• Ten public defense technology stocks span battlefield AI, autonomy, and space ISR.
• The US Department of Defense's FY2026 budget allocates $13.4 billion for autonomy and autonomous systems.
• Private companies like Anduril and Shield AI set the pace for public companies.
• Defense tech stocks are categorized into five buckets: battlefield software, autonomy, space & ISR, mission systems, and scaled infrastructure.

The shift towards software-defined defense technology may indicate a significant change in the industry's competitive landscape, with companies that can integrate software and hardware potentially gaining an advantage. This trend could suggest increased investment in autonomous systems, AI, and space-based intelligence, which may benefit companies like Palantir, AeroVironment, and Rocket Lab.