Aerospace & Defense · Week of Nov 2, 2026
Space spending and new aircraft plans: the week in aerospace
Space and advanced air mobility companies reported results and launch plans, while finance and nonprofit groups added defense-focused programs.
Space companies supplied the largest numbers of the week. MDA Space says third-quarter revenue rose 21.5% to $498.1 million and it raised its 2026 guidance, while AST SpaceMobile says it will build its own reusable rocket, Blacklift, under engine agreements with Firefly Aerospace that include about $800 million upfront for a manufacturing license.
Developers of new aircraft also featured. Eve Holding reported a wider third-quarter net loss as R&D spending grew, Horizon Aircraft signed an MOU with Constance Lake First Nation on potential medevac use of its Cavorite X7, and Flyte Aviation launched a prepaid per-trip program. Elsewhere, Oppenheimer started defense research coverage, DEFSEC cleared a U.S. regulatory step for a non-lethal launcher, and Operation Healing Forces opened a matching gift campaign with Raymond James.
MDA Space
MDA SPACE REPORTS THIRD QUARTER 2026 RESULTS
MDA Space reported Q3 2026 revenues of $498.1 million, up 21.5% year-over-year, and Adjusted EBITDA of $96.0 million, and raised 2026 revenue guidance to $1.90 - $1.95 billion. The company says growth came mainly from the Telesat Lightspeed program and Geointelligence programs, though backlog fell $443.7 million from a year earlier to $3,949.1 million.
AST SpaceMobile, Inc.
*Firefly CEO Jason Kim and AST SpaceMobile Chairman and CEO Abel Avellan in front of Firefly’s Miranda engine at its Rocket Ranch in Briggs, Texas; Credit: Firefly Aerospace
AST SpaceMobile says it will build a reusable 20-ton rocket, Blacklift, to carry up to five BlueBird satellites per launch starting in late 2028, using Firefly Aerospace's Miranda and Vira engines. It will pay approximately $800 million upfront for a perpetual manufacturing license, plus $250 million for engines for the first three rockets and $250 million over three years for engineering support.
DEFSEC Technologies Inc
DEFSEC Receives Favorable ATF Classification for Arwen Micro Non-Lethal Irritant Launcher, Clearing Path to U.S. Civilian Market
DEFSEC Technologies says its U.S. contract manufacturer received an ATF determination that the ARWEN Micro (Pro-1) non-lethal irritant launcher is not a "Destructive Device", though it remains classified as an "Any Other Weapon" (AOW). The company says it expects to begin U.S. civilian sales as early as Q2 of calendar 2027.
Horizon Aircraft
Horizon Aircraft Signs MOU With Constance Lake First Nation to Bring Lifesaving Medical Aircraft to Remote and Isolated Indigenous Communities
Horizon Aircraft signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Constance Lake First Nation to advance the potential purchase of Cavorite X7 hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft for medevac, patient transfer and critical delivery in Northern Ontario. The MOU is a preliminary step, and the release states no purchase commitment or service start date.
Eve Holding, Inc.
Eve Holding, Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2026 Results
Eve Holding reported a Q3 2026 net loss of $58.1 million, up from $46.9 million a year earlier, mainly due to higher R&D expenses and lower net financial results. The company says full-year 2026 cash consumption is expected at the low end of its $225/275 million guidance, with total liquidity of $470.4 million.
Flyte Aviation, Inc.
Flyte Aviation Launches Flyte Club to Disrupt Jet Cards and Fractional Ownership Programs with Transparent Per-Trip Pricing and Savings Up to 30%
Flyte Aviation launched Flyte Club on Nov. 5, 2026, selling packages of 10, 20 or 30 one-way private flights at fixed per-trip prices with discounts of 10%, 20% and 30% respectively off retail rates. The company says ordinary variations in flight time do not change the contracted route price.
Operation Healing Forces
Operation Healing Forces Celebrates 15 Years of Impact with $15,000 Matching Gift Campaign Supported by Raymond James
Operation Healing Forces announced a matching gift campaign in which Raymond James will match donations dollar for dollar up to $15,000 throughout November 2026. OHF says the campaign, marking its 15th anniversary ahead of Veterans Day, could raise $30,000 or more for Special Operations Forces service members, veterans and families.
Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.
Oppenheimer Launches Defense Coverage with Veteran Analyst Patrick McCarthy
Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. hired Patrick McCarthy, previously a Managing Director at BTIG, as Managing Director to launch defense research coverage. His coverage will focus on defense technology and national security, including space, autonomous systems and robotics.
This roundup is written with AI assistance from the press releases listed above, using only what they state. The releases are the companies' own announcements, not DemiByte reporting.