Defense Primes — The Big Seven
The Companies That Build Military and Space Hardware
Seven companies dominate the defense aerospace industry. Together they employ over 700,000 people, generate over $350 billion in annual revenue, and build virtually every military aircraft, missile, satellite, and space vehicle the U.S. operates. For aerospace engineering students, these are the largest employers — and the most structured internship-to-career pipelines in the industry.
Each company has a distinct identity. Boeing builds commercial and military aircraft. Lockheed Martin builds the F-35 and Orion spacecraft. Northrop Grumman builds stealth bombers and the James Webb Space Telescope. RTX makes engines and missiles. General Dynamics builds Gulfstream jets and nuclear submarines. L3Harris builds sensors and radios. BAE Systems dominates electronic warfare.
Company Directory
| Company | Employees | Revenue | Key Products | Intern Pay | HS Programs? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing | ~172,000 | $66.5B | 737, 787, 777X, F-15EX, Apache, KC-46, SLS, Starliner | $25-43/hr engineering | Core Plus Aerospace (WA): paid summer manufacturing |
| Lockheed Martin | ~122,000 | $71.0B | F-35, F-16, C-130J, Black Hawk, THAAD, Orion, GPS III | $20-32/hr engineering | Yes: 9-10 week paid HS internship (ages 16+) at LM Space — Denver, Sunnyvale, Cape Canaveral, KoP, Huntsville, Herndon |
| Northrop Grumman | ~100,000 | $41.0B | B-21 Raider, B-2, JWST, Global Hawk, Triton, Cygnus | $15-37/hr engineering | HIP: 2-year mentoring → scholarship + internship (50+ years running) |
| RTX | ~185,000 | $88.6B | Patriot, Tomahawk, F135 engine, PW1000G, Collins avionics | $25-45/hr engineering | Connect Up: STEM in 5,400 Boys & Girls Clubs. SMASH: $40K scholarships. |
| General Dynamics | 110,000+ | $52.6B | Gulfstream G700/G800, Virginia-class subs, Columbia-class subs | $25-45/hr engineering | Electric Boat SHIP: 8-week paid HS program (~97 slots) — real submarine construction |
| L3Harris | ~45,000 | $21.7B | Tactical radios, space sensors, EW systems, night vision | $25-45/hr engineering | No structured HS program |
| BAE Systems | ~35,000 US | ~$13.6B US | F-35 EW suite, F-15E EPAWSS, aircraft EW on 80% of USAF | $21-30/hr engineering | No structured HS program. 9/80 schedule (every other Friday off). |
How to Get In
The standard pipeline: Internship → return offer → full-time. Every major prime follows this pattern. Apply in fall (August-October) for the following summer. Most require 3.0+ GPA, US citizenship, and the ability to obtain a security clearance.
High school students: Three primes offer structured paid high school programs:
- Lockheed Martin: 9-10 week paid internship for students 16+. Applications open November 3, deadline December 19. Six locations.
- General Dynamics Electric Boat: SHIP program — 8 weeks on the submarine construction floor. ~97 slots in North Kingstown RI and Groton CT. Interns become EB employees and union members.
- Boeing Core Plus Aerospace: Washington state only. Two-year CTE curriculum → paid summer manufacturing at Boeing factories. 1,400+ graduates hired since 2015. $25/hour starting after graduation.
College students: Apply broadly. These companies recruit from hundreds of schools. Attend career fairs, apply online, and consider competitions that feed pipelines (Lockheed Martin Code Quest → paid internship eligibility, Northrop Grumman HIP → scholarship + internship).
Security clearances matter. Most defense prime work requires a Secret or Top Secret clearance. You cannot apply for one yourself — the employer sponsors you. But you can be disqualified by criminal history, foreign contacts, or financial issues. If you're planning a defense career, keep your record clean and manage your finances responsibly starting now.
Looking for internship details? See our Prime Contractor Internships guide for detailed program comparisons, pay ranges, deadlines, and application tips for Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, RTX, L3Harris, and General Dynamics.