JPMorgan's Dimon Tours US Defense Startups Amid $1.5T Bet

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon has been visiting US defense startups as part of his annual executive bus tour in California. The August 2026 tour aimed to explore defense tech opportunities, risks, and emerging companies across aerospace and advanced systems.

Dimon spoke about the tour with Axios while visiting Impulse Space near Los Angeles, saying he was 'uplifted' by what he saw despite concerns that America is falling behind. He added that the notion of the US being behind is 'frustrating.'

The California route included stops in Healdsburg, San Francisco, Modesto, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, and Orange County. JPMorgan executives met with companies working on missiles, drones, aircraft, energy, manufacturing, and data systems.

Dimon's growing interest in national security is linked to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. He credits discussions with retired military leaders for helping him understand changing weapons, tactics, and global security risks.