WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Marine Corps has selected Northrop Grumman and Kratos to develop the Marine Corps Air-Ground Task Force Uncrewed Expeditionary Tactical Aircraft (MUX TACAIR), an unmanned collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) designed to operate alongside manned fighters such as the F-35.

Under the agreement, Northrop will provide a mission kit and open-architecture software for Kratos’s existing VX-58 Valkyrie platform. The initial award totals $231.5 million over two years and is being executed through an Other Transaction Authority (OTA), affording faster development outside traditional acquisition pathways.

While the Air Force has led higher-profile collaborative combat aircraft efforts, the Marine Corps requested $58 million in its latest budget request to pursue its own capability tailored to expeditionary operations.

Commandant Gen. Eric Smith has emphasized the importance of manned-unmanned teaming across domains, including future Marine Expeditionary Units. The Valkyrie has already been evaluated through Marine Corps experimentation efforts, with lessons learned feeding directly into the MUX TACAIR program.

Source: Defense One
Associated URL: https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2026/01/marine-corps-picks-industry-team-create-robot-wingman-its-own/410549/?oref=d1-featured-river-secondary
Author: Meghann Myers 

Lockheed Martin Awarded Naval Electronic Warfare Program Contract http://www.defense.gov WASHINGTON - Lockheed Martin, Rotary and Missions Systems, Liverpool, New York, was awarded a $22.5 million cost-plus-fixed-fee and cost-only modification to the previously awarded contract (N00024-24-C-5510) to exercise an option for SLQ-32(V)6 Design Agent Engineering, Incidental Material, and Travel. This contract involves Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to Canada.

Work will be performed in Liverpool, New York, and is expected to be completed by January 2027. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

Source: U.S. Navy
Associated URL: http://www.defense.gov

CHANDLER, AZ - Northrop Grumman successfully conducted the first launch of its redesigned intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) target vehicle, marking a key milestone in support of U.S. missile defense flight testing. The launch met all objectives and demonstrated improved performance and durability.

The redesigned ICBM target incorporates a repurposed Peacekeeper rocket motor and an integrated digital engineering approach to enhance capability and efficiency. The program utilized a synchronized digital twin, virtual reality simulations for integration planning, and augmented reality to accelerate mechanical assembly. These digital tools improved end-to-end test capability, reduced risk, and enabled greater performance in range and payload capacity, ensuring the target can accurately represent advanced ballistic missile threats in future defense system evaluations.

Source: Northrop Grumman
Associated URL: https://news.northropgrumman.com/target-vehicles/Northrop-Grumman-Launches-Digitally-Redesigned-Intercontinental-Ballistic-Missile-Target-To-Simulate-Advanced-Threats