Air Force Turns to a Consortium to Modernize Its Aerospace Ground Test Infrastructure
Key Highlights
- ➤Rocket Lab (RKLB) Q3 revenue reached record $268 million, up 73% year-on-year
- ➤Rocket Lab signed approximately $1 billion in launch contracts, lifting backlog to 117 launches
- ➤V2X (VVX) Q3 revenue rose 9% to $1.27 billion; full-year 2026 guidance increased
- ➤Leonardo DRS (DRS) reported $1.6 billion bookings and record funded backlog of $5.6 billion
- ➤Ducommun (DCO) Q3 revenue hit record $227.0 million, with $1.3 billion remaining obligations
Expert Statements
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. 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
“Q3 2026 was a defining quarter for Rocket Lab. We delivered a record $268 million in revenue ($34 million higher than Q2 2026) alongside a record backlog which has grown to $3.57 billion.”
Jeremy C. Wensinger, President and Chief Executive Officer of V2X
“We delivered another strong quarter, with revenue growth and double-digit increases in net income and diluted EPS. Our results reflect our team’s consistent execution and continued demand for V2X’s mission-critical capabilities,”
John Baylouny, President and CEO of Leonardo DRS
“Leonardo DRS delivered a strong third quarter, with 11% organic revenue growth and profitability growing even faster,”
Stephen G. Oswald, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ducommun
“Another excellent quarter for Ducommun in 2026. With record revenue and gross margins in Q3, we continued to make great progress towards accomplishing our VISION 2027 goals and positioning ourselves for our new VISION 2032 Plan which was communicated in September,”
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., Nov. 10, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fly On Wall Street News Commentary - The U.S. Air Force is modernizing the ground test infrastructure behind its next-generation defense systems, and it is turning to an industry consortium to do it. In an August 17 article on the Air Force Test Center’s website, AEDC Public Affairs said the Arnold Engineering Development Complex, in partnership with the Air Force Test Center, had established the AEDC Velocity Alliance to accelerate the sustainment, restoration and modernization of critical test infrastructure. The Air Force says the Alliance creates a pre-qualified, competitive ecosystem of industry partners capable of supporting a multibillion-dollar portfolio of infrastructure projects, and that modernization is essential to supporting next-generation warfighting systems, including hypersonic platforms. Companies mentioned in today’s commentary include: Starfighters Space, Inc. (NYSE American: FJET), Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB), V2X, Inc. (NYSE: VVX), Leonardo DRS, Inc. (Nasdaq: DRS), Ducommun Incorporated (NYSE: DCO).
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