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Reuters • Mike Stone

Lockheed Martin breaks ground on Alabama munitions production center to ramp THAAD interceptor output

Lockheed Martin says it has broken ground on a new Munitions Production Center in Troy, Alabama, to expand missile production for U.S. and allied customers. The company frames the investment as support for rapidly increasing manufacturing capacity for Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptors, alongside a Pentagon-led push to surge munitions output.

2026-05-21T14:24:14.316151-07:00

FlightGlobal

GA-ASI and Saab complete first flight of MQ-9B with LoyalEye unmanned airborne early warning radar pods

2026-05-21T09:38:36.247976-07:00

The War Zone

Night Stalkers’ MH-47 Chinooks eyed for an organic midair refueling tanker role

2026-05-21T13:10:44.578712-07:00

DefenseNews.com

Air Force pitches MQ-9 Reaper as “MVP” amid Epic Fury, while FY27 budget favors crewed fighters

2026-05-21T11:10:25.711914-07:00

News Timeline

Reuters

Lockheed Martin breaks ground on Alabama munitions production center to ramp THAAD interceptor output Lockheed Martin says it has broken ground on a new Munitions Production Center in Troy, Alabama, to expand missile production for U.S. and allied customers. The company frames the investment as support for rapidly increasing manufacturing capacity for Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptors, alongside a Pentagon-led push to surge munitions output.

2026-05-21T14:24:14.316151-07:00

Lockheed Martin breaks ground on Alabama munitions production center to ramp THAAD interceptor output

The War Zone

Night Stalkers’ MH-47 Chinooks eyed for an organic midair refueling tanker role The U.S. Special Operations “Night Stalkers” are considering assigning an aerial-refueling role to their MH-47 Chinooks, giving the unit an organic tanker capability to refuel other aircraft midair. The concept would expand rotary-wing refueling options beyond externally sourced tanker aircraft.

2026-05-21T13:10:44.578712-07:00

Night Stalkers’ MH-47 Chinooks eyed for an organic midair refueling tanker role

FlightGlobal

Option under review: Special Operations Command could convert in-production C-130Js to MC-130J standard after Iran losses With MC-130Js reportedly destroyed in Iran, Special Operations Command is considering a path to replace the capability by completing modifications on in-production Lockheed Martin C-130Js to the MC-130J standard. The approach would preserve aircraft availability by leveraging already-building airframes rather than restarting from scratch.

2026-05-21T11:40:00.607079-07:00

Option under review: Special Operations Command could convert in-production C-130Js to MC-130J standard after Iran losses

DefenseNews.com

Air Force pitches MQ-9 Reaper as “MVP” amid Epic Fury, while FY27 budget favors crewed fighters U.S. Air Force leaders told Congress on May 20 that the MQ-9 Reaper has been a “workhorse” of the air campaign against Iran, even as the service’s fiscal 2027 budget request continues to direct the majority of aircraft funding toward crewed fighters. Lawmakers pressed for clarity on the transition to unmanned and manned-unmanned future force mixes.

2026-05-21T11:10:25.711914-07:00

Air Force pitches MQ-9 Reaper as “MVP” amid Epic Fury, while FY27 budget favors crewed fighters

FlightGlobal

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GA-ASI and Saab complete first flight of MQ-9B with LoyalEye unmanned airborne early warning radar pods General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and Saab have completed the maiden flight of the first unmanned airborne early warning (AEW) configuration: an MQ-9B equipped with Saab’s LoyalEye AEW radar pods. The companies frame the test as a major step toward next-generation uncrewed surveillance for early threat detection.

2026-05-21T09:38:36.247976-07:00

GA-ASI and Saab complete first flight of MQ-9B with LoyalEye unmanned airborne early warning radar pods

Aviation Today

Redwire lands multi-year, multi-million contract to deliver Penguin Mk3 UAS to NATO ally Redwire says it has received a multi-year, multi-million dollar contract from a NATO ally to deliver the company’s Penguin Mk3 unmanned aircraft system. The award adds to the firm’s growing defense-drone workload and reinforces its bid position with European government customers.

2026-05-21T09:25:20.963092-07:00

Redwire lands multi-year, multi-million contract to deliver Penguin Mk3 UAS to NATO ally

Reuters

Parker Hannifin to acquire KKR-owned CIRCOR Aerospace for ~$2.55B, expanding motion and control portfolio for commercial and def Parker Hannifin has agreed to acquire CIRCOR Aerospace from KKR for about $2.55 billion in cash. The deal is expected to broaden Parker’s aerospace and defense exposure with a product mix spanning commercial and defense motion/control technologies.

2026-05-21T06:54:33.780664-07:00

Parker Hannifin to acquire KKR-owned CIRCOR Aerospace for ~$2.55B, expanding motion and control portfolio for commercial and def

Vertical Mag

FlySight and Rapid Imaging Solutions to expand OPENSIGHT distribution in the U.S. FlySight and Rapid Imaging Solutions have partnered to support the commercial rollout of the OPENSIGHT suite across U.S. law enforcement, security and airborne mission operator markets. Rapid Imaging Solutions will handle U.S. distribution and support OPENSIGHT’s development for these real-world deployment needs.

2026-05-21T05:25:07.492443-07:00

FlySight and Rapid Imaging Solutions to expand OPENSIGHT distribution in the U.S.

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Defense Industry & Major Contractors News

Lockheed Martin breaks ground on Alabama munitions production center to ramp THAAD interceptor output

GA-ASI and Saab complete first flight of MQ-9B with LoyalEye unmanned airborne early warning radar pods

Night Stalkers’ MH-47 Chinooks eyed for an organic midair refueling tanker role

Air Force pitches MQ-9 Reaper as “MVP” amid Epic Fury, while FY27 budget favors crewed fighters

News Timeline