Firefly's Alpha Block II Clears Engine Test, Eyes Summer Debut
Firefly Aerospace confirms Alpha Block II engine qualification complete with L3Harris as first customer, positioning the upgraded rocket for summer 2026 launch in NSSL Phase 3 competition.
Pacific Defense wins Marine Corps EW prototype, signaling shift to open architecture
Pacific Defense awarded 12-month USMC contract to prototype software-defined electronic warfare systems, establishing foothold for cross-service MOSA/CMOSS adoption in tactical EW.
SpaceX Launches ViaSat-3 F3, Completing Terabit Constellation
SpaceX's Falcon Heavy delivered ViaSat-3 F3 to geosynchronous transfer orbit on April 29, finishing a three-satellite terabit-class constellation redesigned after a 2023 antenna failure. The launch proves GEO broadband can still compete against Starlink.
Shield AI wins Navy COCO contract, enters program of record
Shield AI secured a same-day program-of-record entry with the U.S. Navy for contractor-operated ISR services using its V-BAT drone, competing for task orders under an $800 million multi-vendor ceiling alongside AeroVironment, Insitu, and Textron.
Lockheed Martin doubles venture fund to $1B, signaling pipeline war
Lockheed Martin expanded its venture capital arm from $400M to $1B on April 14, 2026 — the largest increase in the fund's 19-year history — directly competing with pure-play defense VCs and the Pentagon for control of the commercial startup pipeline to programs of record.
Shield AI Raises $2B at $12.7B Valuation After Air Force CCA Win
Shield AI's $2 billion raise at a $12.7 billion valuation — anchored by its U.S. Air Force Collaborative Combat Aircraft selection — marks the maturation of autonomous AI pilot software as a standalone, platform-agnostic defense asset.