US defense stocks are off to a strong start in 2026, extending last year’s stellar performance as geopolitical tensions ratchet higher and military spending plans rise to match them.

US defense stocks are off to a strong start in 2026, extending last year’s stellar performance as geopolitical tensions ratchet higher and military spending plans rise to match them.

In a head-spinning series of social media posts on Wednesday, President Donald Trump demanded a $500 billion increase in annual defense spending but threatened to cut out some of the companies poised to profit the most from the boost.

President Donald Trump threatened to stop doing business with defense contractor RTX Corp. unless the maker of Patriot missile systems invests more in its production capabilities in a sign of mounting frustrations with the industry.

Lockheed Martin Corp. struck a tentative deal with the Pentagon that’s meant to triple production of its Patriot air-defense missile, part of a broader US push to speed up weapons output and meet global demand for a highly sought-after weapons system.

Canada’s industry minister is planning to meet with executives at Lockheed Martin Corp. soon to try to leverage more jobs out of a multibillion-dollar deal to acquire fighter jets.

Tory Bruno, the chief executive officer of Boeing Co. and Lockheed Martin Corp.’s rocket joint venture United Launch Alliance, has resigned after serving in the position for nearly 12 years.

Lockheed Martin Corp. has opened a new lab focused on hypersonic weapons in Alabama, as the US struggles to catch up with China and Russia in deploying the advanced technology.

Lockheed Martin Corp. has opened a new lab focused on hypersonic weapons in Alabama, as the US struggles to catch up with China and Russia in deploying the advanced technology.