US Aerospace/Defense Companies & Contracts

RESTON, Va. -- The United States Army has awarded Leidos a $617 million contract to produce and deliver additional launchers for the Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2 (IFPC Inc 2). This latest agreement follows two previous awards totaling $356 million issued in July and September 2025. With this funding, the total value of production contracts for the mobile air defense system has reached approximately $1.2 billion.

The IFPC Inc 2 is a ground based system designed to intercept unmanned aerial vehicles and cruise missiles. It serves as a central component of the Army's layered air and missile defense strategy. The system is built on an open architecture, which allows it to integrate with existing command and control infrastructure while remaining compatible with standard military transport vehicles.

Leidos has committed to delivering more than 100 launchers under the current contract framework. This latest round of funding is intended to transition the program toward full rate production and includes provisions for continued research, development, and testing. The contract terms allow for potential follow-on orders through 2029.

According to program records, the company recently delivered the first launcher for initial operational test and evaluation two months ahead of the projected schedule. The IFPC Inc 2 is intended to provide a modular defense solution that can be updated as new effector technologies and threats emerge.

This investment reflects a shift in U.S. Army procurement toward mobile, scalable defenses capable of countering low cost drone swarms and sophisticated cruise missiles. By securing over $1 billion in contracts, the Army is signaling a commitment to moving away from static defense models in favor of plug and play systems that can be rapidly deployed and integrated into various combat environments.

Source: Forecast International
Associated URL: www.leidos.com

WASHINGTON - Lockheed Martin has withdrawn from the U.S. Navy’s Undergraduate Jet Training System (UJTS) competition, narrowing the field of potential bidders to three. The defense contractor, which had partnered with Korea Aerospace Industries to offer the TF-50N, stated that it dropped out due to the required levels of U.S. content and other factors following a careful assessment of the Navy's final request for proposals (RFP).

The UJTS program aims to replace the Navy’s aging T-45 Goshawk fleet with an expected acquisition of up to 216 new aircraft. The Navy's March RFP set a strict $1.8 billion cap on engineering and manufacturing development. Unlike the legacy T-45, the new trainer jet will not be required to land on aircraft carriers or conduct full field carrier landing practice to touch down, meaning competitors must instead integrate unique simulation capabilities to prepare naval aviators for carrier operations.

Following Lockheed's exit, the remaining competitors include Textron Aviation Defense and Leonardo, offering the Beechcraft M-346N; SNC, partnered with General Atomics and Northrop Grumman to offer the purpose-built Freedom Trainer; and Boeing. Despite the competition moving forward, industry executives from SNC have publicly cited the $1.8 billion development budget cap as a potential major obstacle for the program.

Source: Breaking Defense
Associated URL: https://breakingdefense.com/2026/04/exclusive-lockheed-exits-navy-trainer-aircraft-competition

MIAMI, Fl. -- U.S. Marine Gen. Francis L. Donovan, commander of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), has directed the establishment of the SOUTHCOM Autonomous Warfare Command (SAWC).

Once fully established, the new command will be dedicated to employing autonomous, semi-autonomous, and unmanned platforms and systems to counter threats and challenges across domains. The command will also collaborate closely with allies and partners in the region to advance shared goals, such as disrupting and degrading narcoterrorist and cartel networks, and responding to life-threatening crises caused by large-scale natural disasters.

In the leadup to SAWC’s establishment, SOUTHCOM will work with the military services and the U.S. Department of War’s Defense Autonomous Warfare Group (DAWG) to identify available expertise and capabilities required for the new command to commence operations and fully integrate into SOUTHCOM’s mission.

Source: U.S. Southern Command
Associated URL: https://www.southcom.mil/News/PressReleases/Article/4466083/southcom-establishes-autonomous-warfare-command/