Aerospace & Defense

Pasadena, Calif. – October 07, 2026 -- Virtualitics has become the first AI-native readiness platform to secure Impact Level 6 (IL6) Authority to Operate, clearing it to process classified workloads on Secret-level Department of War networks.

Virtualitics secured IL6 authorization in nine months, beating the typical 12-to-18-month timeline

The company achieved the certification alongside Impact Level 5 (IL5) authorization, which covers Controlled Unclassified Information and National Security Systems workloads at the unclassified level. Together the two authorizations let Department of War leaders deploy Virtualitics' AI Readiness Applications across both unclassified and Secret-level environments while meeting each tier's security requirements.

Bozeman, Mont. – October 07, 2026 -- Reveal Technology Inc. has secured a $9.5 million purchase order from the U.S. Army, expanding deployment of its Farsight 3D mapping platform to additional infantry brigades under an existing GSA IDIQ contract.

Second delivery order builds on 82nd Airborne Division fielding

The new order marks the second delivery under the contract, following successful deployment with the 82nd Airborne Division and ongoing integration with the Army's Nett Warrior soldier-worn battle command system. The funds will support procurement, distribution, training, and sustainment of Farsight across infantry units seeking improved situational awareness in network-constrained environments.

Austin, Texas – October 07, 2026 -- Critical Materials Group (CMG) has acquired Rocky Mountain Scientific Laboratory (RMSL), merging a national security energetics research lab with a domestic munitions manufacturing platform under one corporate entity. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Swanson moves from RMSL CEO to CMG Chief Science Officer

Travis Swanson, CEO and Co-Founder of RMSL, will now serve as Chief Science Officer at CMG. Swanson had co-founded CMG while simultaneously leading RMSL, a lab focused on rapid energetics solutions for military and law enforcement agencies, before the two organizations formally combined.

Oklahoma City – October 06, 2026 -- Oklahoma's aerospace and defense industry generated $52.5 billion in annual economic activity and supported more than 250,000 jobs, according to a new study released by the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics (ODAA).

Study confirms aerospace as Oklahoma's second-largest industry despite pandemic-era aviation downturn

The statewide economic impact study found the sector weathered the COVID-19 disruption to commercial aviation and remains one of the state's fastest-growing industries. Governor Kevin Stitt, members of Oklahoma's congressional delegation, military officials and industry representatives unveiled the findings at the Oklahoma History Center.

"This $52.5 billion impact shows we have the workforce, military assets, and pro-business environment to compete for more jobs, more investment, and more opportunity for Oklahoma families," Stitt said.

Oklahoma City – October 06, 2026 -- NASA astronaut and U.S. Navy Capt. Victor J. Glover Jr., who piloted the Artemis II mission around the moon, will deliver the keynote address at the ninth annual Oklahoma Aerospace Forum on Thursday, Oct. 8, at the Omni Oklahoma City Hotel.

Glover's Artemis II flight marked humanity's return to lunar vicinity after 50 years

Glover piloted the April 2026 Artemis II mission, during which the crew traveled 252,756 miles from Earth at its farthest point. He previously piloted the Crew-1 Dragon mission to the International Space Station, accruing 178 days in space across two missions. A naval test pilot, Glover has logged more than 4,000 flight hours, over 400 carrier-arrested landings and 24 combat missions.

Lincoln, Nebraska – October 06, 2026 -- Pre-owned jet inventory climbed 5.07% month-over-month in September while remaining 23.58% below year-ago levels, according to the latest Sandhills Global Equipment Value Index (EVI) aviation report.

Super mid jets drive inventory gains while large jets see steep annual decline

The used super mid jet segment posted the largest monthly inventory increase at 10%, while the large jet category registered the steepest year-over-year drop at 39.8%. Used jet asking prices rose 2.02% month-over-month and 0.71% year-over-year, with super mid jets again leading both metrics -- up 5.29% monthly and 4.2% annually.

Troy, Michigan – October 06, 2026 -- DCA Manufacturing has achieved AS9100D certification at its Troy, Michigan and Cumberland, Wisconsin facilities, the aerospace industry's internationally recognized quality management standard for aviation, space and defense suppliers.

Certification covers PCBA production and complex system integration at both plants

The AS9100D certification applies to the manufacturing, servicing and testing of electronic Printed Circuit Board Assemblies (PCBAs) and complex system integrations across DCA's two US manufacturing sites. The standard incorporates aerospace-specific requirements covering operational risk, configuration management, product safety, supplier quality, traceability and counterfeit parts prevention.

Salt Lake City – October 06, 2026 -- XRDNA Inc. has completed Phase I of Project OPAL, moving its Mission Fabric persistent identity platform out of lab demonstrations and into a live field environment with participating mission partners.

XRDNA tests persistent identity across people, assets and sensors in live field conditions

The internally funded initiative, Operational Prototyping for Advanced Logistics, validated XRDNA's ability to maintain a single digital representation of an active mission spanning personnel, field locations, mobile assets, sensor nodes, drones and simulated downrange payloads. The company used its eVa (Elastic Vector Addressing) identity system to connect these elements through a live mission manifest rather than treating each as an isolated data source.

Washington – October 06, 2026 -- Strider Technologies has secured a contract worth up to $85 million from the Department of the Air Force, formalizing a five-year collaboration with the service's Office of Commercial and Economic Analysis (OCEA) to screen for nation-state risk in defense innovation programs.

Contract formalizes existing screening work on federal small-business funding programs

The agreement builds on Strider's prior work with OCEA and covers continued screening of applicants to the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. These programs direct federal R&D funding to small U.S. businesses developing technologies with both defense and commercial applications, making them a target for adversarial nation-states seeking sensitive technology, intellectual property, and talent through undisclosed foreign ties, ownership, or financing.

Tulsa, Okla. – October 06, 2026 -- Cherokee Federal, the federal contracting division of Cherokee Nation Businesses, has appointed veteran federal contracting executive Terri Malone as Chief Growth Officer, effective Oct. 12.

Malone joins a top 100 federal contractor with more than 5,000 employees and 60-plus agency clients

Malone will lead Cherokee Federal's enterprise growth strategy, overseeing market intelligence, business development, capture, proposals and strategic market expansion. She will coordinate with business and functional leaders to align growth priorities with customer needs and company capabilities.