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FlightGlobal • Greg Waldron

US clears emergency FMS for $2.1B APKWS guided-rocket deliveries to three Gulf allies; Patriot and IBCS approvals for Qatar and

The U.S. has issued Emergency Foreign Military Sales notifications covering $2.1 billion in guided-rocket deliveries using APKWS, targeting a three-nation Middle East/Gulf trio. Separate emergency approvals also clear Patriot-related and Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) sales for Qatar and Kuwait.

2026-05-04T01:37:06.046937-07:00

SpaceNews.com

Space Force advances laser crosslink flight hardware with K2 Space to test missile-defense data links

2026-04-30T18:11:55.729130-07:00

aero-defence.tech

Australia selects Northrop Grumman to formalize sovereign solid rocket motor manufacturing engagement

2026-04-30T22:49:22.481218-07:00

Bloomberg

U.S. considers first operational use of Dark Eagle hypersonic missile against Iran—report says CENTCOM is seeking reach beyond c

2026-04-30T01:10:05.906728-07:00

News Timeline

FlightGlobal

US clears emergency FMS for $2.1B APKWS guided-rocket deliveries to three Gulf allies; Patriot and IBCS approvals for Qatar and The U.S. has issued Emergency Foreign Military Sales notifications covering $2.1 billion in guided-rocket deliveries using APKWS, targeting a three-nation Middle East/Gulf trio. Separate emergency approvals also clear Patriot-related and Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) sales for Qatar and Kuwait.

2026-05-04T01:37:06.046937-07:00

US clears emergency FMS for $2.1B APKWS guided-rocket deliveries to three Gulf allies; Patriot and IBCS approvals for Qatar and

aero-defence.tech

Australia selects Northrop Grumman to formalize sovereign solid rocket motor manufacturing engagement On May 1, 2026, the Commonwealth of Australia selected Northrop Grumman for formal engagement to establish domestic solid rocket motor (SRM) manufacturing capabilities. The effort will also involve DefendTex, Black Sky Industries and Anduril Australia to explore novel manufacturing methods, positioning SRM production as a sovereign industrial capability.

2026-04-30T22:49:22.481218-07:00

Australia selects Northrop Grumman to formalize sovereign solid rocket motor manufacturing engagement

SpaceNews.com

Space Force advances laser crosslink flight hardware with K2 Space to test missile-defense data links The U.S. Space Force will use K2 Space-built satellites to evaluate a key, previously unresolved element for future missile-defense systems: moving large volumes of data quickly between spacecraft and down to Earth via laser communications. Separately, the Space Force’s Laser Crosslink program has cleared independent verification and entered Phase 3 development toward flight hardware production.

2026-04-30T18:11:55.729130-07:00

Space Force advances laser crosslink flight hardware with K2 Space to test missile-defense data links

Bloomberg

U.S. considers first operational use of Dark Eagle hypersonic missile against Iran—report says CENTCOM is seeking reach beyond c Reports say U.S. Central Command has requested the hypersonic “Dark Eagle” missile for potential employment against Iranian launchers that have moved beyond current US strike range. The US Navy is also seeking funding for an “inoperative” Dark Eagle, as the administration weighs whether to resume hostilities.

2026-04-30T01:10:05.906728-07:00

U.S. considers first operational use of Dark Eagle hypersonic missile against Iran—report says CENTCOM is seeking reach beyond c

FlightGlobal

Pentagon estimates Iran war costs at $25B, driven primarily by ordnance and thousands of precision-guided missiles Acting comptroller Jules Hurst III told lawmakers the U.S. war in Iran has cost about $25 billion so far, with the “bulk” spent on ordnance. The Pentagon also said it consumed thousands of precision-guided missiles in the early weeks—an effort that is drawing sharper scrutiny as budgets, pricing, and replenishment timelines tighten.

2026-04-29T19:03:04.888874-07:00

Pentagon estimates Iran war costs at $25B, driven primarily by ordnance and thousands of precision-guided missiles

The Aviationist

Pentagon budget request suggests B-1B Lancer service life to 2037 as video confirms external carriage of AGM-183A ARRW hypersoni A newly released U.S. Air Force clip provides first visual confirmation of a B-1B Lancer carrying the AGM-183A ARRW hypersonic missile externally. The same budget request points to the B-1B’s extension to 2037 and ARRW’s emergence from prior program “purgatory.”

2026-04-29T18:28:28.884658-07:00

Pentagon budget request suggests B-1B Lancer service life to 2037 as video confirms external carriage of AGM-183A ARRW hypersoni

DefenseNews.com

MBDA and Safran complete first live firing test for Thundart long-range rocket artillery, targeting French deployment by 2030 MBDA and Safran Electronics & Defense say the French long-range surface-to-surface rocket artillery system Thundart achieved its first successful firing on April 14 at the Île du Levant test site. The partners position Thundart as fully designed and produced in France, with a 2029 delivery to support French capability fielding by 2030, aligned to the DGA’s FLP-T (land long-range strike) requirement to replace MLRS.

2026-04-29T14:29:45.975317-07:00

MBDA and Safran complete first live firing test for Thundart long-range rocket artillery, targeting French deployment by 2030

The War Zone

Marines float cruise-missile-armed MV-75 tiltrotor replacement concept The U.S. Marine Corps says “everything is on the table” as it explores potential successors to its AH-1 and UH-1 fleets, including a new MV-75 tiltrotor concept shown with cruise-missile armament. The pitch signals a shift toward stand-off, strike-capable rotorcraft aligned to next-generation rotor-wing needs.

2026-04-28T15:04:26.724468-07:00

Marines float cruise-missile-armed MV-75 tiltrotor replacement concept

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Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons News

US clears emergency FMS for $2.1B APKWS guided-rocket deliveries to three Gulf allies; Patriot and IBCS approvals for Qatar and

Space Force advances laser crosslink flight hardware with K2 Space to test missile-defense data links

Australia selects Northrop Grumman to formalize sovereign solid rocket motor manufacturing engagement

U.S. considers first operational use of Dark Eagle hypersonic missile against Iran—report says CENTCOM is seeking reach beyond c

News Timeline