Defense industry news covering military contractors, weapons systems, defense spending, arms deals, and defense technology developments.
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians has set a specific timeline to deliver its first Columbia-class submarine by 2028. This announcement marks a significant milestone for the federally recognized tribe in North Carolina as it expands into naval defense manufacturing.
Defense tech startup Shield AI announced plans to acquire radar sensor seller Echodyne Corp. for $5.3 billion, boosting its valuation to $28.8 billion. The company is securing $2.5 billion in new financing from Blackstone and JPMorgan to fund the transaction, which includes contingent milestone payments.
The Pentagon has awarded a $9 million, 18-month contract to Los Angeles-based robotics startup Machina Labs. The firm will mass-produce metal airframes for the US military's Low-Cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System (LUCAS) using AI-powered robotic arms in modular factories.
The Defence Research & Development Organisation successfully flight-tested the indigenously developed quasi-ballistic missile 'Pralay' off the coast of Odisha. Developed by Hyderabad-based DRDO facility Research Centre Imarat collaborating with Pune labs, the solid propellant missile is slated for induction into the Indian Army and Air Force after trial completion.
The Space Force has awarded Viasat a $450 million contract to build a Missions Operation Center for the Trump administration's Golden Dome satellite network. Viasat will integrate multiple constellations and manage data traffic through SpaceX-built low Earth orbit satellites, enabling autonomous bandwidth shifting to handle congestion or adversary jamming.
Denmark and Lithuania have secured contracts to acquire Finnish-made Blocker naval mines under a joint pentalateral procurement agreement. The deal, worth hundreds of millions of Euros, includes Finland, Germany, and Norway, aiming to strengthen regional logistics and defense capabilities amid heightened tensions in the Baltic Sea.
Czechoslovak Group (CSG), Europe's most valuable defense company, announced it acquired a stake in Canadian space technology manufacturer MDA Space. This move aims to sustain its Ukraine-driven boom by expanding into space defense as export revenues surge.
Kristina Moore argues that defense contractors must prepare for anti-corruption probes by the incoming Democrat-led US Congress. She contends companies should scrutinize ties to the Trump administration and understand that congressional investigations may override attorney-client privilege, requiring rapid responses to inquiries.
The article outlines three key takeaways for investors in Curtiss-Wright following its third-quarter earnings report. It highlights expanded commercial nuclear partnerships, particularly with Rolls-Royce small modular reactors, and a record $4.6 billion defense order backlog driven by increased U.S. Department of Defense and NATO spending.
The Pentagon signed a nonbinding term sheet with REalloys for a potential 75-year lease to process heavy rare earths at Utah's Tooele Army Depot. The agreement aims to secure supply chains for defense manufacturing by reducing dependence on China, which currently monopolizes global processing of critical metals like dysprosium and terbium.