Top Government Contractors 2026
The 20 largest federal government contractors by estimated annual revenue. These firms collectively hold hundreds of billions in contract obligations across defense, IT, professional services, and infrastructure.
Understanding who the top primes are helps small businesses identify teaming partners, subcontracting opportunities, and competitive gaps in the market.
Federal Contractor Rankings
| Rank | Contractor | Est. Revenue | Primary Areas | Headquarters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lockheed Martin | $50.2B | Aeronautics, missiles, space, rotary/mission systems | Bethesda, MD |
| 2 | Boeing | $26.9B | Aircraft, satellites, weapons, cybersecurity | Arlington, VA |
| 3 | Raytheon Technologies | $25.3B | Missiles, defense electronics, cybersecurity, engines | Arlington, VA |
| 4 | Northrop Grumman | $22.1B | Space systems, autonomous, C4ISR, cyber | Falls Church, VA |
| 5 | General Dynamics | $19.8B | IT services, combat vehicles, shipbuilding, C4ISR | Reston, VA |
| 6 | BAE Systems | $13.4B | Electronic systems, platforms, intelligence, support | Falls Church, VA |
| 7 | L3Harris Technologies | $11.8B | Communications, sensors, space, ISR | Melbourne, FL |
| 8 | Leidos | $10.2B | Defense, intelligence, civil, health IT | Reston, VA |
| 9 | Booz Allen Hamilton | $9.4B | Management consulting, analytics, cyber, engineering | McLean, VA |
| 10 | SAIC | $7.7B | IT modernization, engineering, mission support | Reston, VA |
| 11 | Huntington Ingalls Industries | $7.2B | Shipbuilding, nuclear, technical solutions | Newport News, VA |
| 12 | Accenture Federal Services | $6.1B | IT modernization, cloud, consulting, analytics | Arlington, VA |
| 13 | Peraton | $5.8B | Space, intelligence, cyber, defense, civilian | Herndon, VA |
| 14 | ManTech International | $4.2B | Cyber, IT, mission solutions, intelligence | Herndon, VA |
| 15 | KBR | $4.0B | Government services, technology, engineering | Houston, TX |
| 16 | CACI International | $3.9B | IT, intelligence, cyber, engineering | Reston, VA |
| 17 | Jacobs Solutions | $3.7B | Infrastructure, environmental, nuclear, cyber | Dallas, TX |
| 18 | Amentum | $3.5B | Engineering, IT, nuclear, environmental | Germantown, MD |
| 19 | ICF International | $2.1B | IT modernization, public health, climate, consulting | Reston, VA |
| 20 | CGI Federal | $1.9B | IT services, consulting, systems integration | Fairfax, VA |
Aeronautics, missiles, space, rotary/mission systems
Bethesda, MD
Aircraft, satellites, weapons, cybersecurity
Arlington, VA
Missiles, defense electronics, cybersecurity, engines
Arlington, VA
Space systems, autonomous, C4ISR, cyber
Falls Church, VA
IT services, combat vehicles, shipbuilding, C4ISR
Reston, VA
Electronic systems, platforms, intelligence, support
Falls Church, VA
Communications, sensors, space, ISR
Melbourne, FL
Defense, intelligence, civil, health IT
Reston, VA
Management consulting, analytics, cyber, engineering
McLean, VA
IT modernization, engineering, mission support
Reston, VA
Shipbuilding, nuclear, technical solutions
Newport News, VA
IT modernization, cloud, consulting, analytics
Arlington, VA
Space, intelligence, cyber, defense, civilian
Herndon, VA
Cyber, IT, mission solutions, intelligence
Herndon, VA
Government services, technology, engineering
Houston, TX
IT, intelligence, cyber, engineering
Reston, VA
Infrastructure, environmental, nuclear, cyber
Dallas, TX
Engineering, IT, nuclear, environmental
Germantown, MD
IT modernization, public health, climate, consulting
Reston, VA
IT services, consulting, systems integration
Fairfax, VA
Revenue figures are estimated based on publicly available federal contract data from USAspending.gov and company filings.
How Small Businesses Compete with Large Primes
Teaming Arrangements
Small businesses can team with large primes as subcontractors on major procurements. Contractor Teaming Arrangements (CTAs) and Joint Ventures allow small firms to bring specialized capabilities while the prime provides past performance and infrastructure. Many large contracts require teaming as part of the proposal.
Subcontracting Plans
Federal contracts over $750,000 ($1.5M for construction) require large primes to submit subcontracting plans with small business goals. This creates a built-in pipeline of opportunities. The top 20 contractors collectively subcontract tens of billions annually to small businesses.
Set-Aside Contracts
The federal government sets aside 23% of prime contract dollars for small businesses. Additional goals exist for 8(a) firms (5%), HUBZone (3%), SDVOSB (3%), and WOSB (5%). These set-asides create billions in opportunities where large primes cannot compete directly.
Mentor-Protege Programs
SBA's All Small Mentor-Protege Program and DoD's Mentor-Protege Program pair small businesses with experienced contractors. Mentors provide technical, management, and financial assistance while proteges gain access to larger contracts and past performance.
Category Management and Best-in-Class
GSA's Best-in-Class (BIC) vehicles like OASIS+ SB, 8(a) STARS III, and VETS 2 provide dedicated small business pools. Getting on these vehicles gives small firms access to billions in task orders without competing against large primes.
Find Opportunities These Companies Are Bidding On
Search active solicitations, track competitor awards, and identify teaming opportunities with intelligence-powered contract analysis.
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