Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons News

DefenseNews.com • Michael Scanlon

US Air Force shifts to mass-producible cruise missiles to cut strike costs

The U.S. Air Force is pivoting toward cruise missiles it can procure in very large quantities. The goal is to use lower unit-cost weapons to enable multi-shot effects—potentially firing many missiles for less than the service previously paid to shoot a single weapon.

3 Sources

2026-07-15T12:58:45.749906-07:00

Breaking Defense

Air Force, Anduril complete live-fire for YFQ-44A collaborative combat aircraft, firing AIM-120 AMRAAM over Mojave

12 Sources

2026-07-15T08:17:03.882731-07:00

DefenseNews.com

China pairs maritime “coast guard” signaling with ICBM tests to deter rivals over Asia territorial claims

2 Sources

2026-07-15T08:45:42.111077-07:00

Breaking Defense

MBDA appoints Airbus defense executive Jean-Brice Dumont as CEO effective Nov. 1

8 Sources

2026-07-15T05:30:17.815035-07:00

Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons News Timeline

DefenseNews.com

3 sources

US Air Force shifts to mass-producible cruise missiles to cut strike costs The U.S. Air Force is pivoting toward cruise missiles it can procure in very large quantities. The goal is to use lower unit-cost weapons to enable multi-shot effects—potentially firing many missiles for less than the service previously paid to shoot a single weapon.

2026-07-15T12:58:45.749906-07:00

US Air Force shifts to mass-producible cruise missiles to cut strike costs

DefenseNews.com

2 sources

China pairs maritime “coast guard” signaling with ICBM tests to deter rivals over Asia territorial claims Experts say Beijing has used both short-term maritime pressure and long-term strategic-strike demonstrations—starting with coast guard actions and followed by an ICBM test—to discourage challenges to its territorial claims in Asia. The approach is framed as deterrence-by-visibility across multiple time horizons.

2026-07-15T08:45:42.111077-07:00

China pairs maritime “coast guard” signaling with ICBM tests to deter rivals over Asia territorial claims

DefenseNews.com

None source

First the coast guard, then an ICBM: China tests new, long-term ways to hold off rivals in Asia

2026-07-15T08:45:42.111077-07:00

First the coast guard, then an

Breaking Defense

12 sources

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Air Force, Anduril complete live-fire for YFQ-44A collaborative combat aircraft, firing AIM-120 AMRAAM over Mojave The US Air Force began live-fire testing of Anduril’s YFQ-44A Collaborative Combat Aircraft by launching an externally carried Raytheon AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missile over the Mojave Desert. The firing marked the first live air-to-air missile shot from a US Collaborative Combat Aircraft, validating missile integration for the program.

2026-07-15T08:17:03.882731-07:00

Air Force, Anduril complete live-fire for YFQ-44A collaborative combat aircraft, firing AIM-120 AMRAAM over Mojave

Axios

1 source

Pentagon selects Lockheed and nLight to build laser “missile-zapping” prototypes under JLWS, starting at 150 kW The Pentagon has tapped Lockheed and nLight to develop early JLWS directed-energy prototypes, with first units targeted at 150 kW. The program roadmap calls for subsequent versions scaling to roughly 300–500 kW, indicating a push toward higher-energy engagement capability.

2026-07-15T06:59:26.172744-07:00

Pentagon selects Lockheed and nLight to build laser “missile-zapping” prototypes under JLWS, starting at 150 kW

Breaking Defense

8 sources

MBDA appoints Airbus defense executive Jean-Brice Dumont as CEO effective Nov. 1 MBDA Missile Systems has named Airbus Defence and Space executive Jean-Brice Dumont as chief executive officer, effective Nov. 1, succeeding Eric Beranger. MBDA said the appointment supports its global expansion plans and follows a leadership transition within a company that has seen revenue double and a €44bn order book in recent years.

2026-07-15T05:30:17.815035-07:00

MBDA appoints Airbus defense executive Jean-Brice Dumont as CEO effective Nov. 1

Payload

6 sources

Space Development Agency selects L3Harris and Sierra Space for $1.75B missile warning/tracking satellite tranche in support of G The Space Development Agency has awarded two contractors a combined $1.75 billion to design, manufacture, and deliver missile warning, tracking and related space assets for the Golden Dome missile defense effort. The work supports the 2028 demonstration goal under an “accelerated” schedule, including Sierra Space’s $798 million OTA for 18 satellites for AMDT3’s tracking layer.

2026-07-14T09:13:55.669535-07:00

Space Development Agency selects L3Harris and Sierra Space for $1.75B missile warning/tracking satellite tranche in support of G

FlightGlobal

8 sources

BAE Systems to equip South Korea’s F-15K Slam Eagles with AN/ALQ-250 EPAWSS, with first F-15K+ jets targeted for late 2028 BAE Systems has won contracts to supply the AN/ALQ-250 Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System (EPAWSS) to South Korea’s F-15K fleet. The 360-degree electronic countermeasures upgrade supports a long-running program valued at about $3.1 billion through 2037, with first modernized aircraft expected by late 2028.

2026-07-14T06:29:50.288806-07:00

BAE Systems to equip South Korea’s F-15K Slam Eagles with AN/ALQ-250 EPAWSS, with first F-15K+ jets targeted for late 2028

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