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DefenseNews.com • Michael Peck

U.S. Navy seeks AESM — a longer‑range air‑launched anti‑radiation missile for F/A‑18, EA‑18G and F‑35

The U.S. Navy has solicited a longer‑range air‑launched anti‑radiation missile (AESM) designed to out‑range the AARGM‑ER and defeat modern radar systems, with integration planned for F/A‑18E/F, EA‑18G and F‑35 platforms. Officials seek production in the hundreds per year and aim for a two‑year deployment timeline.

2026-02-19T07:37:34.371793-08:00

Breaking Defense

USAF to finish Sentinel (LGM-35A) restructure by 2026 after Milestone B revocation; IOC pushed to early 2030s

2026-02-17T08:53:48.149477-08:00

AeroTime

Footage appears to show Patriot intercepting Russian 3M22 Zircon during Feb. 15–16 strike

2026-02-17T01:13:37.142660-08:00

Reuters

UK pledges £400m+ for long‑range precision and hypersonic weapons, expands joint European programmes

2026-02-13T05:24:38.677184-08:00

News Timeline

DefenseNews.com

U.S. Navy seeks AESM — a longer‑range air‑launched anti‑radiation missile for F/A‑18, EA‑18G and F‑35 The U.S. Navy has solicited a longer‑range air‑launched anti‑radiation missile (AESM) designed to out‑range the AARGM‑ER and defeat modern radar systems, with integration planned for F/A‑18E/F, EA‑18G and F‑35 platforms. Officials seek production in the hundreds per year and aim for a two‑year deployment timeline.

2026-02-19T07:37:34.371793-08:00

U.S. Navy seeks AESM — a longer‑range air‑launched anti‑radiation missile for F/A‑18, EA‑18G and F‑35

Breaking Defense

Northrop won’t take direct DoD equity to scale solid rocket motors; suppliers, private capital may fill gap Northrop Grumman will not seek direct DoD equity or funding to scale solid rocket motor production, opting to retain propulsion assets within its core portfolio. That stance leaves suppliers and private investors as the likeliest sources to finance expanded SRM capacity for missiles and space launch.

2026-02-18T15:05:11.365986-08:00

Northrop won’t take direct DoD equity to scale solid rocket motors; suppliers, private capital may fill gap

Breaking Defense

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USAF to finish Sentinel (LGM-35A) restructure by 2026 after Milestone B revocation; IOC pushed to early 2030s The U.S. Air Force restructured the LGM‑35A "Sentinel" ICBM after a Nunn‑McCurdy review revoked Milestone B amid soaring costs (about $141 billion) and schedule slip. The service aims to complete the restructure and reach Milestone B by end‑2026, with a missile‑pad test next year and IOC in the early 2030s.

2026-02-17T08:53:48.149477-08:00

USAF to finish Sentinel (LGM-35A) restructure by 2026 after Milestone B revocation; IOC pushed to early 2030s

AeroTime

Footage appears to show Patriot intercepting Russian 3M22 Zircon during Feb. 15–16 strike Video released by Ukraine’s Air Command Center appears to show a Patriot surface‑to‑air missile system intercepting a Russian 3M22 Zircon hypersonic missile amid a Feb. 15–16 strike that Kyiv says also included four Zirkons, an Iskander, a Kh‑31 and about 62 drones, with at least 13 injured.

2026-02-17T01:13:37.142660-08:00

Footage appears to show Patriot intercepting Russian 3M22 Zircon during Feb. 15–16 strike

DefenseNews.com

USAF Awards Boeing Sole‑Source Contract and Orders More 30,000‑lb Bunker‑Busters After Iranian Nuclear Strikes The U.S. Air Force has awarded Boeing a sole‑source contract to produce additional 30,000‑lb Massive Ordnance Penetrator bunker‑busters, munitions engineered to penetrate roughly 200 feet of rock or hard substrate. The order follows recent U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and targets underground labs and hardened bunkers.

2026-02-13T12:39:25.053832-08:00

USAF Awards Boeing Sole‑Source Contract and Orders More 30,000‑lb Bunker‑Busters After Iranian Nuclear Strikes

The War Zone

US scales APKWS II laser‑guided rockets as low‑cost air‑to‑air counter‑UAS; USAF plans $145M BAE upgrade U.S. services are scaling the combat‑proven APKWS II laser‑guided Hydra‑70 (AGR‑20/FALCO) as a low‑cost air‑to‑air option to defeat Group‑3 UAS and cruise missiles, with the Marine Corps fitting legacy F/A‑18 Hornets and the Air Force planning a $145M sole‑source upgrade award to BAE.

2026-02-13T10:15:59.993437-08:00

US scales APKWS II laser‑guided rockets as low‑cost air‑to‑air counter‑UAS; USAF plans $145M BAE upgrade

Reuters

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UK pledges £400m+ for long‑range precision and hypersonic weapons, expands joint European programmes The UK will spend more than £400 million (~$545 million) in the current financial year on long‑range precision and hypersonic weapons, expanding joint development projects with France, Germany and Italy. Defence Secretary John Healey said the move is driven by battlefield lessons from Ukraine.

2026-02-13T05:24:38.677184-08:00

UK pledges £400m+ for long‑range precision and hypersonic weapons, expands joint European programmes

European Spaceflight

Hypersonica completes Mach‑6 HS1 test, targets serial production and European strike capability by 2029 Anglo‑German startup Hypersonica reported a successful hypersonic flight test in Norway, with the HS1 prototype reaching roughly Mach 6 and built from military‑grade supplier components. The company emerged from stealth and says it aims for HS1 serial production and a sovereign European strike capability by 2029.

2026-02-09T23:07:19.121722-08:00

Hypersonica completes Mach‑6 HS1 test, targets serial production and European strike capability by 2029

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Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons News

U.S. Navy seeks AESM — a longer‑range air‑launched anti‑radiation missile for F/A‑18, EA‑18G and F‑35

USAF to finish Sentinel (LGM-35A) restructure by 2026 after Milestone B revocation; IOC pushed to early 2030s

Footage appears to show Patriot intercepting Russian 3M22 Zircon during Feb. 15–16 strike

UK pledges £400m+ for long‑range precision and hypersonic weapons, expands joint European programmes

News Timeline