What Curtiss-Wright does

Curtiss-Wright Corporation (NYSE: CW), founded in 1929 from the merger of companies started by aviation pioneers Glenn Curtiss and the Wright Brothers, is a Davidson, North Carolina-headquartered, publicly traded provider of highly engineered, mission-critical products, systems, and services for defense, commercial aerospace, commercial nuclear power, and general industrial markets. The company operates through three reporting segments (Aerospace & Industrial, Defense Electronics, and Naval & Power) and supplies technical content such as safety-certifiable ruggedized embedded computing (VPX/VME, SOSA-aligned), mission computers and flight test instrumentation, motion control and turret drive stabilization systems, nuclear propulsion components, helicopter and aircraft shipboard handling systems (ASIST, RAST), high-temperature neutron flux detectors rated to 800°C, helium circulator and reactivity control systems for Generation IV reactors, surface treatment technologies (shot peening, laser peening, plasma electrolytic oxidation via Keronite), and pressure relief and control valves. Roughly 58% of revenue is defense, 17% commercial nuclear, 13% industrial, and 12% commercial aerospace (2024 end-market mix), and the business serves the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Navy, defense primes (Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman), international defense forces, and commercial nuclear utilities worldwide.

Curtiss-Wright generates revenue primarily through hardware sales of engineered components under long-term fixed-price contracts, supplemented by recurring aftermarket overhaul, repair, spare parts, and fleet service revenue. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, reflecting the custom, sole-source nature of the products. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales direct to defense primes, the U.S. government, and international defense forces, with inside sales support and channel relationships with major defense integrators. Distribution is largely direct, with aftermarket service through authorized service centers and factory support. The company reported full-year 2025 sales of approximately $3.5 billion (up 12% year-over-year) and Q1 2026 sales of $914 million (up 13%), with record backlog of approximately $4.3 billion, a 1.3x book-to-bill ratio, 18.6% operating margin, and $554 million in free cash flow in FY2025. Curtiss-Wright has ~9,100 employees globally and operates more than 200 facilities across North America, EMEA (including a UK European headquarters in Bournemouth and a neutron detector manufacturing facility in Wimborne), and Asia Pacific and South America, with active positioning in Brazil, India, and China.

Name

Curtiss-Wright

Legal name

Curtiss-Wright Corporation

Website

https://curtisswright.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1929

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Curtiss-Wright is a publicly traded (NYSE: CW) provider of highly engineered, mission-critical products for defense primes, the U.S. government, commercial nuclear operators, and industrial customers, including embedded computing, actuation, motion control, and nuclear reactor components.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Defense & Aerospace Engineered Systems

NAICS

Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336413), Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (33641)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728), Aircraft & Parts (3720)

akta.pro primary industry

Structural Assemblies & Integration (Airframe Subassemblies) (IMABAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Submarine Systems & Components (Pressure Hull, Ballast, Life Support) (IMABAKAL), Special-Mission Fixed-Wing Aircraft Manufacturing (ISR, AEW&C, Patrol) (IMABAAAH)

Keywords

• Defense electronics
• Aerospace actuation
• Naval nuclear propulsion
• Commercial nuclear components
• Surface treatment coatings

Headquarters

HQ city

Davidson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Aerospace & Defense Products: Sale of highly engineered hardware products including actuators, embedded computing, sensors, valves, mission computers, flight instrumentation, and motion control systems to aerospace, defense, and industrial customers. Long-term fixed-price contracts with defense primes and government. Complemented by aftermarket overhaul and repair services.
2. Commercial Nuclear Power Products & Services: Products and services for commercial nuclear power plants including valves, actuators, instrumentation, containment integrity products, spent fuel management, HVAC equipment, and advanced technologies for next-generation reactors. Services include engineering, outage management, and supply chain solutions.
3. Aftermarket and Repair Services: Aftermarket overhaul, repair, and spare parts for aerospace and defense products. Fleet services for naval defense and commercial nuclear customers. Recurring revenue from long-term service agreements.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Curtiss-Wright designs, manufactures, and services highly engineered, mission-critical hardware and software for defense, aerospace, commercial nuclear power, and industrial markets. Its portfolio spans electromechanical actuation, embedded computing and tactical communications, flight test instrumentation, turret stabilization, naval nuclear propulsion and helicopter handling systems, commercial nuclear plant equipment, industrial valves, and advanced surface treatments. Revenue is generated through product sales backed by long-term fixed-price contracts, plus recurring aftermarket overhaul, repair, and engineering services.

Product overview

Curtiss-Wright provides a diversified portfolio of highly engineered products and services across three primary segments: Aerospace & Industrial, Defense Electronics, and Naval & Power. The Aerospace & Industrial segment offers actuation systems (linear/rotary electromechanical actuators, secondary flight controls), industrial controls (hand/joystick controls, motor controllers, sensors), and surface treatment technologies (shot peening, laser peening, thermal spray coatings, plasma electrolytic oxidation). The Defense Electronics segment provides embedded computing boards (processor, FPGA, GPU, I/O, networking cards), PacStar tactical communications, TCG LinkPRO tactical data link software, flight test instrumentation (data acquisition, telemetry, recorders), motion control systems (turret stabilization, ammunition handling), and VPX computing systems for military platforms. The Naval & Power segment supplies nuclear propulsion components (valves, pumps, motors), aircraft arresting and helicopter handling systems, commercial nuclear products (actuators, valves, containment equipment, process control systems, simulation software), pressure relief and control valves, and heat exchanger tube plugging solutions. The portfolio serves aerospace, defense, commercial nuclear power, and general industrial markets with critical must-not-fail technologies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CW Defense Solutions: Defense solutions division providing embedded computing and mission systems
• CW Industrial
• CW Nuclear
• CW Sensors
• CW Actuation
• CW Valve Group
• CW Surface Technologies (CWST)
• PacStar
• Keronite

Products and services

• Embedded Computing Boards Processor cards, FPGA cards, GPU/Graphics/Video cards, I/O modules, networking cards, A-PNT solutions, storage blade cards, safety-certifiable COTS cards, SOSA-aligned Open VPX cards, and 100 GbE cards engineered for aerospace and defense applications requiring ruggedized, safety-certifiable performance.
• PacStar Communications Solutions Tactical communications systems including rugged small form factor network systems, tactical data link processing solutions, and IQ-Core network communications management software for defense deployments, with Microsoft Azure Local hybrid cloud validation.
• TCG LinkPRO Tactical Data Link Software

Quantifiable outcome

• Q1 2026 revenue of $914 million, up 13% year-over-year, with 23% growth in adjusted diluted EPS to $3.48
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and strategic.

• X-energycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 May 2026Curtiss-Wright transitioned from design to prototype manufacturing of Helium Circulator Systems and Reactivity Control and Shutdown Systems for X-energy's Xe-100 advanced High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor (Generation IV, 80 MW per unit). The Xe-100 is a Generation IV reactor delivering 80 MW per unit. X-energy is developing its first plant at Dow Inc.'s UCC Seadrift Operations on the Texas Gulf Coast and plans to develop up to 12 units with Energy Northwest in Washington state as part of Amazon's 5 GW deployment target. This partnership positions Curtiss-Wright as a key SMR component supplier.
• Idaho National Laboratory (INL)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 April 2026Curtiss-Wright participated in the A/SMR Cybersecurity and Operational Resilience Summit hosted by Idaho National Laboratory in August 2025, alongside Berkshire Hathaway Energy and Hitachi Energy, to develop cybersecurity frameworks for advanced and small modular reactors.
• TerraPowercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 March 2026Curtiss-Wright has been awarded contracts to supply training simulators and control systems for TerraPower's Natrium advanced reactor project in Kemmerer, Wyoming. TerraPower's Natrium reactor received a construction permit from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in March 2026, making it the first non-light-water reactor to receive such approval in over 40 years.
• AvernacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 March 2026Curtiss-Wright partnered with Averna to develop five custom aerospace test systems for the qualification and acceptance testing of next-generation actuators. The systems are designed to deliver precision dynamic load applications with an emphasis on repeatability, scalability, and secure data management, integrating with Curtiss-Wright's manufacturing execution systems and complying with ITAR and other regulatory standards.
• U.S. Department of DefensecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 February 2026Curtiss-Wright was awarded a 4-year U.S. Department of Defense contract for RAST shipboard helicopter handling systems. The company also secured a $400+ million contract from Boeing to supply mission computer technology for the U.S. Air Force's C-17 fleet, and a $50 million IDIQ contract from Naval Air Systems Command for flight data acquisition systems.
• Green Hills SoftwarestrategicTechnology or Integration · 31 January 2026Curtiss-Wright partnered with Green Hills Software to develop safety certifiable COTS (Commercial Off-the-Shelf) computing solutions for critical avionics applications. The collaboration focuses on high-performance, safety-certifiable computing platforms aligned with defense avionics requirements.
• Microsoft AzurestrategicTechnology or Integration · 31 January 2026Curtiss-Wright's PacStar tactical edge servers have been validated for Azure Local hybrid cloud and edge deployments. This validates Curtiss-Wright's position in tactical edge computing for defense customers requiring cloud-connected mission systems.
• NuScale PowercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 July 2025Curtiss-Wright has announced SMR deals with NuScale Power as one of multiple small modular reactor program partnerships. NuScale is developing the VOYGR small modular reactor.
• Westinghouse ElectriccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 July 2025Curtiss-Wright has announced SMR deals with Westinghouse Electric as one of multiple small modular reactor program partnerships. Westinghouse is developing the AP1000 and BWRX-300 reactor designs.
• Rolls-Royce SMRcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 July 2025Curtiss-Wright has announced SMR deals with Rolls-Royce SMR as one of multiple small modular reactor program partnerships. Rolls-Royce is developing a 470 MW pressurized water reactor for the UK market.
• GE Hitachi Nuclear EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 July 2025Curtiss-Wright has announced SMR deals with GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy as one of multiple small modular reactor program partnerships. GE Hitachi is developing the BWRX-300 small modular reactor.
• Keronite Group LimitedstrategicOthers · 16 November 2022Curtiss-Wright acquired Keronite Group Limited for $35 million in cash. Keronite's plasma electrolytic oxidation surface treatment technology was integrated into the Aerospace & Industrial segment, expanding Curtiss-Wright's surface treatment portfolio for aerospace, defense, and industrial markets. Keronite was expected to generate approximately $9 million in sales in 2022.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Mercury Systems: Mercury Systems is a leading provider of mission-critical processing subsystems for aerospace and defense applications, including embedded computing, RF and microwave, and sensor processing. This directly mirrors Curtiss-Wright's Defense Electronics segment (VPX/VME boards, mission computers, flight instrumentation).
• TransDigm Group: TransDigm is a leading designer, producer, and supplier of highly engineered aerospace components, systems, and subsystems for commercial and military aircraft. Closely comparable to Curtiss-Wright's sole-source positioning on mission-critical defense and aerospace components.
• Kratos Defense & Security Solutions: Kratos provides unmanned systems, tactical communications, and defense electronics including tactical data links and electronic warfare products. Comparable to Curtiss-Wright's PacStar tactical communications, TCG LinkPRO, and CESMO integration capabilities.
• BWX Technologies: BWXT manufactures nuclear components and fuel, including naval nuclear reactors, and supports commercial nuclear power. Closely comparable to Curtiss-Wright's Naval & Power segment, including nuclear propulsion components and SMR-related work.
• HEICO Corporation: HEICO operates two segments: Flight Support (parts and components for commercial and business aviation) and Electronic Technologies (defense electronics). Comparable to Curtiss-Wright's diversified aerospace, defense electronics, and aftermarket exposure.
• Woodward Inc. Woodward designs and manufactures energy control and optimization solutions for aerospace and industrial markets, including actuation systems and turbine controls. Comparable to Curtiss-Wright's actuation and motion control businesses serving aerospace and industrial customers.
• Ducommun Inc. Ducommun provides engineering and manufacturing services for aerospace and defense structural assemblies, including airframe components and electronic assemblies. Comparable to Curtiss-Wright's defense structural and electronic subassembly work for military platforms.
• Moog Inc. Moog designs and manufactures precision motion control products and systems for aerospace, defense, and industrial markets. This directly competes with Curtiss-Wright's actuation, turret drive stabilization, and electromechanical motion control businesses.

Broad incumbents

• Teledyne Technologies: Teledyne is a diversified industrial conglomerate spanning digital imaging, instruments, aerospace and defense electronics, and engineered systems. Comparable to Curtiss-Wright's breadth across defense electronics, sensors, and industrial components.
• L3Harris Technologies: L3Harris is a major defense prime contractor providing integrated mission systems across space, air, land, sea, and cyber domains, including tactical communications and electronic warfare. Comparable to Curtiss-Wright's tactical communications (PacStar), tactical data links, and defense electronics portfolio, though at significantly larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCjABpaGnRQwRAYdk7YloaSg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/curtiss-wright-corporation
• Xx.com/cwcorporation1
• Facebookfacebook.com/onecwcareers

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A62 records

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Curtiss-Wright