM interceptor upgrades, taking the program from concept to testing in 15 months. The company funded the test events itself.

Raytheon funds upgrades for an urgent joint U.S. military counter-drone mission

The tests support a joint U.S. military mission to counter evolving drone threats. The Block 2C+RM upgrade builds on current Coyote variants, which have intercepted hundreds of drones in combat.

Upgrade adds rocket motor, new seeker and new warhead

Block 2C+RM integrates a rocket motor for faster launch and flight. It also adds a new seeker and warhead designed to defeat all classes of current and emerging drone threats.

Washington – October 12, 2026 -- BAE Systems (LON: BA) unveiled two layered counter-drone systems at AUSA 2026 for the U.S. Army: the Multi-Domain Artillery Cannon System (MDACS) and the High Power Microwave (HPM). The company says HPM is built from more than 99% commercial off-the-shelf components.

Both products target counter-unmanned aircraft (C-UAS) and counter-missile missions. They are designed to protect critical installations and maneuver forces against saturation drone attacks.

BAE Systems pairs kinetic and directed-energy layers against drone swarms

BAE Systems states that massed drone swarms have outpaced traditional, magazine-limited kinetic systems. MDACS supplies the kinetic layer, and HPM supplies the directed-energy layer. Together they combine high-velocity precision with what the company calls the near-limitless capacity of directed energy, for sustained, cost-efficient defense.

Reston – October 12, 2026 -- General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) has elected Danny Deep, 56, to its board of directors. Deep has served as the company's president since December 2025.

Deep brings more than 20 years of General Dynamics operating experience to the board

Before becoming president, Deep held several senior operating roles at the aerospace and defense contractor. He served as executive vice president for Global Operations, executive vice president for Combat Systems, and president of General Dynamics Land Systems.

His career runs through the company's land combat business, which sits alongside business aviation, ship construction and repair, weapon systems and munitions, and technology products and services.

Falls Church – October 12, 2026 -- General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT) has won the $1.3 billion Enterprise Network Operations and Cybersecurity Support (ENOCS) contract to run enterprise IT and cybersecurity services for the Army National Guard and other federal partners.

GSA awards contract with one base year and six option years

The General Services Administration (GSA) Assisted Acquisition Services issued the award. It has a one-year base period followed by six one-year option periods. GDIT is a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE:GD).

GDIT to operate and defend classified and unclassified Guard networks

Under the contract, GDIT will help the Guard and its federal partners upgrade and build enterprise IT environments. The scope covers:

Alpharetta – October 12, 2026 -- Arclin has launched Kevlar® EXOTM XP E480, a soft armor material that it says enables body armor up to 25% lighter while meeting NIJ Level IIIA/HG2 protection requirements.

Arclin claims up to 40% greater comfort versus its XP K520 material

The new product combines Kevlar® XP technology, which Arclin describes as proven in ballistic and trauma-reduction performance, with Kevlar® EXOTM fiber. Joe Hovanec, Arclin's Vice President of Kevlar® EXOTM, said manufacturers can achieve armor "up to 25% lighter" with up to 40% greater comfort, helping reduce wearer fatigue. Arclin benchmarks the comfort figure against XP K520 at NIJ Level IIIA/HG2.

Portsmouth, R.I. – October 12, 2026 -- Raytheon, an RTX business, has won a contract from the Office of Naval Research (ONR) to develop software-driven target-detection upgrades for naval radar systems, with work running through 2031.

Raytheon targets longer range, higher sensitivity and better efficiency

Raytheon's Advanced Technology team will develop and evaluate advanced signal and data-processing algorithms. It will also integrate targeted software upgrades intended to extend detection range, increase sensitivity and improve radar-system efficiency.

The enhancements will undergo laboratory and field testing to validate performance and operational use. Raytheon is preparing them for transition into its SPY-6 family of radars and other future naval radars.

Arlington – October 12, 2026 -- The Department of War has awarded Air a $200 million, five-year contract supporting the U.S. Army's Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) ecosystem.

Contract extends Air's existing Army partnership through NGC2 development and testing

The award continues a longstanding relationship between Air and the U.S. Army. The company's Enterprise Readiness platform has supplied software for NGC2 from its inception through ongoing development and field testing. According to the company, the software removes operational bottlenecks, speeds mission planning, and shortens sensor-to-shooter-to-sustainer timelines.

Washington – October 12, 2026 -- Leidos (NYSE: LDOS) has selected X-Bow Systems to develop and produce the booster motors for the U.S. Army's Low-Cost Containerized Munition (LCCM), with full-rate production at scale planned for 2027. X-Bow announced the award at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting and Exposition.

X-Bow enters design, qualification and static-fire phase ahead of 2027 production

Under the agreement, X-Bow will move through design, qualification testing and static fires before ramping to full-rate output. Leidos will produce the munitions in large quantities.

LCCM advances the Department of War's "Arsenal of Freedom" initiative

The award places X-Bow in one of the fastest-growing segments of U.S. defense spending: rebuilding a domestic solid rocket motor industrial base long concentrated among a handful of large suppliers, and fielding precision munitions in volume.

Farnborough – October 12, 2026 -- AerCap Holdings N.V. (NYSE: AER) placed a direct order for 15 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, taking its fleet of 787 aircraft to approximately 140. The lessor announced the order at the 2026 Farnborough International Air Show.

AerCap schedules deliveries of the 15 aircraft through 2033

The aircraft will be delivered through 2033, giving the lessor a long-dated widebody pipeline. AerCap selected GE Aerospace's GEnx-1B engines to power all 15 jets.

Order includes substitution rights to the larger 787-10

The agreement lets AerCap switch from the 787-9 to the larger 787-10 variant. The company said the option gives it flexibility as it works to meet the changing needs of its customers.

Houston – October 11, 2026 -- Bristow Group (NYSE: VTOL) has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Berry Aviation from Acorn Capital Management for $105 million in cash, subject to customary purchase price adjustments, and plans to sell its Norway Offshore Energy Services business. The two moves would cut Bristow's offshore energy share of revenue to about 54% on a 2025 pro forma basis, from an actual 66%.