Daily briefing
November 3, 2026
Executive summary
Industry led today's 49-item feed with 16 stories, followed by drones with ten, air with seven and land and naval with six each, while North America generated 26 items against 12 for Europe, seven for the Indo-Pacific once East Asia, South Asia and Oceania tags are combined, and three for the Middle East. Munitions mass formed the connective thread, as Lockheed Martin announced a $420 million expansion of its Camden, Arkansas, missile complex for PAC-3, THAAD and PrSM with 650 new jobs and delivered the first QuadStar safety-test articles for the Army's Stinger-replacement NGSRI programme from a dedicated automation cell, Leidos mobilised a 14-state supply chain toward an initial 3,000 Low-Cost Containerized Missiles, the US Air Force sought more than 1,000 Extended Range Attack Munitions within 15 months of award with ten-metre accuracy under degraded GPS, and Castelion's Blackbeard hypersonic missile, inspected by CNO Admiral Daryl Caudle, advanced under a delivery order of up to $200 million covering an initial 444 rounds. Air-defence demand registered across theatres as Germany contracted two Patriot fire units to replace systems transferred to Ukraine, ASELSAN signed a $1.1 billion air-defence export contract with an undisclosed customer, Washington cleared Jordan for up to 1,500 APKWS II rockets worth $100 million, China reported an HQ-9B unit simultaneously intercepting two missile targets, and BAAINBw contracted MBDA Deutschland for a pod-based airborne laser demonstrator against drones and cruise missiles. In the maritime domain, India signed contracts worth about $5.7 billion for eight Project 28A Next Generation Corvettes split between GRSE and Goa Shipyard, South Korea launched the second KSS-III Batch-II submarine Seo Hui, and undersea autonomy advanced through General Dynamics' $15 million MEDUSA mine-laying UUV option, the HII–Thales PathMaster mine-countermeasures demonstration, Tekever's AR5 sonobuoy trials at REPMUS 2026 and Corridian's $38 million seed round for extra-large cargo AUVs. Autonomous combat aviation moved on industry initiative, as Lockheed Martin committed to self-fund five Vectis aircraft for 2027 demonstrations ahead of CCA Increment 2, Shield AI rolled out X-BAT 001, Northrop Grumman reported Talon Blue's first fully autonomous flight, and Saab moved to industrialise AI agents already flight-tested on Gripen E. Signals to watch include Army solution briefs for the M109-replacement Mobile Tactical Cannon-Tracked due November 16, ERAM industry responses due November 19, DIU's planned December award for a Deorbit as a Service demonstration, the court-ordered Navy reevaluation of Saildrone's MUSV bid, which the company says caps production commitments at $1.5 billion of the $2.1 billion programme until completed, and the UK–German Deep Precision Strike effort targeting ranges beyond 2,000 km within the decade.
◆ Articles covered
- IndustryNaval NewsIndian Navy Places Orders for Eight Next Generation Corvettes
India signed contracts worth approximately $5.7 billion on November 2 for eight Next Generation Corvettes, with GRSE building five and Goa Shipyard three. The Indian Navy-designed Project 28A ships will displace 4,950 tonnes, measure 127.4 metres and combine diesel and gas-turbine propulsion for a maximum speed of 26 knots. Planned equipment includes medium-range anti-ship missiles, MRSAM air-defence missiles, 324 mm torpedo tubes, a 76 mm gun and MFSTAR radar. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2031, providing ships for anti-submarine warfare, surface attack, escort and air-defence missions.
- IndustryDefense WarRoomUS Firm L3Harris Wins Two TKMS Contracts for German and Norwegian Submarine Mast Raising Equipment
L3Harris received two multi-million-dollar contracts from TKMS for submarine mast-raising equipment and associated electronic control units supporting German and Norwegian submarine programmes. The equipment deploys and retracts payloads used for communications, surveillance and navigation, integrating mechanical mast handling with electronic control aboard the vessels. Announced on November 2 from Bologna, the awards extend L3Harris' role as a supplier of mast-handling technology for European naval platforms. Neither individual contract values nor delivery quantities and schedules were disclosed, and the announcement covers equipment supply rather than the award of new submarine construction contracts.
- LandDefense WarRoomLockheed Martin Delivers First NGSRI Stinger Replacement Test Missiles From Automated Line
Lockheed Martin delivered the first safety-test articles for QuadStar, its candidate for the US Army's Next-Generation Short-Range Interceptor programme to replace Stinger. At Camden, Arkansas, a dedicated automation cell operates alongside tactical missile assembly, feeding manufacturing data into a digital twin to refine production sequences. The company is also expanding component sourcing while keeping NGSRI tooling and supply pathways separate from PAC-3 MSE and GMLRS production. These deliveries support qualification and manufacturing preparation ahead of planned Army procurement beginning in fiscal 2028, rather than representing an operational deployment or a production selection.
- IndustryDefense WarRoomUS Firm Leidos Mobilizes 14-State Supply Chain to Build Thousands of Low-Cost Cruise Missiles
Leidos brought missile-component suppliers together on September 26 to prepare production of its Low-Cost Containerized Missile and AGM-190A Havoc Spear across 14 US states. Manufacturing will be concentrated in Huntsville, Alabama, and McEwen, Tennessee, supporting a framework agreement for an initial 3,000 LCCM weapons. Initial LCCM deliveries for testing are expected in 2027, with full-rate production anticipated in 2028 and 2029. Havoc Spear deliveries to Air Force Special Operations Command have begun, while a separate summer 2026 order for 45 missiles is scheduled to start deliveries in autumn 2027.
- LandDefence Industry EuropeUK and Germany report progress on deep-strike capability with range beyond 2,000km
The United Kingdom and Germany reported progress on their joint Deep Precision Strike programme, targeting weapons with ranges exceeding 2,000 kilometres for delivery within the decade. Their November 2 Defence Ministerial Council reaffirmed the project under the Trinity House Agreement and its bilateral industrial framework. Development initially focuses on ground-launched capabilities, while potential air and naval applications remain part of the wider programme's exploration. The statement confirmed continued development toward a shared long-range strike capability, without announcing a completed weapon, a production order, a selected missile configuration or an operational deployment.
- LandJanesChina reports simultaneous interception of two missile targets
China's state broadcaster reported that a Central Theater Command Air Force unit simultaneously intercepted two new missile targets during a weapons-verification exercise disclosed on November 2. Footage showed the Shenwei Missile Battalion responding to threats from multiple directions, including one target that changed course near the defended area. Global Times identified the air-defence system as HQ-9B, although CCTV did not name either the interceptor or the target types. The reported engagement demonstrated a demanding multi-target test, but does not establish independently verified performance against hypersonic weapons or disclose engagement ranges.
- NavalDefense WarRoomUS Navy's First Flight II Amphibious Ship Harrisburg LPD 30 Clears Builder's Trials With SPY-6 Radar
HII's Ingalls Shipbuilding announced completion of builder's sea trials for Harrisburg, the US Navy's first San Antonio-class Flight II amphibious transport dock, on November 3. The multi-day evaluation tested propulsion, steering, ship-control equipment, communications, mission systems and combat-system integration before the vessel returned to the Pascagoula shipyard. With major trial objectives met, LPD 30 will prepare for acceptance trials ahead of delivery expected later in 2026. Harrisburg is one of three Flight II ships under construction at Ingalls, alongside Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, and completion of builder's trials does not yet constitute Navy acceptance.
- AirDefense WarRoomUS Air Force Wants 1,000-Plus ERAM Cruise Missiles That Hit Within 10 Meters Under GPS Jamming
The US Air Force issued a request for information on November 2 seeking more than 1,000 Extended Range Attack Munition cruise missiles within 15 months of contract award. The 500-pound-class weapon should exceed 250 nautical miles in range and Mach 0.6, with terminal accuracy within ten metres despite degraded GPS. Requirements include blast-fragmentation effects and limited penetration against high-value fixed targets, with initial deliveries no later than three months after award. Industry responses are due November 19, and the notice constitutes market research rather than a new missile production contract.
- IndustryDefence Industry EuropeGermany orders two Patriot fire units to replace air defence systems supplied to Ukraine
Germany contracted two Patriot fire units to replace systems transferred to Ukraine in August 2025, alongside a separate purchase of containerised repair equipment. The Patriot procurement includes complete units with radar, command post, multiple launchers, power supplies, service support and spare-parts packages. The Bundestag's Budget Committee approved both purchases on October 14, 2026, enabling BAAINBw to proceed with replenishing the Bundeswehr's air-defence inventory. New maintenance containers will replace equipment dating from the late 1980s and can be carried and operated on existing military trucks for more mobile repair support.
- DronesDefense WarRoomAustralia, Japan and US Command a Japanese Drone Through One Underwater Communications Network
Australian, Japanese and US teams demonstrated two-way control of a Japanese REMUS 620 underwater vehicle through a shared network during Exercise Keen Sword 27 in Japan. Position data passed from the vehicle to Australia's Rock Lobster underwater communications node, then through a US gateway to a US ground station. A command travelled back through the same multinational chain to complete the exchange under operationally relevant exercise conditions. Announced on November 3, the experiment tested interoperability among autonomous platforms and national communications technologies, providing an integration demonstration rather than announcing a jointly deployed operational system.
- IndustryDefense WarRoomUS Navy Awards General Dynamics $15 Million to Advance MEDUSA UUV That Lays Mines From Submarines
General Dynamics Mission Systems received a $15 million US Navy contract modification exercising options for the Mining Expendable Delivery Unmanned Submarine Asset programme. MEDUSA uses an expendable underwater vehicle launched from a submarine torpedo tube to deliver mines and potentially other payloads at a distance. Announced on November 2, the work runs from September 2026 through February 2028 at Quincy and Taunton, Massachusetts, building on earlier prototype, software and engineering activities. The award supports further system maturation and support infrastructure, with no production quantity or initial operational capability date announced.
- DronesDefence Industry EuropeLockheed Martin to build five Vectis combat drones with flight demonstrations due in 2027
Lockheed Martin will self-fund five Vectis autonomous combat aircraft, with flight demonstrations planned for 2027 ahead of anticipated Collaborative Combat Aircraft Increment 2 requirements. Skunk Works moved from initial drawings to wind-tunnel testing in under two months and released its first production part within eight months. The company is developing Vectis for air-to-air combat and strike, including missions against integrated air and missile defences, while considering interoperability with crewed fighters. International releasability is informing the design, but the investment does not represent an Air Force selection, export approval or customer production order.
- DronesDefence Industry EuropeTekever and General Dynamics demonstrate AR5 drone’s role in detecting and tracking underwater targets
Tekever and General Dynamics Mission Systems-Canada detected and tracked underwater contacts using sonobuoys deployed from an AR5 uncrewed aircraft during REPMUS 2026 off Portugal. The demonstration combined Tekever's ATLAS mission-management platform with General Dynamics' acoustic sensing technology and Distributed Acoustic Processing System. Acoustic detections were processed, incorporated into the mission picture and shared with other participants in real time, linking aerial surveillance and subsurface sensing. Announced on November 2, the trials advanced distributed anti-submarine warfare integration between the companies and did not constitute an operational deployment or a new production contract.
- DronesDefense WarRoomGreek Trygons USV Completes Full Hellenic Navy UVEX 2/26 Trials With Integrated Third-Party Payloads
Trygons said its five-metre unmanned surface vessel completed the full trial programme it participated in during the Hellenic Navy's UVEX 2/26 unmanned-systems exercise. The Greek-built platform conducted autonomous navigation, surveillance and target-tracking serials while carrying third-party systems integrated by the company. The activity formed part of evaluations involving the Hellenic Centre for Defence Innovation, testing how the compact vessel and external payloads operated together at sea. Completion of the exercise represents a company-reported trial milestone, without an announced Navy procurement award, fleet delivery schedule or operational deployment of the platform.
- IndustryDefense WarRoomTaiwan F-16 Training Gets $14.8M CAE Deal to Keep Simulators Running as First Block 70 Jets Arrive
CAE USA received a $14.8 million contract to provide logistics support for Taiwan's F-16 Block 20V and Block 70 Mission Training Center programme. The award covers contractor logistics support, spare-parts management, travel, data and relocation-related services supporting the training equipment. Work will take place at Chiayi, Hualien and Taitung in Taiwan and Morris Air National Guard Base in Tucson, Arizona, with completion expected by January 30, 2032. Awarded on October 28 through a sole-source Foreign Military Sales acquisition, the contract initially obligates approximately $2.2 million and sustains training systems rather than purchasing additional fighters.
- AirDefense WarRoomFirst US Air Force HH-60W Jolly Green II Lands at Joint Base Andrews to Replace Decades-Old Hueys
The first HH-60W Jolly Green II arrived at Joint Base Andrews on November 2, beginning replacement of the base's 26 UH-1N Huey helicopters. Assigned to the newly activated 5th Helicopter Squadron, the aircraft supports senior-leader airlift and immediate contingency response in the National Capital Region. The transition uses previously procured HH-60Ws drawn from backup inventory, with modifications to remove combat-rescue equipment and configure cabins for eleven passengers. The Air Force plans a 26-aircraft Andrews fleet with full capability targeted for 2030, adding greater lift, secure communications and improved navigation compared with the ageing Hueys.
- CyberDefence BlogRaytheon joins DARPA PICASSO program for photonic circuits
Raytheon received a phase-one DARPA contract to design and demonstrate an all-optical processing system under the Photonic Integrated Circuit Architectures for Scalable System Objectives programme. PICASSO aims to process signals with light while avoiding repeated conversion into electrical signals, preserving photonics' potential latency, efficiency and bandwidth advantages. Raytheon's Advanced Technology team will develop circuit techniques intended to maintain signal integrity as systems become smaller and more complex, with Synopsys providing design and simulation tools. The award funds technology development and demonstration, rather than the deployment of a completed sensor or electronic-warfare processor.
- IndustryDefense WarRoomUS Clears Jordan to Buy 1,500 APKWS II Laser-Guided Rockets to Strengthen Its Air Defense
The US State Department approved a possible $100 million Foreign Military Sale to Jordan on November 2 for up to 1,500 APKWS II laser-guided rockets or guidance sections. BAE Systems is the principal contractor for the package, which includes launchers, Mk-152 warheads, MK66 motors, proximity fuzes, training rounds and support services. APKWS inserts a laser-guidance section into a 70 mm rocket, with the requested configurations supporting air-defence and other precision-engagement missions. The notification initiates congressional review and subsequent negotiations, while final quantities, launch platforms, delivery schedules and contract terms have not been announced.
- IndustryDefense WarRoomUS Army Orders $36 Million in L3Harris Hawkeye 4 Lite Satellite Terminals for Secure Links With NATO
L3Harris received a $36 million US Army order for Hawkeye 4 Lite satellite terminals supporting the Command and Control Network Optimized for Warfighting initiative. The rapidly deployable terminals use field-swappable components and are intended to provide secure satellite-communications interoperability between American forces and NATO partners. The acquisition supports the Army's transition toward more flexible command-and-control networks as legacy communications equipment is retired. Announced on November 3, the order covers communications equipment for fielded networks, while the company did not disclose the number of terminals or a delivery schedule for the award.
- CyberDefence Industry EuropeL3Harris says ReconneX combines passive RF sensing to improve emitter tracking across military networks
L3Harris described ReconneX as a digital electronic-support and electronic-warfare system that fuses passive radio-frequency detections from distributed sensors into emitter tracks and geolocation data. A common architecture can be configured for maritime, coastal, land and unmanned missions and integrated with customers' existing networks and mission systems. Distributed Spectrum Collaboration and Operations connectivity supports sharing of the resulting spectrum picture between platforms, operators and command-and-control systems. The company presents the approach as a means of improving tracking continuity and emissions awareness, without announcing a specific procurement, named deployment or quantified improvement in detection performance.
- IndustryDefence Industry EuropeNorthrop Grumman receives three-year U.S. Navy production contract for AN/WSN-12 navigation processors
Northrop Grumman received a three-year low-rate initial production award for AN/WSN-12 Navigation Processor Modules supporting the US Navy's transition to digital navigation. The processor integrates with Northrop's Inertial Sensor Module to process and distribute continuously available navigation information to combat systems, weapons and mission-planning tools. AN/WSN-12 succeeds the fleet's AN/WSN-7 equipment and is designed for installation across multiple Navy surface-ship platforms. Announced on November 2, the award continues production and integration of the processor component, while no contract value, module quantity or ship-by-ship installation schedule was disclosed in the company announcement.
- IndustryDefense DailyLockheed Martin Invests $420 Million To Expand Missile Operations In Arkansas
Lockheed Martin announced a $420 million investment to expand missile manufacturing at Camden, Arkansas, with 650 additional full-time jobs expected over five years. The expansion will increase production capacity supporting PAC-3 interceptors, Terminal High Altitude Area Defense and Precision Strike Missile programmes. Camden already produces missiles, rockets and launchers for seven Pentagon programmes, including GMLRS, HIMARS, ATACMS and M270, alongside its air-defence and precision-strike work. The announcement concerns capital spending and manufacturing expansion rather than a new missile procurement award, and it does not specify additional annual output attributable to this investment alone.
- SpaceDefense DailyDIU Looks to Award Deorbit Demonstration Contract Next Month
The Defense Innovation Unit expects to award a satellite-deorbit demonstration contract in December 2026, advancing its effort to buy commercial disposal services for military spacecraft. The Deorbit as a Service initiative seeks systems able to rendezvous with, capture and remove unprepared or non-functioning satellites without relying on dedicated docking interfaces. DIU and the Space Development Agency previously funded preliminary design and risk-reduction work by D-Orbit, Firefly Aerospace and Katalyst Space. The planned demonstration award concerns proving an on-orbit capability, rather than confirming that a satellite has already been removed or that routine disposal services are operational.
- DronesDefense DailyCorridian, Developer Of Extra-Large AUVs for Stealth Logistics, Other Roles Emerges With $38 Million
Corridian emerged from stealth on November 3 with a $38 million seed round led by Point72 Ventures to develop ultra-large autonomous underwater vehicles. The Boston-area company's first platform is moving from engineering toward prototyping and is designed to transport cargo covertly over thousands of nautical miles. Funding will support vehicle development, expansion of its research-and-development facility and recruitment of additional undersea engineering staff, with other investors including DCVC and Marlinspike. The announcement concerns financing and a developmental logistics platform, without an operational deployment, government procurement award or completed demonstration of the proposed long-range cargo mission.
- DronesDefense OnePentagon is beginning to follow Ukraine into wider use of ground robots
The Pentagon committed more than $115 million to unmanned ground vehicle projects in fiscal 2026 as it expands experimentation and acquisition informed by Ukraine's battlefield experience. Ukraine's defence ministry reported ordering more than 22,000 ground robots during the first seven months of 2026, approximately matching its full-year 2025 purchases. Ukrainian demand favours relatively simple, inexpensive and replaceable vehicles using commercial components for dangerous frontline tasks, including logistics and evacuation. US efforts remain smaller in scale and often involve more complex systems, making affordability and ease of replacement important distinctions between the two approaches.
- Navalukdefencejournal.org.ukBabcock enters main construction on Devonport submarine dock
Babcock awarded KierBAM an approximately £600 million contract for the water-retaining boundary and associated infrastructure of 10 Dock at Devonport, starting main construction. Funded by the Ministry of Defence, the work follows enabling activities including commissioning an on-site concrete batching plant for the redevelopment programme. The upgraded dock will support deep maintenance of Royal Navy submarines, with construction covering major civil structures and supporting infrastructure needed for sustained submarine availability. The wider programme is expected to support around 1,500 supply-chain jobs, including approximately 300 Babcock positions at Devonport, while the announcement does not signify completion of the dock.
- Navalukdefencejournal.org.ukFleet Solid Support ships on schedule and budget, UK says
The UK Ministry of Defence said construction of three Fleet Solid Support ships remains on schedule and within budget, with service entry planned for the early 2030s. The £1.6 billion programme covers RFA Resurgent, Reliant and Resourceful, with Navantia UK leading fabrication and final assembly for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. The update accompanied the opening of Belfast's Resurgent Hall, adding 5,000 square metres of fabrication space with cranes, robotic plasma cutting and a mechanised panel line. The ships will replenish naval task groups with munitions, stores and provisions, extending deployments by carriers and other warships.
- NavalShephard MediaCanada’s submarine availability under pressure as Chicoutimi is unlikely to return to front-line duties
HMCS Chicoutimi is unlikely to return to front-line service, adding uncertainty to Royal Canadian Navy submarine availability before replacement boats arrive. HMCS Victoria and HMCS Windsor could return from deep maintenance, but their operational timelines remain unconfirmed, limiting certainty over future patrol capacity. Canada operates a four-boat Victoria-class fleet and is negotiating with TKMS as preferred supplier for up to twelve new submarines under the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project. The government targets initial replacement deliveries in 2034, while the outlook for Chicoutimi should not be treated as a confirmed retirement decision or an announced decommissioning date.
- DronesDefence Industry EuropeNorthrop Grumman CEO says Talon Blue completes autonomous flight and TalonIQ tests partner software
Northrop Grumman said Talon Blue completed its first fully autonomous flight, independently handling taxiing, takeoff, flight manoeuvres and landing before further autonomy trials. The aircraft was designed and built in 24 months, while the related TalonIQ test environment has demonstrated integration with other companies' mission-autonomy software. Around half a dozen partners have participated in cooperative integration projects, including work on interoperability and control of other platforms. Disclosed during the October 20 earnings call, the milestones support aircraft and software development for prospective US and international customers, without constituting a new customer selection or production order.
- Airaviationweek.comStarfighters Unveils High-Speed ‘Wind Tunnel In The Sky’ Test Unit
Starfighters Space completed its first Wind Tunnel in the Sky flight hardware, advancing a reusable underwing test platform for its F-104 supersonic aircraft. Manufactured with Robby Moto Engineering, the components form two modular flight articles measuring 3.65 metres long and 178 millimetres in diameter. Interchangeable noses, tails, fins and internal payload sections are intended to support different customer experiments during sustained Mach 2-plus flight in real atmospheric conditions. Following assembly in Florida, the hardware requires ground handling, aircraft-integration testing and captive-carry evaluations before customer missions, so completion of the equipment does not represent completed flight qualification.
- Industrydailysabah.comTurkish defense giant Aselsan inks $1.1B overseas contract
ASELSAN signed a $1.1 billion export contract to supply air-defence systems to an overseas customer, disclosing the agreement through Turkey's Public Disclosure Platform on November 3. The company did not identify the buyer, specify the systems ordered or provide delivery dates, leaving the contractual equipment configuration undisclosed. Its air-defence portfolio includes guns, launchers, radars and fire-control equipment associated with the Korkut and Hisar families and cooperation on the Siper long-range system. Those portfolio examples do not establish the contents of this order, which is a signed export agreement rather than a completed delivery.
- Industryasianmilitaryreview.comNZDF orders replacement vehicles for garrison duties
New Zealand approved NZ$59.915 million to replace 121 garrison and training-support vehicles used for domestic logistics, military training and emergency response. The fleet comprises 61 Daimler Unimog trucks, 24 Mitsubishi Triton utility vehicles and 36 Ford Tourneo Sport Buses, with phased deliveries beginning in late 2026. The investment includes maintenance, seating pods, winches, commercial radios, project management and supporting equipment, with maintenance services contracted to New Zealand companies. The commercial off-the-shelf vehicles replace ageing support assets, including Unimogs over forty years old, and should be distinguished from a procurement of combat vehicles.
- Industryukdefencejournal.org.ukUrgent life raft buy aims to avoid E-7 Wedgetail delay
Britain's Defence Equipment and Support plans a direct award of approximately £220,000 to AEM Limited for E-7 Wedgetail life rafts and associated work. The package covers nine aircraft rafts, reconfiguration and recertification of three existing rafts, four training rafts with quarterly servicing, and an instruction manual. A transparency notice published October 27 identifies November 6 as the earliest signing date and estimates contract completion by February 28, 2028. Procurement and reconfiguration are required by November 2026 to avoid delaying the Airborne Mission System's release to service, with urgency and exclusive supply rights cited for avoiding competition.
- Navalmilitarytimes.comNavy deploys proof-of-concept Man Overboard Detection System
The US Navy is testing a proof-of-concept Man Overboard Detection System that uses thermal cameras and video analytics to identify potential falls and alert crews. During an August 14 demonstration aboard the former USS Paul F. Foster, engineers mounted four thermal cameras on two pedestals along the ship's starboard side, providing overlapping views of part of the perimeter rather than 360-degree coverage. Crew members and commanders still assess alerts and select rescue assets, including boats or helicopters; the system does not autonomously direct rescues. Additional testing, funding and development are required before wider warship installation, with full-perimeter monitoring a future operational objective.
- Institutionalmilitarytimes.comSpace Force officially activates Special Operations Command component
The US Space Force formally marked activation of SPACEFOR-SOC at MacDill Air Force Base on November 2, establishing a dedicated component for US Special Operations Command. Administratively effective October 7, the command standardises how the service organises, trains, equips and presents space forces to the special-operations enterprise. Its Space Special Warfare Teams combine space, cyber and intelligence expertise in small, modular formations supporting theatre special-operations commands and joint task forces. SPACEFOR-SOC becomes USSOCOM's first new service component since 2006, institutionalising existing space support alongside the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps special-operations components.
- Landukdefencejournal.org.ukBritain considers keeping Light Gun past out-of-service date
Britain is considering extending the L118 105 mm Light Gun's service beyond 2030, while its existing retirement date remains unchanged and no decision has been taken. Defence minister Luke Pollard confirmed that position in a written parliamentary answer on November 2, responding to a question about the weapon's planned withdrawal. The lightweight artillery system equips 7th Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery and 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery, whose roles require helicopter transport or parachute delivery. The review therefore concerns retaining an existing air-mobile gun capability, rather than an approved life-extension contract or a selected replacement system.
- AirThe War ZoneAirborne Laser Weapon For Tactical Aircraft Being Developed By Germany
Germany's procurement agency BAAINBw awarded MBDA Deutschland a contract to build a pod-based airborne laser demonstrator for potential future use on Luftwaffe aircraft. The project will develop the technological foundations for engaging drones and cruise missiles, with essential components already entering design. Adapting directed-energy equipment for flight requires addressing size, weight, power, cooling and resistance to vibration, beyond the conditions demonstrated by Germany's shipborne laser trials. The announcement did not identify a host aircraft, laser output, contract value or development timetable, and the award concerns a demonstrator rather than an operational aircraft weapon.
- IndustryArmy TechnologyElbit Systems nets $170m IDF contract for artillery training
Elbit Systems said it received a contract worth approximately $170 million from Israel's Ministry of Defense to establish and operate an artillery training and simulation centre over 15 years. The Israeli ministry separately valued the agreement at more than $190 million (about NIS 600 million); the reason for the difference between the two officially reported amounts has not been disclosed. The centre will support introduction of the ROEM (SIGMA) self-propelled howitzer and LAHAV (PULS) precision rocket launcher, providing mission and driving simulators, classrooms, and dedicated infrastructure. Elbit will also provide AI-enabled training functions, instruction, maintenance and support throughout the contract period to improve crew proficiency and reduce wear on operational artillery platforms.
- IndustryDefense WarRoomGE Aerospace Wins LM2500 Gas Turbine Orders to Power Two More US Navy Arleigh Burke Destroyers
GE Aerospace received orders for eight LM2500 marine gas turbines to power two additional US Navy Arleigh Burke-class Flight III guided-missile destroyers. The engines are destined for the future USS Ray Mabus, DDG 147, and USS Robert R. Ingram, DDG 149, with four turbines installed in each ship. Announced on November 2, the orders continue the propulsion configuration used throughout the Arleigh Burke class rather than introducing a new engine type. GE reported 75 active destroyers using LM2500 propulsion as of April 2026, while the new announcement did not disclose order value or engine delivery dates.
- AirDefense WarRoomUS Navy CNO Caudle Inspects Blackbeard Hypersonic Missile as 444 Rounds Head to Carrier Jets
US Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Daryl Caudle inspected Castelion's Blackbeard hypersonic strike missile during an October 28 visit to Naval Air Station Patuxent River. The MACE programme weapon is undergoing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet integration, including a captive-carry test with two articles that were neither released nor fired. A production delivery order worth up to $200 million includes an initial tranche of 444 all-up rounds, with early operational capability targeted for 2028. The visit also addressed MQ-25 tanker development and software architecture, while Blackbeard's official range, warhead and guidance details remain undisclosed.
- Airaviationweek.comAirbus Plans Tablet-Based Control Of CCAs From Eurofighter
Airbus is preparing flight tests of a tablet interface intended to let Eurofighter pilots command collaborative combat aircraft without modifying their fighters' existing avionics. The self-funded initiative is the first stage of a broader development effort addressing Germany's requirements for cooperation between crewed fighters and uncrewed platforms. Airbus presented tablet-based tasking and supervision at the International Fighter Conference in Munich, alongside its Eurofighter and developing uncrewed-aircraft concepts. The work remains a demonstration and integration activity, with the planned flights intended to test pilot interaction and mission control before any operational fielding or fleet-wide cockpit upgrade is established.
- DronesJanesOshkosh Defense to pilot drone manufacturing
Oshkosh Defense has partnered with Grid Aero to prototype a manufacturing process for the company's uncrewed cargo aircraft, announcing the arrangement on November 2. The collaboration applies Oshkosh's supply-chain management and life-cycle support experience to efforts to build and field military unmanned aircraft more quickly. Grid Aero's Lifter Lite design has a company-stated payload of approximately 2,000 pounds and range of up to 2,000 nautical miles, with a 450-square-foot cargo area. The company anticipates prices from roughly $500,000 for smaller aircraft to $3 million for larger designs, while the partnership remains a manufacturing-development initiative rather than an announced military production order.
- Industryaviationweek.comEmbraer Picks Fokker For Dutch KC-390 Support
Embraer appointed Fokker Services Group as an authorized service center for the Royal Netherlands Air Force’s incoming C-390 Millennium tanker and transport fleet. Under the agreement announced November 3, Fokker will provide maintenance, on-site technical and operational assistance, and field service representatives to support the aircraft’s entry into service. The Netherlands selected the C-390 in 2022 to replace its Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules aircraft and has five aircraft on firm order. The arrangement assigns local maintenance and induction support to Fokker as the Dutch air force prepares to introduce the new fleet.