🔍 Unexpected $30 billion contract loss for Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman✈️

In a recent report from the Pentagon, a surprising news was announced: the companies Boeing $BA, Lockheed Martin $LMT+0.7% and Northrop Grumman $NOC+2.1% failed in the battle for an interesting contract for drones for the US Air Force. This prestigious contract, worth up to $30 billion ,was won by private companies General Atomics and Anduril, indicating significant competition from smaller companies.

This is a significant blow for these three giants of the defence industry. The contract is for a programme CCA (Collaborative Combat Aircraft)where manned fighter jets will work with armed drones. The US Air Force plans to equip each of its 300 fighter aircraft F-35 and other 200 fighter jets Next Generation Air Dominance by two drones, bringing the total production 1 000 drones.

Each drone is expected to cost approximately 30 million dollars, so the total cost of the program CCA could reach 30 billion dollars. It is envisaged that this number will increase and the total value of the programme may reach up to 180 billion dollars. 📈

Despite this loss, all is not lost. Boeing, Lockheed and Northrop can still be subcontracted or bid on future contracts because the program CCA will expand over the years. At the same time, the possibility of new shares may open up if companies like Anduril are considering IPO.

I've been watching the developments around General Atomics and Anduril as these companies come to the forefront of the Pentagon' s largest military drone program . I'm alsointrigued by AeroVironment $AVAV+2.3%,a company that specializes in unmanned aerial systems that have been very successful in combat in Ukraine.

How do you see the future of the entire defense industry? What do you think about this new program that can bring new opportunities to the arms industry?💬