Boeing Wins Contract to Aid Japan E-767 AWACS Aircraft

The Boeing Company BA recently clinched a contract to provide mission computing upgrade installation for the Japan E-767 Airborne Warning and Control System (“AWACS”) aircraft. The award has been offered by the Air Force Lifecycle Management Center, Hanscom Air Force Base, MA.  Details of the DealValued at $84.6 million, the contract is projected to be completed by Dec. 23, 2028. The latest modification brought the total cumulative face value of the contract to $330.5 million. Work related to the contract will be executed in Oklahoma City, OK, and San Antonio, TX. What’s Favoring BA Stock in Japan?The growing threats in the Indo-Pacific region, such as hypersonic, long-range, re-targetable missiles and advanced early warning systems capable of detecting stealth fighters, have necessitated the modernization of Japan’s air defense capabilities. Emerging geopolitical threats have forced nations across the globe to boost their defense spending significantly in recent times. Japan, being no exception, has become one of the major forerunners in this space. To this end, it is imperative to mention that the country is expected to be the world's third-largest defense spender by 2027, after the United States and China (as per the Morder Intelligence firm). This should bolster Boeing’s growth prospects in Japan, considering the fact that Boeing has been a key supplier of defense equipment, aircraft and services to its Ministry of Defense for more than 65 years now. Notably, Japan’s Self-Defense Forces have built and operated the largest fleets of Boeing’s F-15 fighters and CH-47 Chinook helicopters outside the United States. The aerospace giant’s strong presence in Japan’s defense industry can be further gauged from the fact that more than 300 Boeing airplanes made by Japanese partners currently fly in defense of the country. The latest contract win further strengthens Boeing’s importance in Japan’s defense space. Other Defense Stocks to WatchDefense stocks other than Boeing that have a strong presence in Japan and are thus expected to benefit from the expanding Japanese defense investment have been discussed below.RTX Corp. RTX: Its APG-82(V)1 AESA radar is integrated into the F-15 JSI program. Moreover, the F-100 engine, manufactured by RTX’s Pratt &Whitney, powers the F-15 jets. In January 2025, the U.S. State Department approved a potential sale of advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles and related equipment to Japan for an estimated $3.64 billion, with the principal contractor for the sale being RTX (as per a report by Reuters).Looking ahead, the company boasts a long-term (three to five years) earnings growth rate of 9.7%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 sales indicates year-over-year growth of 4.4%.BAE Systems BAESY: The company has been contributing to Japan’s defense force for more than 25 years now. BAESY has been doing so through its association with Japanese Steel Works, which manufactures its Mk45 Naval Gun under license. Moreover, the company’s AN/ALQ-250 Eagle Passive Warning Survivability Systems are being installed in Japan’s F-15 super interceptor jets. BAESY boasts a long-term earnings growth rate of 11.1%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 sales indicates year-over-year growth of 37.7%.Lockheed Martin LMT: More than 550 military helicopters have been produced by Lockheed for the Japan Self-Defense Forces. The Aegis Combat System, with Lockheed being a major contractor in this program, has been providing advanced sea, air and undersea threat detection capabilities to Japan’s Kongo and Atago-class ships for the past 25 years.LMT boasts a long-term earnings growth rate of 7.8%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 sales indicates year-over-year growth of 4.6%.BA Stock’s Price MovementShares of BA have lost 15.5% in the past year compared with the industry’s 5.5% decline.Image Source: Zacks Investment ResearchBA’s Zacks RankBA currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.  5 Stocks Set to DoubleEach was handpicked by a Zacks expert as the #1 favorite stock to gain +100% or more in 2024. While not all picks can be winners, previous recommendations have soared +143.0%, +175.9%, +498.3% and +673.0%.Most of the stocks in this report are flying under Wall Street radar, which provides a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor.Today, See These 5 Potential Home Runs >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report The Boeing Company (BA): Free Stock Analysis Report Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT): Free Stock Analysis Report Bae Systems PLC (BAESY): Free Stock Analysis Report RTX Corporation (RTX): Free Stock Analysis ReportThis article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).Zacks Investment ResearchWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks