This article looks at the 8 Best Small-Cap Defense Stocks to Buy Right Now.The NYSE Arca Defense Index is up 31.24% year-to-date, as of the close on November 17, comfortably surpassing the S&P 500’s returns of 13.70% during the period. Astronics, a small-cap firm, topped the index, soaring over 200% this year, with several leading drone-makers also making significant gains.Small- and mid-cap defense stocks have surged in 2025 amid rising demand for AI-powered drones and unmanned vehicles which provide a bir ...