Rebuilding the Arsenal

The Army is pursuing an increasingly diverse array of new anti-air interceptors for use with existing launchers and new architectures.

The low-cost interceptor, rushed to NATO partners after drone incursions, is now an example of how the Army hopes to rapidly field emerging capabilities.

The turbojet-powered drone is designed for one-way attack missions, but AEVEX says it could also carry cameras, jamming gear, and other payloads.

The new interceptor will sit at the top of the Patriot missile family and promises more range, altitude, and maneuverability against rapidly-developing threats.

The Coyote Block 2 is already combat proven, but more capable kamikaze drones have driven a need to fly faster and farther.

Anduril aims to produce Steelfin interceptors at scale by leveraging common components that can be configured for different threats.

Integrating the AGM-158C LRASM onto the B-52 means all three of the USAF’s bombers now have this capability and the B-21 will surely follow.

Blackbeard is part of the Army’s push to make hypersonic weapons more mobile and affordable.

The US and Australia are partners on the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile, which has finally reached flight testing after major delays.

The secretive AIM-260 air-to-air missile will give Australian fighters a much-needed boost in reach, especially against Chinese threats.

The Navy is pushing to get Blackbeard, a lower-cost and fast-to-produce standoff weapon, into operational service by 2028 at the latest.

Lockheed’s F-16G pitch could be part of the answer to the Air Force’s problem of trying to grow its increasingly geriatric fighter fleet.

The AIM-260 was originally slated to enter service years ago and it is seen as critical to counter China’s PL-15 air-to-air missile.

FLEX aims to give the JASSM missile family modular weapons architecture spanning longer-range, anti-ship, and new launch configurations.

The new Enduring Shield system paired with AIM-9X Sidewinders already gives the Army its first mid-range air defense capability in decades.

Serial production of the relatively crude but cheap weapon is slated to begin in Texas next year, with plans to also build the weapon in Germany and Israel.

Branded Content: Bigger sites, advanced manufacturing techniques, and boosting the workforce are key industry commitments to increased munitions production.

Lockheed and Raytheon are developing competing Stinger replacements now, but the Army wants to put additional designs to the test next year.

The Navy is aiming to have at least a limited operational arsenal of Blackbeard hypersonic missiles within the next two years.

The big AIM-424 long-range air-to-air missile has grabbed headlines, but the Navy is also pursuing a new weapon for the exact opposite use case.

The Navy’s newest extreme-range air-to-air missile is intended to be used by the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, F-35C JSF and the upcoming F/A-XX.

The Wildfire concept has been entered into a new Pentagon competition to find a next generation of medium-altitude, long-endurance ISR and strike drone.

Castelion aims at building more affordable and usable hypersonic weapons that can be churned out at high production rates.

Affordable High Speed Strike missiles could offer an important new way to hold enemy air bases, air defense nodes, and other high-value targets at risk.