- The Defense Brief
- Posts
- đ A New, Low-Cost Missile Hunter Emerges: US Firm Unveils âCyclopsâ
đ A New, Low-Cost Missile Hunter Emerges: US Firm Unveils âCyclopsâ
Long Wallâs âCyclopsâ is pitched as a surface-launched interceptor that can reach exoatmospheric regimes.

đŹ In Todayâs Defense Brief
đ§ Spectra Readies Military Vehicles for Data-Heavy, Sensor-Driven Warfare â Read More
đĄď¸ Americaâs Patriot Air Defense Goes Full 360 With âOver-the-Shoulderâ Strike â Read More
đ¤ Arcfield Closes Rite-Solutions Acquisition â Read More
đŻ Bullfrog Becomes Drone-Hunting Beast With New âEyeâ Upgrade â Read More
đ A New, Low-Cost Missile Hunter Emerges: US Firm Unveils âCyclopsâ â Read More
đą Plus 16 other news stories you may like
đ° Full Breakdown
đ§ Spectra Readies Military Vehicles for Data-Heavy, Sensor-Driven Warfare â Read More
Spectraâs ecosystem (including Galleon/Calculex product lines) positions rugged mission computing and recording as core enablers for platforms drowning in multi-sensor dataâground vehicles, aircraft, and unmanned systems that need capture, storage, and transport of mission data under harsh conditions.
The hardware centers on SWaP-optimized, ultra-high-density rugged recorders with removable data modules, enabling fast âturnâ between missions and more effortless movement of captured data between vehicles, aircraft, command posts, and labs, framing portability and lifecycle flexibility as differentiators.
A key example is the XSR family: high-bandwidth Ethernet recording (including up to 40GbE) designed for SIGINT/EW-style collection and other sensor-heavy missions, with an emphasis on extreme-environment reliability and high-throughput capture for platforms such as UAVs and airborne early warning.
đĄď¸ Americaâs Patriot Air Defense Goes Full 360 With âOver-the-Shoulderâ Strike â Read More
The U.S. Army is moving to fix a long-standing Patriot limitation: sector coverage. A newly revealed âover-the-shoulderâ capability is intended to enable Patriot interceptors to engage ballistic and cruise missiles approaching from behind or from any direction, pushing the system toward a 360-degree defense.
The reported shift isnât only software, itâs architectural. The next-gen approach uses vertical, cold-launch interceptors (eject upward, then maneuver), moving away from angled launchers that constrain engagement geometry and require physical repositioning to cover different azimuths.
Simulations suggest improved range/altitude/agility, narrowing gaps versus foreign systems with all-around coverage and improving Patriotâs ability to deal with modern maneuvering threats. The Army plans to begin work on the new interceptor this year.
đ¤ Arcfield Closes Rite-Solutions Acquisition â Read More
Arcfield finalized its acquisition of Rite-Solutions to broaden national security capability and domain depth, explicitly aiming to merge Rite-Solutionsâ strengths in naval systems and undersea warfare with Arcfieldâs nuclear surety and missile engineering portfolio.
Leadership messaging emphasizes âdefense-technology hybridâ positioning and cross-domain reachâfrom undersea to spaceâwhile highlighting that the combined organization should deliver broader technical advantages to mission partners across multiple operational environments.
Rite-Solutionsâ CEO framed the deal as an expansion beyond undersea warfare, pointing to Arcfieldâs leadership in model-based systems engineering and AI innovation as a lever to provide more robust capabilities to existing Navy and federal customers. The article also notes Rite-Solutionsâ small-business footprint and recent Navy work.
đŻ Bullfrog Becomes Drone-Hunting Beast With New âEyeâ Upgrade â Read More
Allen Control Systems paired its Bullfrog machine-gun turret with âSearchCam,â an AI-enabled visual detection package aimed at small, hard-to-spot dronesâshowcasing how software + sensors can upgrade conventional guns into more precise counter-UAS tools.
SearchCam is described as a 16-camera passive system that detects and tracks targets, then cues the turret for engagement, while an internal âthreat libraryâ supports automated identification intended to compress reaction times in fast drone engagements.
The concept relies on stealth and integration: by avoiding active radar emissions, the system positions itself as less detectable while retaining situational awareness, and itâs designed to plug into existing command networks and scale from single-vehicle defense to layered protection.
đ A New, Low-Cost Missile Hunter Emerges: US Firm Unveils âCyclopsâ â Read More
Long Wallâs âCyclopsâ is pitched as a surface-launched interceptor capable of reaching exoatmospheric regimes, built to hunt ballistic and hypersonic threats using hit-to-kill mechanics (direct impact rather than an explosive warhead).
The company frames Cyclops as designed for mass production to deliver âmissile-class performanceâ at lower cost, pairing the kill vehicle with a containerized launcher meant for rapid deployment on land or at sea, while also claiming compatibility with existing U.S. military launchers.
Leadership comparisons place it in the SM-3 conceptual lane and explicitly link the system to a broad mission set, ranging from homeland defense against ICBM-class threats to allied integrated air and missile defense upgrades, covering multiple threat types, including hypersonic glide vehicles.
đ Other Important News
âď¸ Air
Kongsberg wins Skyranger air defence contract from Netherlands â Read More
Finland unveils first F-35A fighter jet from Lockheed Martin â Read More
UK says access to EUâs SAFE defence fund not âvalue for moneyâ â Read More
Rolls-Royce begins AE 1107 engine testing to power MV-75 FLRAA prototypes â Read More
BAE Systems wins KAI transponder-related contract â Read More
German Navy welcomes first NH90 Sea Tiger helicopter â Read More
Boeing gets $931M U.S. Navy contract to extend Super Hornet service life â Read More
NNSA completes last production unit of W88 nuclear warhead upgrade â Read More
đ Sea
Carrier USS Nimitz returns to Bremerton, wraps final deployment â Read More
General Dynamics Electric Boat delivers attack submarine Idaho to U.S. Navy â Read More
U.S. approves support for Japanâs Aegis destroyers as China tensions rise â Read More
HavocAI pulls off first autonomous cross-domain mission without GPS â Read More
đ°ď¸ Space
đď¸ Pentagon
Thanks for reading todayâs Defense Brief. If you found it useful, consider forwarding it to a friend or colleague who'd appreciate staying sharp on defense tech and military news.