FTSE 100 news / Companies and sectors / Aerospace and defence / 30 September 2026
Aerospace and defence: sector news on Wednesday 30 September 2026
Average tone +7.6 (strongly positive) across 4 companies with relevant coverage, from 29 stories.
Company by company
| Company | Tone | Stories | What the coverage was about |
|---|---|---|---|
| BAE Systems | +7.0 | 17 | Coverage was mostly about BAE's new IFF system being certified for the F-16, alongside a record £84bn order backlog, a US submarine propulsor contract and a partnership with Skyryse. |
| Rolls-Royce Holdings | +5.8 | 6 | Coverage centred on Rolls-Royce powering the first A350F flight, which strengthened its freighter market position, alongside the 50th anniversary of Rolls-Royce Solutions Asia in Singapore. |
| Babcock International | +6.2 | 5 | Coverage mainly focused on Babcock agreeing a Devonport Dockyard deal and short-term bridging extensions with the Ministry of Defence, ahead of a long-term submarine support agreement. |
| Melrose Industries | +10.0 | 1 | Coverage focused on Melrose reporting stronger earnings alongside firm guidance, which leans positive for the company. |
Strongest stories in the sector
- +10.0 Melrose stock reports stronger earnings and firm guidance
Stronger earnings and firm guidance directly reflect well on Melrose. - +10.0 Europe’s rearmament is reshaping BAE Systems from the factory floor up
European rearmament seen as reshaping and boosting BAE's business. - +9.7 Rolls-Royce strengthens freighter market position by powering first A350F flight - Rolls-Royce plc
Powers first A350F flight, strengthening freighter market position. - +8.3 BAE Systems (BAESY) Secures $137.66M Contract for Virginia-Class Submarine Propulsors
$137.66M Virginia-class propulsor contract win. - +8.3 BAE Systems Order Backlog Hits £84bn as Valuation Gap Widens
Order backlog hits £84bn, though valuation gap noted. - +7.5 BAE Systems gains U.S. certification for next-generation F-16 friend-or-foe system, with first production deliveries expected this year
US certification with production deliveries expected this year. - +7.5 Babcock agrees crucial Devonport Dockyard deal with MoD
Crucial Devonport deal with MoD secures key contract continuity - +6.7 BAE System new Identification Friend or Foe solution receives AIMS certification to support future combat aircraft missions
IFF solution gains AIMS certification. - +6.7 F-16 Gets BAE AN/APX-127 Mode 5 IFF System
New BAE IFF system certified for F-16. - +6.7 BAE friend or foe system certified for US Air Force F-16
BAE IFF system certified for US Air Force F-16. - +6.7 BAE Systems' new Identification Friend or Foe solution receives AIMS certification to support future combat aircraft missions
IFF solution gains AIMS certification. - +6.7 BAE Systems (BA.) IFF AN/APX-127(V)1 Wins AIMS Certification
IFF system wins AIMS certification.
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