Collins Aerospace Showcases Autonomous Flight Software in Successful Test
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 20 2026
0mins
Should l Buy RTX?
Source: Newsfilter
- Successful Autonomous Flight Test: Collins Aerospace successfully demonstrated its Sidekick mission autonomy software during a test flight of the YFQ-42A drone, achieving a four-hour autonomous flight, marking a significant advancement for the U.S. Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft program.
- Integration Advantages: The test showcased seamless integration between Collins' autonomy software and the YFQ-42A's mission systems, ensuring precise piloting commands, thereby enhancing mission success rates and weapon effectiveness.
- Investment and Collaboration Outcomes: The rapid integration of Sidekick onto the platform highlights nearly a decade of dedicated investment and close collaboration with customers, showcasing the strength and adaptability of Collins' open systems approach to advance collaborative mission autonomy.
- Support for Air Force Program: Collins was selected by the U.S. Air Force to support the development and testing of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft Increment 1 program, underscoring its critical role and market potential in combat-related air operations.
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Analyst Views on RTX
Wall Street analysts forecast RTX stock price to rise
14 Analyst Rating
9 Buy
5 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 194.720
Low
168.00
Averages
195.77
High
215.00
Current: 194.720
Low
168.00
Averages
195.77
High
215.00
About RTX
RTX Corporation is an aerospace and defense company, which provides advanced systems and services for commercial, military, and government customers worldwide. The Company operates through three segments: Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon. Collins Aerospace segment provides technologically advanced aerospace and defense products and aftermarket service solutions for civil and military aircraft manufacturers, commercial airlines, and regional, business and general aviation, as well as for defense and commercial space operations. The Pratt & Whitney segment supplies aircraft engines for commercial, military, business jet, and general aviation customers. The Raytheon segment provides defensive and offensive threat detection, tracking and mitigation capabilities for the United States and foreign government and commercial customers. The Raytheon designs, develops, and provides advanced capabilities in integrated air and missile defense, smart weapons, missiles and others.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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See More
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- RTX Defense Advantage: As the U.S. military seeks to replenish its arsenal post-Iran war, RTX, the parent company of Raytheon, is poised to benefit from increased defense spending, currently valued at $263 billion with a dividend yield of 1.39%.
- Aviation Engine Market: RTX's business in aviation engines and control systems locks in years of revenue from jet engine sales, with only 40% of estimated 2026 earnings allocated for dividends, indicating strong financial health.
- WM Waste Management Stability: WM operates the largest landfill network in the U.S., maintaining a steady business model with a 23-year history of dividend increases, currently valued at $95 billion and a dividend yield of 1.45%, showcasing robust profitability.
- Industry Growth Potential: Analysts forecast WM's annualized earnings growth of 11% to 12% over the next three to five years, making its current stock price of $235.20 and a P/E ratio of 28 times a fair value for long-term investors.
See More
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- RTX's Market Position: As a leading defense contractor, RTX is poised to benefit from the U.S. military's need to replenish its arsenal in the coming years, with only 40% of its estimated 2026 earnings allocated for dividend payments, currently yielding 1.4%, indicating strong financial health.
- WM's Competitive Advantage: WM operates the largest landfill network in the U.S., and due to its strong regulatory moat, management has raised dividends for 23 consecutive years, with a payout ratio of only 46% of its 2026 earnings estimates, allowing room for future dividend growth.
- Valuation Analysis: RTX shares currently trade at over 27 times 2026 earnings estimates, while WM trades at 28 times, and although both stocks are not cheap, analysts project annualized earnings growth of 10%-12% over the next 3-5 years, suggesting fair valuations.
- Investment Recommendations: While both RTX and WM are solid investment options, analysts have identified 10 other stocks that may offer higher returns, prompting investors to consider these alternatives before making decisions.
See More
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- Defense Budget Increase: Trump is set to roll out a $1.5 trillion defense budget request on Friday, marking the largest annual increase in military spending since World War II, reflecting a strong commitment to global security.
- Missile Defense Initiative: The proposal is expected to include $185 billion for the “Golden Dome” missile defense initiative, aimed at enhancing national defense capabilities amid a complex international security landscape.
- Naval Investment Focus: Significant funding is anticipated for Virginia-class submarines produced by General Dynamics and Huntington Ingalls Industries, underscoring the emphasis on naval power to address maritime security challenges.
- Expanded Weapons Production: The budget request will support increased weapons production to strengthen deterrence in the Indo-Pacific and replenish stockpiles diminished by ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, indicating a proactive U.S. military strategy.
See More
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- Upgrade Announcement: Melius Research upgraded RTX's stock rating from Hold to Buy, reflecting analysts' optimistic expectations for the company's future performance, which is likely to drive further stock price increases.
- Surging Demand: The ongoing conflict with Iran has led to a sharp increase in demand for military equipment, with analyst Scott Mikus highlighting the urgent need to replenish a wide range of military assets, including missiles, interceptors, and radar systems, indicating strong growth potential in the defense sector.
- Inventory Pressure: Sustained combat activity is driving increased demand for munitions and related systems, creating inventory pressures that not only impact RTX but also positively influence the outlook for major defense contractors across the industry.
- Market Trend: The upgrade of RTX's rating aligns with the overall rise in demand within the defense sector, suggesting that the company may benefit from increased military spending and ongoing military activities, further solidifying its market position.
See More
High Net Worth Investors Navigate Market Volatility Amid Geopolitical Tensions
- Cash is King: R360's ultra-high net worth investors are currently holding up to 30% in cash and short-duration debt, reflecting a strategy to maintain liquidity amidst market volatility, emphasizing a long-term investment philosophy.
- Treasury Market Opportunities: With the 10-year Treasury yield rising to 4.3%, high net worth investors are showing strong interest in intermediate fixed income products, indicating an increasing demand for stable returns in the current interest rate environment.
- Tech Stock Buying Opportunities: Sameer Samana from Wells Fargo notes that the sharp pullback in equities has created opportunities for high net worth investors to buy tech stocks at more reasonable valuations, particularly in the software and hardware sectors, reflecting confidence in future growth potential.
- Energy and Commodity Investments: Charlie Garcia from R360 states that investors have shifted 40% of their new money into energy and commodities, particularly Canadian Natural Resources and major oil companies, signaling a long-term bullish outlook on the energy market despite potential short-term oil price fluctuations.
See More
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- Open-Source Toolkit Launch: RTX's BBN Technologies unit has released an open-source software toolkit named Maude-HCS, designed to assist cybersecurity teams in modeling and testing covert communication systems, addressing the growing demands of contested digital environments.
- Funding Background: The toolkit was developed with funding from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) under its PWND2 program and is now available on GitHub for government, academic, and industry researchers, fostering collaboration in secure communications research.
- Performance Evaluation Capability: RTX states that the software allows users to estimate key performance metrics such as latency, throughput, and detection likelihood before deployment, with modeling results showing a margin of error between 1% and 9% compared to controlled experimental tests, significantly enhancing testing accuracy.
- Accelerating Development Process: By automating analysis, the toolkit reduces the need for prolonged trial-and-error testing, enabling users to evaluate system designs in hours rather than weeks, thereby expediting the development timeline for secure communication systems.
See More
