Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Smoke and fire rise from the site of airstrikes at Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran on March 7, 2026. Atta Kenare, AFP

Article (news)

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17768268586471774451725158AFP__20260307__A2B893R__v2__HighRes__TopshotIranIsraelUsWar.webp" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Smoke and fire rise from the site of airstrikes at Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran on March 7, 2026.<em> Atta Kenare, AFP/File</em><br/></span></span></span></div><p>NEW YORK, United States — US defense companies are reporting a surge in demand for military equipment, as the war in the Middle East prompts fresh orders from governments around the world.</p><p>Earnings Tuesday signaled that 2026 will be another strong year after a robust 2025 in the wake of continuing conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, Russian incursions into European airspace, Chinese maneuverings towards Taiwan and Red Sea tensions.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2026/4/14/australia-to-spend-billions-on-drones-as-warfare-changes-1119">Australia to spend billions on drones as warfare changes</a></div><p>More governments are ordering military equipment amid rising geopolitical strife. For those who are already in conflict, there is a need to spend more to replenish stocks or maintain machinery.</p><p>US defense companies RTX, Northrop Grumman and GE Aerospace all reported increased orders in the first quarter.</p><p>While hoping for a &quot;sustained resolution&quot; to the Middle East conflict, RTX CEO Chris Calio told a Wall Street analyst call the company was working with the Pentagon &quot;to accelerate munitions production.&quot;</p><p>US officials have announced new agreements in recent months to increase production of the Tomahawk, Patriot and GEM-T missiles, among other weapons systems.</p><p>RTX unit Raytheon previously announced five &quot;landmark&quot; Pentagon agreements that Calio described as &quot;vitally important for national security.&quot; The company has already invested nearly $900 million to expand capacity.</p><p>&quot;The current landscape clearly underscores the need for munitions, depth, integrated air and missile defense technology and more advanced capabilities to counter evolving threats,&quot; Calio said.</p><p>&quot;We&#x27;re seeing really, really strong demand, both domestically and internationally,&quot; he added as the company raised several full-year financial projections.</p><p>Similarly, GE Aerospace described its first quarter as &quot;strong,&quot; with revenues jumping 25 percent in light of what Chief Executive Larry Culp described as a &quot;dynamic geopolitical landscape.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2026/4/16/iran-hundreds-of-thousands-of-jobs-lost-due-to-war-1145">Iran: Hundreds of thousands of jobs lost due to war</a></div><p>Culp said on a conference call the company expects the Middle East war and its effects to persist through the summer.</p><p>In its defense programs, GE Aerospace continues &quot;to execute with speed against high-priority military needs in support of US and allied warfighters,&quot; Culp added.</p><p>But the company, which builds engines for Boeing and Airbus, also suffered some ill-effects from the war. Cutbacks in travel in the Middle East hit the company&#x27;s maintenance business.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>NEW FACILITIES </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>At Northrop Grumman, the objective is also to deliver as quickly as possible on orders for weapons systems.</p><p>The company has added 20 new manufacturing facilities in the United States over the last two years, according to CEO Kathy Warden.</p><p>&quot;Clearly the conflict with Iran has created a heightened sense of urgency,&quot; she said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2026/4/21/us-iran-warn-ready-for-war-as-talks-in-limbo-0847">US, Iran warn ready for war as talks in limbo</a></div><p>Calio of RTX said the recent contracts with the Pentagon &quot;will give the kind of long-term visibility that the supply chain will need to invest, which is critically important.&quot;</p><p>US undersecretary of defense Jules Hurst said President Donald Trump&#x27;s fiscal 2027 budget requested $1.5 trillion, describing the demand as a &quot;generational investment in the United States military, the arsenal of freedom,&quot; he said at a Pentagon briefing.</p><p>&quot;This 42 percent increase will supercharge our defense industrial base by expanding production of major weapon systems while strengthening supply chains and supporting tens of thousands of small- and medium-sized businesses,&quot; Hurst said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2026/4/22/trump-extends-ceasefire-says-giving-iran-time-to-negotiate-0735">Trump extends ceasefire, says giving Iran time to negotiate</a></div><p>Boeing, which also has a defense business, will report earnings Wednesday, while Lockheed Martin is set to release results on Thursday.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><br/><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IP5VoXeoDig?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lN-cQQHBM_4?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vWxrjCj5b9Q?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>US defense companies are reporting a surge in demand for military equipment, as the war in the Middle East prompts fresh orders from governments around the world.</p>

US defense companies are reporting a surge in demand for military equipment, as the war in the Middle East prompts fresh orders from governments around the world.

Iran war means more orders for US defense giants

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Iran war means more orders for US defense giants

Elodie Mazein,

Agence France-Presse

Published April 22, 2026 11:05 AM PHT

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