RTX, the Arlington, Virginia-based aerospace and defense company, announced Thursday that it is raising its financial forecasts for 2026, citing continued strong demand for commercial aircraft repair services and military hardware.
The company’s total order backlog grew 22% compared to the same period last year, reaching $289 billion. That figure includes $170 billion in commercial aerospace orders and $119 billion tied to defense contracts.
A major driver of the maintenance and repair business has been a shortage of new commercial aircraft. Supply chain disruptions and delayed deliveries have forced airlines to keep older, costlier planes in service longer, keeping demand for maintenance, repair, and overhaul work elevated.
RTX’s Pratt & Whitney division, which manufactures engines for Airbus A320neo-family aircraft and Lockheed Martin’s F-35 fighter jet, saw its sales jump 16% to $8.89 billion.
The company’s Raytheon defense unit posted an 18% sales increase to $8.27 billion, fueled by demand for air and missile defense systems including Patriot, Standard, and AMRAAM missiles.
Defense contractors broadly have benefited from increased global security spending, as the Pentagon and allied nations work to rebuild weapons stockpiles drawn down by conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East, and other regions.
U.S. President Donald Trump has called on defense manufacturers to ramp up production and expand factory capacity, while putting forward a record $1.5 trillion military budget proposal for fiscal year 2027.
RTX now projects 2026 adjusted sales in the range of $95 billion to $96 billion, a significant increase from its earlier forecast of $92.5 billion to $93.5 billion. Analysts had been expecting approximately $94.08 billion, according to LSEG data.
The company also raised its full-year adjusted earnings forecast to between $7.10 and $7.25 per share, up from a prior estimate of $6.70 to $6.90 per share. Wall Street had anticipated $6.92 per share.
For the second quarter, RTX reported adjusted earnings of $1.89 per share, compared to $1.56 per share during the same quarter a year ago.
