Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons News

defence-blog.com • Colton Jones

US clears ~$1.96B sale of BAE Systems APKWS II guidance kits to Saudi Arabia

The U.S. State Department has approved a possible $1.96 billion export of up to 20,000 APKWS II guidance sections to Saudi Arabia, split into 10,000 air-to-air and 10,000 air-to-ground laser-guided kit configurations. BAE Systems is the principal contractor for the transaction.

4 Sources

2026-07-16T05:16:58.169481-07:00

SpaceNews.com

Air Force seeks FY budget flexibility and bigger long-range strike buys as Space Force leader backs a $71.1B-plus request

4 Sources

2026-07-16T08:14:50.576553-07:00

Breaking Defense

U.S. Air Force & Anduril fire AIM-120 AMRAAM from YFQ-44A Collaborative Combat Aircraft drone—first live air-to-air missile shot

26 Sources

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

Breaking Defense

MBDA appoints Airbus Defense & Space 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

SpaceNews.com

4 sources

Air Force seeks FY budget flexibility and bigger long-range strike buys as Space Force leader backs a $71.1B-plus request U.S. Air Force chief Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach says the service is seeking a supplemental to cover items it has paused to fund “bills” tied to “Epic Fury,” amid GOP defense-spending debates. Separately, reporting says the Air Force could more than triple JASSM/LRASM procurement over the FYDP, while Trump’s nominee for Space Force leadership defends a $71.1B request aimed at countering China’s space military buildup.

2026-07-16T08:14:50.576553-07:00

Air Force seeks FY budget flexibility and bigger long-range strike buys as Space Force leader backs a $71.1B-plus request

defence-blog.com

4 sources

US clears ~$1.96B sale of BAE Systems APKWS II guidance kits to Saudi Arabia The U.S. State Department has approved a possible $1.96 billion export of up to 20,000 APKWS II guidance sections to Saudi Arabia, split into 10,000 air-to-air and 10,000 air-to-ground laser-guided kit configurations. BAE Systems is the principal contractor for the transaction.

2026-07-16T05:16:58.169481-07:00

US clears ~$1.96B sale of BAE Systems APKWS II guidance kits to Saudi Arabia

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

26 sources

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U.S. Air Force & Anduril fire AIM-120 AMRAAM from YFQ-44A Collaborative Combat Aircraft drone—first live air-to-air missile shot The U.S. Air Force conducted a live-fire test over the Mojave Desert in which Anduril’s developmental YFQ-44A CCA drone externally carried and launched a Raytheon AIM-120 AMRAAM radar-guided air-to-air missile. The test marks the first time a U.S. Collaborative Combat Aircraft drone has fired a live air-to-air missile.

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

U.S. Air Force & Anduril fire AIM-120 AMRAAM from YFQ-44A Collaborative Combat Aircraft drone—first live air-to-air missile shot

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 & Space executive Jean-Brice Dumont as CEO effective Nov. 1 MBDA Missile Systems named Jean-Brice Dumont—currently an Airbus Defence and Space executive leading the Air Power division—as chief executive effective Nov. 1, replacing Eric Bréanger. MBDA said the appointment supports its global expansion plans, in a company it describes as having doubled revenue and built a €44 billion order book in recent years.

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

MBDA appoints Airbus Defense & Space executive Jean-Brice Dumont as CEO effective Nov. 1

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