A Multibillion-Dollar Air Force Test Overhaul Puts Flight Data in Focus
Key Highlights
- ➤Rocket Lab (RKLB) Q3 revenue $268M, up 73% year-over-year
- ➤Rocket Lab signed approximately $1B in new launch contracts
- ➤Mercury Systems (MRCY) bookings rose 48% to record $370M
- ➤Voyager (VOYG) raised 2026 revenue guidance to $285M-$305M
- ➤Curtiss-Wright (CW) raised 2026 outlook to 8%-10% sales growth and $15.40-$15.60 EPS
Expert Statements
John Quinn, Co-founder and CEO of Exos Aerospace
“Adding Starfighters gives our team a high-speed airborne test capability that complements AEDC’s world-class ground-test facilities.”
John Quinn, Co-founder and CEO of Exos Aerospace
“Their operational F-104 fleet would let us offer the Air Force real-atmosphere flight data alongside the agency’s modernized infrastructure.”
Tim Franta, CEO of Starfighters Space
“Starfighters brings a capability that is extremely difficult to replicate: an operational commercial F-104 fleet capable of sustained Mach 2+ flight in the real atmosphere.”
Tim Franta, CEO of Starfighters Space
“Exos selected Starfighters to bring high-speed airborne flight testing to its team.”
Tim Franta, CEO of Starfighters Space
“Successful onboarding would create another pathway for us to pursue government missions where our aircraft, infrastructure and flight-test experience can provide meaningful value.”
Sir Peter Beck, Founder and CEO of Rocket Lab
“Our end-to-end space strategy is delivering exactly as designed: the world’s most critical and ambitious missions increasingly rely on Rocket Lab for launch, spacecraft, and components, sometimes all on a single mission, and every part of our business is growing as a result.”
Bill Ballhaus, Chairman and CEO of Mercury Systems
“Our first quarter results reflect robust organic growth and margins that are in-line with our target profile. Based on this solid execution, we are raising our outlook for fiscal year 2027.”
Dylan Taylor, Chairman and CEO of Voyager Technologies
“Voyager has emerged as a differentiated technology platform at the convergence of defense, national security and space, investing ahead of demand to scale the capabilities and capacity our customers need.”
Lynn M. Bamford, Chair and CEO of Curtiss-Wright Corporation
“Orders increased 15% year-over-year, primarily driven by continued strong demand in defense electronics and growth across all of our A&D markets, reinforcing our confidence in our ability to deliver consistent and durable future growth.”
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., Nov. 13, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wall Street Investor News Commentary - The U.S. Air Force is lining up industry partners in advance to modernize the test infrastructure behind its next generation of defense systems. Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC), in partnership with the Air Force Test Center, has established the AEDC Velocity Alliance, which it describes as an enterprise-level acquisition vehicle creating a pre-qualified, competitive ecosystem of industry partners capable of supporting a multibillion-dollar portfolio of infrastructure projects. On November 10, an operator of Mach 2+ jets said it had joined a team pursuing a role in that work. Companies mentioned in today’s commentary include: Starfighters Space, Inc. (NYSE American: FJET), Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB), Mercury Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRCY), Voyager Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: VOYG), and Curtiss-Wright Corporation (NYSE: CW).
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