U.S. Army

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigned effective September 3, 2026, following months of tension with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Driscoll, who served since February 2025, championed acquisition reform including the FUZE program. His departure leaves the Army effectively leaderless after Hegseth fired the Army Chief of Staff in April. Hegseth is considering Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell as a replacement.

17 reports · 9 sources · Updated Sep 4, 04:18 AM UTC

The U.S. Army transitioned its Tactical Intelligence Targeting Access Node (TITAN) program from prototyping to production, awarding a combined $192 million to Palantir Technologies and Anduril Industries. Palantir received $127 million as prime contractor, while Anduril received $65 million to manufacture ruggedized vehicle-mounted systems. The program will produce four advanced and four basic variants for tactical trucks and Joint Light Tactical Vehicles, with delivery over 18 months, supplementing nine existing prototypes.

7 reports · 4 sources · Updated Sep 3, 03:18 PM UTC

American Rheinmetall delivered the first Lynx XM30 prototype to the U.S. Army on September 1, 2026, under a roughly $764 million contract to replace the M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle. The vehicle features a hybrid-electric powertrain and modular open architecture for drone and electronic warfare battlefields. Seven additional prototypes are scheduled for delivery later in 2026, with soldiers conducting combat simulation exercises after safety checks.

9 reports · 5 sources · Updated Sep 2, 02:16 PM UTC

The 9th Engineer Battalion at Fort Stewart, Georgia, is offering soldiers a 96-hour pass coinciding with the release of Grand Theft Auto VI as a reenlistment incentive. Eligible soldiers who reenlist for at least two years by November 14 receive the four-day off to play the game. So far, 20 of 130 eligible soldiers have accepted. The unconventional perk comes as the Army ties traditional cash bonuses to fitness and job performance.

6 reports · 4 sources · Updated Aug 20, 07:48 PM UTC

The 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion at Fort Stewart, Georgia, is offering soldiers a four-day pass to play Grand Theft Auto VI if they reenlist by November 14, 2026. Approved by Lt. Col. Ryan Hodgson, the incentive targets younger soldiers amid tighter bonus criteria. As of Monday, 20 of 130 eligible soldiers signed up for two to six additional years. The pass aligns with the game’s November 19 release, highlighting creative retention tactics.

7 reports · 4 sources · Updated Aug 19, 08:58 PM UTC

The Pentagon declared the M18 and M17 handguns, military versions of the SIG Sauer P320, safe and reliable after a review prompted by a 2025 airman death from an alleged uncommanded discharge. Army officials traced all investigated incidents to the trigger being pulled, blaming online misinformation. The civilian P320 faces over 100 lawsuits linked to injuries and deaths, but military versions include a manual safety. Over 400,000 pistols are in service across U.S. armed forces.

7 reports · 3 sources · Updated Aug 19, 12:34 PM UTC

The U.S. Army issued a Sources Sought notice for 133,014 GMLRS rockets by 2034, requiring a 36% production increase over Lockheed Martin’s current capacity. Deliveries begin February 2030, with 19,002 rockets per year from 2028 to 2034. Stockpiles were depleted by deliveries to Ukraine and conflict with Iran, while a shortage of solid rocket motors complicates replenishment. The rockets, used in M270 and HIMARS systems, have been critical in Ukraine’s defense but face reduced effectiveness from Russian GPS jamming.

9 reports · 4 sources · Updated Aug 19, 10:05 AM UTC

The U.S. Army awarded Hanwha Defense USA a contract worth up to $262.9 million for up to 18 K9 Mobile Howitzer (K9MH) prototypes under the Mobile Tactical Cannon program. The wheeled 155mm system, derived from the tracked K9, will replace towed M777 howitzers. Six initial prototypes will be tested over four years, with manufacturing planned in Opelika, Alabama. This marks the first time a South Korean firm has secured a U.S. military program for a complete weapons system.

10 reports · 6 sources · Updated Aug 20, 01:32 PM UTC

The U.S. Army finalized an $8.6 million purchase of the Middleburg Training Center in Virginia on August 6, 2026, to house and train the 73 horses of the Old Guard's Caisson Detachment, which support burials at Arlington National Cemetery. The relocation follows a 2022 internal review that found inadequate facilities at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall and Fort Belvoir contributed to four horse deaths. The Army revamped its equine program, creating a Military Working Equid Task Force and a new equestrian military occupational specialty. While residents support improved horse care, they mourn the loss of a premier thoroughbred training facility.

6 reports · 2 sources · Updated Aug 18, 07:22 PM UTC

The U.S. Army selected M1 Support Services for a potential $10 billion, 26-year contract to overhaul helicopter pilot training at Fort Rucker, Alabama, under the Flight School Next program. The contractor-owned, contractor-operated model will use Robinson R66 helicopters to train 800-1,500 pilots annually, replacing the more automated UH-72A Lakota. The shift aims to reduce costs and accidents by emphasizing fundamental flying skills. M1’s team includes Robinson Helicopter, Quantum Helicopters, General Dynamics IT, and the University of North Dakota Aerospace Foundation.

15 reports · 6 sources · Updated Aug 17, 07:27 PM UTC

On August 12, 2026, an AH-64 Apache helicopter crashed in Salado, Texas, near Fort Hood, killing both crew members. Emergency calls were received at 1:34 p.m. CST, and the victims were pronounced dead at 2:30 p.m. The Bell County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the fatalities, while Fort Hood’s Criminal Investigation Division investigates the cause. Brig. Gen. Ethan Diven expressed condolences and prioritized site security. The crash adds to a series of recent U.S. military aircraft training accidents.

22 reports · 6 sources · Updated Aug 17, 07:15 PM UTC

On August 14, 2026, the U.S. Army awarded Airbus Helicopters Inc. a $115.4 million firm-fixed-price contract (potentially $140.7 million with options) for up to 12 UH-72B Lakota light utility helicopters. The upgraded five-blade, Fenestron-equipped variant will serve Army National Guard units in training, medical evacuation, search and rescue, and border security. Deliveries from Columbus, Mississippi, are scheduled between 2027 and 2029, with work at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, completing by December 2030. The order supports fleet modernization as older UH-72A models are phased out.

5 reports · 2 sources · Updated Aug 17, 01:56 PM UTC

The U.S. Army designated Camp Grayling in Michigan and four other sites—including Dugway Proving Ground (Utah), Yuma Proving Ground (Arizona), Camp Shelby (Mississippi), and a site in Morocco—as national drone test ranges open to private industry. The initiative aims to accelerate drone and counter-drone technology development to compete with China, featuring year-round testing across multiple domains and a dedicated electromagnetic warfare test event simulating Ukraine war conditions. Companies can access ranges via an online portal without prior government partnerships.

12 reports · 4 sources · Updated Aug 12, 08:59 PM UTC

Lockheed Martin announced Strigo, a modular suite of missile and sensor hardware including RF sensors, datalinks, and seekers built on a common architecture for air defense, missile defense, and strike missions. The company invested $250 million in a dedicated Strigo Product Centre, enabling rapid concept-to-testing cycles. Strigo technologies contributed to the U.S. Army’s Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) Increment 2 seeker, which flew in March 2026. The initiative supports the Pentagon’s Arsenal of Freedom drive for faster, cheaper weapon development.

12 reports · 4 sources · Updated Aug 11, 02:38 PM UTC

The U.S. Department of Defense awarded Lockheed Martin a record $58.6 billion contract to produce PAC-3 MSE interceptor missiles over seven years (2026-2032), aiming to triple production capacity by 2030. The deal, centered on Lockheed’s Camden, Arkansas plant, will add 650 jobs and follows a $35 billion THAAD contract. The Pentagon cited urgent demand due to stockpile depletion from conflicts in Ukraine and Iran, with fewer than 1,000 Patriot interceptors remaining. Lockheed is investing $8-9 billion to modernize over 20 U.S. facilities.

27 reports · 7 sources · Updated Aug 11, 04:39 PM UTC

The U.S. Army abruptly relieved Lt. Gen. Charles Costanza from command of V Corps in Europe on August 10, 2026, with less than two months left in his tenure. No specific reason was given, but the matter has been referred to authorities. Brig. Gen. John Mountford serves as interim commander, with Maj. Gen. Thomas Feltey nominated for permanent command. Costanza’s removal follows a series of leadership shakeups in U.S. Army Europe, including the early departure of Gen. Christopher Donahue and canceled troop deployments, amid a Pentagon review of force posture in Europe.

11 reports · 4 sources · Updated Aug 10, 05:41 PM UTC

The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP), a U.S. federally chartered non-profit, received special authorization to sell over 100,000 surplus M14 rifles to the public for the first time. The rifles, originally fully automatic, will be permanently converted to semi-automatic to comply with federal law. Sales are expected to begin in early 2027 after inventory is built. The M14 served as the U.S. standard service rifle from 1957 to 1967 and later saw use as a designated marksman rifle in Afghanistan and Iraq.

11 reports · 4 sources · Updated Aug 10, 01:48 PM UTC

The U.S. Marine Corps awarded an $11 million contract to Epirus for the HAVOC system, a vehicle-mounted high-power microwave weapon designed to autonomously destroy dozens of drones with a single electromagnetic pulse. Delivered through the Office of Naval Research, the production-ready system triples the power density of its predecessor, features improved ruggedness and range, and will integrate with Marine Corps ground vehicles via a universal sled mount. It complements existing counter-drone infrastructure like L-MADIS.

8 reports · 3 sources · Updated Aug 10, 12:59 PM UTC

The U.S. Army established the 08H Army Equestrian military occupational specialty, certifying its first soldiers—Staff Sgt. Shawn Tabor and Sgt. Daimien Copeland—after an 18-week horsemanship program at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall. The move follows a two-year suspension of horse-drawn caissons at Arlington National Cemetery after two horses died in 2022 from colon impactions due to substandard feed and conditions. The Army has since upgraded equipment, reduced caisson weight, and shifted training to structured pipelines.

6 reports · 2 sources · Updated Aug 5, 05:00 PM UTC

The U.S. Army announced its Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) system is ready to scale after a prototyping phase at Project Convergence-Capstone 6 in July 2026 at Fort Irwin, California. The 10-day exercise involved 10,000 U.S. and allied troops testing 90 technologies. NGC2 will replace legacy systems, unifying fire, logistics, and airspace data to accelerate battlefield decisions. The Army requested $904 million in its 2027 budget for scaling, with Anduril Industries developing the prototype for $99.6 million. I Corps headquarters in the Indo-Pacific will receive the next capabilities.

6 reports · 2 sources · Updated Aug 4, 01:26 PM UTC

The U.S. Army has expended virtually all of its ATACMS and PrSM long-range precision missiles, and over half of global Tomahawk cruise missiles, during a five-month war with Iran that began in February 2026 under President Trump. The depletion, driven by a policy to avoid piloted aircraft strikes, has strained defensive systems like Patriot and THAAD interceptors. While the White House claims production is at record levels, analysts warn supplies may be insufficient for a prolonged conflict, raising concerns about U.S. deterrence against Russia and China.

24 reports · 10 sources · Updated Aug 5, 11:30 AM UTC

On August 3, 2026, the U.S. Army approved service-wide wear of the Jungle Tab for soldiers completing the Jungle Operations Training Course, reviving jungle warfare expertise after the course was shut down in 1999. The grueling training, conducted jointly with Panamanian forces at Base Aeronaval Cristóbal Colón in Panama, covers survival, tactics, and waterborne operations. The move aligns with the Army’s shift toward the Western Hemisphere and the creation of Western Hemisphere Command.

6 reports · 2 sources · Updated Aug 3, 05:35 PM UTC

The U.S. Army announced a fiscal 2026 retention bonus program offering eligible aviation warrant officers up to nearly $210,000 to remain on active duty for three to six additional years. Bonuses target pilots with 12-18 years of service, with payments in monthly installments, taxable except in combat zones. The $17.1 million program operates first-come, first-served until September 30, 2026, mirroring similar Navy and Air Force efforts to retain experienced aviators amid competition for skilled pilots.

6 reports · 2 sources · Updated Aug 3, 03:16 PM UTC

American Rheinmetall secured an 18-month US Army contract under Project Sustainment to develop hybrid-powered autonomous unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) for frontline resupply, reducing soldier risk in contested areas. The consortium includes Harbinger, Forterra, and Primordial Labs, integrating AI autonomy, voice control, and exportable power. Testing occurs at various US locations, with options for follow-up orders, supporting Army modernization and autonomous logistics.

8 reports · 3 sources · Updated Aug 3, 01:33 PM UTC

In May 2026, U.S. Army aviators and engineers conducted a week-long virtual cockpit simulation exercise at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, for the new MV-75 Cheyenne tiltrotor aircraft. Pilot feedback from UH-60 and CH-47 crews drove design changes, including adjusted display symbols, improved menu navigation, and enhanced alerting systems. The aircraft, named in honor of the Northern Cheyenne and Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, is designed for Pacific theater operations and is expected to be fielded by the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade in 2027.

6 reports · 2 sources · Updated Jul 30, 06:57 PM UTC

The U.S. Army has awarded contracts to Ford, GM Defense, and BC Customs to build competing prototypes of the Infantry Squad Vehicle-Heavy (ISV-H), a six-seat tactical vehicle designed to carry a 4,000-pound payload, tow 6,500 pounds, and export 60 kW of power for counter-drone and directed-energy weapons. Each company will deliver three prototypes by March 30, 2027. The Army plans an initial purchase of 34 vehicles at $463,000 each, with a long-term goal of 606 units to address power-generation gaps at the brigade level.

7 reports · 3 sources · Updated Jul 29, 12:54 PM UTC

The U.S. Army's Unmanned Advanced Lethality Course (UALC) at Fort Rucker, Alabama, has increased live kinetic drone engagements from five to 12 per class, as confirmed on July 28, 2026. The course, launched in August 2025, aims to close a gap in tactical drone warfare highlighted by conflicts like the war in Ukraine. Students now train with the Shank 1.0 attritable drone system and C4 explosives in more realistic scenarios, including close-quarters battle tactics. The shift from simulation-heavy training to live-fire repetition reflects a broader effort to sharpen tactical rigor. The course has drawn interest from across the Army and beyond, including a West Point cadet seeking to bring drone employment strategies back to the U.S. Military Academy.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 29, 10:50 AM UTC

AEVEX Corp., a California-based defense technology company known for supplying Ukraine with Phoenix Ghost kamikaze drones, announced $88.1 million in new production orders on July 28, 2026, for long-range precision strike systems for U.S. government customers. Separately, Aevex Aerospace LLC received a $10.3 million Army contract for UAS hardware. The company has a track record of supplying loitering munitions, including the Disruptor and Dominator variants, which offer cost-effective strike capabilities. Recent contracts include a $50 million Air Force contract and a $17.5 million follow-on contract. AEVEX also secured a follow-on Deep Strike program for 4,800 drone units in the European Command area. The company recently transitioned to a publicly traded entity on the New York Stock Exchange.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 29, 10:34 AM UTC

The U.S. Army has selected REalloys (NASDAQ: ALOY) to build and operate heavy rare earth processing facilities at the Tooele Army Depot in Utah, marking the first time the Army has placed a commercial mineral-processing facility on a military base. The deal, executed under Executive Order 14241, requires no taxpayer subsidies. REalloys also closed $100 million in institutional financing, giving it a $130 million war chest, and was added to the Russell 3000 Index. The company secured feedstock agreements covering billions of tonnes of rare earth material from Wyoming, Appalachia, and Greenland, and signed a non-binding partnership with a Korean magnet manufacturer. The initiative targets processing dysprosium and terbium for defense systems, with initial operating capability by 2028, ahead of a January 1, 2027 defense procurement deadline.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 29, 12:00 AM UTC

Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin subsidiary, showcased its S-97 Raider helicopter at the Farnborough airshow, two years after the U.S. Army canceled the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) program for which the Raider-X was a finalist. Test pilot Bill Fell stated the company is now seeking new customers, including a potential bid for NATO's Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability (NGRC) program. Sikorsky faces competition from European firms Airbus and Leonardo, as well as U.S.-based Bell and Boeing. The company has indicated it would produce the aircraft in Europe to align with local industrial growth. The article highlights the coaxial rotor technology that allows the Raider to reach speeds up to 240 knots by preventing retreating blade stall, a limitation of conventional helicopters.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 28, 11:44 PM UTC