Volume Spike Investor

Mercury Computer Systems (Nasdaq: MRCY) shares are up about 13 percent, above $10 a share with half its daily volume traded as of 10:15 a.m. Eastern after Northrop Grumman Corp. (NYSE: NOC) on Friday said it successfully demonstrated the electronic protection capabilities of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter’s radar system in a military exercise.

Mercury Computer may be rising on speculation that the exercise could lead to more business for Mercury. Back in 2004, Raytheon Co. (NYSE: RTN licensed Mercury’s Race ++ series of multicomputers for use in the core processing system of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.  Part of Mercury’s product offerings include tactical airborne radar systems for the U.S. military. — Mike Tarsala.