Boeing Defense, Space & Security

What Boeing Defense, Space & Security does

Boeing Defense, Space & Security (BDS) is a major business unit of The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA), incorporated in Delaware and headquartered in St. Louis with additional major manufacturing and corporate operations in Arlington, Chicago, and Seattle. BDS designs, manufactures, and sustains military aircraft, autonomous and unmanned systems, weapon systems, satellites, space launch vehicles, and cyber solutions for the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Air Force, Navy, Space Force, and allied governments. Flagship platforms include the MQ-25A Stingray, MQ-28 Ghost Bat, F-15E, F-47, KC-46 Pegasus tanker, P-8I maritime patrol aircraft, X-37B spaceplane, CST-100 Starliner, Space Launch System, and VC-25B Air Force One aircraft, supported by the Phantom Works advanced R&D division and Boeing Government Services.

Underlying technology spans advanced airframe and propulsion engineering, autonomous flight control systems (MQ-25A operates without an onboard pilot), electronic warfare integration developed jointly with BAE Systems for F-15E, heavy-lift space launch architectures for NASA's Artemis program, and AI-driven manufacturing optimization through a Palantir Foundry integration. Revenue is generated through hardware sales of defense and space systems to government customers and through professional services including depot-level MRO, sustainment, training, and technology licensing; pricing is quote-based, contract-negotiated, and not publicly disclosed, with multi-year contract structures such as the $413 crore (~$50M USD) P-8I MRO award. Distribution is primarily direct enterprise field sales to government primes and allied procurement agencies (e.g., India's Ministry of Defence, Japan's ATLA), supplemented by in-country MRO facilities and technology licensing programs.

Name

Boeing Defense, Space & Security

Legal name

The Boeing Company

Website

https://boeing.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1916

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a business unit of The Boeing Company that designs, manufactures, and sustains military aircraft, autonomous systems, space systems, and weapon systems for the U.S. Department of Defense, allied governments, and federal agencies worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Defense Aerospace Systems (military aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, autonomous and weapon systems)

NAICS

Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Aircraft Manufacturing (336411), Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336413)

SIC

Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760), Aircraft & Parts (3720), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)

akta.pro primary industry

Military Aircraft Platforms (Fixed-Wing) (IMABAMAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Reentry, Descent & Landing Systems (Capsules, Heat Shields, Parachutes) (IMABACAL), Special-Mission Fixed-Wing Aircraft Manufacturing (ISR, AEW&C, Patrol) (IMABAAAH), Military Space Systems (Defense Spacecraft) (IMABACAC), Military Avionics, Mission Computers & Flight Controls (IMABAMAE)

Keywords

• Military aircraft manufacturing
• Space launch systems
• Defense systems integration
• Autonomous unmanned systems
• Government defense contracting

Headquarters

HQ city

St Louis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Defense Equipment Sales: Boeing Defense, Space & Security generates primary revenue through the sale of military aircraft, spacecraft, and defense systems to government customers including the U.S. Department of Defense and allied nations.
2. Government Services and MRO: Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) services for defense equipment including the P-8I aircraft fleet maintenance contract with the Indian Navy, providing depot-level maintenance at in-country facilities.
3. Space Systems and Services: Revenue from satellites, space launch services, and space station support including CST-100 Starliner and Space Launch System for Artemis missions.
4. Technology Integration Services: AI integration and data unification services through partnerships with companies like Palantir for defense factory and program optimization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Boeing Defense, Space & Security designs, manufactures, and sustains military aircraft, spacecraft, autonomous systems, satellites, launch vehicles, weapon systems, and cyber solutions for the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Space Force, and allied national governments. Its portfolio spans fighter and bomber aircraft (F-15E, F-47), military rotorcraft, aerial refueling tankers (KC-46 Pegasus), maritime patrol and early warning platforms (P-8I), unmanned combat aerial vehicles (MQ-25A, MQ-28 Ghost Bat), the X-37B spaceplane, the CST-100 Starliner crew capsule, the Space Launch System, and resilient satellites, complemented by depot-level MRO, sustainment, training, and technology licensing services.

Product overview

Boeing Defense, Space & Security (BDS) is a major business unit of The Boeing Company providing game-changing defense systems, space systems, and security solutions. The portfolio includes autonomous and unmanned systems (MQ-28 Ghost Bat), fighters and bombers, military rotorcraft, tankers and transports (KC-46 Pegasus), patrol and early warning aircraft, and weapon systems. In space, BDS offers satellites, the CST-100 Starliner, X-37B spaceplane, and Space Launch System for Artemis missions. The unit also provides advanced cyber solutions and operates Phantom Works for cutting-edge technology development. Boeing also offers commercial aircraft (737 MAX, 787 Dreamliner, 777/777X families) and related MRO services through global operations, with recent emphasis on AI integration through Palantir Foundry platforms for manufacturing optimization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Phantom Works: Advanced research and development division pushing the boundaries of aerospace technology
• CST-100 Starliner
• X-37B
• MQ-25 Ghost Bat
• KC-46 Pegasus

Products and services

• MQ-28 Ghost Bat An unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) designed for autonomous defense operations, extending reach and gathering intelligence for allied air forces including the Royal Australian Air Force.
• KC-46 Pegasus A multi-role tanker aircraft with advanced air-to-air refueling capabilities, used to refuel wings, move forces, and transport heads of state for military and government customers.
• X-37B Spaceplane A returnable spaceplane designed for long-duration orbital experiments and operations, supporting advanced space research for the U.S. Department of Defense and Space Force.
• CST-100 Starliner A reusable crew space capsule designed to transport humans and cargo to the International Space Station under NASA's Commercial Crew Program.
• Space Launch System A heavy-lift, deep-space launch vehicle built for NASA to support Artemis lunar exploration missions.
• Boeing Satellites Resilient satellite platforms and services for global missions including communications, surveillance, and navigation for U.S. government and commercial operators.
• Cyber Solutions Advanced cyber defense solutions protecting mission-critical defense and space systems for government customers.
• Phantom Works Boeing's advanced research and development division advancing cutting-edge, next-generation defense, space, and security technologies.
• P-8I Depot-Level Maintenance Services Depot-level maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services for the Indian Navy's P-8I maritime surveillance aircraft fleet, performed at an in-country MRO facility with 100% indigenous content under the Buy Indian category.
• VC-25B (Air Force One) Presidential Aircraft Modified Boeing 747-8 aircraft serving as the next-generation Air Force One presidential transport, equipped with advanced avionics and secure communications for the U.S. Air Force.
• CIPHER A stand-alone Windows application that examines electronic documents for hidden information, user-defined search phrases, and potential data spills, locating and resolving hidden-data occurrences across multiple file formats.
• Boeing Simplified English Checker (BSEC) ASD Simplified Technical English compliance checker that uses a syntactic parser and 400+ grammar rules to help technical writers verify aerospace maintenance documentation meets industry standards.
• MRO Licensing Program Licensed access to maintenance data and technical support for MRO work, offered to certificated repair stations.
• Simulator Licensing Licensed access to flight and maintenance data for manufacturers, end users, and providers of flight training devices, enabling simulator production and operation.

Quantifiable outcome

• P-8I aircraft fleet maintenance with 100% indigenous content
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability6 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Indian Ministry of DefencecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 March 2026Boeing India Defense Private Limited signed a $413 crore contract with India's Ministry of Defence for depot-level maintenance of the Indian Navy's P-8I aircraft fleet at an in-country MRO facility, with 100% indigenous content under the Buy Indian category.
• PalantircoreTechnology or Integration · 23 October 2025Boeing and Palantir announced a joint agreement to integrate AI systems into Boeing Defense, Space & Security (BDS) factories and programs, leveraging Palantir's Foundry platform to unify data analysis across global defense plants. This partnership focuses on AI adoption in defense programs to enhance operational efficiency and data-driven decision making.
• BAE SystemscoreTechnology or Integration · 7 January 2025The U.S. Air Force requested Boeing and BAE Systems to provide electronic warfare (EW) systems for F-15E jet fighter-bombers. This collaboration involves joint development and integration of advanced electronic warfare capabilities for the F-15 platform.
• United Launch Alliance (ULA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Launch Alliance, a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin, provides launch services for U.S. government missions including national security payloads. Boeing website features ULA as a key space program partner under the Space segment.
• Spirit AeroSystemscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpirit AeroSystems is a key aerostructures supplier to Boeing. In December 2025, Spirit AeroSystems merged with Boeing, strengthening Boeing's vertical integration in aerostructures manufacturing for commercial and defense programs.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• General Dynamics: General Dynamics is a top-five U.S. defense prime overlapping with BDS across combat platforms (M1 Abrams sustainment vs. Boeing armored systems), mission systems, and Gulfstream-derived special-mission aircraft, with shared exposure to U.S. DoD budgets.
• L3Harris Technologies: L3Harris is a major defense prime with comparable ISR, mission avionics, electronic warfare, and space subsystems that integrate into BDS platforms (e.g., F-47 and P-8I), competing for many of the same U.S. DoD and allied program budgets.
• Textron: Textron, through Bell, is the closest U.S. rotorcraft competitor to Boeing's military rotorcraft franchise (V-22, AH-64 variants) and also supplies small unmanned aircraft and armored vehicles, competing for overlapping U.S. Army and allied rotorcraft budgets.
• SpaceX: SpaceX competes directly with ULA (BDS's joint venture) and the SLS program across national-security and NASA launch contracts, while also offering Starlink-derived services that overlap with BDS satellite communications and space-mission franchises.
• BAE Systems: BAE Systems is an international defense prime that partners with Boeing on F-15E electronic warfare and competes across combat vehicles, naval, and military aerospace systems; it is a co-supplier on BDS-led platforms and a peer for allied-nation defense sales.
• RTX (Raytheon Technologies): RTX, through Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon, overlaps significantly with BDS in military avionics, propulsion, missile/weapon systems (EW, Patriot), and aircraft sustainment, serving overlapping U.S. and allied defense customers.
• Airbus Defence and Space: Airbus Defence and Space is the European counterpart prime that competes directly with BDS in tanker/transport (A330 MRTT vs. KC-46), military aircraft, satellites, and space launch; it overlaps especially in allied-nation defense procurements.

Direct peers

• Lockheed Martin: Lockheed Martin is Boeing BDS's closest direct peer as a U.S. prime defense contractor with overlapping franchises across fighters (F-35 vs. F-47/F-15E), missiles, space, and rotary-wing platforms serving the same U.S. DoD and allied customers.
• Northrop Grumman: Northrop Grumman directly competes with BDS in stealth bombers (B-21 vs. future B-52 replacement), autonomous aircraft, ISR, military space, and launch/spacecraft systems, operating as another top-tier U.S. defense prime serving the same procurement agencies.

Emerging players

• Anduril Industries: Anduril is an emerging defense-tech prime building autonomous UAVs (e.g., Ghost Bat collaborations with Boeing), AI mission systems, and counter-drone capabilities that increasingly compete for the autonomous-systems and AI-integration budgets currently dominated by BDS primes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BoeingDefense
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/Boeing
• Facebookfacebook.com/Boeing
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/boeing
• Instagraminstagram.com/boeing

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Boeing Defense, Space & Security