Boeing wins first production contract for jet-powered JDAM
Boeing won the first production contract for a jet-powered guided bomb that can fly more than 300 nautical miles.
Europe
Rheinmetall scales down 2026 sales outlook on scrapped frigate program
German defense company Rheinmetall lowered its 2026 sales outlook on Thursday after the German government canceled a delayed frigate program.
Trump-class battleship program will cost $275 billion, CBO report says
The Congressional Budget Office estimates the Navy’s new Trump-class battleship program will cost $275 billion, with the first ship costing $23.4 billion.
Firestorm Labs builds drones aboard USS Essex without shore resupply
Service members aboard the USS Essex were able to 3D-print 12 first-person view drones using a containerized microfactory.
US Navy, Saildrone to use unmanned systems in expanded counternarcotics role
The U.S. Navy is extending its use of Saildrone unmanned surface vehicles for an expanded counternarcotics mission.
France’s drone production shifts from policy ambition to factory floor
France’s push to enlist its car industry to produce military drones is moving to industrial implementation.
Lockheed seeks US mineral supplies after Trump supply-chain push, sources say
The deals would mark a significant step in the U.S. push to build domestic mineral supply chains.
US Army wants a surface-to-air missile that can destroy small drones
The U.S. Army wants new surface-to-air missiles, costing less than $150,000 apiece, that can destroy small drones.
Thales Australia whips together armed UGV in just 6 weeks
Thales Australia has turned a drawing board concept into a fully functioning, armed unmanned ground vehicle, or UGV, in just six weeks.
Ukraine’s Fire Point starts to integrate European tech into missile defense system
Ukrainian drone and missile maker Fire Point has secured agreements from European defense companies for the Freyja missile defense project, its CEO said.
US used ‘virtually all’ long-range precision missiles during Iran war, sources say
The U.S. Army has reportedly used up much of its stockpile of highly accurate long-range missiles during America's five-month war with Iran.
US Air Force jet engine manufacturing plagued by ‘significant challenges’
Jet engine manufacturing is plagued by production delays, quality control issues and material shortages, the U.S. Air Force said.
Pentagon moves to triple Patriot, quadruple THAAD interceptor production
The Pentagon is looking to triple Patriot missile production and quadruple THAAD interceptor production through framework agreements announced Monday.
Chinese military researchers tap US AI models to train defense systems
Chinese researchers have reportedly used leading U.S. AI models developed by OpenAI and Anthropic to train AI systems to advance defense capabilities.
The arms race for cheaper anti-ballistic weapons is underway
After years of a Patriot monopoly, new anti-ballistic alternatives are emerging. Officials hope to see some of them on the battlefield by the end of 2026.
F-47 program producing test aircraft, on schedule for 2028 flight
The F-47 program has begun its engineering and manufacturing phase and will fly during this presidential administration, a service official said.
Navy awards $76.6 billion for Virginia, Columbia-class submarines
The U.S. Navy is spending $76.6 billion to build five Columbia-class and nine Virginia-class submarines.
