FTSE 100 news / Companies and sectors / Aerospace and defence / 18 October 2026
Aerospace and defence: sector news on Sunday 18 October 2026
Average tone +4.6 (positive) across 3 companies with relevant coverage, from 14 stories.
Company by company
| Company | Tone | Stories | What the coverage was about |
|---|---|---|---|
| BAE Systems | −1.2 | 10 | Coverage was split between a cyber incident at a BAE unit that took a US court service offline and the Achilles delay after a dock fire, which weigh negatively. |
| Babcock International | +5.2 | 3 | Coverage focused on Babcock's share price rising 3.6%, though still well below its 52-week high, and a valuation piece calling the shares undervalued after defence stock strength. |
| Rolls-Royce Holdings | +9.7 | 1 | Coverage centred on Rolls-Royce winning an order from Avolon, which reads as good news for the company. |
| Melrose Industries | – | 0 |
Strongest stories in the sector
- +9.7 Rolls-Royce wins Avolon order: what it means for Rolls-Royce stock - ad-hoc-news.de
Rolls-Royce wins an order from Avolon, a positive commercial development. - −8.3 BAE Systems Cyber Incident Takes US Bankruptcy Noticing Center
Cyber incident at BAE unit took US court service offline. - −8.3 BAE Systems Cyber Incident Takes US Bankruptcy Noticing Center Offline for a Week
Cyber incident kept bankruptcy noticing centre offline for a week. - −7.5 A cyberattack on a major contractor has disrupted part of the US Federal Court System
Cyberattack on contractor disrupted US federal courts. - +6.8 Babcock International Group (LSE:BAB) Could Be 27% Undervalued Following Defence Stock Strength
Valuation analysis suggests shares undervalued amid defence sector strength. - +6.7 BAE Systems unveils high-power microwave weapon capable of destroying swarms of UAVs without missiles.
New low-cost microwave counter-drone product unveiled. - +6.3 BAE Systems introduces a low-cost high-power microwave (HPM) system to counter swarms of UAVs.
Same counter-drone microwave system launch, positive product news. - +5.8 Britain’s new Challenger 3 tank passes 2,000 km in trials
Challenger 3 tank passing trial milestone. - −5.0 No estimate given for Achilles delay after dock fire
Achilles delay after dock fire, no estimate given. - +5.0 The US Army's First Mobile Tactical Cannon Replacing The Howitzer Has Finally Arrived
US Army mobile cannon arrival, positive for its products. - +4.5 Babcock partners with The 5% Club to launch Apprenticeship Talent Bridge
Apprenticeship partnership launched; positive but minor reputational story. - +3.7 Babcock stock rose 3.60 percent on October 16, 2026, 37.03 percent below its 52-week high - ad-hoc-news.de
Share price rose 3.6%, though well below 52-week high.
Aerospace and defence: every day · FTSE 100 overview for the day