New York, May 20, 2026, 12:12 EDT
Redwire Corporation shares were up Wednesday after the company picked up two new drone contracts. The stock gained after Redwire announced a $15 million follow-on order from the U.S. Army before the bell, following news of a bigger NATO deal a day earlier.
The stock traded up 0.6% to $13.99, moving between $13.35 and $14.53. Shares trailed peers, with Rocket Lab up 4.6%, Kratos Defense up 3.5%, and the iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF up 2.3%.
Redwire is looking to prove that its move into space and airborne defense gear leads to more business, not just potential down the road. Uncrewed aerial systems, or UAS, are drones without onboard pilots.
Redwire said the Army order is for Stalker UAS to go to the 1st Aviation Brigade at the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence. It’s the third time in eight months this customer has put in an order, raising the total to $24.8 million. Steve Adlich, who runs Redwire Defense Tech, said Stalker would let the Army “detect, identify, and track threats.” Redwire Corporation
Redwire said Tuesday it landed a multi-year deal for its Penguin Mk3 tactical UAS from an unnamed NATO country worth a “high eight-figures.” Adlich said the platform is based on “years of operational, combat experience.” Redwire said it plans to execute the contract through its European operations. Redwire Corporation
Redwire’s Edge Autonomy portfolio moves into the spotlight this week. Redwire finished buying Edge Autonomy in June 2025, saying it brought field-proven UAS tech, over 1,300 workers and more manufacturing in the U.S. and Europe.
Redwire posted first-quarter revenue of $97.0 million, up 57.9% from last year, and held a contracted backlog of $498.1 million. CEO Peter Cannito called it “very strong demand.” The company kept its 2026 full-year revenue guidance between $450 million and $500 million. Book-to-bill stood at 1.92 for the quarter. Redwire Corporation
But Redwire’s stock still faces execution and financing risk. The company’s first-quarter net loss grew to $76.5 million. In a May 6 SEC filing, Redwire said it may sell up to $350 million in common stock through an at-the-market program, letting it issue shares over time. The filing noted future stock sales could dilute investors and that a large volume of sales could put pressure on the shares.
Redwire’s next hurdle is conversion. The company is back in the defense-drone trade after some contract wins, but investors want to see better margins, more stable cash burn, and proof that those orders actually hit revenue when expected.
