Aerospace & Defense · Week of Nov 2, 2026
NASA lunar awards and drone deals lead the aerospace and defense week
NASA lunar contract awards, Axon's $1.2 billion Skydio deal and quarterly results from MDA Space and Eve led a mixed week in aerospace and defense.
The largest items this week came from space and drones. NASA named eight companies, including Blue Origin, Firefly Aerospace, Intuitive Machines, Lockheed Martin Space, Northrop Grumman Space Systems and SpaceX, to its 10-year CLPS 2 lunar delivery contract, which has a combined maximum value of $10 billion. Axon said it will invest approximately $1.2 billion in Skydio and become its exclusive public safety distributor in the U.S. and Canada. MDA Space raised its 2026 guidance after third-quarter revenue rose 21.5%.
Other releases point to continued capital and attention flowing into the sector. Eve Holding reported a wider quarterly loss as it funds eVTOL development. Oppenheimer launched defense research coverage focused on space, autonomous systems and robotics. Wheels Up placed its first direct order for new Embraer jets, DEFSEC received an ATF classification that it says clears a path to U.S. civilian sales, and Operation Healing Forces opened a matching gift campaign with Raymond James.
MDA Space
MDA SPACE REPORTS THIRD QUARTER 2026 RESULTS
MDA Space reported third-quarter 2026 revenues of $498.1 million, up 21.5% year-over-year, and Adjusted EBITDA of $96.0 million, and raised 2026 revenue guidance to $1.90 - $1.95 billion. The company says growth came mainly from the Telesat Lightspeed program and Geointelligence work, while backlog fell $443.7 million from a year earlier to $3,949.1 million.
Axon
Axon Invests $1.2 Billion in Skydio to Build the Future of Drone as First Responder
Axon said it will invest approximately $1.2 billion in cash and stock in Skydio, adding about 20% to its fully diluted ownership at a $5.2 billion pre-money valuation, and will become Skydio's exclusive public safety distributor in the U.S. and Canada. Public safety customers in those countries will buy Skydio products through Axon, and the transactions are expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026 and first quarter of 2027.
DEFSEC Technologies Inc
DEFSEC Receives Favorable ATF Classification for Arwen Micro Non-Lethal Irritant Launcher, Clearing Path to U.S. Civilian Market
DEFSEC Technologies said the ATF determined its ARWEN Micro (Pro-1) non-lethal irritant launcher is not a "Destructive Device" under U.S. federal firearms law; it remains classified as an "Any Other Weapon" (AOW). The company says it expects to begin selling the Pro-1 to U.S. civilian buyers as early as Q2 of calendar 2027 and is planning U.S. production.
Eve Holding, Inc.
Eve Holding, Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2026 Results
Eve Holding reported a third-quarter 2026 net loss of $58.1 million, up from $46.9 million a year earlier, mainly on higher R&D expenses and lower net financial results. The pre-operational eVTOL developer says it now expects full-year cash consumption at the low end of its $225/275 million guidance, with total liquidity of $470.4 million.
Wheels Up
Wheels Up to Further Expand Premium Fleet with Order of Six Factory-New Embraer Phenom 300E Jets
Wheels Up signed a definitive agreement with Embraer for six factory-new Phenom 300E jets, scheduled for delivery in the second half of 2027; price and financing terms were not disclosed. The company says it is its first direct purchase of new aircraft from Embraer and is intended to support growth in its Signature membership program.
Operation Healing Forces
Operation Healing Forces Celebrates 15 Years of Impact with $15,000 Matching Gift Campaign Supported by Raymond James
Operation Healing Forces announced that Raymond James will match donations dollar for dollar, up to $15,000, throughout November 2026 to mark the nonprofit's 15th anniversary and Veterans Day. OHF says the campaign could raise $30,000 or more for programs serving Special Operations Forces service members, veterans and their families.
Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.
Oppenheimer Launches Defense Coverage with Veteran Analyst Patrick McCarthy
Oppenheimer & Co. hired Patrick McCarthy, previously a Managing Director at BTIG, as Managing Director to launch defense research coverage focused on defense technology and national security, including space, autonomous systems and robotics. The firm says the hire follows its earlier addition of William (Bill) Farmer to head Aerospace & Defense Technology Investment Banking.
Jessica Taveau
NASA Awards Moon Base Transportation, Technology, Science Projects
NASA selected eight companies for the CLPS 2 lunar delivery contract, a 10-year award with a combined maximum value of $10 billion, raised the CLPS 1.0 contract from $2.6 billion to $4.2 billion, and awarded six VADR task orders worth approximately $1.3 billion combined. The agency also said JPL will build the nuclear-powered PROMISE rover, targeted for launch in late 2028, which Blue Origin will deliver to the lunar South Pole under a $94 million base contract with a $140 million option.
This roundup is written with AI assistance from the press releases listed above, using only what they state. The releases are the companies' own announcements, not InfoWeb PR reporting.