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Pentagon Delivers Over 25,000 Unmanned and Counter-Drone Systems to U.S. Central Command

Pentagon Delivers Over 25,000 Unmanned and Counter-Drone Systems to U.S. Central Command

The Pentagon has delivered more than 25,000 unmanned and counter-drone systems to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) in 2026, representing an investment of approximately $782 million. The majority of these, over 24,000, are counter-drone systems deployed through Joint Interagency Task Force 401 to safeguard forward-deployed forces from drone attacks. Additionally, the deliveries included over 1,300 one-way attack drones designed for precision strikes at extended ranges. CENTCOM also received more than 100 uncrewed surface and underwater vessels to enhance its maritime reconnaissance and strike capabilities. The Pentagon is actively expanding production on commercial lines and utilizing modular software to accelerate the deployment of new equipment to troops, aiming to provide commanders with cost-effective systems for large-scale use, thereby reducing reliance on expensive munitions.

U.S. Space Force Activates Special Operations Command at MacDill Air Force Base

U.S. Space Force Activates Special Operations Command at MacDill Air Force Base

The U.S. Space Forces Special Operations Command (SPACEFOR-SOC) was formally activated on Monday at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida. Colonel Peter “Charlie” Norsky has been appointed as its new leader. The command's primary mission will be to plan missions with highly trained Guardians, focusing on integrating space capabilities into special operations. Colonel Norsky emphasized that Guardians on a 'space special warfare team' will assist the military's top operators in identifying vulnerabilities, including electromagnetic threats, GPS jamming, and interference with battlefield communications. The activation of SPACEFOR-SOC is part of a broader initiative by the Space Force to establish components focused on space threats in various regions, including the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and the Pacific.

US Navy's Orca XLUUV Drone Submarine Completes 1,000-Nautical-Mile Voyage, Faces Program Uncertainty

US Navy's Orca XLUUV Drone Submarine Completes 1,000-Nautical-Mile Voyage, Faces Program Uncertainty

The US Navy's Orca Extra Large Uncrewed Undersea Vehicle (XLUUV), the largest drone submarine in its fleet, successfully completed a voyage exceeding 1,000 nautical miles in the eastern Pacific in July. This marks the first time an XLUUV-class system has achieved such a long-distance autonomous mission. The Orca is designed for extended endurance, with a maximum range of 6,500 nautical miles, utilizing diesel-electric propulsion and surfacing only for battery recharging. It is equipped for various missions including surveillance, mine warfare, reconnaissance, seabed operations, and expeditionary support, aligning with the Pentagon's strategy to integrate unmanned systems into carrier strike groups. Despite this milestone, the Orca program, which has seen an $885 million investment over eight years, faces significant uncertainty regarding its designation as an official program of record, according to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report.

General Atomics Secures Contract to Produce Hypersonic Weapon Components for U.S. Army and Navy

General Atomics Secures Contract to Produce Hypersonic Weapon Components for U.S. Army and Navy

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) has been selected by Leidos for a multiyear subcontract to manufacture critical hypersonic components. These components are for weapon systems designed to strike time-sensitive, heavily defended targets at long range. GA-EMS will produce precision-machined parts and cable assemblies for the Common Hypersonic Glide Body (CHGB). This work supports the U.S. Army’s Dark Eagle program and the U.S. Navy’s Conventional Prompt Strike programs. The subcontract extends through 2031 and builds on GA-EMS's previous experience manufacturing prototype glide-body subassemblies and delivering hardware for the successful 2020 CHGB flight test. Scott Forney, president of GA-EMS, stated that this collaboration reinforces their role as a trusted source for high-quality critical components for hypersonic weapons, supporting national security missions. Mike Rucker, vice president of GA-EMS Weapons Programs, highlighted the company's expertise in both electrical and mechanical man...

US Army and Navy Advance Joint Hypersonic Weapon Development with General Atomics

US Army and Navy Advance Joint Hypersonic Weapon Development with General Atomics

The development of the Common Hypersonic Glide Body (CHGB), a joint project between the US Army and Navy, is moving forward with General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) providing key components. GA-EMS, already a significant contractor for the Navy, will supply cable assemblies for the Elevon Control Module and the hypersonic glide body, along with precision-machined metal parts and substructures. This unpowered hypersonic warhead is designed for both the Army’s Dark Eagle Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) and the Navy’s Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) program. The CHGB, based on the Alternate Re-Entry System (ARES), can travel at speeds exceeding Mach 5 and follow a maneuvering atmospheric trajectory, making it difficult to track and intercept. GA-EMS previously manufactured glide-body subassemblies for the prototype, which successfully flight-tested in 2020, and this new subcontract extends their involvement through at least 2031.

China Showcases DF Missiles Amid Speculation of ICBM Test

China Showcases DF Missiles Amid Speculation of ICBM Test

Chinese state media recently showcased several Dongfeng-series missiles, including the nuclear-capable DF-61 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and the DF-100 long-range supersonic cruise missile. This display marked the 66th anniversary of the DF-1, the first missile in the Dongfeng series. The exhibition of these advanced weapons coincided with unconfirmed social media reports suggesting that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Rocket Force might have conducted an inland ICBM test. These reports also hinted at the possibility of a ground-based mid-course missile interception being part of the alleged test. However, neither the ICBM test nor the interception activity has been officially confirmed by Chinese authorities. The developments underscore China's growing emphasis on enhancing the combat readiness and strategic deterrence capabilities of its rocket force, signaling a continued focus on modernizing its military arsenal.

Army Engineer Frederick Knudsen Concludes Nearly Five Decades of Service to the Nation

Army Engineer Frederick Knudsen Concludes Nearly Five Decades of Service to the Nation

Frederick Knudsen, an Information Systems Security Officer with Product Lead Combat Terrain Information Systems (PL CTIS), an office of the newly formed Project Manager Aerial-Terrestrial Surveillance and Reconnaissance (PM Atsr), has retired after nearly 50 years of service. He was honored with the Meritorious Civilian Service Medal at a ceremony on October 29. Knudsen began his career in 1976 with Army Military Intelligence and transitioned to Army civilian ranks in 1989. His contributions include helping establish the US Army Europe Tactical Radar Correlator (TRAC), the Digital Topographic Support System (DTSS), and the Instrument Set, Reconnaissance and Surveying (ENFIRE) kit of systems, among others. Product Lead Cory Baron of PL CTIS acknowledged Knudsen's critical role in delivering capabilities to soldiers, stating his departure would be significantly felt.

War Labs Unveils Strategy to Boost U.S. Defense Technology and Manufacturing

War Labs Unveils Strategy to Boost U.S. Defense Technology and Manufacturing

War Labs Unveils Strategy to Boost U.S. Defense Technology and Manufacturing

Neros Technologies Secures $450 Million Loan Commitment from Office of Strategic Capital for U.S. Drone Manufacturing

Neros Technologies Secures $450 Million Loan Commitment from Office of Strategic Capital for U.S. Drone Manufacturing

Neros Technologies has announced a conditional loan commitment of $450 million from the Office of Strategic Capital (OSC). This funding is designated to accelerate the vertically integrated manufacturing of multiple drone platforms and their essential components within the United States. In addition to the OSC commitment, Neros Technologies is investing $165 million in equity, bringing the total project investment to $615 million. This substantial capital injection aims to enable Neros to achieve a production capacity of one million drones per year by 2028. WilmerHale advised Neros Technologies throughout the process of securing this loan commitment. The legal team from WilmerHale was led by Nathan Moore and included Daniel Zimmermann, Jessica Lewis, William A. Caporizzo, Shafi Armatis, Michael Katz, Elizabeth Greene, and Kavya Madhavpeddi.

Pentagon Technology Chief Acknowledges U.S. Unpreparedness for Drone Warfare Era, Citing Ukraine's Production Prowess

Pentagon Technology Chief Acknowledges U.S. Unpreparedness for Drone Warfare Era, Citing Ukraine's Production Prowess

The Pentagon’s technology chief stated in October that the United States was caught unprepared for the current era of drone warfare. While the U.S. possesses a stockpile of approximately 500,000 drones, Ukraine anticipates manufacturing between 8 million and 10 million drones this year. This significant disparity, though comparing a stockpile to annual production, highlights a critical lesson in modern defense economics: the importance of rapid production, adaptation, and replacement of weapons. Ukraine's experience demonstrates a combat-driven economic model where systems are quickly manufactured, routinely lost, redesigned based on battlefield feedback, and rapidly returned to the front lines in new iterations. This speed of feedback between soldiers, engineers, and factories is proving more crucial than the sophistication of individual airframes.

General Atomics Secures Contract for Hypersonic Missile Components Amidst Production Bottlenecks

General Atomics Secures Contract for Hypersonic Missile Components Amidst Production Bottlenecks

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) has been awarded a subcontract to produce critical components for the U.S. Army's Dark Eagle Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) and the Navy's Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) program. This agreement, announced on November 4, 2026, supports the transition of these hypersonic missiles towards sustained production. The subcontract, part of a larger $2.7 billion U.S. Army contract awarded to Leidos in May 2026, covers precision-machined metal parts, structural components, and electrical cable assemblies for the Common Hypersonic Glide Body (C-HGB). The C-HGB is a maneuvering vehicle shared by both Army and Navy programs, utilizing a common missile architecture adapted for ground-based and maritime launch platforms. This aims to reduce duplication in the development of long-range strike capabilities. The Navy plans to integrate CPS onto three Zumwalt-class destroyers and later on Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarines equipped with Virginia Payload Mo...

Fairbanks Morse Defense in Talks with Navy for Seawolf-Class Submarine Repairs Amidst Fleet Modernization Efforts

Fairbanks Morse Defense in Talks with Navy for Seawolf-Class Submarine Repairs Amidst Fleet Modernization Efforts

Fairbanks Morse Defense (FMD) is in discussions with the U.S. Navy to conduct repairs on the three Seawolf-class submarines, signaling an expansion of the company's submarine maintenance operations. This development follows an approximately $100 million contract awarded to FMD by the U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command in October. This contract focuses on overhauling Emergency Diesel Generators (EDGs) for six aging Los Angeles- and Ohio-class submarines, aiming to extend their service lives by up to 14 years. FMD CEO George Whittier anticipates that work on the Seawolf-class vessels will commence after the completion of the Los Angeles- and Ohio-class overhauls, which are projected to conclude in the late 2020s. The company has also been expanding its Bird-Johnson Propeller Company facility in Pascagoula, Mississippi, with a $27 million investment from the Navy, largely funded by Australia's contribution to the U.S. Submarine Industrial Base under the AUKUS Pillar I agreement. This expansion aims to double nava...