Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons News

Wall Street Journal • Adriano Marchese

Rocket Lab lands $266M U.S. Space Force contract for up to 18 suborbital launches, targeting missile defense

Rocket Lab has won a $266 million multi-launch award from the U.S. Space Force—its largest to date—covering at least 12 and up to 18 suborbital launches. The launches are tied to U.S. missile defense development and are expected to be conducted primarily from a spaceport in Kodiak, Alaska.

4 Sources

2026-07-27T10:21:33.727045-07:00

Breaking Defense

Lockheed Martin exec: laser air-defense systems slated for operational status before decade’s end

2 Sources

2026-07-27T09:06:39.587597-07:00

AeroTime

Longshot joins Velocity Alliance as the US Air Force modernizes high-cadence hypersonic test infrastructure; UK MOD awards Lockh

3 Sources

2026-07-26T02:05:47.667984-07:00

Bloomberg

Lockheed Martin Ventures earmarks $100M for European defense firms; missiles unit targets higher margins via Pentagon framework

14 Sources

2026-07-23T04:05:59.485595-07:00

Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons News Timeline

Wall Street Journal

4 sources

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Rocket Lab lands $266M U.S. Space Force contract for up to 18 suborbital launches, targeting missile defense Rocket Lab has won a $266 million multi-launch award from the U.S. Space Force—its largest to date—covering at least 12 and up to 18 suborbital launches. The launches are tied to U.S. missile defense development and are expected to be conducted primarily from a spaceport in Kodiak, Alaska.

2026-07-27T10:21:33.727045-07:00

Rocket Lab lands $266M U.S. Space Force contract for up to 18 suborbital launches, targeting missile defense

Breaking Defense

2 sources

Lockheed Martin exec: laser air-defense systems slated for operational status before decade’s end Lockheed Martin’s Stephanie Hill said the company is moving beyond the “lasers are always five years away” refrain, asserting its laser air-defense systems will reach operational status before the end of the decade. The remark signals maturing directed-energy timelines for layered counter-UAS and air-defense needs.

2026-07-27T09:06:39.587597-07:00

Lockheed Martin exec: laser air-defense systems slated for operational status before decade’s end

AeroTime

3 sources

Longshot joins Velocity Alliance as the US Air Force modernizes high-cadence hypersonic test infrastructure; UK MOD awards Lockh Longshot has been selected for the U.S. Air Force’s Velocity Alliance, a consortium aimed at upgrading national test capabilities with an affordable, high-cadence hypersonic test launcher concept. Separately, the UK MOD awarded Lockheed Martin UK £320 million for Project Bowline, delivering a hypersonic target aircraft to support missile defense flight tests from 2027 over the Hebrides.

2026-07-26T02:05:47.667984-07:00

Longshot joins Velocity Alliance as the US Air Force modernizes high-cadence hypersonic test infrastructure; UK MOD awards Lockh

The War Zone

2 sources

Helicopters fire multiple missile types in RIMPAC sinking drill against decommissioned warships Allied rotorcraft played a central role in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) sinking exercises, engaging retired warships with at least four different missile types. The drills underscore how helicopter-launched precision effects are being integrated across allied maritime strike concepts during large-scale live exercises.

2026-07-23T15:37:05.185221-07:00

Helicopters fire multiple missile types in RIMPAC sinking drill against decommissioned warships

Wall Street Journal

1 source

Satellite imagery review finds Iran rapidly restoring missile-base and broader infrastructure after recent U.S.- and Israeli str Israeli and Western officials say recent satellite imagery shows Iran quickly rebuilding assets damaged during the U.S. and Israeli bombing campaign. The scope cited ranges from missile bases deep in mountainous areas to bridges, ports, and production facilities, indicating accelerated recovery of both military and economic infrastructure.

2026-07-23T12:38:53.442947-07:00

Satellite imagery review finds Iran rapidly restoring missile-base and broader infrastructure after recent U.S.- and Israeli str

Reuters

14 sources

Ukraine to co-produce Raytheon-backed Patriot interceptor missiles as Lockheed unveils PAC-3 ACE at Farnborough 2026 President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine will move into co-manufacturing Patriot interceptor missiles with Raytheon, aiming to ease supply shortages and reduce costs amid U.S. licensing and air defense cooperation talks. At Farnborough 2026, Lockheed Martin showcased PAC-3 ACE, a lower-cost interceptor with a blast-fragmentation warhead option.

2026-07-23T11:19:33.758846-07:00

Ukraine to co-produce Raytheon-backed Patriot interceptor missiles as Lockheed unveils PAC-3 ACE at Farnborough 2026

Reuters

None source

Ukraine's Zelenskiy says Raytheon wants to help produce interceptors

2026-07-23T11:19:33.758846-07:00

Ukraine's Zelenskiy says Rayth

FlightGlobal

2 sources

Terma pushes multi-mission pod concept to meet evolving F-35 requirements Terma is promoting a multi-mission pod architecture for F-35 operators, positioning the already-approved structure as a potential platform to carry new payload systems. The company says the same structural baseline could be adapted for a range of missions, enabling faster capability refresh as F-35 requirements evolve.

2026-07-23T04:19:28.539304-07:00

Terma pushes multi-mission pod concept to meet evolving F-35 requirements

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