Pentagon reaches agreements with defense firms on containerized missiles
The program could buy more than 10,000 low-cost missiles over three years and begins testing rounds from four companies in June, officials said.
- On Wednesday, the Pentagon launched the "Low-Cost Containerized Missiles" program, establishing framework agreements with Anduril, CoAspire, Leidos, and Zone 5 to acquire over 10,000 cruise missiles over three years starting in 2027.
- Seeking "cheap mass" for conflicts like the war in Iran, the Defense Department aims to expand the industrial base beyond traditional prime contractors and scale affordable strike capabilities rapidly.
- Purchasing test missiles from all four vendors begins in June 2026, while Leidos will provide an "initial" 3,000 LCCMs modeled after its AGM-190A Small Cruise Missile but approximately twice the size.
- A "parallel" agreement with defense startup Castelion establishes a two-year contract for at least 500 Blackbeard hypersonic weapons annually, with an option to extend for up to five years.
19 Articles
19 Articles
New Pentagon Missile Program Could Boost Air Force Efforts
The Pentagon announced new long-term agreements with four defense companies May 13 to develop and produce large numbers of low-cost cruise missiles. And while the effort will focus mostly on the Army to start, it pairs with Air Force efforts to find more affordable munitions. The Low-Cost Containerized Missile program is looking first for ground-launched missiles that the Army can use to knock down aerial threats. But missiles being developed f…
The Wall Street Journal revealed that the US Department of Defense (the Pentagon) has developed an emergency plan to secure more than 10,000 low-cost cruise missiles within just three years, in an unprecedented move reflecting growing concern within the military establishment about the depletion of precision munitions stockpiles...
3,000 low-cost containerized munitions to bolster US' battle power
The United States is set to receive an initial 3,000 Low-Cost Containerized Munitions (LCCM). Leidos will deliver this through a framework agreement with the Department of War that advances “Arsenal of Freedom” initiative. The Virginia-based company’s new Low-Cost Containerized Munitions (LCCM) is expected to significantly enhance the country’s ground-launched combat capability. This can also help deliver decisive capabilities to the U.S. milit…
The Pentagon wants disruptive defense newcomers to build cheap missiles for the next war
A Trident II D5 missile launched from an Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine during a test launch.John Kowalski/US Navy PhotoThe Pentagon is betting on relative newcomers like Anduril to mass-produce cheap missiles for future wars.US officials are chasing low-cost cruise missiles and low-cost hypersonics amid stockpile concerns.The push explores whether "disruptive new entrants" can scale weapons production fast enough for war.The Pentagon is…
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