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2w ago

U.S. Defense Drive Accelerates With Sentinel Silo Start, Munitions Scale-Up and AI Integration

The focus is schedule risk reduction achieved through supply‑chain fixes, rapid prototyping, factory automation, AI integration.

Eric Chewning (left), HII executive vice president of maritime systems and corporate strategy, and Andy Lonsberry (right), CEO and co-founder of Path Robotics, signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the latter's headquarters in Columbus, Ohio on Feb. 17 to explore integrating Path’s AI-based welding solutions into HII’s shipbuilding operations to improve throughput. (Photo: HII)
Venom demonstrator aircraft, rapidly developed and built by Mach Industries and Divergent Technologies. Photo: Mach and Divergent
Representations of the Navy and Marine Corps' future Landing Ship Medium, derived from Damen Naval's LST-100 design landing ship transport design. (Image: U.S. Navy)
Pictured is a Northrop Grumman depiction of a future Next-Gen OPIR Polar satellite.

Overview

  • The Air Force began work this month on a prototype Sentinel LGM‑35A silo at Northrop Grumman’s Promontory, Utah site, with an EMD re‑certification decision due this year and a first pad‑launched flight test planned next year.
  • To replenish the GBU‑57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator, the service adopted Army ATACMS technology for parts last August and plans to transition to a Next Generation Penetrator after refilling stocks.
  • L3Harris won a $400 million award to produce THAAD solid‑rocket boost motors and LDACS as the interceptor enterprise prepares for a multiyear production ramp with Lockheed Martin as prime.
  • Leidos disclosed negotiations with the Pentagon on framework agreements for co‑investments tied to key acquisition programs, following elevated company capex and R&D outlays.
  • Demonstrations and deals highlighted faster hardware and automation: Mach and Divergent flew a Venom demonstrator 71 days after design start, the Army used in‑house AI at Dynamic Front 26 to process thousands of simulated targets daily, HII and Path Robotics signed an MoU for AI welding, and Seasats raised $20 million to scale USV output.