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The War Zone • Howard Altman, Joseph Trevithick

USAF to Arm Whole B-52 Fleet for Nuclear Role and Reintroduce MIRVed ICBMs After New START Lapse

With New START expired, the U.S. nuclear posture is unbounded for the first time in decades. The Air Force is prepared to retrofit the entire B-52 fleet for nuclear missions and to reintroduce MIRVed ICBMs, measures that would expand deliverable warhead capacity and reshape deterrence options.

2026-02-11T17:55:45.491259-08:00

The War Zone

US to Accept F-35s Without Operational AN/APG-85 Radar; Nose Ballast Fitted as Stopgap

2026-02-11T14:36:01.686884-08:00

DefenseNews.com

DIU and US Navy seek runway‑independent, long‑range strike drones for austere sites and any surface warship

2026-02-11T12:49:42.170668-08:00

SpaceNews.com

Space companies back Golden Dome despite unresolved scope and funding

2026-02-11T13:37:21.939345-08:00

News Timeline

The War Zone

USAF to Arm Whole B-52 Fleet for Nuclear Role and Reintroduce MIRVed ICBMs After New START Lapse With New START expired, the U.S. nuclear posture is unbounded for the first time in decades. The Air Force is prepared to retrofit the entire B-52 fleet for nuclear missions and to reintroduce MIRVed ICBMs, measures that would expand deliverable warhead capacity and reshape deterrence options.

2026-02-11T17:55:45.491259-08:00

USAF to Arm Whole B-52 Fleet for Nuclear Role and Reintroduce MIRVed ICBMs After New START Lapse

The War Zone

US to Accept F-35s Without Operational AN/APG-85 Radar; Nose Ballast Fitted as Stopgap Because of delays in the AN/APG-85 radar and Block 4 software, the U.S. will begin receiving F-35s without operational radars from June 2025; nose ballast plugs will be fitted as a temporary measure. Jets delivered without the radar retain limited utility but face reduced sensor capability and survivability.

2026-02-11T14:36:01.686884-08:00

US to Accept F-35s Without Operational AN/APG-85 Radar; Nose Ballast Fitted as Stopgap

SpaceNews.com

Space companies back Golden Dome despite unresolved scope and funding Several commercial space firms have thrown their weight behind the Pentagon's Golden Dome missile‑defense initiative, positioning for prototypes and long‑term contracts even as the program's technical scope and funding profile remain unresolved. Companies are making investments and staffing bets ahead of clarified government requirements.

2026-02-11T13:37:21.939345-08:00

Space companies back Golden Dome despite unresolved scope and funding

SpaceNews.com

Integrate raises $17M to commercialize ultra‑secure project‑management platform for classified defense programs Integrate has raised $17 million to commercialize what it describes as the world’s first ultra‑secure project‑management platform built for classified defense programs. The funding will support product rollout to government and contractor users that require tools tailored to classified-program collaboration and data handling.

2026-02-11T12:53:50.264551-08:00

Integrate raises $17M to commercialize ultra‑secure project‑management platform for classified defense programs

DefenseNews.com

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DIU and US Navy seek runway‑independent, long‑range strike drones for austere sites and any surface warship The Defense Innovation Unit and U.S. Navy have solicited runway‑independent, long‑range armed unmanned aircraft systems that can be launched from austere locations or any surface warship — not just aircraft carriers — to provide scalable strike capability for surface combatant operations.

2026-02-11T12:49:42.170668-08:00

DIU and US Navy seek runway‑independent, long‑range strike drones for austere sites and any surface warship

SpaceNews.com

Sovereign EO demand spreads across the Earth‑observation stack Demand for sovereign capability is extending beyond national satellite fleets into the full Earth‑observation stack — sensors, hosted payloads, ground segments, data processing and tasking. Governments' push for national control and sustainment is reshaping procurement priorities and commercial productisation across the EO market.

2026-02-11T12:27:21.840166-08:00

Sovereign EO demand spreads across the Earth‑observation stack

Reuters

Northrop Grumman, Niewiadow-PGM to produce more than 180,000 artillery shells a year in Poland Northrop Grumman and Polish arms group Niewiadow-PGM said they aim to produce more than 180,000 artillery shells annually in Poland, the company’s managing director for Poland said. The plan designates Niewiadow-PGM as the local industrial partner and sets a substantial yearly munitions output target.

2026-02-11T12:24:38.052465-08:00

Northrop Grumman, Niewiadow-PGM to produce more than 180,000 artillery shells a year in Poland

SpaceNews.com

Leidos & SpaceNews webinar: New approaches to collapse space 'kill chains' (Feb. 19) Leidos and SpaceNews host a webinar on Thursday, Feb. 19 at 2 p.m. ET examining new approaches to collapse space 'kill chains.' The session will explore operational and technological methods to disrupt adversary targeting and increase resilience of space systems in contested environments.

2026-02-11T11:54:58.210023-08:00

Leidos & SpaceNews webinar: New approaches to collapse space 'kill chains' (Feb. 19)

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Defense Industry & Major Contractors News

USAF to Arm Whole B-52 Fleet for Nuclear Role and Reintroduce MIRVed ICBMs After New START Lapse

US to Accept F-35s Without Operational AN/APG-85 Radar; Nose Ballast Fitted as Stopgap

DIU and US Navy seek runway‑independent, long‑range strike drones for austere sites and any surface warship

Space companies back Golden Dome despite unresolved scope and funding

News Timeline