Raytheon Technologies is registering concerns over Lockheed Martin’s proposed acquisition of Aerojet Rocketdyne (AJR) due to continuing consolidation in rocket and missile propulsion providers, the chief executive of Raytheon told an analysts conference Feb. 17.

The U.S. Air Force’s program to replace the Minuteman III nuclear ICBM, the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent, cleared its first major design review in November, prime contractor Northrop Grumman announced Feb. 16.

A request for information (RFI) published on Feb. 11 reopens the MDA’s on-again, off-again search for a laser weapon to shoot down threats, particularly in the vulnerable boost phase of a missile’s flight path. 

Israeli security agencies are investigating 20 people including several from the Israeli defense industry over the illegal development, production and sale of loitering weapons for an unnamed Asian country. 

Northrop will combine its skillset in digital engineering with an “extensive knowledge in advanced technology weapons, autonomous systems and strike platforms to increase weapon range and effectiveness,” said Jaime Engdahl, Northrop’s program director for kinetic weapons and emerging capabilities. 

Newly formed Karman Missile & Space Systems, a large pure-play supplier for the space, missile, interceptor and hypersonic markets, is bulking up just weeks into its existence with the acquisition of AAE Aerospace, a manufacturer of high-temperature composites for the missile, interceptor, and space sectors.

The U.S. Navy is adding 16 refurbished Harpoon Block IC missiles to its inventory to expand the anti-ship missile capacity of its Los Angeles-class submarine fleet.

General Atomics, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman won contracts to pursue preliminary design work for DARPA’s LongShot program to develop an air-launched UAV that can employ multiple air-to-air weapons, DARPA announced Feb. 8.