Defense Watch: Mythos, DARC, DARPA Plane, New SWO Boss, Startup Raises
Pentagon chief technology officer Emil Michael announced that the department is evaluating Anthropic’s new Mythos AI‑driven cyber‑security model, signaling renewed interest in AI tools after a Trump‑era halt on Anthropic products. The service is also scaling production of the low‑cost LUCAS combat drone, which saw its first combat use in Operation Epic Fury, while the Space Force fast‑tracked deployment of Northrop Grumman’s Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC) under the AUKUS pact. DARPA successfully flew its hybrid‑electric X‑Plane experimental aircraft, marking a milestone for electric propulsion in military aviation. In parallel, satellite maker Astranis raised $455 million to expand geostationary satellite production for both commercial customers and upcoming Space Force programs.
Space Control Budget More Than Doubles To About 30 Percent Of Space Force Request
Space Control funding for the U.S. Space Force is set to more than double in FY2027, reaching $21.6 billion, which is about 30% of the service’s total $71 billion budget request. Roughly $19.4 billion of that amount is classified, leaving limited public detail....
Defense Watch: DoD AI Deals, P-8 Upgrade, Drone and Counter-Drone News
The Pentagon announced a suite of AI agreements on May 1 with major cloud and AI firms—including SpaceX, OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, AWS, NVIDIA and Reflection—to embed advanced models into classified Impact Level 6 and 7 networks. Defense leaders also highlighted the fiscal 2027 request...
Defense Watch: Space Acquisition, Naval Autonomy, FMS Deals, Drone Warhead
President Trump nominated intelligence veteran Roger Mason to head the National Reconnaissance Office, while retired Air Force Col. Erich Hernandez‑Baquero is slated for the Air Force space‑acquisition post. The Navy outlined an aggressive unmanned‑surface‑vessel rollout, targeting 30 medium USVs and...
Williams: W80-5 “Ahead of Schedule”, SLCM-N Not In Fiscal 2027 Budget, Will Be In Fiscal 2028
National Nuclear Security Administration head Brandon Williams announced that the W80-5 warhead, intended for the Navy’s new nuclear‑armed sea‑launched cruise missile (SLCM‑N), is ahead of schedule and will be ready before the Navy’s operational need. Although the SLCM‑N was omitted...
Defense Watch: Talon Blue News, Iranian Missiles, LTAMDS Award, DDG News
Pratt & Whitney confirmed its PW500 engine will power Northrop Grumman’s YFQ‑48A Talon Blue drone, positioning the platform for the Air Force’s Increment 2 CCA competition. Raytheon Technologies secured a $904.6 million LTAMDS radar contract, bringing its Army total to $5.4 billion and...
Army Exploring ‘Novel Contracting’ For Future Black Hawk Procurement After Current Multi-Year
The U.S. Army is weighing "novel contracting" options for future Black Hawk purchases as the current 10th multi‑year Sikorsky contract winds down next year. The existing five‑year, $2.3 billion deal, which could expand to $4.4 billion for over 270 helicopters, has already...
Army’s Work With OPV Black Hawk To Inform Bringing Autonomy To MV-75 FLRAA
The U.S. Army has accepted the first H‑60Mx Optimally Piloted Vehicle (OPV) Black Hawk, equipped with Sikorsky’s MATRIX autonomy suite, to serve as a testbed for autonomous capabilities on the upcoming MV‑75 Cheyenne II FLRAA tilt‑rotor. Recent DARPA‑originated demonstrations, including the...
Defense Watch: EA-37s in Wargame, Laser Use OK’d, Army ADOC, UAS Award, FMD Chief Back
The Air Force confirmed the EA‑37B electronic‑warfare jet’s first combat use in Operation Epic Fury and is pushing a fiscal 2027 request for up to 12 additional aircraft, while lawmakers have already funded two. The Department of Defense secured a safety agreement with...
Marine Corps Awards Textron, GD Deals For ARV ‘Pre-Production’ Vehicles, Plans Downselect In Early FY ‘31
The U.S. Marine Corps announced contracts with Textron Systems and General Dynamics Land Systems to build pre‑production Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicles (ARVs). Both firms will deliver three variants, including a new logistics configuration, by late FY2028. The prototypes will feed a...
Moving Target Indication, Orbital Warfare Among Areas Needing Increased Investment, Space Force Official Says
U.S. Space Force Lt. Gen. Dennis Bythewood told a Mitchell Institute forum that the defense industrial base must receive more funding for moving‑target indication, launch infrastructure, orbital warfare, and positioning, navigation and timing (PNT). He emphasized the need to expand...
Defense Watch: GMTI, New SASC Member, CH-47F Award, Big sUAS Order
The U.S. Space Force is targeting a 2028 launch for its space‑based ground moving target indication (GMTI) radar satellites, despite Congress cutting the FY‑2026 R&D request from $1 billion to $719 million and reallocating funds. The Army awarded Boeing a $326 million contract...
AM General Says JLTV A2 Fielding On Track For 2026, Program Is ‘Healthy’ Amid Army Pivot
AM General says its Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) A2 program remains on schedule, targeting initial fielding in the second half of 2026. The company reports a multi‑year production backlog driven by Army, Marine Corps and international orders, even as...
Official: UAS Marketplace Likely Not Army’s ‘Primary’ Option For Buying Launched Effects
The Army’s new UAS Marketplace, designed as an "Amazon‑like" portal for Group 1‑3 drones, will likely not serve as the primary acquisition channel for its launched‑effects programs. Capability executive Rodney Davis warned that launched effects demand massed capability and scale, which...
Army’s SkyFoundry Plan To Build Own Cheap Drones Has ‘Evolved,’ Official Notes Commercial Involvement
The Army’s SkyFoundry program, originally slated to internally produce 10,000 cheap drones per year, has pivoted to a fully commercial partnership model. Rich Martin, AMC’s supply‑chain director, emphasized that the service cannot scale drone manufacturing alone and will rely on...