Analysis & Reports

Saronic established a West Coast Supply Hub for unmanned surface vehicles in San Diego, opening in October 2023. The facility will house at least 15 Corsair robot boats and aims to increase its workforce to over 100 employees by year-end. It will provide training for Navy personnel on operating and maintaining these vessels, enhancing logistics and repair capabilities.

Divergent Technologies and Mach Industries launched the Venom autonomous strike aircraft prototype in Los Angeles on February 17, 2026. The prototype was developed in just 71 days, showcasing rapid hardware development through digital manufacturing. This project aims to demonstrate how defense hardware can transition from concept to operational prototype, integrating autonomous flight capabilities with advanced manufacturing techniques.

Leonardo DRS was awarded multiple contracts under the SHIELD missile defense program on February 17, 2026. The program, valued at $151 billion, aims to enhance air and missile defense capabilities for U.S. forces. Leonardo DRS will leverage its engineering capabilities to support the Missile Defense Agency's initiatives, focusing on rapid development and deployment of advanced defense technologies.

The U.S. Army awarded a $73.5 million contract to Rolls-Royce Solutions America Inc. for Merkava tank power pack kits and engineering services in Graniteville, South Carolina. The contract, part of a broader $462.9 million agreement, is scheduled for completion by December 31, 2032, and supports Israel's armored forces through Foreign Military Sales.

The U.S. Air Force announced that the Sentinel ICBM program is on track to deliver its initial missile by the early 2030s, with significant progress made in construction and testing at various locations including F.E. Warren Air Force Base and Vandenberg Space Force Base. Key milestones, including achieving Milestone B by the end of 2026, are expected to be met as the program restructures and accelerates under new management.

The Trump administration announced a Maritime Action Plan to establish Maritime Prosperity Zones aimed at revitalizing the US shipbuilding industry. This initiative seeks to increase the number of US-built and flagged ships for global commerce and military supply. The plan highlights the need for the US to enhance its maritime industrial base, which currently lags significantly behind China. Senator Todd Young endorsed the plan, emphasizing its importance for restoring American shipping dominance.

The U.S. Air Force is advancing the LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile program, with a major restructuring effort set to complete by the end of 2026 and initial operational capability targeted for the early 2030s. The program aims to replace the aging Minuteman III system and includes the construction of new launch facilities. Key milestones include the assembly of a complete ground test missile and a full-scale qualification test of the Stage-2 solid rocket motor.

Raytheon has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory to establish a domestic production capability for thin film lithium niobate (TFLN) wafers in the United States. This initiative aims to secure a supply chain for TFLN, which is essential for defense technology and communications systems. Production will transition to G&H in early 2026, ensuring reliable access for both defense and commercial industries.

The U.S. Air Force's Sentinel nuclear missile program is set to complete its restructuring by 2026, achieving Milestone B certification, with initial capabilities expected in the early 2030s. The program, which includes the development of the LGM-35A Sentinel ICBM, has faced significant cost increases and will require new silos for deployment. The first flight test is scheduled for 2027, as the Air Force works to modernize its nuclear capabilities.

USS Gerald R. Ford is extending its deployment to the Middle East, potentially exceeding 300 days at sea, which would break the previous record for aircraft carrier deployments. This decision comes amid rising tensions with Iran and highlights the operational demands on the U.S. Navy. Chief of Naval Operations has raised concerns about the impact of such long deployments on sailor morale and maintenance schedules.

The Major Richard Star Act seeks to eliminate the reduction in retirement pay for over 50,000 disabled veterans in the U.S. due to disability compensation offsets. This legislative effort has gained significant bipartisan support but faces opposition from some lawmakers who label it as double-dipping. Advocates argue that the current policy is unjust and does not fulfill the government's contractual obligations to veterans.

The U.S. Army is experiencing significant readiness challenges as 6% of its Abrams tank fleet is non-mission capable due to delays in spare parts. Advanced manufacturing techniques could restore operational capability quickly, but current procurement policies hinder this process. The Army has identified nearly 1,700 parts suitable for rapid production, which could preserve substantial training value. Congress is beginning to recognize the need for policy changes to improve readiness.

The U.S. Navy built only three Seawolf-class submarines, commissioned in 1997, 1998, and 2005, due to budget constraints and the end of the Cold War. The submarines, designed for undersea dominance, faced production cuts from an initial plan of 29 hulls. Currently, all three submarines are homeported at Naval Base Kitsap in Washington, where they continue to serve despite the challenges in submarine production.

USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7) is undergoing major maintenance and repairs, which are expected to sideline the ship until February 2028. The U.S. Navy has awarded a contract to BAE Systems for repairs worth between $204.1 million and $255.8 million. While currently operating in the Caribbean, the ship's readiness may be impacted by rising tensions with Iran, potentially delaying its maintenance schedule.

L3Harris Technologies secured a $400 million contract to produce propulsion components for the U.S. military's THAAD missile defense system, including solid rocket boost motors and Liquid Divert and Attitude Control Systems. The production will take place in Huntsville, Camden, and Los Angeles. This contract follows increased operational demand for THAAD interceptors, particularly during recent conflicts involving ballistic missile threats.

U.S. Army soldiers conducted training with the TRV-150 unmanned aerial vehicle at Fort Stewart, Georgia, on February 12, 2026. This exercise evaluated the drone's performance and operator readiness for logistics missions. The TRV-150 is capable of transporting payloads up to 68 kilograms and is designed to support frontline resupply while minimizing personnel exposure in contested environments.

A five megawatt nuclear reactor was transported from California to Utah using a C-17 airlifter. This operation is part of U.S. military energy resilience tests, indicating a focus on enhancing energy capabilities.

DARPA launched the Fleetwood program on February 13, 2026, to develop advanced catalytic technologies for converting biomass waste into carbon-based chemicals. The initiative aims to enhance supply chain resilience and improve the processing of lignin from various biomass sources. The program is structured as a 24-month research effort, with responses to the notice due by March 13, 2026.

The United States Air Force's F-22 Raptor program is facing severe operational and financial challenges, with a mission-capable rate of only 40% in fiscal year 2024. The cost to operate each F-22 is approximately $85,325 per flight hour, and the per-jet price is around $334 million. An upgrade program to enhance the aircraft's capabilities will require an additional $8 billion investment, while only 142 Raptors remain operational.

The U.S. Air Force is reviewing the cost structure of the T-7A Red Hawk trainer aircraft program as it approaches the Milestone C decision phase, amid schedule delays and development challenges. Boeing has reported over $2 billion in losses tied to the program, raising concerns about cost stability and sustainment readiness. The T-7A is designed to replace the T-38 Talon and is crucial for maintaining pilot training capacity.