🎯 Army Awards $982M IDIQ for HERO-120 Loitering Munitions to Mistral & UVision

📬 In Today’s Defense Brief

🚀 Space Force Taps SpaceX & ULA for Post-FY27 “Must-Go” NSSL Launches — $1.14B Task Orders Read More

🛰️ Firefly Acquires SciTec for ~$855M to Bolster Golden Dome & Responsive Space Stack Read More

🚁 Army Fast-Tracks CH-47F Chinook Block II Fielding to Two Combat Aviation Brigades Read More

🎯 Army Awards $982M IDIQ for HERO-120 Loitering Munitions to Mistral & UVision Read More

⚖️ White House Declares Drug Cartels “Unlawful Combatants,” Says U.S. in Armed Conflict Read More

🎱 Plus 8 other news stories you may like

📰 Full Breakdown

🚀 Space Force Taps SpaceX & ULA for Post-FY27 “Must-Go” NSSL Launches — $1.14B Task Orders Read More

• Space Systems Command assigned seven Phase 3 Lane 2 national security launches: five to SpaceX ($714M) and two to ULA ($428M). Lane 2 covers high-value or hard-to-reach orbits, with missions beginning no earlier than FY27. Payloads include WGS-12 and GPS IIIF-4; several others are classified NRO flights.

• The awards are the first task orders under Phase 3, where SpaceX, ULA and Blue Origin compete through 2030. Blue Origin received none in this tranche pending certification after a second New Glenn launch expected later in October.

• The firm-fixed-price, IDIQ structure lets the Space Force sequence “must-go” missions two years ahead, preserving schedule assurance for critical payloads and clarifying near-term lane share: SpaceX carries the bulk; ULA fields select GPS/NRO missions.

🛰️ Firefly Acquires SciTec for ~$855M to Bolster Golden Dome & Responsive Space Stack Read More

• Firefly signed a definitive agreement to acquire SciTec for ~$855M (≈$300M cash, ≈$555M in stock at $50/share), adding mission-proven software, multi-phenomenology sensing, and low-latency AI processing to its launch, lunar, and in-orbit services portfolio. Closing is targeted by year-end 2025, pending approvals.

• SciTec reported ~$164M in TTM revenue (to June 30, 2025) and earlier won a $259M Space Force FORGE contract for missile warning/tracking ground processing—capabilities Firefly says align with national defense imperatives, including Golden Dome.

• Post-close, SciTec will operate as a subsidiary led by current CEO Jim Lisowski, reporting to Firefly CEO Jason Kim. Advisors include Goldman Sachs (Firefly) and Baird (SciTec). Firefly scheduled a webcast to discuss integration and growth plans.

🚁 Army Fast-Tracks CH-47F Chinook Block II Fielding to Two Combat Aviation Brigades Read More

• The Army authorized procurement of CH-47F Block II in FY25–FY26, enabling rapid fielding to two Combat Aviation Brigades and accelerating heavy-lift modernization for large-scale combat operations. Block II recapitalizes Block I airframes with payload, range, and sustainability improvements.

• Upgrades lift max gross weight to ~54,000 lbs and increase available torque; commanders can move more troops, fuel, and materiel farther/faster—reducing sorties and crew exposure. A test pilot noted missions needing two Block I lifts could be done in one Block II sortie.

• A MOSA-based CAAS cockpit enables DVE sensors and future autonomy features; commonality with MH-47G lets the Army and SOCOM share components and sustainment efficiencies. International interest is rising, with one partner committing to 60 aircraft.

🎯 Army Awards $982M IDIQ for HERO-120 Loitering Munitions to Mistral & UVision Read More

• Mistral Inc. and UVision secured a multi-year, $982M IDIQ to supply HERO-120 loitering munitions under the Army’s Lethal Unmanned System program, following extensive trials and surging demand for anti-armor precision effects.

• HERO-120 carries a ~4.5-kg multi-purpose warhead optimized for armored targets, offering man-portable, organic deep-strike options to maneuver units and complementing indirect fires and ATGMs in layered effects chains.

• U.S. production is led by Mistral in partnership with UVision’s U.S. arm, with the contract structured for scalable deliveries as formations field more C-UAS/precision strike loiterers across theaters.

⚖️ White House Declares Drug Cartels “Unlawful Combatants,” Says U.S. in Armed Conflict Read More

• A memo disclosed this week states President Trump has designated drug cartels operating in the Caribbean as “unlawful combatants,” asserting the U.S. is in a “non-international armed conflict” following recent strikes on cartel boats. Congress was notified by Pentagon officials, per reporting.

• The designation could expand authorities for targeting and detention, though legal and diplomatic ramifications remain fluid; AP reporting echoed the “armed conflict” framing and linked it to ongoing maritime operations.

• Lawmakers and allies will scrutinize scope, geographic limits, and ROE as interagency planning proceeds. Early reactions suggest further notification and oversight steps are likely before any broader escalation.

🌏 Other Important News

✈️ Air

• India downed five F-16/JF-17 Pakistani jets in May conflict, says Indian Air Force chief Read More

• China may have beaten US to “Golden Dome” homeland defense Read More

• Von der Leyen’s “drone wall” plan crashes into EU reality Read More

🚢 Sea

• U.S. Navy boosts ship defenses with multi-year Phalanx CIWS upgrade plan Read More

🧠 AI & C2

• NGA wants to put its idle PCs to work (GDIT pilots distributed compute at St. Louis campus) Read More

🛡️ SOF & Personnel

• Special Operations Command transitions to new leadership (Gen. Bryan Fenton retires; Adm. Frank Bradley assumes command) Read More

🏭 Government & Policy

• Shutdown poised to drag into next week as layoff threat looms Read More

🌍 Geopolitics

• How the UAE built a circle of bases to control the Gulf of Aden Read More

Thanks for reading today’s 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.