Lockheed gets $68.5M deal for next-gen missile warning satellites Lockheed Martin Space has been awarded a $68.5 million contract modification for the Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared Geosynchronous program, pushing the total cumulative value of the cont...

Lockheed Martin Space has received a $68.5 million contract modification for the Next-Gen OPIR GEO missile warning satellite program, raising the total contract value to more than $8.2 billion.

defence-blog.com/lockheed-get...

U.S. Navy awards General Dynamics $183M USS Truxtun modernization contract The U.S. Navy has awarded General Dynamics NASSCO-Norfolk a $183million contract to conduct maintenance, modernization, and repair work on the guided-missile destroyer USS Truxtun (DDG 103) as part of...

The U.S. Navy has awarded General Dynamics NASSCO-Norfolk a $183.2 million contract to modernize and repair the guided-missile destroyer USS Truxtun (DDG 103).

Work in Norfolk, Virginia, is scheduled for completion by April 2028.

defence-blog.com/u-s-navy-awa...

U.S. Army opens new 155mm artillery shell facility in Kansas The U.S. Army and Day & Zimmermann have inaugurated a new artillery Load, Assemble, and Pack facility in Parsons, Kansas, dedicated to the production of 155mm M795 artillery projectiles. The ribbon-cu...

The U.S. Army and Day & Zimmermann have opened a new 155mm artillery shell facility in Parsons, Kansas, expanding domestic M795 production capacity.

Backed by a $36 million Army investment, the plant is set to produce up to 12,000 rounds per month.

defence-blog.com/u-s-army-ope...

Textron wins $150M deal to sustain T-6 Texan II fleet Textron Aviation Defense LLC has been awarded a five-year U.S. government contract valued at over $150 million to continue providing sustaining engineering and program management services for the T-6A...

Textron Aviation Defense has won a five-year U.S. government contract worth more than $150 million to sustain the T-6 Texan II fleets used by the Air Force, Navy, and Army.

defence-blog.com/textron-wins...

Northrop Grumman and U.S. Air Force push Sentinel toward 2027 first flight Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Air Force are accelerating development of the LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile, with the program now targeting a first flight test in 2027 and initial ...

Northrop Grumman says the Sentinel ICBM program remains on track for a 2027 first flight test, with hardware milestones already met and motors for the first five test launches in production.

The LGM-35A is set to replace the Minuteman III in the early 2030s.

defence-blog.com/northrop-gru...

L3Harris gets $465 million Army contract to deliver NOVA night-vision goggles L3Harris Technologies announced Monday that the U.S. Army has selected the company to deliver its NOVA night-vision goggle system under the Binocular Night Observation Device program, awarding the def...

L3Harris has secured a U.S. Army contract worth up to $465 million over seven years to supply its NOVA binocular night-vision goggles under the BiNOD program.

defence-blog.com/l3harris-get...

Certo Aerospace has successfully demonstrated anti-submarine warfare capabilities for the Royal Navy using its CAPSTONE VTOL drone.

defence-blog.com/royal-navy-t...

Ukraine develops new surface-to-air missile Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has, for the first time, publicly appeared alongside what is believed to be a new Ukrainian-developed surface-to-air missile during a video message marking the ...

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s latest video message offered the first public glimpse of a new Ukrainian surface-to-air missile, shown alongside the Vilkha guided rocket and Neptune cruise missile.

defence-blog.com/ukraine-deve...

DFA Systems to test ‘flying grenade’ during Nevada range demo DFA Systems, an Albuquerque, New Mexico-based startup, said Monday it will bring its Precision Flying Grenade to ISOF Range 2026, a live-fire defense event set for April 14–15 at the Nevada Test and T...

DFA Systems will showcase its Precision Flying Grenade at ISOF Range 2026 on April 14–15 at the Nevada Test and Training Range.

defence-blog.com/dfa-systems-...

Kongsberg develops new drone hunter vehicle for Ukraine Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace has unveiled a new counter-drone combat vehicle being prepared for Ukraine, combining the Ukrainian-made Inguar-3 armored vehicle with the Norwegian company’s latest coun...

Kongsberg has unveiled a new counter-drone combat vehicle for Ukraine built on the Ukrainian Inguar-3 armored platform and equipped with its C-UAS system.

The donor-funded vehicle has completed initial testing and is expected to be delivered to Ukraine soon.

defence-blog.com/kongsberg-de...

New U.S. autonomous Squire Seaglider conducts test flight REGENT said Monday that its autonomous Squire Seaglider has successfully completed a ground-effect flight test, a milestone the company described as the first flight in the United States of a defense-...

REGENT says its autonomous Squire Seaglider has completed a successful ground-effect test flight in the United States, marking a first for a defense-focused wing-in-ground craft and a new step in maritime drone capability development.

defence-blog.com/new-u-s-auto...

Ukraine confirms rocket launches into space during wartime Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate conducted two successful rocket launches into space during the ongoing full-scale war with Russia, reaching altitudes of over 100 kilometers and 204 kilometers ...

Ukraine says its intelligence directorate carried out two wartime rocket launches into space, including one reaching 204 km, and launched a rocket carrier from a transport aircraft at 8,000 meters in what officials describe as a first for Europe.

defence-blog.com/ukraine-conf...

Rheinmetall launches joint venture with Destinus for cruise missile output German defense conglomerate Rheinmetall and European aerospace and defense company Destinus have agreed to establish a joint venture focused on the production of advanced cruise missiles and ballistic...

Rheinmetall and Destinus have agreed to form a joint venture in Germany to produce cruise missiles and ballistic rocket artillery for European and NATO customers.

The new company is expected to begin operations in the second half of 2026.

defence-blog.com/rheinmetall-...

Turkish jet drone optical sensor detects target at 110 km Turkish Bayraktar KIZILELMA unmanned combat air vehicle successfully detected a passenger airliner at a range of 110 kilometers during a performance validation test of the ASELSAN KARAT Infrared Searc...

Turkey’s Bayraktar KIZILELMA unmanned jet has successfully tracked a passenger airliner at 110 km during validation of ASELSAN’s KARAT infrared search and track system, a key milestone for the platform’s passive air combat sensing capability.

defence-blog.com/turkish-jet-...

U.S. Navy commissions DDG 124 guided-missile destroyer The U.S. Navy commissioned its newest guided-missile destroyer, USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr. (DDG 124), during a ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk on Saturday, April 11, 2026. Approximately 1,800 guests a...

The U.S. Navy has commissioned USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr. (DDG 124) at Naval Station Norfolk, adding a new Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer to the fleet.

The warship is the first Navy vessel named for a Vietnam Medal of Honor recipient.

defence-blog.com/u-s-navy-com...

CENTCOM launches naval blockade of all Iranian ports U.S. Central Command announced Sunday that American forces would begin enforcing a full naval blockade of all Iranian ports effective April 13 at 10 a.m. ET, acting under a presidential proclamation i...

CENTCOM says U.S. forces will begin enforcing a full naval blockade of Iranian ports starting April 13 at 10 a.m. ET, while allowing international shipping to continue transiting the Strait of Hormuz if vessels are not bound for Iran.

defence-blog.com/centcom-laun...

UAE launches world first military rescue training center Sahra Group plans to build a new AED 180 million ($50 million) Security and Rescue Training Center in the United Arab Emirates, a project the company says will be the first commercial facility of its ...

The UAE is set to launch what is billed as the world’s first commercial military rescue training center, a $50 million facility scheduled to open in 2028.

defence-blog.com/uae-launches...

Ukrainian Patriot crews downing ballistic missiles with single interceptor Ukrainian operators of the MIM-104 Patriot air defense system are intercepting ballistic missile targets using a single interceptor missile rather than the two to four missiles that standard engagemen...

Ukrainian Patriot crews are reportedly intercepting ballistic missiles with a single interceptor instead of the usual two to four, according to the Air Force.

defence-blog.com/ukrainian-pa...

Turkish firm ASELSAN launches serial production of guided bomb kits Turkish defense electronics giant ASELSAN has completed factory acceptance tests for its LGK-82 Laser Guidance Kit and commenced serial deliveries of the domestically developed precision munition conv...

Turkish defense firm ASELSAN has launched serial production of its LGK-82 guided bomb kits, converting standard Mk 82 bombs into precision-guided munitions for fixed and moving targets. The system also supports post-launch retargeting and rapid aircraft integration.

defence-blog.com/turkish-firm...

Another South Korean defense firm enters U.S. market South Korean defense and aerospace company LIG Defense & Aerospace — known as LIG D&A — announced on April 8, 2026, the establishment of its first American subsidiary, LIG Defense U.S. Inc. The new en...

Another South Korean defense firm expands into the U.S. market with its first American subsidiary, building on U.S. validation of its Bigeye guided rocket and aiming for deeper defense partnerships.

defence-blog.com/another-sout...

Japan buys drones to replace Apache fleet Japan's fiscal year 2026 defense budget, enacted on April 7, includes ¥11.1 billion ($69.7 million) earmarked for the acquisition of five "wide-area UAVs" for the Ground Self-Defense Force, according ...

Japan has approved $69.7 million to buy five wide-area UAVs for the Ground Self-Defense Force, marking a major step in replacing its AH-64D Apache and AH-1S Cobra attack helicopters with unmanned systems.

defence-blog.com/japan-buys-d...

Russian FrankenSAM launcher spotted near Ukrainian border A ground-based launcher, described as a so-called “FrankenSAM” and armed with R-77 medium-range air-to-air missiles, has been spotted in the Russian city of Oryol, about 100 miles from the Ukrainian b...

Russian FrankenSAM launcher spotted near Ukrainian border

defence-blog.com/russian-fran...

The Alaska Air National Guard’s 168th Wing has added four more KC-135 Stratotankers at Eielson Air Force Base, expanding its fleet to 12 aircraft and strengthening U.S. aerial refueling capability in the Arctic and Indo-Pacific.

defence-blog.com/u-s-air-forc...

U.S. naval forces have begun clearing sea mines from the Strait of Hormuz. USS Frank E. Peterson and USS Michael Murphy transited the waterway on April 11 as Washington moves to reopen a safe corridor for commercial shipping.

defence-blog.com/u-s-navy-des...

Fire catches Russia’s only Su-57 production plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur A fire erupted inside the grounds of the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aviation Plant (KnAAZ) named after Yuri Gagarin, Russia's sole serial manufacturer of the Su-57 Felon fifth-generation fighter jet, according to footage and reports circulating on social media. The open-source intelligence community

A fire has reportedly broken out at Shop No. 46 inside Russia’s KnAAZ plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, the sole serial production site for the Su-57 fighter.

defence-blog.com/fire-catches...

Indiana National Guard soldiers with the 76th Mobile Brigade Combat Team have received six new Infantry Squad Vehicles at Camp Atterbury.

defence-blog.com/u-s-army-del...

U.S. Army soldiers with the XVIII Airborne Corps trained with a new 5.56mm anti-drone round designed to bring down enemy FPV drones using standard M4 rifles, no modifications required.

defence-blog.com/u-s-army-sol...

Pentagon approves nuclear microreactors for missile and space warning bases The Department of the Air Force announced on April 8 that it has chosen Buckley Space Force Base in Colorado and Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana as preferred locations to host nuclear microreactors under the Advanced Nuclear Power for

The Air Force has named Buckley Space Force Base and Malmstrom AFB as preferred sites for nuclear microreactors, a move aimed at strengthening energy resilience for missile warning, space operations, and nuclear deterrence missions.

defence-blog.com/pentagon-app...

Swedish Gripen fighter jets intercepted a Russian Kilo-class submarine transiting the Kattegat and entering the Baltic Sea.

defence-blog.com/swedish-grip...

The U.S. Army’s 1st Cavalry Division tested the Harpe micro-missile interceptor during Exercise Golden Shield at Fort Hood, evaluating radar-cued drone intercepts, multi-launch capability, and active guidance against small UAV threats.

defence-blog.com/u-s-army-tes...