Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons Defense Industry & Major Contractors Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact

DefenseNews.com • Zita Fletcher

Lockheed tests anti-ship variant of Precision Strike Missile as upgraded PrSM advances through initial trials

Lockheed Martin has tested an upgraded Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) configured for anti-ship strikes, a program backed by "significant investment" that is advancing rapidly through initial tests. The variant aims to provide long-range, surface-targeted strike capability adaptable to land- or ship-based launchers.

Also: news.ssbcrack.com, Military Times and c4isrnet.com

2026-03-18T16:49:25.634799-07:00

UAV Development & Drone Programs Europe Defense Industry & Major Contractors Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact

The War Zone • Joseph Trevithick

RQ-180 Secret Stealth Drone Appears To Have Made An Emergency Landing At A Greek Air Base

By The War Zone: Spotters in Greece have caught an especially good look at what appears to be a particularly secretive drone.

Also: The Aviationist

2026-03-18T15:39:58.961557-07:00

North America Airports Accident Aviation Safety & Regulation Defense Policy

Associated Press • Freida Frisaro

FBI: Suspicious package containing possible energetic materials found at MacDill Air Force Base

By Associated Press: The FBI says a suspicious package found at MacDill Air Force Base contains possible energetic materials, and the investigation is ongoing.

Also: abcnews.com, The Independent and orlandosentinel.com

2026-03-18T14:39:49.011104-07:00

Defense Budgets & Spending Defense Industry & Major Contractors Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space Space Defense & Militarization

SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

Rocket Lab wins $190 million Pentagon deal for hypersonic test flights

By SpaceNews.com: Rocket Lab wins $190 million Pentagon deal for hypersonic test flights Rocket Lab wins $190 million Pentagon deal for hypersonic test flights.

rnz.co.nz

Rocket Lab wins record contract from U.S. Department of Defense

Defense Daily

Rocket Lab Nabs $190 Million Contract For HASTE Launches In Support Of Hypersonic Testing

Also: Seeking Alpha, rocketlabcorp.com and Seeking Alpha

2026-03-18T15:12:21.968064-07:00

UAV Development & Drone Programs Military Aircraft Procurement Defense Industry & Major Contractors Defense Policy

DefenseNews.com • Michael Peck

USAF Special Operations Issues RFI for One‑Way 'Kamikaze' Attack Drones

By DefenseNews.com: The U.S. Air Force wants small one-way attack drones for its special operations forces, according to an Air Force Request for Information.

AirForceTimes

US Air Force Special Operations Issues RFI for Small One‑Way Attack Drones

news.ssbcrack.com

U.S. Air Force Seeks Small One-Way Attack Drones for Special Operations Forces

Also: Military Times and interestingengineering.com

2026-03-18T13:35:27.250925-07:00

Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact Defense Policy

Aviation Week • Brian Everstine

U.S. Army Set To Field First LRHW Battery

By Aviation Week: The U.S. Army is weeks away from fielding its first Long Range Hypersonic Weapon battery.

Bloomberg

Army ‘Very Close’ To Fully Fielding First US Hypersonic Missile

Also: Defense Daily

2026-03-17T15:49:45.571867-07:00

Aircraft Carrier Europe Military Aircraft Procurement Defense Budgets & Spending Defense Industry & Major Contractors Defense Policy

Bloomberg • Kavita Mokha

France Names Next Nuclear Aircraft Carrier 'Free France' as Paris Bolsters Naval Capabilities

By Bloomberg: President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday named the nation’s next aircraft carrier “Free France,” in a homage to the World War II resistance movement as the nuclear power moves to bolster its naval capabilities.

The Aviationist

France names next-generation nuclear carrier 'France Libre' — two reactors, ~80,000t, to replace current carrier

Reuters

Macron names new French aircraft carrier 'Free France' in nod to resistance

Also: Associated Press, aviationnews.eu, Naval News, Air Data News, Aviation Week, aa.com.tr, lemonde.fr, Army Recognition, navylookout.com, The Independent and Army Recognition

2026-03-18T10:29:04.272055-07:00

UAV Development & Drone Programs Military Aircraft Procurement Defense Budgets & Spending Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact Defense Policy

DefenseNews.com • Valerie Insinna

USAF to cut MQ-9 Reaper combat lines to fund next‑generation fighters, trimming ISR capacity

By DefenseNews.com: The Air Force plans to drop from 60 to 56 MQ-9 Reaper combat lines in fiscal 2022 as the U.S. military decreases its presence in the Middle East.

2026-03-18T13:05:06.094289-07:00

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