Lockheed Martin

Saildrone unmanned vessel fires missiles for first time during RIMPAC 2026

Supplied the JAGM missile, Mk 70 launcher, and ARES fire control for the demonstration

A 20-meter autonomous sailboat fired two live missiles off Hawaii in August. It was the first time a Saildrone unmanned surface vehicle (USV) launched a weapon, and it happened during RIMPAC, the world's largest naval exercise.

Updated 2 days ago

Ukraine runs short of Patriot interceptors as Russia intensifies missile strikes on Kyiv

Force in Play

Sole maker of the PAC-3 MSE interceptor Ukraine needs

For most of the war, Ukraine's Patriot batteries could knock down the ballistic missiles Russia aimed at Kyiv. On August 1, they stopped one out of 27.

Updated Aug 1

Lockheed Martin to buy submarine-hunting sensor maker Ultra Maritime

Money Moves

Buyer

The gear that finds enemy submarines comes largely from one mid-sized firm, Ultra Maritime. On July 6, 2026, Lockheed Martin agreed to buy it for $3.45 billion.

Updated Jul 6

Pentagon consolidates Army and Navy laser weapons under Golden Dome shield

New Capabilities

Expected prime contractor for JLWS

The U.S. military spent four decades chasing a laser that could shoot down a cruise missile. On April 28, 2026, the Pentagon detailed its latest attempt: the Joint Laser Weapon System, a containerized 150-kilowatt beam (scalable toward 500 kilowatts) that the Army and Navy will share, mounting it on trucks, ships, or anywhere a 20-foot container can sit.

Updated May 31

Trump demands $1.5 trillion military budget

Force in Play

Stock up 7.9% on budget news despite F-35 delivery delays

Trump wants to spend $1.5 trillion on defense in 2027—a jaw-dropping 66% jump from this year's $901 billion. This would be the largest single-year defense increase since the Korean War.

Updated May 19