Shield AI

Stories

Shield AI agrees to buy radar maker Echodyne for up to $5.3 billion

Acquirer

Shield AI agreed to buy Echodyne, a Kirkland, Washington, radar maker, for $4.8 billion at closing and up to $500 million more if the company hits performance targets. The deal, announced Nov. 5, is Shield's fifth acquisition and its largest.

Updated 4 days ago

Defense tech startups race to public markets as Pentagon spending surges

Money Moves

Valued at $12.7 billion after March 2026 funding round

AEVEX Aerospace, a maker of military drones and airborne surveillance systems, began trading on the New York Stock Exchange on April 17, 2026, under the ticker AVEX—and its first day answered a central question about the defense tech IPO wave. Shares opened at $23.01 and closed at $26.93, a 34.7% gain that pushed its market capitalization to roughly $3 billion, well above the $2.35 billion valuation at pricing.

Updated Oct 29