Defense Industry News

CBO Estimates Long-Term Cost and Scope The Congressional Budget Office said May 12 that the proposed “Golden Dome for America” missile defense architecture could cost about $1.2 trillion over 20 years. CBO’s estimate, totaling $1.191 trillion, includes roughly $1.025 trillion in acquisition and average annual operation and support costs of about $8.3 billion. The office said the figure reflects a broad mission set: defense of the entire United States, including Alaska and Hawaii, against ballist

Contract and purpose U.S. Special Operations Command is evaluating a mobile software platform designed to give operators in the field direct access to commercial satellite imagery and imagery analytics on handheld Android tactical devices. The effort is being led by Austin-based geospatial data firm SkyFi under a Phase I prototyping contract of undisclosed value. According to the company, the award was made through the Special Operations Forces Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics Center. SkyF

Contract Expansion for Guam Defense The U.S. Missile Defense Agency on May 7 awarded Lockheed Martin a $407.16 million contract modification to continue development of the Aegis Guam System, raising the program’s cumulative value from $1.528 billion to $1.935 billion. The award extends work through December 2029 and funds engineering, software integration, certification, testing, logistics, and sustainment for Guam’s future integrated air and missile defense network. According to the c

Contract Award and Scope Rheinmetall has received a €1.04 billion ($1.2 billion) call-off order from Germany’s Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support, or BAAINBw, for additional Infantry Soldier of the Future – Enhanced System, known as IdZ-ES, equipment. The order is a legally binding procurement placed under a broader framework agreement and covers both the modernization of existing systems and the delivery of 237 additional platoon systems.

CSIS Estimates Heavy U.S. Air Defense Expenditure in Iran Conflict A new Center for Strategic and International Studies analysis, published April 21, estimates that the United States and its partners have consumed more than half of the available stocks of two key missile defense interceptors during the Iran war. CSIS assessed prewar U.S. inventories at roughly 2,330 Patriot interceptors and 360 THAAD interceptors, with wartime use estimated at 1,060 to 1,430 Patriots and 190 to 290 THAAD ro

Operational Testing Scheduled for Summer 2026 The U.S. Army will begin frontline operational testing of the M1E3 Abrams main battle tank in summer 2026, marking a significant step in the service’s effort to adapt armored forces to sensor-dense and drone-saturated battlefields. The evaluation will place prototype vehicles with operational units under the Army’s “Transforming in Contact” initiative, which integrates emerging systems directly into formations to accelerate feedback and doctrina

Army Clears M111 Offensive Grenade for Service The U.S. Army has approved the M111 Offensive Hand Grenade for Full Material Release, marking the first new lethal hand grenade cleared for service since the Mk3A2 entered use in 1968. The M111 was developed by the Capabilities Program Executive Office for Ammunition and Energetics in partnership with the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Armaments Center at Picatinny Arsenal. It is intended to replace the Mk3A2 series,

$186 Million Delivery Order Under Existing LUS Contract AeroVironment (NASDAQ: AVAV) has received a $186 million delivery order from the U.S. Army for Switchblade 600 Block 2 and Switchblade 300 Block 20 loitering munition systems. The order was issued under the Army’s five-year, $990 million Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract for Lethal Unmanned Systems (LUS), awarded in August 2024. This marks the Army’s first procurement of the company’s next-generation Switchb

AI Models Escalate to Nuclear Use in Majority of War Simulations Leading artificial intelligence models deployed nuclear weapons in 95% of simulated geopolitical conflicts, according to new research from King’s College London. The study found that OpenAI’s GPT-5.2, Anthropic’s Claude Sonnet 4, and Google’s Gemini 3 Flash escalated to nuclear use in nearly every scenario tested, raising questions about the risks of integrating advanced AI systems into high-stakes military decision-making.

Production Pace Surpasses United States China has outpaced the United States in submarine production between 2021 and 2025, according to research published by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) and reported by Breaking Defense. The London-based think tank found that China launched 10 submarines during the period, representing an estimated 79,000 tonnes of displacement. By comparison, the United States launched seven submarines totaling approximately 55,000 tonnes.

$73.5 Million FMS Contract Supports Merkava Fleet Sustainment Through 2032 The U.S. Army has awarded Rolls-Royce Solutions America Inc. a $73,528,916 firm-fixed-price contract to provide Merkava tank power-pack kits, metal containers, and contractor engineering technical services for Israel under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. Work will be performed in Graniteville, South Carolina, with completion scheduled for Dec. 31, 2032. The award, issued by Army Contracting Command at

U.S. Authorizes Major Arms Sales Amid Regional Tensions The United States on Friday approved multibillion-dollar weapons sales to Israel and Saudi Arabia, moves that come amid elevated tensions with Iran and ongoing instability across the Middle East. The approvals were announced by the State Department, which said the transactions align with U.S. national security interests and long-standing defense partnerships in the region. Israel: Apache Helicopters and Tactical Vehicles For

Contract Award and Scope Lockheed Martin has secured a $142.6 million contract modification to continue sustainment support for the United Arab Emirates’ Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system. The award was issued under the U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program and increases the total value of the existing sustainment contract to approximately $876.7 million. The agreement reflects ongoing U.S. policy emphasis on strengthening integrated air and missile defe

Contract Award and Program Scope A U.S. government contract notice dated December 29, 2025, confirms that Boeing has received a ceiling $8.58 billion award to support Israel’s F-15IA fighter program. The agreement covers the design, integration, testing, production, and delivery of 25 new F-15IA aircraft for the Israeli Air Force, with an option for 25 additional jets. Work will be performed primarily in St. Louis, Missouri, and is scheduled to continue through December 31, 2035. At the tim

Israel Announces Imminent Deployment of 'Iron Beam' Laser Air Defense System The Israeli Ministry of Defense has confirmed the completion of its pioneering "Iron Beam" laser-based interception system, with rollout to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) expected by the end of December. Officials emphasize that the new technology represents a significant innovation in the country’s layered air defense strategy. System Overview and Capabilities Developed jointly by the state-owned Rafael

Lockheed and Pentagon Reach $24.3 Billion Agreement for F-35 Production Lockheed Martin and the Pentagon have announced the finalization of a $24.3 billion agreement to produce 296 F-35 fighter aircraft, marking a major milestone in the ongoing development and procurement of the advanced stealth jet. The deal, covering production lots 18 and 19, brings over two years of negotiations to a close and sets a course for deliveries to begin in 2026. Breakdown of the Agreement and Production

Boeing Defense Workers Launch First St. Louis Strike Since 1996 Approximately 3,200 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) in St. Louis began a strike against Boeing’s defense unit early Monday, a move set to directly affect the production of the F/A-18 Super Hornet, F-15EX, and other key military assets. This labor action, notably the first in St. Louis for Boeing workers since 1996, signals heightened tensions between the defense giant and its s

Barrett and MARS Secure Victory in Army’s xTech Soldier Lethality Competition Barrett Firearms and MARS Inc. have emerged as the winners of the U.S. Army’s xTech Soldier Lethality challenge, positioning themselves to deliver a groundbreaking 30mm grenade rifle system under the Precision Grenadier System (PGS) program. This achievement marks a pivotal development in the Army’s ongoing efforts to enhance the effectiveness of individual soldiers on the modern battlefield. Rapid Developmen

US Army Finalizes Type Classification for M7 Rifle and M250 Automatic Rifle The US Army has officially type classified the M7 Rifle and M250 Automatic Rifle, marking a pivotal step in the modernization of its infantry small arms inventory. This announcement transitions the weapons from their experimental XM designations to full service status, indicating that they have successfully met rigorous military standards and are ready for field-wide deployment. A Strategic Upgrade in Soldier L

U.S. Air Force Issues First Official F-47 Combat Radius Figures The U.S. Air Force has, for the first time, publicly defined the operational range of Boeing’s F-47 Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter. An infographic shared by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin reveals the F-47 will feature a combat radius exceeding 1,000 nautical miles, a figure that places it significantly ahead of current fighters in the U.S. inventory. The disclosure offers rare insights into the future

Japan Bolsters Maritime Defense with Fourth Taigei-Class Submarine On March 6, 2025, the fourth submarine of the Taigei-class, Raigei, was officially commissioned into the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) at the Kawasaki Heavy Industries' Kobe Shipyard. The event was marked by a ceremony, attended by top-ranking defense and maritime officials. The JMSDF's flag was also presented to the submarine in a traditional show of induction into the fleet. Specifications and Capabilities

Estonia Questions US About HIMARS Production, Considers Alternative Options Uncertainty clouds the possibility of Estonia purchasing a second batch of M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) from Lockheed Martin, with the US government's ability to expedite production and provide better delivery slots in question. Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur has indicated that Estonia's decision hangs in the balance and an alternative course could be charted in the coming months. "Curren

Biden Administration Unveils Further Security Support for Ukraine The United States Department of Defense (DoD) has announced an increased wave of security aid for Ukraine, aimed at strengthening the nation's defense structure. The initiative is driven by the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) package, valued at approximately $1.25 billion. This package will enhance Ukraine's air defense capacities, artillery munitions, and anti-tank weaponry, responding to the nation's key security chal

Lockheed Obtains $11.8 Billion F-35 Production Contract Bid from Pentagon The Pentagon has extended an approximately $11.8 billion contract to Lockheed Martin, securing the continued production of the globally-coveted F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The perceived progress in contract negotiations has been viewed favorably as both parties edge closer to a comprehensive agreement for the stealth fighter. This hard-won contract encompasses 145 instances of the tri-variant fighter, set to serve