Five NATO members have already reached the alliance's new 3.5% of GDP defense spending target, and Trump is heading to the Ankara summit to pressure the rest to follow. The push centers on real military capability — missiles, air defense, and munitions — not just budget pledges.
Who cashes in: RTX (RTX) is the most direct beneficiary. Its Patriot air-defense system and AMRAAM missiles are the default NATO restocking items — every ally that needs to fill gaps in air defense writes a check that flows to Raytheon Missiles & Defense. Lockheed Martin (LMT) collects on F-35 deliveries and HIMARS systems, both of which are on European shopping lists. Northrop Grumman (NOC) benefits more slowly through the B-21 and Sentinel ICBM programs, but its electronic warfare and space systems are also in demand. AeroVironment (AVAV) is the smaller-cap name to watch: its Switchblade loitering munitions have proven battlefield value and are a logical NATO procurement item. L3Harris (LHX) supplies tactical communications gear that every expanding NATO force needs.