How do defence contractors usually handle customer research given all the secrecy?

Honestly, the key is leaning on cleared intermediaries and working through the contractor's own BD or program management teams — they know who can legally talk and under what conditions. For Tier 1 suppliers, focus on roles like procurement leads and systems engineers who are used to NDA'd conversations; most will sign a mutual NDA quickly if it's framed as supplier feedback rather than competitive intel. Also worth checking if the prime has a formal Voice of Customer program internally — sometimes you can piggyback on existing access rather than fighting for your own.