U.S 

F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyoming — The U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command has ordered units to stop using the AN/PRM-10 test oscillator set after polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were confirmed in residue found on one unit and potential residue was identified on several others. The AN/PRM-10 is a legacy test device used to examine communications systems supporting the U.S. intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) force, including the Minuteman III system.   Residue discovered at F.E. Warren The action follows an incident earlier in August at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming. During a routine inspection, an Airman discovered residue on a component of an AN/PRM-10 kit and was exposed to the material. The Airman reported the incident, received medical attention and returned to duty without experiencing adverse effects, according to Air Force Global Strike Command. Laboratory testing of the residue confirmed the presence of PCBs. The Air Force said PCBs were commonly used in electrical devices during the period when equipment was developed to maintain the Minuteman III ICBM system. PCBs are a group of synthetic chemicals that were widely used in electrical and industrial applications because of their durability and other useful properties. U.S. production of PCBs was banned in 1979. Their presence in some older equipment remains a concern because of their known health risks.   Inspection finds residue on six systems After the PCB finding was confirmed, the Twentieth Air Force ordered a one-time inspection of all AN/PRM-10 kits across Air Force Global Strike Command. The inspection was completed within three days and covered the command's entire inventory. Officials found potential residue on six of the eight AN/PRM-10 systems. Samples from those systems have been collected and are being sent for additional testing. Before the equipment was removed from service, the Air Force had issued updated safety warnings, handling precautions and requirements for personal protective equipment at locations where the legacy testers remained in use. Following the inspection results, the Twentieth Air Force ordered the immediate suspension of AN/PRM-10 use as a precaution while testing of the additional samples continues.   Modern replacements being introduced Units are now transitioning from the AN/PRM-10 to modern, PCB-free replacement testers. Air Force Global Strike Command and Twentieth Air Force are also working with the Minuteman III systems program office to properly dispose of the withdrawn equipment. Officials are also reviewing other pieces of test equipment to determine whether they could contain PCBs. Maj. Gen. Colin Connor, commander of Twentieth Air Force, said the command considers the health and safety of its personnel a priority. The Air Force said the suspension of the AN/PRM-10 has not caused any mission impacts. U.S. ICBM forces continue to operate, with the command stating that the force remains safe, secure and effective in protecting the U.S. homeland.   Part of wider missile community safety review The equipment review is part of broader safety efforts that followed the launch of the Air Force's Missile Community Cancer Study in 2023. The study was established to examine potential environmental and occupational factors affecting personnel associated with the U.S. ICBM mission. The Air Force has been reviewing the Minuteman III system and associated equipment as part of these efforts to identify and address potential workplace hazards. Gen. S.L. Davis, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, said the command would continue to identify issues and take appropriate action. The immediate focus is now on testing the residue samples collected from the additional AN/PRM-10 systems, disposing of the affected equipment and moving personnel to modern replacement testers.

Read More → Posted on 2026-08-29 13:31:46

 U.S 

WASHINGTON, — The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded New Mexico-based rocket manufacturer X-Bow Systems a $10,981,581 contract to develop and flight-test a low-cost interceptor for ballistic and hypersonic threats. The Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) award is being issued under the Missile Defense Agency’s (MDA) Rapid Response Small Launcher Technology program and supports its Low-Cost Interceptor (LCI) effort. The original solicitation, issued about a year ago, sought modular interceptor designs that could be rapidly demonstrated against ballistic and hypersonic threats. The LCI program targets a unit cost of less than $750,000 per interceptor, significantly below the reported cost of existing Patriot and THAAD interceptors. The $10.98 million figure is the development contract value, not the price of one interceptor. X-Bow will design, develop and demonstrate a high-performance solid rocket motor for the system. The contract runs from July 2026 through July 2028, with a prototype flight demonstration planned for late 2027. X-Bow manufactures solid rocket motors and propellant in-house using additive manufacturing. The company has already conducted a static test of a sub-scale solid rocket motor design related to the program and will use the funding for further motor development and flight testing.   Expanding the Solid Rocket Motor Industry The Pentagon said the contract will help address the need to expand the U.S. solid rocket motor (SRM) industrial base, which currently relies on two primary manufacturers, Northrop Grumman and L3Harris’ Aerojet Rocketdyne. The Patriot missile is produced by Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, while Japan has previously been the only country licensed to manufacture Patriot missiles outside the United States. X-Bow CEO Jason Hundley said the company's manufacturing technology is intended to provide more affordable interceptors and rocket motors and increase production speed. MDA Director Lt. Gen. Heath Collins, speaking at the Space and Missile Defense Symposium in Huntsville, Alabama, said the agency is examining propulsion and other expensive interceptor components to identify opportunities to reduce costs. The effort comes as the U.S. and its allies seek larger interceptor stocks following recent conflicts. Estimates cited in reporting put remaining U.S. stocks at fewer than 1,000 Patriot interceptors and about 250 THAAD rounds. A Patriot replacement costs roughly $3.9 million to $4 million, while a THAAD interceptor costs about $12.7 million.   Other Low-Cost Interceptor Programs The U.S. Air Force has also sought a counter-air missile costing less than $500,000 that could be produced in the thousands each year. In Europe, Ukraine and nine European countries — Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom — have launched the FREYJA initiative to develop a European anti-ballistic missile capability. Ukrainian company Fire Point is supplying its FP-7.X interceptor and has estimated a cost below €1 million, or about $700,000. The initiative's earliest target for a successful ballistic-missile interception is mid-2027. Lockheed Martin has separately introduced the PAC-3 MSE Adapted Capability Effector (ACE), which the company says will cost about $2.5 million per missile, roughly half the price of the current PAC-3 MSE. Production is not expected to begin until mid-2029. President Donald Trump said in July that Patriot technology would be licensed to Ukraine, but Lockheed Martin and Raytheon have provided limited public information about licensing needed for Ukrainian production. The new systems remain in development. FREYJA's earliest target is mid-2027, while X-Bow's LCI prototype flight demonstration is planned for late 2027. The X-Bow demonstration will be a development test rather than an operational interceptor. It is also important to distinguish the LCI from X-Bow's Buckler interceptor. Buckler is a separate, flight-tested system designed to defeat Group 3 drones at supersonic speeds, with X-Bow stating that it is priced at under $100,000 per interceptor. The Buckler price does not apply to the MDA's LCI program. The LCI program is part of a broader U.S. and allied effort to develop lower-cost missile-defense systems that can be produced in larger quantities while expanding the industrial base for solid rocket motors. .

Read More → Posted on 2026-08-28 15:53:37

 U.S 

REDONDO BEACH, California — Northrop Grumman has received a $7 million contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to advance diamond cooling technology for semiconductors used in military radar and communications systems. The contract covers Phase 2 of DARPA’s Technologies for Heat Removal in Electronics at the Device Scale (THREADS) program, which is focused on reducing the thermal limitations that restrict the performance of high-power radio-frequency (RF) electronics.   Diamond Cooling to Address Heat Limits High-power RF systems often have to operate below their maximum output to prevent overheating. This limits signal strength and overall system performance. Northrop Grumman is using diamond as a thermal-management material because it conducts heat about five times faster than copper. The company says it can also remove heat more effectively than materials such as silicon carbide and gallium nitride (GaN), which are widely used in high-power electronics. At its Microelectronics Center, Northrop Grumman is integrating microscopic diamond structures directly into semiconductor devices. In collaboration with Stanford University, engineers developed a method to grow a layer of diamond inside microscopic channels on the back of each device. These channels provide a path for moving heat away from critical hotspots.   Phase 1 Results and New Target During Phase 1 of the THREADS program, Northrop Grumman demonstrated a 3.3-fold increase in chip power density. Under Phase 2, the company aims to increase that result by more than three times again. If achieved, the power density would reach roughly 10 times the original baseline established when the program began. DARPA has reported that Phase 1 performers across the broader THREADS program achieved approximately a fivefold increase in RF power density compared with current state-of-the-art devices. DARPA said this level of improvement could roughly double radar range in operational terms.   Potential Military Applications Higher power density could allow RF transmitters to deliver greater power while using smaller components. The technology could therefore support military radar, communications and advanced satellite links. Improved thermal management can also help reduce component size and weight while supporting greater reliability and longer operating life. Ben Heying, director of microelectronics at Northrop Grumman’s Space Park Foundry, said temperature has long limited the performance of microelectronics, including GaN devices. He described embedding diamond directly into chips as an enhanced cooling approach that allows higher power operation while reducing the risk of thermal damage.   Northrop Grumman's Diamond Research Northrop Grumman has invested in diamond-based microelectronics research since 2019. The company plans to use an open-access business model to make the cooling technology available to other participants in the U.S. semiconductor industry. Northrop Grumman designs, manufactures, assembles, tests and packages millions of microelectronic devices each year for defense and commercial applications. The company says its domestic production supports the U.S. semiconductor supply chain. Its broader diamond research has also included testing diamond-based components capable of handling more than 100 watts in related applications. The Phase 2 THREADS effort will focus on further increasing RF power density and improving heat removal as higher-power semiconductor operation creates greater thermal demands.

Read More → Posted on 2026-08-28 14:13:37

 U.S 

TAMPA, Florida, — U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has announced that U.S. forces have cleared Iranian sea mines from the internationally recognized shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz, saying the routes are now open to commercial shipping. In a video released Thursday, CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper said the mines had been laid months earlier by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the strait’s Traffic Separation Scheme, the established routes used by international commercial vessels.   Update from CENTCOM Commander: pic.twitter.com/osPbltjJ1C — U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) August 28, 2026   Cooper said the operation was conducted over several months by U.S. Navy divers, Navy SEALs and military aircraft from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. He described the conditions as challenging and dangerous but said the forces had completed the mission. “Today, international shipping lanes are open and momentum is building,” Cooper said.   Nearly 1,500 Commercial Vessels Assisted Cooper said U.S. forces have provided coordinated protection to nearly 1,500 commercial vessels transiting the strait in recent months. These vessels transported nearly 750 million barrels of crude oil to global markets. At the same time, about 50,000 U.S. troops operating across the region continue enforcing a naval blockade against Iran while supporting commercial transit through the waterway. According to Cooper, Iran has exported zero oil from its shores since the blockade was resumed in mid-July. He said no vessels have entered or left Iranian ports without U.S. authorization, except for humanitarian reasons. U.S. forces have also turned back about 75 vessels attempting to breach the blockade and disabled three vessels that did not comply with U.S. orders.   Commercial Traffic Still Below Prewar Levels Despite CENTCOM's announcement, commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains well below prewar levels. Before the conflict began on February 28, more than 20 million barrels of oil per day passed through the waterway, with roughly 100 to 130 vessels using the route daily. Recent shipping data shows that commodity-vessel traffic remains in the single digits to low teens on some days. The announcement follows earlier statements by President Donald Trump that U.S. forces had removed or detonated mines in international waters in the strait. Cooper's latest video provides CENTCOM's formal operational confirmation that the Traffic Separation Scheme has been cleared.   Security Concerns Remain U.S. allies have privately assessed that some mines may not have been cleared. Earlier estimates from the International Maritime Organization and industry groups placed the number of mines in the historic shipping lanes at around 80, with some assessments higher. Allied officials have also warned that sea currents can move mines and that residual risks could remain outside the main monitored lanes. The International Maritime Organization and maritime information centers continue to advise vessels to exercise maximum caution in the area. Shipping companies and insurers are also conducting their own risk assessments. CENTCOM said it will continue its two main missions in the area: enforcing the blockade against Iran while supporting lawful international commercial transit through the Strait of Hormuz.

Read More → Posted on 2026-08-28 13:46:48

 U.S 

Several weapons and unmanned systems being developed or used today have design concepts that can be traced back to military research conducted during the final years of the Cold War, according to an analysis by firearms and military analyst Gatnerd on X. The analysis points to systems involving uncrewed ground vehicles, loitering munitions, ground-launched cruise missiles, fiber-optic weapons, stealth bombers and unmanned surface vessels. Gatnerd's broader point is that several ideas now receiving renewed attention were already being explored in the 1980s and 1990s. The comparison does not mean that modern systems are unchanged versions of older weapons. Current systems use newer electronics, software, sensors, materials, communications and manufacturing methods. In several cases, the relationship is better described as a revival of an earlier concept rather than a direct technical continuation.   FireAnt and Sandia's 1980s Fire Ant One of the examples highlighted by Gatnerd is the FireAnt uncrewed ground vehicle developed by Swarmbotics AI. Swarmbotics describes FireAnt as an attritable, swarming, man-portable UGV that can support missions including counter-drone operations, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, electronic warfare and other modular payload applications. The company's ANTS, or Attritable Networked Tactical Swarm, family combines the robotic platforms with software for coordinated swarm operations.   The U.S. Army has also been testing FireAnt systems. Recent footage showed an M2A4 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle carrying five FireAnt UGVs during the Pegasus Charge 3 test exercise. The testing is examining how small robotic systems can be carried and employed with conventional Army formations. Gatnerd noted that the name and basic concept recall a different Fire Ant system tested by Sandia National Laboratories in 1987 and 1988. The Sandia Fire Ant was a small remotely operated ground vehicle based on a Honda 125 four-wheeled all-terrain vehicle. It carried a shaped-charge-type warhead and an onboard video camera, allowing an operator to control the vehicle toward a target. Later versions were also described with automatic target-recognition capabilities. The earlier project illustrates that the idea of using small unmanned ground vehicles to approach armored targets was being explored decades before today's autonomous and swarm-enabled UGV programs.   Shahed-136 and the Dornier DAR Comparison Gatnerd also pointed to similarities between the Iranian Shahed-136 one-way attack drone and the West German Dornier Drohne Anti-Radar, or DAR, project from the 1980s. Dornier developed DAR as an unmanned system intended to locate and attack enemy radar installations. The aircraft used a delta-wing configuration and was designed for launch from a ground vehicle. The project was developed during the Cold War and was eventually terminated; it did not enter German service.   The Shahed-136 has a broadly similar cropped-delta configuration, which has led to repeated comparisons with DAR. However, the available evidence does not establish a confirmed direct technical lineage between the two systems. Some accounts have proposed a connection through Israel's Harpy loitering munition, while other assessments treat the similarity as primarily visual and conceptual. Therefore, the DAR example is better described as a case of similar design and mission concepts rather than a confirmed direct development line from the 1980s German project to the Shahed-136.   B-21 Raider and the B-2 Spirit The B-21 Raider provides a clearer example of design continuity within the U.S. bomber program. The B-2 Spirit first flew in 1989 and established the flying-wing configuration that remains associated with Northrop Grumman's low-observable bomber designs. The U.S. Air Force says the B-2's low observability comes from a combination of its flying-wing design, composite materials, coatings and other technologies.   The B-21 uses the same broad flying-wing approach but incorporates substantially newer technologies and systems. Its development therefore illustrates how an aerodynamic and stealth concept originating during the Cold War can continue into a new generation of aircraft.   Typhon Brings Ground-Launched Tomahawk Capability Back Another example is the U.S. Army's Mid-Range Capability, commonly known as Typhon. The Army's system uses a ground-based launcher capable of firing the Navy's Standard Missile-6 and Tomahawk Land Attack Missile. The U.S. Army successfully demonstrated a Tomahawk launch from the prototype system in June 2023, and the MRC subsequently became an operational Army capability. The concept has a Cold War predecessor in the BGM-109G Gryphon ground-launched cruise missile. The Gryphon was a ground-launched version of the Tomahawk family that entered service in Europe during the 1980s before being eliminated under the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. Typhon is not a reintroduction of the Gryphon itself. Instead, it represents the return of a ground-based launch concept using modern launch equipment and existing naval missiles.   Fiber-Optic Weapons Predated Today's FPV Drones Fiber-optic FPV drones have become increasingly important because their physical communication links are difficult to disrupt through conventional radio-frequency electronic warfare. The underlying idea is much older. The U.S. Army's Fiber Optic Guided Missile and Enhanced Fiber Optic Guided Missile programs were developed during the 1980s and 1990s. The EFOG-M used a fiber-optic cable connecting the missile to the launch vehicle. A camera in the missile transmitted imagery to the operator, who could use that information to select and engage targets. U.S. government documentation described a range of up to 15 kilometers. A 1987 U.S. Naval Institute account also described the earlier FOG-M concept, in which video from a missile's nose camera was transmitted to the operator through a fiber-optic cable. Today's fiber-optic FPV drones apply the same fundamental principle in a much smaller and generally less expensive form. Their use demonstrates how an older military technology can become practical on a much wider scale when combined with modern commercial electronics and unmanned platforms.   OWL MK II and Early Unmanned Surface Vessels The same pattern can be seen at sea. Howard Hornsby's OWL MK II was an unmanned surface vessel developed around the late 1980s and tested extensively during the 1990s. A U.S. Marine Corps photograph from 1998 identifies the OWL MK II as a remotely controlled unmanned surface vessel developed by Navtec and Howard Hornsby for the Office of Naval Research. The platform was tested for missions including marine reconnaissance, harbor protection, minehunting and littoral anti-submarine operations. According to accounts of the program, an OWL MK II operated with U.S. Navy Detachment 1 in Bahrain from 1995 to 1997. The system did not become a major formal Navy program, but its development demonstrated that unmanned surface vessels were being considered for operational naval missions decades before the current expansion of maritime drones.   Cold War Research and the Post-Cold War Period Gatnerd's comparison focuses on a broader change in military priorities. During the Cold War, the United States and its allies invested heavily in technologies intended for a potential conflict with a technologically capable peer adversary. These programs included precision weapons, stealth aircraft, unmanned systems, advanced guidance technologies and weapons designed to operate against armored formations and air-defense networks. After the Cold War ended, many major defense programs were reduced, canceled or delayed. Military operations in the following decades also placed greater emphasis on counterinsurgency and other missions rather than large-scale conventional warfare against a peer military. The renewed focus on high-intensity conventional warfare has brought some of those earlier concepts back into attention. The current systems, however, are not simply 1980s weapons reproduced with new names. Modern computing, sensors, communications, autonomy, materials and manufacturing have changed what can be achieved with many of the same basic ideas. The examples highlighted by Gatnerd therefore show more than simple technological repetition. They demonstrate that several concepts considered advanced during the final years of the Cold War remained relevant, even after the original programs were canceled or left development. As military requirements have changed again, some of those concepts are being developed with technologies that were not available when the original systems were tested.  

Read More → Posted on 2026-08-28 12:39:59

 U.S 

WASHINGTON, — The U.S. Army has awarded Heaviside Industries Inc. a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract worth up to $99 million for the procurement, fielding, upgrades and sustainment of the company’s MOTH spectrum analyzer. The contract was announced in the Department of War’s contracts listing on August 27. The contract is scheduled to run through August 27, 2031. Heaviside Industries, based in Marina del Rey, California, received the award after the Army solicited bids online and received 99 proposals. Work locations and funding will be determined through individual orders. The contracting activity is the Army Contracting Command at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. The MOTH is a compact, ruggedized tactical spectrum analyzer designed to provide soldiers with awareness of radio-frequency signals. It covers frequencies from 5 MHz to 6 GHz, allowing operators to detect radio-frequency activity associated with drones, radios and other communications equipment. The device weighs 0.99 pounds with its battery installed and measures 5.78 by 3.3 by 1.8 inches. It can be used as a handheld device or carried on a soldier’s vest. The MOTH has a 2.79-inch LCD display with 240 by 320 pixel resolution, built-in GPS, vibration notifications and a direction-finding mode. It also provides a real-time signal oscillation display. The MOTH can scan its frequency range five times per second and has a listed battery life of up to 12 hours from its 25.2 Wh battery. The device is rated IP67 for protection against dust and water and is specified to operate between 14 and 131 degrees Fahrenheit. The analyzer also supports integration with the Android Team Awareness Kit (ATAK), a digital situational-awareness system used by U.S. military personnel. The MOTH has a stated Technology Readiness Level of 9 and is NDAA compliant. Heaviside says the device is designed and manufactured in the United States. The MOTH is intended to support soldiers operating in environments where identifying radio-frequency activity is important. Soldier Systems Daily reported in July that the device can be used by Cyber Electromagnetic Activities personnel for identifying signals and obtaining line-of-bearing information, including in counter-drone applications. The publication also noted that the system is designed to be simple enough for use by personnel who may not have specialized electronic-warfare training. The MOTH is also commercially available. Lumenier lists the unit at $4,950 and says the package includes the spectrum analyzer, two lithium batteries, a USB-C charger, a custom vest pouch, a protective Pelican case, and low- and high-band antennas. The Army contract covers more than the initial purchase of the equipment. It also includes fielding, upgrades and sustainment, allowing the service to procure additional MOTH systems and receive support over the contract period through 2031. The award gives the Army a procurement mechanism for deploying the compact spectrum analyzer through individual orders rather than specifying a single quantity of systems in the initial contract announcement. The Department of War did not disclose the number of MOTH units that will ultimately be purchased under the $99 million contract ceiling.

Read More → Posted on 2026-08-28 11:53:03

 U.S 

INDIANAPOLIS —  Rolls-Royce has completed a decade-long, $1 billion modernization of its manufacturing, assembly and engine-test operations in Indiana. It is the company’s largest single investment in the United States and expands its capacity to support major U.S. military aviation programs. About $600 million was spent modernizing manufacturing operations at the Indianapolis campus, with that work completed in 2021. Another $400 million funded new engine-testing infrastructure, including expanded test cells in Indianapolis and high-altitude, hybrid-electric and hypersonics testing capabilities at the Purdue Aerospace District in West Lafayette. Company leaders and state officials marked the completion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on August 27, 2026, at the Rolls-Royce Performance Building on South Tibbs Avenue in Indianapolis. “This billion-dollar investment is about more than buildings and test cells — it is about delivering for the American warfighter, on time and at the standard our customers expect. We made this investment because it was the right thing to do for U.S. national security and for the future of Rolls-Royce,” said Adam Riddle, president of Defense and chief executive of Rolls-Royce North America.   Supporting U.S. Military Programs The Indiana operations will support future engines for the U.S. Air Force’s B-52 strategic bomber and the U.S. Army’s MV-75 Cheyenne, also known as the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft. The Indianapolis site also builds and tests engines for the V-22 Osprey, MQ-25A Stingray and C-130J. Rolls-Royce has produced more than 14,000 engines at the campus since 2001, with roughly half from the AE engine family used on aircraft including the C-130J and V-22. The company also has a contract to supply 650 F130 engines for the B-52 fleet. Rolls-Royce said Indianapolis produces more of its defense products than any other company site worldwide.   Jobs and Research The Indianapolis operation employs about 3,500 people, including workers represented by the United Auto Workers, and supports thousands of additional supply-chain jobs in Indiana. About 80 percent of Rolls-Royce’s U.S. defense workforce is based in the state, while more than 700 Indianapolis employees are Purdue University graduates. The company plans to hire about 100 additional engineers as work expands on the F130 and AE 1107 engines. “The engines built in Indianapolis power the aircraft our warfighters depend on, and this investment strengthens the American defense industrial base at a moment when we need it most,” said Indiana Senator Jim Banks. Rolls-Royce said it has invested more than $1.5 billion in U.S. facilities and nearly $2.5 billion in research and development over the past decade. Its U.S. operations contributed $6.2 billion to the national economy in 2024 and supported more than 30,000 jobs across 26 states, including research spillover. The company estimates that every dollar invested by the U.S. government in Rolls-Royce generates about $4 in economic returns. The Indianapolis campus also houses LibertyWorks, Rolls-Royce’s advanced propulsion research organization. It is supported by a $75 million, 10-year alliance with Purdue University covering gas turbine technology, electrical and digital systems and related research, primarily at Purdue’s Zucrow Laboratories. The modernization replaced aging infrastructure, including some facilities dating to World War II, with newer equipment and processes while production continued. The Indianapolis campus footprint was reduced from about 3 million square feet to 1.5 million square feet. The expanded test facilities provide a wider range of engine-testing capabilities at lower cost and risk, including support for sustainable aviation fuels. Rolls-Royce said the completed investment positions its Indiana operations to support growth in existing programs and future contracts.

Read More → Posted on 2026-08-28 11:22:50

 U.S 

FOREST, Miss.,  — Raytheon, an RTX business, has completed a $50 million expansion of its manufacturing facility in Forest, Mississippi. The project adds 17,000 square feet of manufacturing space and increases the site's capacity to produce electronic warfare and radar systems. The investment is expected to create 100 high-skilled jobs by 2028.   Facility Expands to 445,000 Square Feet The expansion brings the Forest facility to 445,000 square feet of manufacturing space, making it one of the largest defense manufacturing locations in Mississippi. Raytheon has invested $280 million across three expansions at the facility over the past decade. Previous projects included: A 20,000-square-foot expansion completed in 2013. A 50,000-square-foot radar production and testing center completed in 2020. The latest 17,000-square-foot expansion, supported by a $50 million investment.   Supporting Next Generation Jammer Production The newly expanded space will support the production, testing and integration of Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band (NGJ-MB) pods. NGJ-MB is an electronic attack system developed for the U.S. Navy and Australian government. The system is designed to deny, disrupt and degrade enemy technology, including communications and air-defense systems. Raytheon's Forest facility began low-rate initial production of NGJ-MB in 2021. The pods are used on the EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft. The expanded facility will also support other airborne radar programs as Raytheon increases manufacturing capacity.   Other Defense Programs The Forest Consolidated Manufacturing Center supports several radar and electronic warfare programs. Its work includes: Airborne radars for the F/A-18 and F-15. NGJ pods for the EA-18G Growler. Advanced Airborne Sensor systems for the P-8 Poseidon. Digital radar warning receivers. Sentinel ground-based radars. Other radar and electronic warfare systems. The site also includes testing ranges and calibration capabilities supporting its manufacturing and testing activities.   Raytheon Expands Mississippi Workforce “Completing this expansion underscores our long-term commitment to Forest and the state of Mississippi,” said Barbara Borgonovi, president of Naval Power at Raytheon. She said the company is working with state and local partners to develop the workforce, infrastructure and capabilities needed to increase production in support of national defense programs. U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, also highlighted the expansion and the expected addition of 100 jobs. Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves described the project as an economic development benefit for Scott County and an investment in U.S. national security.   40 Years of Operations in Forest Raytheon has operated in the Forest community for 40 years. The company says its continued capital investment in the area also supports workforce development, education and local support networks. The latest expansion increases the manufacturing footprint of the Forest site while providing additional capacity for radar and electronic warfare programs.

Read More → Posted on 2026-08-27 16:40:01

 U.S 

INGLEWOOD, Calif., — Splash Industries has introduced a new mission module for its Typhoon uncrewed surface vessel (USV) that allows operators to launch one-way aerial drones directly from the water. Called the Airstrike Pack, the module is designed to let operators deploy aerial assets with a single button press through the company’s proprietary command-and-control software, Splash C2. Splash Industries said the system has already been tested during a recent force-on-force exercise. The company said its vertically integrated approach, including in-house development of software and electronics, has helped keep the system rugged, easy to use and relatively low cost. Splash said the UAV deployment capability is available at about one-tenth the price of its nearest competitor.   Typhoon USV capabilities The Typhoon is an 11-foot uncrewed surface vessel developed by Splash Industries for national security missions, including maritime surveillance and cargo delivery. According to the company, the vessel has a sustained speed of more than 50 knots and has exceeded 70 knots during testing. It has an operational range of more than 600 nautical miles (1,111 km) and uses a modular deck that can be configured for different payloads, including cargo and sensors. Splash Industries says the Typhoon can be assembled in about eight hours and is priced at approximately one-tenth the cost of comparable platforms. The company develops its software, electronics and sensors in-house. The Airstrike Pack adds another mission option to the Typhoon by allowing the USV to deploy one-way aerial drones from the surface.   Autonomous Navy resupply demonstration The announcement follows a major milestone for Splash Industries during the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise near Hawaii in July 2026. During the exercise, a Typhoon USV completed what Splash Industries described as the world’s first fully autonomous underway resupply of a U.S. Navy warship. The vessel autonomously navigated open water, approached the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) and guided itself into the ship’s flooded well deck. Splash said the operation was completed without satellite or radio commands. The demonstration was overseen by the Naval Postgraduate School’s Consortium for Advanced Manufacturing Research and Education (CAMRE). During the same 24-hour period, the Typhoon also delivered uncrewed aerial system components manufactured aboard the USS Essex by U.S. Marine Corps personnel back to shore, according to information provided by the consortium.   Funding and larger USV development Splash Industries officially emerged from stealth in July 2026 after announcing a $4.2 million seed funding round led by Ubiquity Ventures. The company said its autonomous vessels had already completed more than 10,000 nautical miles (18,520 km) of deployments across three continents. Splash co-founder and CEO Ivan Avanesov has also said the company is developing a larger uncrewed vessel called Tempest, which is being prepared for U.S. Navy testing. The Tempest is expected to have a payload capacity of 1,500 pounds (680 kg) and an operational range of 300 nautical miles (556 km). With the introduction of the Airstrike Pack, Splash Industries is expanding the Typhoon’s mission configuration beyond surveillance and cargo delivery to include the deployment of one-way aerial drones from an uncrewed surface vessel.

Read More → Posted on 2026-08-27 13:26:31

 U.S 

Washington — The U.S. Army has selected five companies to build and operate nuclear microreactors at five U.S. military installations under the Janus Program, with up to $2.2 billion in combined funding. The program, announced August 26, is being conducted in partnership with the Department of War Innovation Unit and aims to move advanced nuclear technology from testing into sustained operation at military sites. The contracts cover fiscal years 2027 through 2031 and use fixed-price, milestone-based Other Transaction Authority agreements. They cover design, construction and the first year of operations, with companies also expected to provide significant private investment. The Army's main target is to have at least one commercial microreactor producing usable electricity by September 30, 2028.   Five Companies and Initial Sites The selected companies and installations are: Antares Nuclear, Inc. — Fort Bragg, North Carolina BWXT Advanced Technologies, LLC — Fort Campbell, Kentucky General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems — Fort Hood, Texas Radiant Industries, Inc. — Fort Benning, Georgia Westinghouse Government Services — Fort Drum, New York The five sites were selected from nine finalists identified in November 2025. The installations not selected were Fort Wainwright, Alaska; Holston Army Ammunition Plant, Tennessee; Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington; and Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. The Army expects that private investment combined with government funding could eventually support more than 20 microreactors across Department of War installations.   Reactor Plans The planned systems will produce between 1 and 20 megawatts of electricity, depending on the design, and occupy less than five acres. They are intended to provide localized power for critical military infrastructure while remaining connected to existing commercial grids. They will not supply all of a major military installation's electricity. Radiant Industries has disclosed the largest individual award, worth up to $750 million, for 15 factory-built 1-megawatt Kaleidos microreactors by 2030, beginning with three units at Fort Benning. The transportable reactor uses TRISO fuel and is designed for about five years of operation before refueling, with a 20-year operating life. Westinghouse Government Services will provide its eVinci heat-pipe microreactor at Fort Drum. Westinghouse says the system can provide electricity for eight years without refueling and uses TRISO fuel with high-assay low-enriched uranium and passive heat-pipe cooling. The company recently completed a zero-power criticality test of the design at a National Nuclear Security Administration facility. Antares Nuclear will deploy its R1 microreactor at Fort Bragg in three-unit groups. The sodium heat-pipe-cooled reactor uses TRISO fuel and is rated from 100 kilowatts to 1 megawatt per unit. Its related Mark-0 test reactor achieved criticality at Idaho National Laboratory in June 2026. Antares plans to generate electricity from a test unit in 2027 and begin military deployments in 2028. BWXT Advanced Technologies will deploy a 20-megawatt-electric BANR reactor at Fort Campbell. The high-temperature gas-cooled reactor uses TRISO fuel and nitrogen coolant. Initial work includes site selection, Army regulatory processes and TRISO fuel fabrication. Construction is targeted for late 2028, with operations planned for the early 2030s. General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems will develop, test and conduct site planning for its GA-TES at Fort Hood. The liquid-metal-cooled reactor has a baseline output of about 5 megawatts electric and can scale to about 20 megawatts. It uses uranium-zirconium hydride fuel, natural-circulation cooling, has a 40-year design life and is modular for transport by truck or rail.   Safety, Regulation and Waste The reactors will be owned and operated by the contractors, not the Army. They will be regulated by the Army rather than the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, while following environmental and safety requirements applicable to commercial reactors. The Army is aligning its regulatory processes so companies can later seek NRC approval for civilian markets. None of the reactors will use highly enriched, weapons-grade uranium. Several designs use 19.75% HALEU. Spent fuel will not be permanently stored at the installations, and the program requires nuclear waste and radiological materials to be removed from military sites within two years after a reactor shuts down. The Pentagon plans to develop a unified waste-management solution.   From Project Pele to Janus Janus follows the Pentagon's earlier Project Pele, which focused on developing a portable reactor in the 1-to-5-megawatt range. Janus instead focuses on commercial reactor systems capable of providing long-duration baseload power at operational military installations. Army officials have stressed that not all five companies are expected to have operating reactors by 2028. Dr. Jeff Waksman said the Army nevertheless believes there is a practical path to having at least one reactor producing usable electricity by September 30, 2028. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll said the contracts are intended to provide safe and reliable baseload power for military installations and strengthen energy resilience. Jason Craft, Janus Program director, said the Army is leading efforts to expand nuclear capability through the program. Waksman said the broader objective is to move from experimental designs to reliable commercial hardware that can operate for years and eventually serve non-military customers. The program is also intended to strengthen the domestic industrial base for advanced nuclear energy.

Read More → Posted on 2026-08-27 13:04:37

 U.S 

FORT BLISS, Texas — Lockheed Martin has demonstrated an artificial intelligence-powered Guam Defense System (GDS) Battle Manager Suite designed to connect the Aegis Guam combat system with the U.S. Army’s Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) and other integrated air and missile defense capabilities. The prototype reached the second stage of a U.S. Army evaluation in less than two months after the Army issued a request for a battle-management solution in June 2026. The demonstration was conducted in a simulated Guam operational environment at the Army Tactical Systems Integration Lab at Fort Bliss. The system uses Lockheed Martin’s CommandIQ platform to continuously process hundreds of incoming tracks. Using algorithms informed by thousands of pre-run simulations, it ranks possible responses and recommends weapon assignments for individual threats. During the demonstration, the suite combined live data from multiple integrated air and missile defense systems into a single common tactical picture. Commanders could view sensor tracks, available munitions and engagement opportunities across the joint operating area in real time. Lockheed Martin said the system is intended to reduce the manual coordination normally required for integrated air and missile defense, including voice calls, text messages, physical documents and manual calculations. Its automated recommendations are designed to support faster decisions and more efficient use of high-cost interceptors. “In missile defense, seconds can determine whether an operator protects a populated island or exhausts precious interceptors,” said Tiffany Marr, director of CommandIQ, Golden Dome for America C2 and Advanced Concepts at Lockheed Martin. She said the system provides commanders with real-time information on sensors, weapon systems and munition loadouts while recommending the optimal weapon for incoming threats. The prototype was installed and integrated within 24 hours of arriving at the Fort Bliss laboratory and met all required demonstration criteria during its one-week fielding period. The Battle Manager Suite uses an open architecture, allowing it to accept pre-planned warfighter responses, Air Tasking Orders, Airspace Control Orders and missile-defense designs. It can also incorporate software from other defense technology companies without requiring the entire system to be rebuilt. The latest demonstration follows Lockheed Martin’s earlier software-based command-and-control integration work during Valiant Shield 2026, where the company demonstrated the connection of capabilities including Aegis Guam, AN/TPY-6 radar, THAAD, C2BMC, IBCS and other air and missile defense assets to support a common tactical picture and coordinated decision-making. The Army’s Battle Manager Suite effort is part of broader work to integrate more than 20 programs and prototypes supporting Guam’s defense. The competition includes multiple phases, with a formal prototype proposal stage expected later and an award targeted for the first quarter of fiscal year 2027.

Read More → Posted on 2026-08-27 11:58:32

 U.S 

ARLINGTON, Va.,  — AeroVironment has received a $51 million delivery order from the U.S. Army for additional Switchblade 600 loitering munition systems. The order includes Switchblade 600 Block 2 systems for the U.S. military and Switchblade 600 Block 1 systems supporting a Foreign Military Sale to a key U.S. ally, according to the company. The order was placed under the Army’s existing five-year, $990 million Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract for Lethal Unmanned Systems (LUS), awarded in August 2024. The latest award follows the Army’s earlier procurement of AeroVironment’s next-generation Switchblade systems under the same contract.   Switchblade 600 Block 2 The Switchblade 600 Block 2 is designed for multi-domain operations and has been ruggedized for maritime and highly contested environments. AeroVironment developed the variant in collaboration with U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM). The system features upgraded avionics and advanced Automatic Target Recognition (ATR) capabilities, including SPOTR AiTR, intended to support faster detection, identification and engagement of threats. It also incorporates Silvus MANET radios for resilient communications and distributed operations. The Block 2 also includes improved navigation and mission-resilience capabilities for operations in GPS-challenged environments. AeroVironment's published specifications list an endurance of more than 50 minutes, while its handoff and relay capability can extend beyond 100 kilometers. The system has a stated range of more than 60 kilometers, with the company listing more than 100 kilometers when using Forward Pass. It carries an anti-armor munition and has a secondary payload bay. The company also lists a setup and launch time of less than 10 minutes and an IP67 rating for maritime applications.   Growing U.S. Army Procurement AeroVironment said Switchblade 600 systems have been fielded across more than 20 U.S. brigade combat teams since 2025, with hundreds of U.S. soldiers trained in their operation and employment. Brian Young, AeroVironment’s Senior Vice President of Loitering Munitions, said the continued Army investment reflects demand for long-range precision loitering munitions and the performance of the Switchblade family. Young said the Block 2 builds on the Block 1 configuration with upgrades in autonomy, resilience and lethality for contested, multi-domain operations. AeroVironment also said it is expanding manufacturing capacity and working to accelerate delivery timelines as demand increases. The Army previously awarded AeroVironment a $186 million delivery order in February 2026 for Switchblade 600 Block 2 and Switchblade 300 Block 20 systems. That order was the Army’s first procurement of AeroVironment’s next-generation Switchblade product line. The new $51 million order continues procurement under the broader Lethal Unmanned Systems contract, supporting Switchblade deliveries to U.S. forces and allied customers.

Read More → Posted on 2026-08-26 16:45:11

 U.S 

SAN DIEGO — The U.S. Navy has awarded BAE Systems a $149.8 million firm-fixed-price contract for maintenance, modernization and repairs on the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4). If all options are exercised, the total value could reach $180 million. The work will be conducted under a Selected Restricted Availability (SRA) at Naval Base San Diego, the ship’s homeport. It is scheduled to begin during the fiscal 2027 availability window and is expected to be completed by October 2028. The contract covers labor, supervision, equipment, testing, facilities and quality assurance required for the Chief of Naval Operations availability. Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington is the contracting activity. Three companies competed under full and open competition. Funding includes about $144.7 million in fiscal 2026 Navy procurement funds and $5 million in operations and maintenance funds. “Critical maintenance of the USS Boxer will support the U.S. Navy’s vital mission to continue defending our nation,” said Eric Icke, vice president and general manager of BAE Systems Maritime Solutions San Diego.   USS Boxer and Previous Maintenance USS Boxer is a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship commissioned on February 11, 1995, and is the sixth U.S. Navy vessel to carry the name. The ship is approximately 844 feet long, has a beam of about 106 feet, and displaces around 40,500 tons fully loaded. It supports amphibious operations, carries Marines and their equipment, and operates aircraft and landing craft. It serves as the flagship of an amphibious ready group. BAE Systems’ San Diego shipyard previously received an approximately $200 million contract in 2020 for Boxer maintenance and modernization. That work included upgrades supporting F-35B operations, as well as hull, tank and mechanical work. In April 2024, Boxer returned to San Diego about 10 days into a deployment after a rudder and bearing failure. Divers conducted pier-side repairs over roughly two months. The Navy had also planned a separate longer maintenance period for the ship. Boxer has since returned to regular operations and received recognition for performance and readiness.   BAE Systems Ship Services The contract is part of BAE Systems’ broader ship services business, which provides repair, maintenance, modernization, conversion and overhaul services for the Navy, other government agencies and commercial maritime customers. BAE Systems operates full-service shipyards in California, Florida and Virginia, with drydocks, shiplifts, railway systems, land-level work areas and pier space for major ship support operations. The new contract supports the Navy’s ongoing effort to maintain the readiness of its amphibious fleet.

Read More → Posted on 2026-08-26 16:40:40

 U.S 

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Air Force has awarded Raytheon a $603 million ceiling indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the production and sustainment of new radar systems for the B-52 Stratofortress fleet. The August 21, 2026, sole-source contract covers the AN/APQ-188 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, which will replace the B-52H’s legacy AN/APQ-166 mechanical analog radar. The Air Force has obligated $46,008,396 in fiscal 2026 aircraft procurement funds through the initial delivery order. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity under contract FA8628-26-D-B001. Work will be performed in Forrest, Mississippi; El Segundo, California; McKinney, Texas; and Warner Robins, Georgia, with completion expected by August 20, 2031.   New Radar Capabilities The AN/APQ-188, also known as the Bomber Modernized Radar System, was developed by Raytheon and is derived primarily from the AN/APG-79 AESA radar used on the Navy’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler, with additional technology from the AN/APG-82 used on F-15 aircraft. A larger antenna was adapted for installation on the B-52. The radar provides high-resolution mapping, improved all-weather navigation, enhanced target detection and tracking, and electronic warfare support. The Air Force selected existing radar technology to limit development costs while adding modern capabilities to the bomber.   Part of B-52J Modernization The radar replacement is part of the wider B-52 modernization program. The Air Force plans to install the system across its 76 B-52H bombers. Other major upgrades include the replacement of the existing engines with Rolls-Royce F130 engines. These changes will transition the aircraft to the B-52J configuration and support operations into the 2050s. The radar program has faced schedule delays and rising costs. Initial flight testing was pushed from fiscal 2024 to 2026. The first modified test aircraft arrived at Edwards Air Force Base in December 2025. On June 15, 2026, it crashed shortly after takeoff during a local test mission supporting the radar program, killing all eight crew members aboard. A second B-52H test aircraft is undergoing modification and radar installation at Boeing’s facility in San Antonio, Texas. It is expected to take over flight evaluations after the work is completed later this year. A separate delivery order was also issued to Boeing for bomb rack modernization system kits, valued at up to approximately $163 million, with work in San Antonio expected to continue through December 2028. The latest Raytheon contract provides for production and long-term sustainment of the new radar as the Air Force continues the B-52 fleet modernization program.

Read More → Posted on 2026-08-26 14:16:39

 U.S 

Mérignac, France, — Photonis Defense, the U.S. subsidiary of Exosens, has received its first delivery order from the U.S. Army for 1,600 complete Binocular Night Observation Device (BiNOD) systems. The order begins the Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) phase of the Army’s BiNOD program after the completion of key testing and qualification work. The first systems are expected to be delivered by the end of 2026, with most of the 1,600 systems scheduled for delivery throughout 2027. The order is part of a broader Indefinite-Delivery/Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) contract awarded to Photonis Defense in March 2026. The contract has a maximum value of $352.6 million and covers BiNOD development, production and testing through an estimated completion date of February 27, 2033. The financial terms of the 1,600-system order were not disclosed. Photonis Defense will manufacture and test the complete systems at its U.S. facilities, integrating high-performance image intensifier tubes supplied by Exosens. The company’s U.S. capabilities include development, production and testing facilities, including its site in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. The BiNOD, previously known as Night Vision Device–Next, is a helmet-mounted night-vision system designed to amplify available light and improve soldiers’ visibility during low-light and nighttime operations. The systems are intended to provide lightweight night-vision capability while meeting U.S. Army requirements for performance, quality and delivery schedules. The wider BiNOD program includes three contractors selected through a competition that began with six bidders. L3Harris received an IDIQ contract valued at approximately $466 million, while Elbit Systems of America – Night Vision received one valued at approximately $450.6 million. All three contracts cover development, production and testing through 2033. Exosens CEO Jérôme Cerisier said the LRIP phase marks a key milestone in the company’s U.S. expansion and supports its strategy of combining night-vision technology with U.S.-based industrial capabilities. Photonis Defense CEO Shanna Owens said the company remains focused on delivering advanced night-vision systems and supporting the modernization of U.S. Army soldier equipment. The new order establishes the basis for regular BiNOD production at Photonis Defense’s U.S. factory, with deliveries beginning in 2026 and continuing through 2027.

Read More → Posted on 2026-08-26 13:49:55