Below you can find all the winners from the 2023 Excellence Awards which celebrate the greatest achievements and innovations in the industry. The programme provides a platform to recognise the people and companies that are driving change.

Our programme is designed to highlight excellence within the sector by looking at a range of corporate activities including deals, business projects and company initiatives, both internal and in the community.

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You can also download our full Awards & Rankings Report which includes all of this year’s rankings, as well as the awards winners, shortlists and company profiles.

Business Expansion

Business Expansion is one of our largest categories and looks at the core functions of business operations within the sector. This consists of any projects that have expanded the company’s footprint in the sector, including: contract wins; launching in new territories; launching new product lines; the acquisition and expansion of facilities and real estate; acquisition of new machinery or other assets; improved logistics; partnerships; and significant staff increases.

AM General

AM General wins our Business Expansion award after securing a major contract from the US Army to produce up to 20,682 Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs) and 9,883 trailers, unseating Oshkosh Defense. The production will take place in South Bend, Indiana, with completion by February 8, 2033. Enhancements include better corrosion protection, improved fuel efficiency, and advancements in Next Generation Vehicle Architecture.

Shortlist

  • BAE Systems
  • Elbit Systems
  • Lockheed Martin
  • Rheinmetall
  • Saab
  • Thales

Innovation

Innovation is the category with one of the widest scopes within the Excellence Rankings as it looks at novel new approaches in every area, from the fruits of research and development to novel new business practices. What all the ranked entities have in common is the demonstration of new concepts not just within their own business but in the sector as a whole.

The category includes any projects that demonstrate an innovative approach to the market. The category crosses over with many of our other categories and can include new products, novel product features, new business practices, new marketing and sales strategies and more.

DARPA

DARPA wins our Innovation award for creating the AI-powered cyber vulnerability prevention system, INGOTS. This three-year program will develop and refine tools to identify and measure vulnerabilities in complex systems like web browsers and mobile operating systems. INGOTS combines program analysis and AI with human-machine teaming to prioritize and address severe cybersecurity weaknesses.

Shortlist

  • Lockheed Martin
  • Northrop Grumman
  • Rheinmetall
  • Rohde & Schwarz
  • Babcock International
  • RTX Corporation
  • Israel Aerospace Industries

Product Launches

The Product Launches category recognises companies that have launched notable new products or services into the market. This can include physical products, software as well as the launch of services and concepts.

We are specifically looking at novelty, including companies launching products into new areas or innovation in the product’s design, manufacture or marketing.

RAFAEL

Rafael wins the Product Launches award for integrating CRFS’ RFeye technology into its Drone Dome C4, enhancing detection and geolocation capabilities. This integration improves Rafael’s counter-unmanned aircraft system (cUAS) solution by offering advanced RF performance and extensive operational range. The RFeye receiver provides user-friendly APIs for seamless integration with existing systems, countering security risks from hostile drones.

Shortlist

  • BAE Systems
  • Leidos
  • Lockheed Martin
  • Saab
  • Microsoft            
  • Rheinmetall

Research and Development

This category includes organisations that have demonstrated a commitment to the research and development of new products and/or new processes. This can include discovering or creating a unique material, transferring a research or technology development to practice, improving the performance of an existing product or creating a new simulation or design tools.

The category also includes companies that have made significant investments into their R&D processes.

MBDA

MBDA wins our Research and Development award for leading the HYDIS² project, which focuses on developing an endo-atmospheric interceptor for hypersonic threats. The project involves 19 partners and over 30 subcontractors from 14 European countries, aiming to advance interceptor technologies for France, Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands. This work supports the EU’s TWISTER program to improve detection and interception of hypersonic threats.

Shortlist

  • Lockheed Martin
  • Airbus
  • L3Harris Technologies
  • RTX Corporation
  • DRDO
  • Northrop Grumman
  • Rheinmetall
  • RTX
  • Boeing