In a healthy defense industrial ecosystem, companies occupying the middle ground—between the many small companies and a few large ones—perform important systemic roles.

Cancellation of the U.S. Army’s scout helicopter program is driving focus on UAS and uncrewed teaming.

Collaborative Combat Aircraft and Survivable Airborne Operations Center selections favor private companies as major primes set sights on larger awards.

Despite a comfortable backlog, the country’s industry continues to grapple with financial woes and recovering know-how.

The industry is in a different place than during the Cold War and has a major war at its backdoor.