Nukkleus shares surge 10.91% premarket after completing Star 26 acquisition to expand defense AI, UAV manufacturing.

Nukkleus Inc. surged 10.91% in premarket trading following the completion of its strategic acquisition of Star 26 Capital, a defense-focused acquisition company. The deal, structured with a mix of cash, promissory notes, and equity, grants Nukkleus full ownership of Star 26’s defense assets, including B. Rimon Agencies (supplier for Iron Dome systems) and Water.io (acquirer of AI-powered command centers). This expansion strengthens Nukkleus’s position in the $23 billion military UAV/UAS value chain by 2030, enabling integration of advanced AI, motion control, and supply-chain capabilities. CEO Menny Shalom highlighted the acquisition’s role in addressing defense-industry bottlenecks amid rising U.S. defense spending, positioning the company to scale critical Tier 2/3 suppliers. The move aligns with growing demand for autonomous systems and resilient defense infrastructure, fueling investor optimism.