🔫 Army Says Laser Weapons Are “Pretty Mature” for Next-Gen Missile Defense

📬 In Today’s Defense Brief

🚀 ULA Heavy-Lift Rocket Set for First Space Force Mission LINK

✈️ Northrop Grumman Teases F/A-XX Next-Gen Naval Fighter Concept LINK

🏛️ Pentagon Considering “Program Czars” for Key Navy & Air Force Efforts LINK

🔫 Army Says Laser Weapons Are “Pretty Mature” for Next-Gen Missile Defense LINK

🛡️ Army Readies 2026 Competition for Counter-Drone Laser Weapon LINK

🎱 Plus 7 other news stories you may like

📰 Full Breakdown

🚀 ULA Heavy-Lift Rocket Set for First Space Force Mission LINK

• United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Heavy is on the pad for its inaugural U.S. Space Force flight, carrying a classified national-security payload.

• The mission will certify the rocket for future National Security Space Launch contracts, expanding lift options beyond Falcon Heavy and Delta IV Heavy.

• Successful launch would solidify Vulcan’s role in replacing legacy Atlas V boosters that relied on Russian RD-180 engines.

✈️ Northrop Grumman Teases F/A-XX Next-Gen Naval Fighter Concept LINK

• Newly released artwork shows a stealthy, tailless carrier-borne fighter with diverterless inlets and side bays—Northrop’s vision for the Navy’s F/A-XX.

• Concept emphasizes broadband stealth, extended range, and open-architecture avionics to outpace peer threats in the 2030s-40s.

• The reveal signals Northrop’s intent to challenge Boeing and Lockheed in the forthcoming Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) competition.

🏛️ Pentagon Considering “Program Czars” for Key Navy & Air Force Efforts LINK

• Senior defense officials are weighing creation of empowered “czar” positions to oversee troubled flagship programs like Navy shipbuilding and Air Force NGAD.

• The roles would carry cross-service budget authority to cut red tape and accelerate decision-making.

• Proposal follows congressional criticism of cost overruns and schedule slips on major acquisition efforts.

🔫 Army Says Laser Weapons Are “Pretty Mature” for Next-Gen Missile Defense LINK

• Army officials at the Space & Missile Defense Symposium said 300-kW class laser interceptors could augment the future “Layered Homeland Defense” architecture.

• Recent tests of the Indirect Fire Protection Capability–High Energy Laser met key power-on-target milestones against drones and rockets.

• Service is exploring integration paths with upcoming air- and missile-defense sensors under AMD Strategy 2040.

🛡️ Army Readies 2026 Competition for Counter-Drone Laser Weapon LINK

• The Army plans to release a request for proposals in early 2026 for a 50-kW class counter-UAS laser mounted on Stryker or HUMVEE platforms.

• Initial production goal is a battalion set by FY-29, complementing kinetic C-UAS systems now fielded in Europe and the Indo-Pacific.

• Industry teams are already demonstrating prototypes under the Directed Energy Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense program.

🌏 Other Important News

• Australia selects Japan’s Mogami-class frigate in $6.5 billion deal to boost maritime patrol reach LINK

• Space Force, IC launch GMTI satellite project to track moving targets worldwide LINK

• RAF airmen code mobile app to automate high-altitude parachute jump planning LINK

• Rheinmetall & Lockheed detail GMARS long-range rocket system cooperation LINK

• Army to add three Patriot battalions and expand air-defense force by 30 percent LINK

• Austal USA starts second Stage 2 Offshore Patrol Cutter for Arctic Coast Guard missions LINK

• Army hypervelocity projectile program ready to proceed once funding clears Congress LINK

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