Spotlight On Defense

Private security firms are being tapped this Winter Olympics to ensure the safety of the U.S. delegation following a series of bombings near Sochi that killed dozens of people.

The jet maker has started high-speed wind tunnel tests at its manufacturing plant in Seattle for the next-generation 777X as part of required examinations ahead of the jet’s 2020 launch.  

Colt, the iconic 179-year-old gun maker, filed for bankruptcy amid delays to military contracts and a struggle to capitalize on the surge in consumer firearm sales.

TrackingPoint, the creator of the precision-guided firearm, is aiming to put its rifles in the hands of more hunters and target shooters. While the company continues to make their pitch to military and law enforcement, the technology has opened up a new market in consumer firearms.

The Army showed off a blimp-like airship Wednesday that is designed to help the military detect and destroy cruise missiles speeding toward the nation's capital or other major East Coast cities.

Lockheed Martin Corp. is in advanced talks to buy the Sikorsky helicopter unit from United Technologies Corp., in a deal that could be valued at more than $8 billion.

Oshkosh Corp. was awarded a $6.7 billion contract to build the first batch of as many as 55,000 light trucks to replace the aging Humvees used by the U.S. Army and Marine Corps, the Pentagon said Tuesday.

Smith & Wesson Holding Corp. reported better-than-expected results Tuesday and raised its annual outlook as investors expect a renewed gun debate in the U.S. to drive sales.

More U.S. residents applied to purchase handguns, rifles and other firearms from licensed dealers on Black Friday than any other day on record, according to Federal Bureau of Investigation data released this week.

Defense contractors rallied on Wall Street amid calls for the U.S., France and their allies to step up military action following attacks in Paris on Friday.