A&D News

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the capacity to revolutionize the aerospace and defense industry. According to a new report from GlobalData’s Thematic Research ecosystem, some companies are already well positioned to lead the way. They include Boeing and Leidos. 

The assessment ranked companies on a scale of one to five, assessing their ability to tackle emerging challenges such as artificial intelligence in the A&D industry. Other winners in the report included GE L3 Harris Technologies, Airbus, and AECOM. Each attained a full score of five out of five. Leidos exemplifies the commitment to AI in this group, advertising 1,007 new AI jobs between October 2020 and September 2021. It also registered three artificial intelligence patents, and referenced AI technology in official company filings eight times. 

Boeing showed similarly impressive investment levels, with 793 new AI job listings since October of 2020, with five references to AI in its official filings. More mentions of AI in quarterly filings usually indicates that a company is either profiting from prior AI investments, or that it intends to invest more to catch up with others in the industry. Likewise, more AI deals indicate either market dominance or an attempt to shore up AI offerings using mergers and acquisitions.

Across the board, we are witnessing an increase in AI references and AI-inspired mergers and acquisitions in this sector, which once lagged behind other industries in terms of its embrace of emerging technologies. Top executives are now thinking about AI, and trying to incorporate it into their businesses. Those that can do so successfully gain a leg up on the competition, as well as a competitive edge when selling their business.

Companies with AI offerings may need help to value their AI, to integrate it into their existing business, and to prove AI’s worth. The right M&A advisory firm can help them highlight the value of AI and reap its rewards.