The US Air Force and Northrop Grumman have finalized an agreement to accelerate B-21 Raider production using $4.5 billion in congressionally authorized funding. The move aims to increase annual manufacturing capacity by 25% while compressing delivery timelines.
Ursa Major unveiled its new hypersonic missile system, dubbed HAVOC, at the AFA Warfare Symposium. The company plans to manufacture the system mostly in-house, with a target price tag of under $3 million per piece.
President Donald Trump has threatened to decertify Canadian-made commercial jets, drawing attention to the potential impact on military contracts. The move may affect military aircraft in service or future acquisitions, including those used by the US Air Force and Army.
President Donald Trump has issued a warning to defense firms about limits on share repurchases and executive compensation, citing concerns over investments in modernizing weapons production facilities. The move comes as the administration plans to issue an executive order targeting defense company share buybacks, dividends, and executive compensation.
US President Donald Trump called for immediate negotiations to acquire Greenland from Denmark, citing national security and strategic interests. Trump emphasized the importance of protecting the island and developing its resources, while also questioning the strength of NATO's Article 5 collective defense clause.
The Space Development Agency's Tracking Layer program is facing challenges due to overestimation of technology readiness, according to a new report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). The agency has awarded contracts worth $4.
The Space Development Agency (SDA) announced four new contracts worth $3.5 billion for 72 new satellites as part of the Tranche 3 constellation. The Other Transaction Authority (OTA) awards went to teams led by Lockheed Martin, Rocket Lab USA, Northrop Grumman, and L3Harris Technologies.
Defense giant RTX has reaffirmed its commitment to paying dividends despite President Donald Trump's criticism of defense contractors' financial practices. CEO Chris Calio stated that the company remains committed to issuing dividends, citing shareholder reliance and decades of quarterly payments.
The US defense industry is making a concerted effort to bring semiconductor production back to the country, with Northrop Grumman at the forefront. This move aims to address supply chain vulnerabilities and ensure resilience in defense production.
Picogrid has won a $9.3 million SBIR contract to connect disparate counter-drone defenses at selected Air Force bases using its 'translator' software written by AI. The translator, called Legion, connects hitherto incompatible military systems, such as radars and jammers, according to Breaking Defense reports.
The Pentagon has completed its initial review of defense contractors, but needs more time to assess before finalizing a list of noncompliant companies that could impact stock buybacks and investor dividends. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was directed to work with each company to remediate issues and initiate actions through legal and regulatory channels.
The Pentagon has created a new role for managing the Air Force's next-gen bomber, fighter, and ICBM programs, with Lt. Gen.
Breaking Defense reports that Embraer and Northrop Grumman have partnered on the KC-390 Millennium to pitch to the US Air Force and other foreign militaries. The partnership aims to strengthen Embraer's bid in the US market, while Northrop is studying ways to incorporate an autonomous boom refueling system into the aircraft.
Northrop Grumman has unveiled Project Talon, a revolutionary autonomous combat drone engineered for rapid production and reduced costs. Developed with Scaled Composites, the aircraft achieved 'weight on wheels' in just 15 months—a remarkable timeline for a jet-powered, low-observable airframe.
Northrop Grumman has unveiled Project Talon, an autonomous combat drone designed to address affordability and manufacturing speed challenges that limited the company's success in the Air Force's first Collaborative Combat Aircraft competition. Developed jointly with Scaled Composites in just 15 months, Project Talon achieves a 1,000-pound weight reduction and 50 percent fewer parts through composite construction, enabling 30 percent faster manufacturing.
Northrop Grumman Corporation has partnered with Firefly Aerospace to develop an American-built first-stage upgrade for the Antares rocket, known as the Antares 330. The new stage will utilize seven of Firefly's Miranda engines and leverage its composites technology.
Northrop Grumman Corporation has invested $50 million into Firefly Aerospace to further advance production of their co-developed medium launch vehicle, Eclipse. With a 16 metric ton to orbit capability, Eclipse is expected to support space station resupply, commercial spacecraft, critical national security missions and scientific payloads for the domestic and international markets.
Northrop Grumman's CEO Kathy Warden stated that her company has no plans to follow L3Harris' lead in allowing the Pentagon to take a financial stake in its solid rocket motors business. However, some suppliers may consider similar investments.
The US Marine Corps has selected Northrop Grumman and Kratos as the sole bidder for the MUX TACAIR program, worth up to $231.5 million. The teaming arrangement will integrate mission equipment onto Kratos's XQ-58 Valkyrie aircraft with Northrop's Prism software for autonomy.
Navy Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle is pressing for an expedited decision on the F/A-XX next-generation fighter program, citing the extended timeline required for development, testing, and fielding.
The Netherlands Ministry of Defence has jointly ended the acquisition of six Boeing E-7 Wedgetail Airborne Warning & Control System (AWACS) aircraft with several NATO partner countries due to loss of strategic and financial foundations. The decision comes amid cost and survivability concerns, as well as the US Air Force's withdrawal from the Wedgetail effort.
NASA has selected Firefly Aerospace as a launch provider for its Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) missions. The fixed-price contract, worth up to $300 million across five years, will utilize Firefly's Alpha rocket for launches in the 500-1000 kg range.
L3Harris has announced that its F-16 electronic warfare system, Viper Shield, has been cleared for low-rate production by the US Air Force. The company plans to deliver the first batch of systems in December 2026, with a total of 219 systems on order.
JetZero has secured $175 million in Series B funding, led by B Capital, with participation from major industry players including United Airlines Ventures, Northrop Grumman and RTX Ventures. The Californian aerospace startup aims to continue developing its blended-wing body technology, with a target maiden flight set for 2027.
Northrop Grumman is ramping up full-rate production of its Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) this month at its Huntsville facility, with Poland expected to achieve full operational capability by year-end. The advanced C2 system, which integrates disparate radars and effectors, represents a cornerstone of modern air defense architecture.
The first of four MC-55A Peregrine surveillance jets has arrived at RAAF Base Edinburgh, based on the Gulfstream G550 business jet. The aircraft is heavily modified for airborne surveillance and electronic warfare by L3Harris, according to a joint media release issued by Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles and Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy.
Firefly Aerospace has closed a third tranche of Series C funding, valuing the company at $1.5 billion pre-money. The round is being led by existing investors AE Industrial Partners and new investor Mitsui & Co.
Firefly Aerospace has appointed Dan Fermon as Chief Operating Officer, bringing decades of experience to the role. Prior to joining Firefly, Fermon was a Vice President at AE Industrial Partners, where he improved operational performance through cross-portfolio projects and synergies execution.
Firefly Aerospace has expanded its manufacturing facilities in Briggs, Texas, to support the production of Northrop Grumman's Antares 330 and the Medium Launch Vehicle (MLV). The company has added two new test stands and installed state-of-the-art machinery, including a new Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) machine.
Firefly Aerospace completed risk reduction testing for critical Miranda engine components ahead of the first hot fire scheduled this summer. Leveraging its flight-proven Reaver engines, Miranda will power the Medium Launch Vehicle (MLV) Firefly is co-developing with Northrop Grumman.
Firefly Aerospace has completed the first hot fire test for its Miranda engine, a critical milestone in the development of its propulsion system. The test was conducted at Firefly's rocket test and production site in Texas and validates the design of the engine's startup sequence and transient conditions.
Firefly Aerospace has secured an oversubscribed $175 million Series D funding round led by RPM Ventures. The round valued Firefly at over $2 billion, solidifying the company's position as a leader in responsive space services.
Firefly Aerospace has announced plans to add an Alpha launch capability at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) on Wallops Island, Virginia. The new facility will support Firefly's responsive space missions and enable the company to offer a diverse set of launch sites.
Firefly Aerospace announced the strategic acquisition of Spaceflight Inc. to bolster its on-orbit services and expand its capabilities in space transportation. The acquisition complements Firefly's full-service launch, on-orbit, and lunar lander business, with terms not disclosed.
Embraer and Northrop Grumman are working together to evolve the KC-390 Millennium into a tanker variant with boom refueling capability. The collaboration aims to rapidly advance a next-generation air-refueling system for the US Air Force and allied operators.
The Defense Innovation Unit is seeking firms that can supply drones capable of carrying fighter-sized munitions for maritime strikes. The initiative aims to address the growing threat of anti-ship weapons and constraints on long-range strike capabilities for naval forces.
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle emphasized the need for an accelerated F/A-XX program due to the rapid spread of advanced anti-aircraft systems.
Australia has officially taken delivery of its first MC-55A Peregrine spy jet, which will be operated by No. 10 Squadron at RAAF Base Edinburgh. The aircraft is based on the Gulfstream G550 business jet and enhanced by L3Harris Technologies as a prime contractor.
The US Air Force has announced plans to ramp up B-21 Raider production using $4.5 billion in reconciliation funding. This decision reflects confidence in the program's performance and aims to strengthen combat capability by delivering the stealth bomber by 2027.
The US Air Force has selected nine companies for an early stage of its Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, awarding contracts worth an unspecified amount. The successful firms will now compete for a prototyping deal, which could be offered to more than one company.
The US Air Force has begun flight testing with a drone wingman carrying an inert weapon underwing. Anduril's YFQ-44A and General Atomics' YFQ-42A are part of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, which aims to develop drones for future combat.
The US Air Force expects to receive its first modernized Air Force One aircraft in mid-2028, roughly two-and-a-half years later than initially forecast. The program's revised timeline comes after Boeing secured a deal personally mediated by President Trump in 2018 and faced numerous challenges, including COVID-19 disruptions and workforce woes.