The heavyweights of the hangar
Take Lockheed Martin. When investors discuss Defence Stocks, this is the undisputed benchmark. Their F-35 programme is not just about selling an aeroplane. It operates more like a multi-decade subscription service. When an allied nation buys the jet, they are locked into decades of mandatory maintenance, upgrades, and spare parts.
Then we have RTX Corporation, which straddles the fence. They manufacture the Patriot missile systems currently in high demand, but they also build commercial jet engines. This dual exposure means they might catch the upside of both military spending and global travel recoveries. Of course, they could just as easily suffer if industrial supply chains freeze.
Northrop Grumman is perhaps the most intriguing of the lot. They deal in stealth bombers and advanced space systems. The barriers to entry here are almost comical. You cannot simply start a hypersonic weapons company in your garage.