Air and missile defence
Boeing to boost SM-3 Block IB and IIA hardware production as Pentagon moves to expand U.S. sea-based missile defense capacity
The framework is intended to support higher production rates for both SM-3 variants as demand for the interceptors increases.
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QinetiQ supports U.S. and RAF fighter weapons evaluation at Combat Archer 2026 across two UK defence ranges for first time
Northrop Grumman CEO says $3 billion PAC-3 MSE and THAAD agreements will accelerate U.S. missile defense production rates
U.S. Central Command launches Falcon Strike, first multinational attack drone task force linking air, surface and undersea systems in Middle East
Lockheed Martin expands AI-driven military logistics from F-35 to F-22, F-16 and C-130 fleets to strengthen aircraft readiness
Embraer considers third C-390 Millennium assembly line in U.S. to support military airlift campaign and raise global output
Estonia receives €351.6 million first SAFE payment to accelerate €2.3 billion defence investment programme on EU eastern flank
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Leidos CEO says AGM-190A Havoc Spear is in flight tests and has been deployed in combat, with U.S. Air Force and SOCOM scaling discussed
Leidos’ AGM-190A Havoc Spear small cruise missile is undergoing flight testing and has been deployed in exercises and combat, Chief Executive Officer Tom Bell said
Northrop Grumman CEO says secure microelectronics demand remains strong across U.S. weapons, aircraft and space systems
Northrop Grumman expects demand for secure microelectronics to remain strong across weapons, aircraft and space systems despite slower growth in parts of the business this year
Stealth bomber B-2 base photography case sends Chinese national to federal custody under Cold War-era U.S. security law
A Chinese national has been sentenced to six months in federal custody after returning to Whiteman Air Force Base and photographing the installation despite an earlier warning, according to the U.S. Air Force
Australia and U.S. test AUKUS autonomous undersea warfare systems at RIMPAC to strengthen protection of critical seabed infrastructure
Australia and the United States have tested AUKUS Pillar II subsea and seabed warfare capabilities during RIMPAC 2026, focusing on the protection of critical undersea infrastructure
Lockheed Martin wins $211 million THAAD launcher deal for UAE, adding new C3 configuration to its ballistic missile defense network
Lockheed Martin has received a $211 million U.S. Department of War contract to produce and deliver additional THAAD launchers for the United Arab Emirates
U.S. Navy’s MQ-25 tanker drone faces 2029 operational delay and congressional scrutiny over rising costs and production risks
The U.S. Navy’s MQ-25 Stingray tanker drone is now expected to become operational in 2029, four years later than originally planned
Heaviside raises $60 million at $600 million valuation, taps Nammo to supply warheads for precision munitions production
Heaviside Industries has raised $60 million in Series B financing at a $600 million valuation and formed a strategic partnership with Nammo to support production of its multi-domain precision munitions platforms
Australia completes first flight of domestically designed solid rocket motor, advancing sovereign tactical missile propulsion capability
Australia has completed the first successful flight test of a fully domestically designed and manufactured advanced solid rocket motor, advancing efforts to establish a sovereign guided weapons capability
Industry spotlight
LandThe EMOC mortar carrier by EM&E Group: a solution conceived for today's operational scenarios
EM&E Group offers, through the EMOC, a system that combines mobility, precision, speed of response, and technological autonomy in a single platform.
Why Europe's rearmament needs trusted industrial partners
Air and missile defense: Israel completes Iron Dome upgrade tests with Iron Beam laser integration [VIDEO]
U.S. Marine Corps accepts six F-35Bs without radars as APG-85 delay is set to affect Air Force and Navy deliveries this year
Leidos CEO says AGM-190A Havoc Spear is in flight tests and has been deployed in combat, with U.S. Air Force and SOCOM scaling discussed
Leidos’ AGM-190A Havoc Spear small cruise missile is undergoing flight testing and has been deployed in exercises and combat, Chief Executive Officer Tom Bell said.
Northrop Grumman, U.S. Navy and RAAF integrate MQ-4C Triton into Australia’s Indo-Pacific maritime surveillance operations
The effort combines the unmanned aircraft’s long endurance and sensor capabilities with Australian personnel, infrastructure and integration with the P-8A Poseidon.
Lockheed Martin expands AI-driven military logistics from F-35 to F-22, F-16 and C-130 fleets to strengthen aircraft readiness
Lockheed Martin is shifting away from logistics models based primarily on historic flight hours and static usage metrics.
Heart Aerospace flies 25,000-pound electric aircraft, targeting lower U.S. regional airline costs with 30-seat ES-30 service by 2031
Heart Aerospace has completed the first flight of its full-scale X1 demonstrator, which the company said is the largest battery-electric aircraft ever flown.
Embraer considers third C-390 Millennium assembly line in U.S. to support military airlift campaign and raise global output
Embraer is considering a C-390 military transport aircraft assembly line in the United States, a move that would expand the programme’s industrial footprint and increase production beyond the company’s planned capacity in Brazil.
U.S. Navy’s MQ-25 tanker drone faces 2029 operational delay and congressional scrutiny over rising costs and production risks
The U.S. Navy’s MQ-25 Stingray tanker drone is now expected to become operational in 2029, four years later than originally planned.
Rheinmetall opens UK autonomy centre to deploy Canadian PATH technology and build local defence industrial capability
Rheinmetall has opened an Advanced Land Autonomy Centre of Excellence in the UK to integrate, test and deploy autonomous ground systems for the British market and surrounding regions.
Lockheed Martin completes first live-fire test of Kodiak containerized launcher using Reduced-Range Practice Rocket for offensive fires
Lockheed Martin has completed the first integrated live-fire test of its Kodiak containerized launcher, demonstrating the system’s ability to employ offensive fires.
Oshkosh Defense and U.S. Marines test point-of-need manufacturing in Japan to cut vehicle repair times and logistics risk
Oshkosh Defense and the U.S. Marine Corps’ Marine Depot Maintenance Command demonstrated the production of an approved tactical vehicle replacement part in Japan during Valiant Shield 2026.
CSG and Dezamet sign €100 million-plus 155 mm ammunition components deal to support Poland’s expanding artillery production
CSG and Poland’s Zaklady Metalowe Dezamet have signed an agreement worth more than €100 million for components used in 155 mm artillery ammunition production.
Patria and KNDS move German CAVS production forward, with local 6x6 assembly to expand as Bundeswehr deliveries ramp up in 2027
Patria and KNDS Deutschland Maintenance have signed a framework agreement covering the assembly and final integration of Patria 6x6 armoured personnel carriers in Germany for the Bundeswehr.
American Rheinmetall builds U.S. production network for Lynx XM30, backed by more than $40 million in early investment
American Rheinmetall and its Team Lynx partners are building a U.S. production network for the Lynx XM30 ahead of the first prototype’s delivery to the U.S. Army.
Trump opens path to foreign-built U.S. Navy ships, orders systems overhaul plan for future aircraft carrier USS Doris Miller
President Donald Trump opened a path for selected U.S. Navy ships to be built abroad and ordered plans for major systems changes on the future aircraft carrier USS Doris Miller (CVN-81).
Denmark orders Rheinmetall MASS decoy systems for frigates in NATO maritime defence deal with support lasting up to 21 years
Denmark has ordered Rheinmetall’s MASS naval decoy system for its ABSALON-class and IVER HUITFELDT-class frigates in a contract worth a double-digit million-euro amount.
Ultra Maritime tests Sea Spear and SSQ-125B sonar network for autonomous counter-UUV and anti-submarine warfare at Lanternfish
Ultra Maritime has demonstrated an integrated active-passive sonar system designed for autonomous counter-UUV and anti-submarine warfare during the U.S. Navy’s 2026 Lanternfish exercise.
Australia and U.S. test AUKUS autonomous undersea warfare systems at RIMPAC to strengthen protection of critical seabed infrastructure
Australia and the United States have tested AUKUS Pillar II subsea and seabed warfare capabilities during RIMPAC 2026, focusing on the protection of critical undersea infrastructure.
RMC strengthens Arctic shipbuilding capability with Finnish corvettes, U.S. Coast Guard icebreakers and modernised Rauma yard
Rauma Marine Constructions is expanding its Arctic government-vessel business while building four Pohjanmaa-class corvettes for the Finnish Navy and two Arctic Security Cutters for the U.S. Coast Guard.
Saab and Royal Navy demonstrate Giraffe 1X radar network without GPS timing in UK quantum trial for contested operations
The UK trial used independent quantum timing sources to keep radars at separate locations synchronised when satellite-based timing was unavailable or compromised.
Northrop Grumman and Aeronix invest millions in space-based cryptography, targeting fivefold gain in secure data processing
Northrop Grumman and Aeronix have launched a multimillion-dollar partnership to develop space-based cryptographic systems for classified defence communications.
BlackSky secures international satellite intelligence contract combining Gen-2 and Gen-3 imagery with AI-enabled analytics services
BlackSky Technology has secured a seven-figure, multi-year international contract for satellite imagery and AI-enabled analytics.
Firefly extends Lockheed Martin launch agreement through 2031 for up to 25 Alpha Block II missions and sea-based operations
Firefly Aerospace has extended its multi-launch agreement with Lockheed Martin by two years, covering up to 25 dedicated Alpha Block II launches through 2031.
Rocket Lab establishes German subsidiary to target sovereign European satellite manufacturing and Electron and Neutron launch demand
Rocket Lab has established Rocket Lab Germany GmbH, expanding its European presence as the company targets growing demand for sovereign satellite manufacturing and launch capacity.
Russia is quietly building its own Starlink rival to power a new generation of attack drones, Ukrainian intelligence warns
According to Major General Vadym Skibitskyi, deputy chief of Ukraine's Defense Intelligence directorate, Moscow is building a domestic satellite constellation called Rassvet, and doing so considerably faster than Ukrainian intelligence had originally anticipated.
Eutelsat commits €3.39 billion to lead Europe’s IRIS² LEO constellation, with capacity revenue estimated above €10 billion through 2040
Eutelsat will invest €3.39 billion in Europe’s IRIS² programme as it takes the lead role in developing and operating the project’s low-Earth-orbit constellation.