Weapons Archives - Defense Daily

FAMM More Than Two-Thirds Of Munitions Buy In Air Force FYDP

Frank Wolfe — Thu, 21 May 2026 20:56:20 +0000

The Family of Affordable Mass Missiles (FAMM) represents more than two-thirds of the more than 39,000 munitions in the Air Force’s future years defense plan (FYDP). At a Thursday Senate […]

CBO Looks At Options To Quickly Increase Navy Missile Capability

Rich Abott — Wed, 20 May 2026 21:36:48 +0000

A Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report published this week examined three options to quickly increase the size and missile capability of the Navy’s fleet within five years in an effort […]

State Department Approves Nearly $4.7 Billion In Helicopters To South Korea, Support To India And Missiles For Belgium

Rich Abott — Mon, 18 May 2026 21:17:27 +0000

The State Department on Monday approved over $4.7billion in two potential Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programs for helicopters to South Korea as well as support services to India military equipment […]

DIU Picks Five Companies As Winners of Drone Dominance Program’s Lethality Challenge

Frank Wolfe — Mon, 18 May 2026 20:17:03 +0000

The Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) has chosen five companies as winners of the Drone Dominance Program’s Lethality Prize. Northrop Grumman [NOC] was the only traditional defense company picked. The […]

Munitions Fired Represent Most of $25 Billion Spent By Pentagon on Iran War So Far

Frank Wolfe — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 16:36:50 +0000

Munitions fired in the two-month old “Operation Epic Fury” against Iran represent most of the $25 billion cost the Pentagon has incurred thus far in the conflict, the acting Defense […]

USAF Budgets $55 Million for Extended Range FAMM in Fiscal 2027, Another $300 Million for FAMM To Be In Future Reconciliation Bill

Frank Wolfe — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 19:45:45 +0000

The U.S. Air Force’s fiscal 2027 discretionary budget procurement request includes $55 million for a more than 1,000 nautical mile range Extended Range variant of the Family of Affordable Mass […]

INDOPACOM Commander Praises LUCAS And MEROPS Drones

Frank Wolfe — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:53:26 +0000

Navy Adm. Samuel Paparo, the head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), used the phrase “unmanned hellscape” in June 2024, to describe what China would face in the Taiwan Strait if […]

USAF Surveying Industry On Cheaper, Long-Range Ground Attack Missiles On Cargo Planes And Fighters

Frank Wolfe — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 21:07:41 +0000

The office of Air Force Brig. Gen. Robert Lyons, the service’s portfolio acquisition executive for weapons and the head of Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s armament directorate at Eglin […]

Navy Tests New Long Range Version Of JDAM

Rich Abott — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 20:07:29 +0000

The Navy earlier this month tested a new Boeing [BA] GBU-75 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) Long Range (LR) variant in an effort to add another affordable munition to carrier […]

L3Harris Announces $1 Billion Solid Solid Rocket Motor Expansion In Virginia

Rich Abott — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 20:15:23 +0000

L3Harris Technologies [LHX] on Wednesday announced an agreement with the Virginia and local governments to more than double its solid rocket motor (SRM) manufacturing space at its Orange County site […]

Lockheed Martin Says $4.8 Billion Army PAC-3 MSE Award Will Accelerate Production

Rich Abott — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 21:33:48 +0000

A day after the Army on April 9 awarded Lockheed Martin [LMT] a $4.76 billion contract to produce an unspecified number of Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC)-3 Missile Segment Enhancement missiles, […]

DOT&E Advises Completion Of Adequate Testing For Large Penetrator Smart Fuze

Frank Wolfe — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 19:01:28 +0000

The Air Force needs to complete adequate testing of the Large Penetrator Smart Fuze (LPSF) for the GBU-57 A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), according to the fiscal 2025 Director of […]

To Help Meet USAF Demand, PBS Aerospace Plans To More Than Double Small Turbojet Engine Capacity

Frank Wolfe — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 19:57:33 +0000

PBS Aerospace, the U.S. subsidiary of the Czech-based PBS Group, plans to increase its production capacity for turbojet engines from 2,000 this year to 5,000 next year at its Roswell, […]

Lockheed Martin Rolls Out Low-Cost Containerized Grizzly Launcher

Rich Abott — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 18:06:44 +0000

Lockheed Martin [LMT] on Tuesday unveiled its new Grizzly low-cost containerized launcher that can fire Hellfire missiles from a 10-foot shipping container, having recently completed its first live-fire tests. The […]

No Estimate From Military Officials On Future Percentage Of Low-Cost Munitions For DoD

Frank Wolfe — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 17:41:53 +0000

The Pentagon’s recently formed Munitions Acceleration Council, chaired by Deputy Defense Secretary Steven Feinberg, has eyed a doubling or quadrupling of production for about a dozen munitions viewed by the […]

USAF Seeks Benchmarking Of Northrop Grumman’s Performance On SiAW

Frank Wolfe — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 21:16:23 +0000

Through a request for information (RFI) issued this month, the U.S. Air Force is seeking to benchmark the performance of Northrop Grumman [NOC] on the Stand-in Attack Weapon (SiAW). “The […]

Palladyne AI Nabs Navy Contract For Air-Launched Near Hypersonic Missile

Rich Abott — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 19:03:09 +0000

Pallayne Corp. [PDYN] on Wednesday announced its GuideTech subsidiary recently won a Navy contract to develop a new lower cost air-launched, near hypersonic long-range missile, the Air-Launched Rapid Response Missile […]

Wicker Backs “Crash Program” To Supply Ukraine With Low-Cost Weapons

Frank Wolfe — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 19:12:35 +0000

Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) Chairman Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) on Thursday proposed a rapid effort to supply Ukraine with low-cost weapons to aid that country in turning back Russia. “We […]

Ukraine Only Country That Can Provide ‘Immediate Counter-Action’ Against Shahed Drones, Ambassador Says

Frank Wolfe — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 17:08:26 +0000

The U.S. should take immediate advantage of in-person Ukrainian counter-drone expertise to defeat kamikaze drones in Iran and elsewhere, according to the Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S. “When the first […]

Administration Fast Tracks Another Israel Arms FMS Bypassing Congress Amid Iran Campaign

Rich Abott — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 21:08:49 +0000

The U.S. State Department last Friday approved another $151.8 million Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to help Israel restock its inventory of 1,000-pound bombs amid both countries’ campaign against Iran. Israel’s […]

Pentagon Plans $65 Million Effort To Integrate PAC-3 MSEs Onto Navy Destroyers

Rich Abott — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 22:36:06 +0000

The Defense Department plans to spend $65 million from the 2025 reconciliation bill to integrate the Lockheed Martin [LMT] Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (PAC-3 MSE) onto the Aegis […]

USAF May Reopen Hypersonic Test Facility In Sandusky, Ohio

Frank Wolfe — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 19:47:39 +0000

To improve its testing of scramjet engines, the Air Force may reopen Sandusky, Ohio’s Hypersonic Test Facility (HTF) at the NASA Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility–known as Plum Brook Station […]

Army’s Mesquite Facility Not Close To Making 155mm Metal Parts, Re-Scoping With GD

Rich Abott — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 15:32:47 +0000

Nearly two years after opening an artillery projectile facility, Army officials last week admitted they are still not close to having a new Mesquite, Texas, facility actually produce metal parts […]

Air Force Starts Inert, Captive Carry Weapons Testing For CCA

Frank Wolfe — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 12:41:47 +0000

AURORA, Colo.–The Air Force has begun inert, captive carry weapons testing for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program featuring an Increment 1 competition this year between General Atomics‘ YFQ-42A Dark […]

BAE Systems To Develop 300 Prototypes For AGR-20F Upgrades Against Drone Swarms

Frank Wolfe — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 18:52:39 +0000

In response to a U.S. Central Command and Air Forces Central Joint Urgent Operational Need (JUON) in August 2024, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s (AFLCMC) armament directorate at Eglin […]

SDB II StormBreaker Reaches IOC On Navy Super Hornet

Rich Abott — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 21:31:53 +0000

The Navy recently declared the RTX [RTX] GBU-53/B Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) II has reached Initial Operational Capability (IOC) on the Boeing [BA] F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. The SDB II precision-guided […]

Navy Seeks New Longer Range Anti-Radiation Guided Missile

Rich Abott — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 21:28:11 +0000

The Navy is starting market research to find a new anti-radiation guided missile to operate at longer ranges than current systems, according to a Feb. 18 Request For Information (RFI). […]

L3Harris Wins $400 Million Contract For THAAD Motors and LDACS

Rich Abott — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 22:38:11 +0000

L3Harris Technologies [LHX] on Monday announced it received a new $400 million contract to produce more solid rocket boost motors (SRBMs) and Liquid Divert and Attitude Control Systems (LDACS) for […]

CCA And FAMM Early Examples Of New Mode Of Acquisition, USAF Says

Frank Wolfe — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 17:46:30 +0000

The Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) and Family of Affordable Mass Munitions (FAMM) programs are early Air Force attempts to accelerate the requirements process and use operator feedback to speed up […]

THAAD Will Integrate Into IBCS Faster And Cheaper Than DoD Planned, Northrop Grumman Says

Rich Abott — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 22:22:43 +0000

Northrop Grumman [NOC] officials last week confirmed the integration of the Lockheed Martin [LMT] Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system into its Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) is proceeding […]

RTX Signs Framework Agreements With DoD To Increase Production On Five Munitions

Rich Abott — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 19:11:01 +0000

RTX’s [RTX] Raytheon business signed framework agreements with the Defense Department to expand production of five major munitions over seven years, the company said on Wednesday. Under the Feb. 4 […]

USAF Heralds “Rusty Dagger” Test As “Critical Milestone” In Low-Cost Cruise Missile Effort

Frank Wolfe — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 20:05:07 +0000

Last month, the U.S. Air Force conducted an Extended Range Attack Munition (ERAM) test of the “Rusty Dagger” cruise missile by Zone 5 Technologies. The test on the Eglin Test […]

L3Harris Nabs Marine Corps Precision Attack Strike Munition Contract

Rich Abott — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 23:02:45 +0000

Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) on Friday announced it awarded L3Harris Technologies [LHX] an 86.2 million contract for its Red Wolf launched effects vehicles for the Marine Corps’ Precision Attack […]

Mobile And Mid-Range Targets An Issue For USAF, Targeting Planner Says

Frank Wolfe — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 20:06:34 +0000

Defense analysts have said that insufficient attention to fielded forces’ input in the determination of military service requirements has been a chronic problem for the Defense Department, one example of […]

Ukrainian Feedback Organization Cited As Means To Field Effective Systems Quickly

Frank Wolfe — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 21:46:14 +0000

How can you significantly ramp up U.S. defense production and put industry on a “wartime footing,” as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed, without a full-fledged war and when it’s […]

Navy Reschedules Modular Missile Industry Day

Rich Abott — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 21:44:13 +0000

The Navy has rescheduled an industry day for the Naval Modular Missile (NMM) program for Feb. 27, after it was previously postponed in October during the government shutdown, according to […]

Northrop Grumman Says It’s In Tune With Rapid Production Goal In DoD-L3Harris Agreement

Frank Wolfe — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 21:50:10 +0000

Northrop Grumman [NOC] said that it is in tune with the rapid production goal that the Pentagon said motivated its agreement with L3Harris Technologies [LHX] to spin off the latter’s […]

“Wartime Footing” Message Not Reaching Some In Industry, Phelan Says

Frank Wolfe — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 16:12:18 +0000

While Pentagon officials have said that the Defense Department is sending a clear “wartime footing” demand signal to industry to encourage companies to increase capacity and increase their system build […]

Duffey: “We’re Picking Speed” In $1 Billion Investment In L3Harris SRM Spin-Off

Frank Wolfe — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 17:09:26 +0000

L3Harris Technologies [LHX] is to spin off its newly created missile solutions business as a new company with a $1 billion infusion from the Pentagon’s Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment […]

Northrop Grumman Says It’s Received Navy Contract for SSRM After Beating Anduril

Frank Wolfe — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 19:33:25 +0000

Northrop Grumman [NOC] said on Wednesday that it has received a more than $94 million award from the U.S. Navy to develop and qualify the 21-inch Second Stage Rocket Motor […]

New PAC-3 Agreement Possible With Guaranteed Cash Flows And Inflation Markers, Officials Say

Rich Abott — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 22:43:46 +0000

Defense Department and Lockheed Martin [LMT] officials confirmed specific measures around cash flows and accounting for inflation are key to a new framework agreement that aims to more than triple […]

Conventional Wisdom On S-300 Effectiveness Called Into Question

Frank Wolfe — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 21:20:29 +0000

Conventional defense wisdom has held that Russian-made long-range S-300 surface-to-air missiles (SAM) pose significant threats to U.S. military aircraft, including the Lockheed Martin [LMT] F-35 stealth fighter, yet the Jan. […]

DoD and Lockheed Martin Sign Framework Agreement To More Than Triple PAC-3 MSE Production

Rich Abott — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 19:53:37 +0000

The Department of Defense and Lockheed Martin [LMT] on Tuesday announced a new seven year-long framework agreement aimed at pushing annual production of the Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC)-3 Missile Segment […]

Bozeman’s Lattice Materials To Gear Up Germanium Production

Frank Wolfe — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 22:11:56 +0000

Bozeman, Montana-based Lattice Materials said that it will use an $18.5 million Pentagon award last month under the Defense Production Act to produce optical-grade germanium and silicon crystals and gear […]

USAF Cites Data Rights As Reason For Sole Source Follow-On SiAW Award

Frank Wolfe — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 21:59:13 +0000

The Air Force cited data rights as a reason for a sole source follow-on award to Northrop Grumman [NOC] for the future Stand-in Attack Weapon (SiAW) and the Navy Advanced […]

Pentagon Joint Energetics Transition Office Delay Cited In Travel Funds Hold

Frank Wolfe — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 22:37:39 +0000

The House-Senate conference agreement on the fiscal 2026 defense authorization bill would limit the use of travel funds by Pentagon acquisition, research and engineering officials until the department establishes a […]

Northrop Grumman’s SiAW Completes Separation Test From F-16

Cal Biesecker — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 19:12:18 +0000

A Stand-in Attack Weapon (SiAW) developed by Northrop Grumman [NOC] completed an airborne separation test from an Air Force F-16 aircraft as part of ongoing development efforts of the air-to-ground […]

Boeing To Lead Tail Kit Development For Next Generation Penetrator, As USAF Seeks Industry Input

Frank Wolfe — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 20:05:10 +0000

The attack division of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s armament directorate (AFLCMC/EBD) at Eglin AFB, Fla., wants to hear from companies by December 12 on their wherewithal to […]

Raytheon and Lockheed Martin to Have “Preferred Access” to SRMs Built at Avio’s Future SRM Plant

Frank Wolfe — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 17:40:35 +0000

RTX‘s [RTX] Raytheon and Lockheed Martin [LMT] have signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with Italy’s Avio SpA to help build a “state of the art” solid rocket motor (SRM) plant […]

Avio Plans More Than $400 Million Spend, Much of It on U.S. SRM Production

Frank Wolfe — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 18:46:11 +0000

Shareholders in Italy’s Avio SpA have approved the company’s $465 million 10-year investment plan targeted at building solid rocket motors (SRMs) for DoD missiles and munitions. “The core of Avio’s […]