Six Strongest Defense Contractors: Photo Gallery

Silver Lining, Silver Bullets: Afghanistan business sent Q2 profits of ammunitions manufacturer

Alliant Techsystems

(ATK)

up 18%.

See More Slideshows

Black marks, Better Numbers: While logistics competitor Blackwater was reaching into its pockets for Iraqi officials,

DynCorp

(DCP) - Get Free Report

lined its own pockets with a 60% jump in Q2 profits.

See More Slideshows

Striking Gold in the Desert:

General Dynamics

(GD) - Get Free Report

recently won a big contract for its Stryker combat vehicle used in Iraq and Afghanistan.

See More Slideshows

Taking to the air again? Shares of aircraft manufacturer

Textron

(TXT) - Get Free Report

have been trading near a 52-week high, even after several ugly quarters.

See More Slideshows

A

Boeing

(BA) - Get Free Report

executive at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch 2009 Defense Outlook Forum last week said there has never been so much opportunity in the sector for products like its Chinook helicopter

See More Slideshows

Privately held

General Atomics

, maker of the Predator drone, has often been prey to takeover efforts due to its success in war zones like Afghanistan.

See More Slideshows