Next-Generation RF Systems Move to the Center of Global Defense Spending

AI-driven RF platforms are transforming how militaries detect, disrupt, and dominate threats across land, air, sea, and space

NEW YORK, Jan. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Market News Updates News Commentary - Next-generation RF-based defense and security technology is quickly becoming one of the most important building blocks of modern military systems. From advanced radar and electronic warfare to secure communications, spectrum monitoring, and counter-drone solutions, RF technology sits at the center of how today's defense forces detect threats, stay connected, and control the battlespace. What's changing now is intelligence and flexibility—AI-driven signal processing, software-defined radios, and adaptive spectrum technologies are making RF systems faster, smarter, and far more resilient against jamming, spoofing, and electronic attacks. In short, whoever controls the spectrum increasingly controls the mission. Active Companies in the defense space to keep a close eye on include: VisionWave Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: VWAV), RTX Corporation (NYSE: RTX), AeroVironment Inc (NASDAQ: AVAV), Leidos (NYSE: LDOS), Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: KTOS).

From an investor standpoint, the market momentum behind RF-based defense systems is hard to ignore. The broader RF technology market—which includes components, sensors, and integrated systems used heavily in defense and security—is expected to see strong, sustained growth over the next decade as global defense budgets prioritize electronic warfare, ISR, and counter-UAS capabilities. Analysts estimate the RF components market alone could exceed $90 billion by the early 2030s, with defense applications representing a meaningful and growing share. Add in specialized military RF chips, tactical communications, and sensor platforms, and the addressable market continues to expand as modernization programs accelerate worldwide.

For investors, RF-based defense technology offers a compelling mix of long-term government demand and near-term innovation upside. Defense contracts tend to be sticky and multi-year, providing revenue visibility, while rapid advances in AI, semiconductors, and spectrum technologies create opportunities for emerging players to scale quickly or become acquisition targets. As geopolitical tensions persist and electronic warfare becomes a top strategic priority, companies that deliver smarter, more adaptive RF solutions are well positioned to benefit. This makes next-generation RF technology not just a defense necessity—but a growing investment theme with durable tailwinds.

VisionWave (NASDAQ: VWAV) Advances qSpeed™ Pre-Commercial Computational Acceleration Architecture Across Defense Programs, Including Fire Control, Counter-UAS, and Intercept Workflows Where Microseconds Matter - VisionWave Holdings Inc. ($VWAV) ("VisionWave" or the "Company") today announced initial progress in advancing the system-level integration architecture for qSpeed™, the Company's pre-commercial, proof-of-concept computational acceleration engine, across multiple defense-focused programs — including WaveStrike™ RF-enabled fire-control workflows, Argus™ counter-UAS architectures, and additional time-critical intercept evaluation scenarios where computational latency can directly affect operational outcomes.

qSpeed™ remains pre-commercial and in proof-of-concept phase. The technology is not operational, has not been deployed in live environments, and there can be no assurance that it will achieve commercialization or targeted performance objectives. VisionWave is initiating a structured development effort to evaluate feasibility, scalability, and performance characteristics under controlled conditions.

From Sensing to Decision: Reducing Latency Across Mission-Critical Workflows - Modern defense and security systems increasingly possess sufficient sensor data but remain constrained by the time required to compute actionable conclusions. In contested or fast-moving environments, even small computational delays can materially degrade decision relevance.

qSpeed™ is designed to explore architectural approaches that prioritize the most decision-critical computation paths first, enabling rapid initial conclusions that can be continuously refined as additional processing cycles occur. This approach is intended to reduce end-to-end latency from sensing through analysis and decision support — without reliance on wholesale hardware replacement. There can be no assurance that these objectives will be achieved.

WaveStrike™: Accelerating RF-Informed Fire-Control Decision Support - WaveStrike™ is designed to provide RF-informed, operator-assisted aiming and fire-control support for dynamic targets, including aerial threats where optical-only solutions may be constrained by visibility, clutter, or engagement timelines.

VisionWave's qSpeed™ integration effort is focused on shortening the compute cycles required to refresh targeting guidance — such as range estimation, lead calculation, and hold refinement — so updated recommendations can be delivered more rapidly and consistently to the human operator under high-dynamics conditions.

WaveStrike™ seeks to preserve human-in-the-loop control and authorization. qSpeed™ is intended solely to accelerate underlying computational workflows that support faster and more stable decision assistance.

Argus™: Time-Critical Counter-UAS Orchestration at Scale - Argus™ is designed as a space-enabled counter-UAS architecture intended to extend situational awareness and enable coordinated response across broader operational areas than point-defense systems.

In such environments, detection, classification, tracking, prioritization, and response orchestration must occur continuously and under constrained time budgets. VisionWave is evaluating qSpeed™ as a reusable accelerator layer within Argus™ processing pipelines with the goal of supporting faster execution of time-critical analytics and decision workflows, particularly where communications and navigation may be degraded or contested.

Intercept Evaluation Scenarios: Where Microseconds Matter - VisionWave is also evaluating qSpeed™ in conceptual intercept-oriented workflows, including Argus-related scenarios involving high-velocity threats. In these time-compressed environments, computational latency can directly affect guidance refinement, intercept solution updates, and decision timing.

These scenarios remain illustrative and conceptual only. No operational intercept systems incorporating qSpeed™ exist today, and no performance outcomes are implied or guaranteed.

qSpeed™ as a Reusable Accelerator Layer - qSpeed™ is designed as a software-based computational acceleration layer that can be embedded across multiple system architectures. Rather than treating all computations as equally urgent, qSpeed™ emphasizes rapid prioritization and refinement cycles for decision-relevant processing.

VisionWave believes this architectural approach may have applicability across additional domains, including cybersecurity detection-to-response workflows and advanced analytics supporting electronic design automation (EDA). All such applications remain subject to development risk, validation outcomes, and funding availability. Continued… Read this full release and additional news for VWAV by visiting: https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/VWAV/news/

Other recent developments in the tech/military/defense industries include:

Collins Aerospace, an RTX Corporation (NYSE: RTX) business, has entered into three-year parts distribution agreements with Integrated Procurement Technologies, S3 AeroDefense and Derco, a Lockheed Martin company, to enhance hardware and logistics support for wheels and brakes on the C-130 Hercules.

By expanding its network of distribution partners, Collins Aerospace ensures targeted support for C-130 operators throughout the hardware lifecycle. This benefits international customers currently flying the C-130 with Collins wheels and brakes, as well as those considering upgrading their fleet.

"The C-130 Hercules plays a vital role in global air mobility, supporting everything from combat operations to humanitarian relief," said Matt Maurer, Vice President and General Manager of Landing Systems at Collins Aerospace. "Wheels and brakes are mission-critical components for the aircraft, enabling safe takeoffs, landings and ground operations on some of the world's most challenging runways. These distribution agreements will help ensure fleet readiness for our customers, enabling them to operate where they're needed most."

Parry Labs, a defense technology company delivering modular open systems and edge infrastructure for the modern battlespace, is partnering with AeroVironment Inc (NASDAQ: AVAV) to architect, develop, deliver, and integrate Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA)-aligned digital engineering, software, and mission system hardware for the newly developed P550™ Uncrewed Aircraft System (UAS) for the U.S. Army's Long Range Reconnaissance (LRR) program.

As mission systems integrator, Parry Labs is embedding its proven mission system components into P550 to ensure the Army receives a platform that evolves with the mission and interoperates across the Family of Systems.

For this program, Parry Labs will provide expertise in Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) development and open software operating environments to help AV implement the capabilities required by the LRR program and enable future integration of new capabilities.

Leidos (NYSE: LDOS) and OpenAI are partnering to deploy artificial intelligence in support of national priorities, including boosting the efficiency and effectiveness of government agencies.

The companies plan on integrating Open AI-powered generative and agentic AI into the core workflows of customers in strategic markets including digital modernization, health services, national security and infrastructure, and defense. Those are the foundations of Leidos' NorthStar 2030 growth strategy.

"Leidos and OpenAI are harnessing the transformative power of AI to help improve how federal agencies operate," said Leidos Chief Technology Officer Ted Tanner. "With OpenAI's most powerful models in a secure configuration designed to protect Leidos and customer data, we're working together to enhance productivity and accelerate product development and delivery."

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq: KTOS), a technology company in defense, national security, and global markets, announced recently the grand opening of its new 55,000-square-foot state-of-the-art hypersonic and "Other" system manufacturing and payload integration facility in Princess Anne, Maryland.

The advanced facility will significantly enhance Kratos' capabilities to support launch operations and hypersonic testing for the Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonics Test Bed (MACH-TB) 2.0 program and other customers from agencies including the U.S. Navy, US Air Force, DARPA, and the Missile Defense Agency.

"This strategic investment in Princess Anne represents Kratos' commitment to expanding our nation's hypersonic testing infrastructure and capabilities," said Dave Carter, President of Kratos Defense & Rocket Support Services Division. "The new facility enables us to increase production capacity, streamline payload integration processes, and respond even more rapidly to the growing demand for affordable hypersonic flight testing. The Princess Anne facility will play a crucial role in supporting our $1.4 billion MACH-TB 2.0 contract and other critical programs, enabling increased test cadence and more affordable flight test opportunities for hypersonic technologies."

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