KBR Named a Leading Company by Australian Defense Magazine
Rhea-AI Summary
KBR (NYSE: KBR) was named to Australia Defense Magazine’s 2025 Top 40 Defense Contractor list, recognizing its role as a partner to the Australian Defence Force.
In 2025 KBR secured over 1.2 billion AUD (~$837 million) in contract awards and extensions in Australia, supports the Royal Australian Navy, Army and Air Force, and employs more than 2,500 people in-country. Key activities include maintenance planning for amphibious combat and support ships, air and space command-and-control integration, space domain awareness via Iron Stallion, and long-cycle project management and engineering services.
Positive
- Secured over 1.2 billion AUD (~$837M) in Australian contracts in 2025
- Employs more than 2,500 people in Australia including 1,000 subject-matter experts
- Provides multi-domain support across land, sea, air, cyber and space
- Deploys Iron Stallion technology for Australian space domain awareness
Negative
- None.
News Market Reaction
On the day this news was published, KBR declined 0.64%, reflecting a mild negative market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
KBR slipped -0.16% while peers were mixed: FLR down -0.59% but PRIM, IESC, ROAD and DY all up between +1.06% and +1.58%, suggesting stock-specific trading rather than a broad sector move.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 12 | LNG FEED award | Positive | -0.2% | Front-end engineering design contract for Coastal Bend LNG facility. |
| Jan 12 | LNG FEED & EPC | Positive | -0.2% | Selection for FEED and potential EPC role on Texas LNG project. |
| Jan 07 | MDA SHIELD contract | Positive | -1.7% | Seat on Missile Defense Agency SHIELD IDIQ with large ceiling. |
| Jan 05 | USGS services award | Positive | +6.7% | Five-year USGS technical support contract with significant ceiling. |
| Dec 18 | Navy sustainment IDIQ | Positive | -0.2% | Seat on long-term readiness and sustainment support contract. |
Recent positive contract wins have often produced muted or negative next-day moves, with only one strong upside reaction among the last five news events.
Over the past several months, KBR has announced multiple sizable contract-related milestones, including U.S. defense and government awards with large ceilings and long durations. Events such as the $350M USGS contract on Jan 5, 2026 and major IDIQ seats with the Missile Defense Agency and U.S. Naval Supply Systems Command highlight a growing backlog and role in strategic programs. Against this backdrop, today’s recognition by Australian Defence Magazine reinforces KBR’s expanding defense footprint, particularly following recent LNG and defense-related awards disclosed in early 2026 and late 2025.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement underscores KBR’s role as a key defense partner in Australia, with recognition in a Top 40 ranking and over 1.2 billion Australian dollars (~$837 million) in 2025 contract awards and extensions. The company now employs more than 2,500 people locally, including 1,000 subject matter experts, supporting missions across land, sea, air, cyber and space. In context of recent large U.S. defense and government contracts, investors may focus on how this international footprint contributes to backlog quality, margin profile and long-cycle revenue visibility.
Key Terms
system-of-systems technical
space domain awareness technical
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
HOUSTON, Jan. 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- KBR (NYSE: KBR) was pleased be recognized in the 2025 Australia Defense Magazine’s Top 40 Defense Contractor list. The recognition as one of Australia’s leading defense companies reflects the company’s commitment to being a trusted industry partner, delivering innovative solutions that support the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
“KBR is proud to once again be named a leading partner to the ADF by Australia Defense Magazine. As Australia invests in world-leading, sovereign defense capabilities, KBR stands ready to support the ADF and together turn data into action, stay universally ready for any emerging threat and seamlessly coordinate with the U.S. military,” said Mark Kavanaugh, KBR President of Defence, Intel and Space. “Our strategic partnerships in Australia showcase KBR’s global reach in creating and executing new technology solutions for the critical missions of the U.S. and its most important allies.”
In 2025, KBR secured over 1.2 billion Australian dollars (~
KBR supports the Australian Defence Department and its armed forces, the Royal Australian Navy, the Australian Army and the Royal Australian Air Force, in their highest-priority missions to modernize Australia’s sovereign defense systems while better integrating and interoperating with U.S. armed forces’ systems. Focused on Australia’s most urgent national security needs, KBR leverages its advanced, integrated solutions through a system-of-systems approach. Highlights include:
- Using world-class tools and technology to provide maintenance planning, engineering-based solutions and decision support in managing specialized warships of the Navy’s critical Amphibious Combat and Support surface fleet.
- Expediting decision-making through critical integration enhancements to the ADF’s Air and Space Operations Command and Control System.
- Deploying an integral component of Australia’s space domain awareness through KBR’s Iron Stallion technology, which finds, watches and tracks objects in space.
- Providing project management and engineering services for the Defence Department, reinforcing KBR’s leadership in long-cycle defense programs.
KBR employs more than 2,500 people in Australia, including 1,000 subject matter experts and support staff contributing to Australian defense and national security missions. The company operates at military sites nationwide and maintains offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra and Adelaide.
About KBR
We deliver science, technology and engineering solutions to governments and companies around the world. KBR employs approximately 37,000 people worldwide with customers in more than 80 countries and operations in over 29 countries. KBR is proud to work with its customers across the globe to provide technology, value-added services, and long-term operations and maintenance services to ensure consistent delivery with predictable results. At KBR, We Deliver.
Visit www.kbr.com
Forward Looking Statements
The statements in this press release that are not historical statements, including statements regarding KBR’s delivery of defense solutions in Australia, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and assumptions, many of which are beyond the company’s control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by the statements. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions include, but are not limited to, those set forth in the company’s most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, any subsequent Form 10-Qs and 8-Ks and other U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings, which discuss some of the important risks, uncertainties and assumptions that the company has identified that may affect its business, results of operations and financial condition. Due to such risks, uncertainties and assumptions, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Except as required by law, the company undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason.
For further information, please contact:
Investors
Rachael Goldwait
Vice President, Investor Relations
713-753-5082
Investors@kbr.com
Media
Philip Ivy
Vice President, Global Communications and Marketing
713-753-3800
MediaRelations@kbr.com
FAQ
What recognition did KBR (NYSE: KBR) receive from Australian Defense Magazine in 2025?
How much did KBR win in contract awards and extensions in Australia in 2025?
What Australian defence activities does KBR (KBR) support?
How many people does KBR employ in Australia as of the announcement?
What is KBR’s Iron Stallion capability mentioned in the KBR Australia announcement?
How does KBR describe its role with U.S. and Australian military interoperability?
