US, European defense stocks gain after Trump selects Golden Dome defense shield design

Shares of some U.S. and European defense firms rise on Wednesday

U.S. President Donald Trump selected a design for the $175 billion Golden Dome missile defense shield

L3Harris Technologies LHX.N up 4%, Lockheed Martin LMT.N up 1.6% and RTX Corp RTX.N up 1.8% in U.S. premarket trading

LHX, LMT and RTX named as potential contractors for the project

In Europe, BAE Systems BAES.L - the biggest defense company by market cap in the region - adds 1.9%, while Rolls-Royce RR.L advances 1.4%

Britain's aerospace and defense index .FTNMX502010 up 1.6%, while the European equivalent .SXPARO gains 0.6%

As of last close, S&P 500 Aerospace and Defense index .SPLRCAED up 19.2% YTD