RTX Corporation — the company formed when Raytheon Company merged with United Technologies in 2020 — is a $68 billion aerospace and defense contractor. It is the second-largest defense contractor in the United States by revenue. Its four business segments (Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, Raytheon Intelligence & Space, and Raytheon Missiles & Defense) collectively spend billions with outside suppliers every year.
The company has a formal, well-documented supplier diversity program. For diverse businesses in aerospace, electronics, engineering services, IT, and advanced manufacturing, RTX is worth pursuing seriously.
RTX's supplier diversity program
RTX publicly commits to supplier diversity as part of its Supplier Code of Conduct and annual sustainability reporting. The company reports supplier diversity spend in its annual report and tracks it against stated goals.
RTX is a signatory to the Billion Dollar Roundtable, a coalition of corporations that have each achieved at least $1 billion in annual diverse supplier spend. That puts them in a category with fewer than 30 companies in the United States. They reached that threshold and have maintained it.
The program covers all four business units. Collins Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney (both headquartered in Connecticut) and the two Raytheon segments (headquartered in Arlington, Virginia) each maintain procurement teams that work within the broader RTX supplier diversity framework.
Certifications accepted
RTX accepts certifications from all major third-party bodies. You do not need every certification — you need the one that matches your ownership profile.
Minority Business Enterprise (MBE): Certification from the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) or a regional affiliate. RTX is an NMSDC corporate member.
Women's Business Enterprise (WBE): Certification from the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). RTX is a WBENC corporate member.
Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) / 8(a): SBA-issued 8(a) certification. Relevant for federal subcontracting opportunities since RTX works under federal prime contracts that carry subcontracting plan requirements.
Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB): VA-issued SDVOSB verification. Given RTX's heavy DoD contract base, SDVOSB-certified suppliers get meaningful attention from sourcing teams.
Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB): SBA-issued WOSB certification or third-party equivalent.
HUBZone: SBA HUBZone certification. Useful in regions near RTX facilities where the company may have geographic sourcing goals.
LGBTBE: Certification from the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC).
Disability-Owned Business Enterprise (DOBE): Disability:IN certification.
Veteran Business Enterprise (VBE): NaVOBA certification.
RTX's subcontracting plans filed with the federal government require tracking spend against SDB, WOSB, SDVOSB, HUBZone, VOSB, and SDVOSB categories under FAR 52.219-9. This creates real procurement incentives — buyers have targets to hit.
How to register
RTX uses Jaggaer as its supplier relationship management platform. The registration portal is accessible at the RTX supplier portal (supplier.rtx.com). Here is the sequence:
- Create a profile in the RTX supplier portal. You will need your DUNS/UEI number, NAICS codes, certifications, and basic business information.
- Upload your diversity certifications as attachments. RTX will verify them against the issuing body.
- Complete the qualification questionnaire relevant to your category. Technical suppliers (electronics, systems integration) go through a more rigorous technical qualification than service providers.
- Your profile becomes searchable to RTX sourcing managers across all four business units.
RTX also asks diverse suppliers to register in SAM.gov if you are pursuing federal subcontracting work, which encompasses most of what RTX buys. SAM.gov registration is free and required to receive federal subcontract payments. Keep it current — it expires annually.
Product and service categories
RTX's four segments have distinct sourcing needs. Collins Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney focus on aerospace components, electronics, and engineering services. The two Raytheon segments focus on missiles, radar systems, electronic warfare, and intelligence systems.
Across RTX, diverse supplier opportunities tend to cluster in:
Professional and technical services: IT services, cybersecurity, software development, program management support, and technical writing. These are high-volume, repeat-purchase categories where diverse suppliers with relevant clearances and experience compete effectively.
Logistics and supply chain: Freight, warehousing, and logistics management. RTX ships components globally and needs domestic logistics partners.
Facilities and maintenance: Janitorial, grounds maintenance, HVAC, and building services at RTX's 40+ major facilities in the United States.
Machining and fabrication: Precision machining, sheet metal, castings, and forgings for aerospace components. Small shops with AS9100 certification and specific process capabilities get traction here.
Electronics and components: Printed circuit boards, connectors, wire harnesses, and electronic assemblies. This is a highly technical category but one where diverse suppliers with the right certifications and capacity can build long-term relationships.
Marketing and communications: Creative services, translation, event management, and employee communications.
If you are in professional services without defense-specific experience, the facilities and IT categories are more accessible entry points than weapons systems components.
Security clearance considerations
A portion of RTX's work involves classified programs. If you are pursuing classified subcontracts, your business will need a facility clearance (FCL) and key personnel may need individual security clearances. The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) issues FCLs. RTX sourcing managers can sponsor a clearance request if they decide to pursue a relationship, but you cannot initiate this on your own.
For unclassified commercial work (facilities, professional services, standard logistics), clearances are not required.
Spend goals and public commitments
RTX's annual sustainability reports disclose supplier diversity spend. In their 2023 report, RTX disclosed over $3 billion in diverse supplier spend. The company tracks this against internal goals and reports it publicly.
As a Billion Dollar Roundtable member, RTX is subject to peer accountability among the group's member companies. That said, BDR membership does not mandate specific public targets — it certifies that the threshold has been reached.
Under federal subcontracting regulations, RTX files Individual Subcontracting Reports (ISRs) and Summary Subcontracting Reports (SSRs) with the government on major contracts. These are public records you can access via the Electronic Subcontracting Reporting System (eSRS). They show what percentage of subcontracting spend went to each small business category. Reviewing these reports tells you whether RTX is above or below its negotiated goals in specific categories, which directly affects where sourcing pressure exists.
Realistic assessment of the opportunity
RTX buys a lot, but selling to them takes time. Expect 12 to 24 months from initial registration to a first purchase order for technical categories. Professional services and facilities move faster, often 6 to 12 months.
The company's size means decisions are decentralized. A program manager at Pratt & Whitney in East Hartford and a sourcing manager at Raytheon Missiles in Tucson operate relatively independently. Getting known by one business unit does not automatically open doors in another. Plan outreach at the business unit level, not the corporate level.
RTX holds supplier events and participates in NMSDC, WBENC, and veteran business conferences. Face time at these events accelerates the process. Sourcing managers attend specifically to meet qualified diverse suppliers. Come with capability statements, references, and clarity on what you can deliver.
Tier-2 subcontracting is a real entry point. RTX's large prime suppliers (Honeywell, GE, Parker Hannifin) also have supplier diversity programs and subcontracting targets. If you cannot land RTX directly, landing a major Tier-1 supplier puts you in RTX's supply chain and gives you reference-able experience.
What disqualifies suppliers
RTX conducts thorough supplier qualification. Common disqualifiers include:
- Certifications that are expired or not from recognized third-party bodies
- No SAM.gov registration for suppliers pursuing government subcontract work
- Capacity below what RTX requires for the category (they prefer suppliers who can scale)
- Lack of relevant quality certifications (AS9100 for aerospace, ISO 9001 for general)
- No demonstrated experience in defense or relevant commercial aerospace
If you are early-stage (under two years in business, under $1 million in revenue), the probability of landing RTX is low. Build your track record with smaller defense primes or tier-2 suppliers first.
Next steps
- Register at supplier.rtx.com and complete your full profile. Do not leave fields blank — incomplete profiles rank lower in sourcing searches.
- Ensure your diversity certifications are current. NMSDC and WBENC certifications must be renewed annually. SBA certifications (8(a), WOSB, SDVOSB) have their own renewal schedules.
- Register in SAM.gov if you have not. Keep your UEI number active.
- Review RTX's annual sustainability report (available at rtx.com/sustainability) to understand current spend categories and trends.
- Identify the specific RTX business unit most relevant to your capabilities and research their active procurements. USASpending.gov shows RTX's subcontracting by location, which can point you toward active segments.
- Attend NMSDC or WBENC annual conferences where RTX sourcing managers participate. The company sponsors matchmaking sessions at both events.
- If you are pursuing a Tier-2 path, identify RTX's major prime suppliers in your category and reach out to their supplier diversity contacts directly.
RTX's size and federal contract base make it a legitimate long-term target for diverse suppliers in aerospace, defense, and supporting services. The timeline is real — plan for it and build your credibility at each step.
