🛡️ Boeing, Anduril Team Up for US Army’s New Mid-Range Interceptor

📬 In Today’s Defense Brief

🕹️ Lockheed, XTEND Test New Drone Control Concept for Future Joint Ops — Read More

🛡️ Boeing, Anduril Team Up for US Army’s New Mid-Range Interceptor — Read More

🏭 Another 1,000+ more defense companies chosen for $151 billion Golden Dome competition — Read More

📡 The Pentagon wants a common network for its counter-drone systems — Read More

🌎 Trump nominates Marine general for top SOUTHCOM job — Read More

🎱 Plus 11 other news stories you may like

📰 Full Breakdown

🕹️ Lockheed, XTEND Test New Drone Control Concept for Future Joint Ops — Read More

• Lockheed Martin and XTEND are integrating Skunk Works’ MDCX autonomy platform with XTEND’s XOS operating system to simplify battlefield drone control. The stated intent is to collapse missions that traditionally require multiple operators into a single, streamlined interface for use at lower tactical echelons.

• The core deliverable is a “Multi-Class MDCX workstation” designed to enable one operator to control and manage multiple classes of drones simultaneously. The concept is positioned as a situational-awareness boost for the execution of joint all-domain command-and-control (JADC2) missions.

• In a recent demonstration, an operator used the integrated setup to run a mission in which a larger drone deployed a smaller UAV for a close-range task. XTEND’s XOS is described as platform-agnostic and optimized for swarm operations, including seamless switching between manual control and autonomous behaviors as missions evolve.

🛡️ Boeing, Anduril Team Up for US Army’s New Mid-Range Interceptor — Read More

• Boeing and Anduril are partnering on a new high-speed interceptor for the Army’s Integrated Fires Protection Capability (IFPC) Increment 2 “Second Interceptor” effort, aimed at layered defense against low-altitude, mid-range threats. The write-up frames the weapon as relevant for cruise missiles and one-way attack drones.

• Roles are split: Anduril is slated to provide the missile’s solid rocket motor, while Boeing leads overall interceptor development. The cited program path is an OTA Project Agreement that Boeing signed on December 5, signaling a rapid-prototype approach rather than a traditional acquisition lane.

• The article says the Army previously leaned on AIM-9X Sidewinder as a stopgap for mid-range ground-based air defense, but notes it wasn’t optimized for sustained, mid-range missions. The Boeing-Anduril interceptor is pitched as a purpose-built replacement to close that gap, with prototype-phase selections expected in 2026.

🏭 Another 1,000+ more defense companies chosen for $151 billion Golden Dome competition — Read More

• The Missile Defense Agency added another large tranche of companies to its “Shield” pool tied to Golden Dome-related technology work, bringing in “another 1,000+” firms on top of earlier selections. The piece characterizes Shield as a massive competitive on-ramp for vendors seeking to bid on future efforts linked to the broader Golden Dome initiative.

• The article describes Shield as a contract vehicle with an overall ceiling of $151 billion, emphasizing scale and breadth rather than a single program award. The expansion is portrayed as deliberate: widen the vendor base now, then compete for specific tasking later as requirements mature.

• In practical terms, this move increases the number of eligible suppliers—especially non-traditional entrants and niche tech firms—who can pursue Golden Dome-adjacent work without having to restart qualifications for every new opportunity. The thrust is that “getting in the pool” is becoming the first gating step for participation in upcoming competitions.

📡 The Pentagon wants a common network for its counter-drone systems — Read More

• An Army-led effort seeks a single command-and-control system that can operate counter-UAS equipment available through the government’s cUAS marketplace. The driver is interoperability: installations operating cUAS in the same region should be able to share data, rather than staying locked into fragmented systems.

• Joint Interagency Task Force 401 (JIATF 401) leadership says shared software licensing is expensive, and the goal is to quickly plug new capabilities into a common C2 framework—on an aggressive timeline. The task force has also been testing and evaluating cUAS components for the marketplace and standardizing training across DoD and partner agencies.

• The operational backdrop includes planning with federal agencies for the 2026 FIFA World Cup across multiple U.S. host cities, with a focus on smaller Group 1/2 drones under 55 pounds. The piece argues missiles aren’t an efficient or safe answer in populated settings, so the push is toward networked sensing and scalable, coordinated responses.

🌎 Trump nominates Marine general for top SOUTHCOM job — Read More

• Breaking Defense reports President Donald Trump tapped the vice commander of U.S. Special Operations Command to be the next commander of U.S. Southern Command. If confirmed, Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Frank Donovan would receive a fourth star and take over the combatant command responsible for operations across Latin America and the Caribbean.

• The article says Donovan would replace Adm. Alvin Holsey, who had announced he would step down by the end of the year and has since retired. It notes Holsey has not publicly explained the early retirement, while also citing reporting that he had raised concerns about boat strikes tied to alleged drug smuggling operations.

• Donovan’s biography is summarized as experience in infantry, reconnaissance, and special operations command, including leading Force Recon elements, a Battalion Landing Team, and a Marine Expeditionary Unit. The piece frames the nomination in the context of SOUTHCOM’s operational tempo in the Caribbean and scrutiny around recent strike activity.

🌏 Other Important News

✈️ Air

• Air Force designates Northrop Grumman’s Talon prototype as YFQ-48A — Read More

• Norway allocates $313.5M to finance new weapons package for Ukraine — Read More

• JIATF 401 marks 100 days of counter-drone operations highlighting early successes and rapid innovation — Read More

• U.S. launches strikes in Syria — Read More

🌊 Sea

• Europe’s ‘Biggest’ Warship: France Kicks Off Construction of Next-Gen Aircraft Carrier — Read More

• Venezuela merchant vessel stopped by U.S. military — Read More

🛰️ Space

• CACI expands space, defense footprint with $2.6 billion ARKA buy — Read More

• Firehawk Aerospace Expands U.S. Rocket Manufacturing with Mississippi Facility Acquisition — Read More

🏛️ Policy

• From Army contracting pause to Pentagon acquisition overhaul: 2025 review — Read More

• UAE’s EDGE Group plans next steps of expansion beyond Middle East — Read More

• DoD IG: Army, Navy miscounted recruits with low academic scores — Read More

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