DefenseNews.com
• Eve Sampson
The Pentagon selected KBR’s Firefly system for a pilot program to test defenses against adversarial drones at U.S. military installations. Separately, Hanwha Systems said two laser weapons intercepted all three target drones in a demonstration for the South Korean Army, underscoring parallel efforts to develop directed-energy counter-drone capabilities.
Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons
Latest source-backed stories
Anduril could produce its newly unveiled Steelfin interceptor missiles in Europe, a company executive said, as governments seek to expand air-defense production. Conflicts have exposed shortages of interceptor missiles, making local manufacturing a potential part of efforts to increase supply.
The Pentagon selected KBR’s Firefly system for a pilot program to test defenses against adversarial drones at U.S. military installations. Separately, Hanwha Systems said two laser weapons intercepted all three target drones in a demonstration for the South Korean Army, underscoring parallel efforts to develop directed-energy counter-drone capabilities.
South Korea says it has tested its first domestically developed hypersonic glide vehicle, designed for high-speed maneuverability, precision guidance and extreme heat resistance. North Korea’s missile chief questioned whether the vehicle actually achieved hypersonic flight, according to state media KCNA.
South Korea’s defense ministry pushed back against a claim by North Korea’s missile chief questioning Seoul’s recent test launch of a hypersonic glide vehicle. The exchange puts the test and competing claims about the weapon’s capabilities at the center of tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
Lockheed Martin plans a $300 million expansion of its Grand Prairie, Texas, facility, which supports programs across its Missiles and Fire Control business. Hadrian will install a 24-machine automated cell there in early 2027 to increase parts output for PAC-3 MSE, THAAD and other missiles; the investment is part of a plan to create 6,000 U.S. jobs.
Ukraine is critically low on Patriot interceptors as Russian strikes intensify, while Lockheed Martin has introduced PAC-3 Edge, a new missile for the system that it says improves on earlier generations. The developments underscore pressure on a globally depleted interceptor supply amid rising demand for advanced air defenses.
The UK is supplying Ukraine with more long-range Storm Shadow missiles to help disrupt Russian military operations targeting civilian infrastructure before winter, according to people familiar with the matter. The report gives no details on the number of missiles or delivery schedule.
High activity
Satellite imagery of Borisoglebsk air base in Russia’s Voronezh region appears to support Ukraine’s claim that a Neptune missile attack on the night of Oct. 14–15 hit six Su-34 fighter-bombers. Ukrainian officials said four aircraft were destroyed and two badly damaged.
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