Defense Modernization

Delray Beach – November 04, 2026 -- The global high-energy laser weapon market will grow from USD 2.17 billion in 2026 to USD 4.54 billion by 2035, a CAGR of 8.6%, according to a MarketsandMarkets forecast.

Land-based systems hold 84.5% of the 2026 market

MarketsandMarkets estimates that land-based deployments will account for 84.5% of global revenue in 2026 and lead the market through the forecast period. Armed forces are installing laser air defenses at fixed military sites and on combat vehicles, and moving them between locations, to protect installations, critical infrastructure and deployed troops from drones, rockets and mortars.

GAINESVILLE, Va. – November 03, 2026 -- OMNI and Rackner have formed OMNI-Rackner LLC, a Mentor-Protégé Joint Venture (MPJV) officially approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), to pursue work for the U.S. Department of War (DoW), the Intelligence Community (IC) and national security agencies.

SBA approval gives the venture formal federal standing

The MPJV targets emerging-technology and software development work on mission-critical problems. The partners say the venture will build mission capabilities and fuse new technology for the DoW. No contract awards, revenue targets or financial terms were disclosed.

OMNI brings AI, cloud and data capabilities to the venture

OMNI supplies AI and automation, enterprise cloud and platform solutions, data solutions, digital engineering, user experience and agile software development for the DoW and IC.

DELRAY BEACH – November 02, 2026 -- The tactical communication market will grow from USD 13.14 billion in 2026 to USD 19.39 billion by 2031, an 8.1% CAGR, according to MarketsandMarkets.

Tactical radio systems are expected to hold the largest share by equipment type. Single-band products should lead by frequency band, and command and control communications by application. Army and land forces are projected to be the largest end user. For the land platform, MarketsandMarkets forecasts growth of 47.78% over the period.

Private wireless systems post the fastest growth at 13.3% CAGR

Tactical private wireless is the fastest-growing equipment segment. Defense organizations are deploying private LTE, private 5G and hybrid multi-technology networks at forward operating bases, command centers, logistics centers and vehicles.

Washington, D.C. – October 29, 2026 -- Integris will exhibit its lightweight ballistic protection solutions at the 2026 Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., targeting U.S. Army and wider defense buyers.

Integris targets vehicle, personal and aerospace protection requirements

The company plans to present protection technologies for vehicle, personal, aerospace and other defense applications. Its team will also discuss potential collaboration with customers and partners, as well as new organizations across the defense sector.

AUSA gives Integris access to U.S. Army decision-makers

The AUSA Annual Meeting centers on U.S. Army modernization and national security. According to Integris, the event covers technologies ranging from weapon systems to cybersecurity, along with strategic input from military and government leaders on future combat strategies and defense challenges.

ORLANDO – October 29, 2026 -- The U.S. Army Capability Program Executive Simulation, Training, Test and Threat (CPE ST3) has purchased HAVIK ATLAS and SCOUT kits to inform future Joint Fires Training (JFT) requirements, with government acceptance and payment completed. The release did not disclose the purchase value or the number of kits.

Purchase feeds the Soldier Virtual Trainer program of record

The buy supports the Army's Soldier Virtual Trainer (SVT) modernization effort, which aims to ultimately replace the current Call for Fire Trainer 3. HAVIK kits will support CPE ST3's exploration of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) capabilities.

CPE ST3 spokesperson Donnie Ryan said "market research helps us understand available COTS capabilities and refine requirements." He said the kits will go to Army training locations around the country to collect instructor and Soldier feedback on JFT and other core SVT capabilities.

Tucson – October 19, 2026 -- The U.S. Army has awarded the Javelin Joint Venture (JJV), a partnership between Raytheon, an RTX business, and Lockheed Martin, a $215 million production contract for the Lightweight Command Launch Unit (LWCLU), the next-generation launcher for the Javelin weapon system.

The LWCLU replaces the legacy command launch unit. The award follows by five months the JJV's delivery of the first LWCLUs to the Army.

New launcher is 30% smaller and 25% lighter than the Block I unit

Compared with the current Block I Command Launch Unit, the LWCLU is 30% smaller and 25% lighter. It also doubles target detection and recognition. The unit is built to give soldiers maximum surveillance and offers day and night engagement capability.

The launcher is designed to be compatible with all current, past and future Javelin variants.

Marietta – October 16, 2026 -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) delivered the first C-130J-30 Super Hercules for the U.S. Navy's Take Charge and Move Out (TACAMO) mission on Oct. 15 at its Marietta, Georgia, facility. The aircraft will be modified into the E-130J Phoenix II, the Navy's next-generation airborne nuclear command-and-control platform.

Northrop Grumman to complete the E-130J conversion as mission systems integrator

The airframe will be transferred to Northrop Grumman, the mission systems integrator. The E-130J TACAMO industry team will then complete the conversion before the aircraft enters service as the E-130J Phoenix II.

Capt. Roger Davis, program manager for Airborne Strategic Command, Control and Communications (PMA-271), said the Navy now moves into mission systems integration. He described the delivered airframe as the structural and performance backbone for the mission.

Delray Beach – October 15, 2026 -- The autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) market will grow from USD 3.67 billion in 2026 to USD 10.94 billion by 2031, a compound annual growth rate of 24.4%, according to MarketsandMarkets. Unit volumes are forecast to rise from 1,123 in 2026 to 2,771 by 2031.

Large AUVs deployed beyond 1,000 meters lead segment growth at 25.1% CAGR

Large AUVs (>1,000 meters) are expected to record the highest CAGR of 25.1% and to dominate the market by type. Demand comes from deep-sea exploration, subsea cable route mapping and complex military missions requiring long-duration operations beyond 1,000 meters.

Large platforms offer greater payload capacity, advanced sonar systems and extended endurance. That makes them suited to mine countermeasures, environmental monitoring and geophysical surveys.

Portsmouth, R.I. – October 13, 2026 -- Raytheon, an RTX business, has won a contract from the Office of Naval Research (ONR) to develop software-driven target-detection upgrades for naval radar systems, with work running through 2031.

Raytheon targets longer range, higher sensitivity and better efficiency

Raytheon's Advanced Technology team will develop and evaluate advanced signal and data-processing algorithms. It will also integrate targeted software upgrades intended to extend detection range, increase sensitivity and improve radar-system efficiency.

The enhancements will undergo laboratory and field testing to validate performance and operational use. Raytheon is preparing them for transition into its SPY-6 family of radars and other future naval radars.

San Leandro, Calif. – October 08, 2026 -- Fisica, Inc. has secured a new contract under the U.S. Space Force's Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC) program, advancing the initiative's second ground-based sensor site to the United Kingdom.

Fisica wins competitive bid after completing Australia site

The contract was awarded through a competitive bid process, with Fisica's track record on DARC's first site in Australia cited as the deciding factor. Construction at the Australian site is now complete, just one year after a trilateral agreement launched the program's first phase.

Scope covers design, assembly and installation of radar antenna systems

Fisica's work on the UK site will include the design, assembly, testing and installation of advanced radar antenna systems. The company said its performance in Australia reduced implementation risk for the program, strengthening its position as a partner for the next construction phase.