Naval News
• Carter Johnston
A U.S. Navy F/A-18F assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 31 was photographed carrying the AIM-174B and AIM-260A Joint Advanced Tactical Missile during a flight over Ridgecrest, California. The sighting marks the first documented instance of the two long-range weapons on the same aircraft.
Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons
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RTX said it secured more than $59 billion in new awards in the third quarter of 2026. About $37 billion came from awards tied to the Tomahawk, AMRAAM, SM-6 and SM-3 Block IB programs, taking the company’s total backlog to $340 billion.
The Space Development Agency is evaluating sensor technologies for future satellites designed to detect and track targets throughout their flight. The exploration points to a continuing focus on expanding space-based missile warning and tracking capabilities, though the report provides no details on specific technologies or program timelines.
Denmark will guarantee a 750 million-crown ($112.6 million) loan to the Danish subsidiary of Ukrainian drone and missile maker Fire Point, the government said. The guarantee backs financing for a defense company operating across drones and missiles, linking Danish state support to Ukraine’s defense-industrial sector.
US lawmakers are calling for an investigation into Starlink disruptions that hampered Ukraine’s defenses, while Kyiv faces a severe shortage of Patriot interceptors amid intensified Russian missile and drone attacks. Lockheed Martin has met Ukrainian defense officials and unveiled the PAC-3 Edge, a new interceptor for Patriot systems.
A U.S. Navy F/A-18F assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 31 was photographed carrying the AIM-174B and AIM-260A Joint Advanced Tactical Missile during a flight over Ridgecrest, California. The sighting marks the first documented instance of the two long-range weapons on the same aircraft.
Leidos is positioning its Air Shield counter-drone system for the U.S. Army’s M-SHORAD Increment 4 competition, emphasizing operational radar and automated engagement for lighter formations facing a widening range of aerial threats. Separately, an Army air defense unit has been earmarked to support the Golden Dome missile-shield project, an Army official confirmed.
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Elon Musk ordered a slowdown of a military-grade version of Starlink used by Ukraine, according to reports citing U.S. officials and people familiar with the matter. The move reportedly disrupted systems supporting Ukrainian defenses, as Kyiv warns that U.S. intelligence and missile-defense support is wavering and alternatives to Starlink carry major drawbacks.
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