FlightGlobal
• Lizzie Rix
The United States has cleared a potential sale of APKWS II munitions to the United Arab Emirates valued at about $1 billion. Additional potential sales to Egypt and Kuwait bring the estimated combined value of the three deals to $2.27 billion.
Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons
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The United States has cleared a potential sale of APKWS II munitions to the United Arab Emirates valued at about $1 billion. Additional potential sales to Egypt and Kuwait bring the estimated combined value of the three deals to $2.27 billion.
After years of competing over U.S. Space Command’s headquarters, business and civic leaders from Colorado Springs and Huntsville are working to build a joint agenda around military space and missile defense. About 90 Colorado Springs representatives are in Huntsville to advance defense and aerospace missions as the headquarters move to Alabama proceeds.
France’s defense procurement agency said the ballistic-missile submarine Le Vigilant successfully completed an acceptance firing of an unarmed M51.3 on Oct. 6, 2026. The event marks a test milestone for the French Navy’s submarine-launched strategic missile program, though the announcement provided no further details on results or next steps.
The U.S. and Australia’s Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile has entered flight testing over Australia after major delays. The milestone moves the jointly pursued weapon into a test phase, though the available reports provide no further details on the schedule or results.
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Boeing says Lockheed Martin awarded it an approximately $14.7 billion, seven-year contract to scale production and deliver seekers for the Patriot PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement interceptor. The award is an undefinitized contract action; production is to be completed at Boeing’s Huntsville, Alabama, facility.
Ukraine’s effort to counter Russian drones is drawing on established weapons and expanding domestic technology: automatic gun turrets have downed jet-powered drones, while Northrop Grumman’s 30mm Chain Gun is being used against uncrewed aircraft. Ukrainian firms are also raising capital for reconnaissance drones and AI tools as the country advances other arms projects.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the launch of an intermediate-range strategic missile using a hypersonic weapons system, according to state media. The drill signals Pyongyang’s stated intent to strengthen its nuclear deterrent and advance capabilities designed to complicate regional missile defense.
Strike Fighter Squadron 41 employed its F/A-18F Super Hornets extensively during the war with Iran, launching hundreds of air-to-surface and air-to-air weapons. The operation offers a detailed look at the strike fighter’s weapons employment in a high-intensity combat campaign.
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