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The War Zone • Joseph Trevithick

USAF breaks ground on Sentinel prototype silo as warhead count, IOC slip raise deterrence questions

On Feb. 13 the U.S. Air Force and Northrop Grumman broke ground on a prototype silo for the LGM‑35A Sentinel at Aurora, Colorado. The Sentinel’s new silo features, an unresolved warhead count and IOC pushed to the early 2030s raise acquisition and deterrence questions as China expands its nuclear arsenal.

2026-02-25T13:55:19.307442-08:00

defence-industry.eu

Ursa Major unveils HAVOC: medium‑range, speed‑variable hypersonic missile for fighters and ground launchers

2026-02-25T07:16:23.048322-08:00

Textron

Textron Systems' Damocles VTOL loitering munition wins U.S. Army LASSO prototype agreement

2026-02-25T06:13:53.586907-08:00

DVIDS / U.S. DoD

USAF publishes first image of Anduril YFQ‑44A Fury carrying inert AIM‑120 as captive‑carry weapons integration begins

2026-02-23T16:56:20.295578-08:00

News Timeline

The War Zone

USAF breaks ground on Sentinel prototype silo as warhead count, IOC slip raise deterrence questions On Feb. 13 the U.S. Air Force and Northrop Grumman broke ground on a prototype silo for the LGM‑35A Sentinel at Aurora, Colorado. The Sentinel’s new silo features, an unresolved warhead count and IOC pushed to the early 2030s raise acquisition and deterrence questions as China expands its nuclear arsenal.

2026-02-25T13:55:19.307442-08:00

USAF breaks ground on Sentinel prototype silo as warhead count, IOC slip raise deterrence questions

defence-industry.eu

Ursa Major unveils HAVOC: medium‑range, speed‑variable hypersonic missile for fighters and ground launchers Ursa Major introduced the HAVOC Missile System, a medium‑range, liquid‑rocket hypersonic weapon designed for fighter aircraft and ground launchers. HAVOC features in‑flight speed modulation and a design prioritizing affordable, scalable mass production with adaptable payload and launch configurations to meet urgent warfighter needs.

2026-02-25T07:16:23.048322-08:00

Ursa Major unveils HAVOC: medium‑range, speed‑variable hypersonic missile for fighters and ground launchers

Textron

Textron Systems' Damocles VTOL loitering munition wins U.S. Army LASSO prototype agreement Textron Systems won a U.S. Army prototype agreement under the LASSO program to deliver and demonstrate its Damocles loitering munition. The VTOL-configured system pairs a GEN2 explosively formed penetrator warhead with a MOSA architecture for top‑attack strikes without dedicated launch or recovery equipment.

2026-02-25T06:13:53.586907-08:00

Textron Systems' Damocles VTOL loitering munition wins U.S. Army LASSO prototype agreement

Reuters

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China nears sale of CM-302 supersonic "carrier‑killer" missiles, radar and BeiDou link to Iran Multiple sources say China is nearing a deal to supply Iran with CM-302 supersonic anti-ship missiles, accompanied by stealth-detection radar and a BeiDou satellite link. The CM-302 is reported to fly low and fast and execute terminal manoeuvres to complicate shipborne defences, a potential 'carrier‑killer' capability in the Gulf.

2026-02-24T02:06:17.901529-08:00

China nears sale of CM-302 supersonic "carrier‑killer" missiles, radar and BeiDou link to Iran

FlightGlobal

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USAF, General Atomics validate F‑22 control of MQ‑20 Avenger in milestone manned–unmanned 'loyal wingman' demo The U.S. Air Force and General Atomics demonstrated manned–unmanned teaming when F‑22 pilots commanded an MQ‑20 Avenger during a live autonomy exercise at Edwards AFB. The trial validated MUM‑T control and loyal‑wingman concepts, advancing autonomous coordination for future combat operations and uncrewed strike roles.

2026-02-23T22:00:38.780286-08:00

USAF, General Atomics validate F‑22 control of MQ‑20 Avenger in milestone manned–unmanned 'loyal wingman' demo

FlightGlobal

L3Harris expands SkyWarden/OA‑1K roles with gun pod, SIGINT and long‑range weapons; urges bigger U.S. buy L3Harris is broadening the mission set of its SkyWarden/OA‑1K Skyraider II close‑air‑support turboprop with a gun pod, onboard signals‑intelligence sensors and longer‑range missiles, and says international demand could equal the U.S. 75‑aircraft program of record. The company is pressing for a larger U.S. buy to sustain production.

2026-02-23T18:00:18.883319-08:00

L3Harris expands SkyWarden/OA‑1K roles with gun pod, SIGINT and long‑range weapons; urges bigger U.S. buy

DVIDS / U.S. DoD

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USAF publishes first image of Anduril YFQ‑44A Fury carrying inert AIM‑120 as captive‑carry weapons integration begins The U.S. Air Force released the first official image of Anduril's YFQ‑44A Fury carrying an inert AIM‑120 AMRAAM, confirming the collaborative combat aircraft has begun captive‑carry weapons‑integration testing. The evaluations will validate airworthiness, safety and overall systems performance ahead of further developmental flights.

2026-02-23T16:56:20.295578-08:00

USAF publishes first image of Anduril YFQ‑44A Fury carrying inert AIM‑120 as captive‑carry weapons integration begins

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

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Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons News

USAF breaks ground on Sentinel prototype silo as warhead count, IOC slip raise deterrence questions

Ursa Major unveils HAVOC: medium‑range, speed‑variable hypersonic missile for fighters and ground launchers

Textron Systems' Damocles VTOL loitering munition wins U.S. Army LASSO prototype agreement

USAF publishes first image of Anduril YFQ‑44A Fury carrying inert AIM‑120 as captive‑carry weapons integration begins

News Timeline