Americas
Lockheed Martin won a $999 million contract for Joint Air to Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) and Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile production support (LRASM). This contract provides for lifecycle support for all efforts related to JASSM, LRASM (Air Force Inventory) and all their variants in the areas of system upgrades, integration, production, sustainment, management and logistical support. Work will be performed at Orlando, Florida, and is expected to be complete by July 17, 2030. This contract was a sole source acquisition. No funds are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, is the contracting activity.
Lockheed Martin announced on Tuesday that its second-quarter profit took a significant hit, dropping by nearly 80%. This decline followed a $1.6 billion pretax loss, primarily tied to a classified program within its Aeronautics division, according to Reuters. The company’s shares fell 7.9% in premarket trading as the company also trimmed its 2025 profit estimate by $1.5 billion or 18% and said it now targets $6.65 billion in operating profit for the year.
Middle East & Africa
Israel has contracted Israel Aerospace Industries to produce additional Arrow interceptors, a component of the country’s multi-tiered air defense system. Developed and produced in cooperation with the US Missile Defense Agency, the exo and endo-atmospheric anti-ballistic missile has a range of 2,400 kilometers (1,500 miles) and a flight ceiling of over 100 kilometers (62 miles). Israel extensively deployed the system during the 12-day military conflict with Iran in June, with reports claiming that the missile’s stockpile was depleted during the aerial clash.
Europe
The US State Department has approved a possible foreign military sale to the Government of Bulgaria of naval strike missile coastal defense system (NSM CDS) and related equipment for an estimated cost of $620 million. As disclosed, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) delivered the required certification notifying the USCongress of this possible sale on July 21, 2025. It is understood that Bulgaria requested to buy an NSM CDS, including three Link-16 multifunctional information distribution system – joint tactical radio systems (MIDS-JTRS), and the following non-major defense equipment (non-MDE) items: tactical naval strike missiles (NSM), inert NSM handling, telemetered NSM, operational, inert NSM, mobile fire control centers with associated communications equipment, mobile missile launch vehicles with associated communications equipment, NSM transport loading vehicles, NavStrike-M global positioning system receiver, operator trainer consoles, simple key loaders (SKL), and associated support.
Asia-Pacific
China’s Kestrel Defense is testing a new exoskeleton tailored for soldiers who operate drones and advanced battlefield systems. Circulating on Chinese social media, the system shows a soldier outfitted with articulated limb supports and a helmet-mounted display, tools designed for managing unmanned systems from the field. The exosuit is built to reduce physical strain during missions that require long hours in crouched or kneeling positions. That makes it especially relevant for drone operators, artillery crews, and reconnaissance teams who often need to stay put while staying alert.