Corroborated product 2026-10-08
Raytheon and Rafael's R2S joint venture in Arkansas handed over the first Tamir interceptor built and assembled entirely in the United States. The missile supports Israel's Iron Dome air-defence system.
Why it matters: Washington now manufactures Iron Dome interceptors domestically — a hedge against supply-chain friction and a signal that co-production deals outlast political turbulence.
Corroborated contract 2026-10-08 €5.8bn
Raytheon, an RTX business, secured a five-year contract with two option years to produce and sustain Standard Missile-3 Block IB interceptors for the Missile Defense Agency. The ship- and land-launched missiles shoot down ballistic missiles in space. The deal follows a framework agreement signed earlier in 2026 to boost production of the air-defense munition.
Why it matters: The largest missile production contract of the week—worth more than the F/A-XX deal logged last week—underscores Washington's willingness to commit multi-year industrial capacity to air defense while European capitals still parse budget allocations one fiscal year at a time.
Single source product 2026-09-07
Raytheon is preparing to quickly resume production of the MALD miniature air-launched decoy, an air-breathing expendable system designed to mimic crewed aircraft and saturate or deceive hostile air defenses. The company cited surging demand from the United States and NATO allies driven by proliferation of integrated air-defense systems and lessons from Ukraine. MALD production was halted in recent years; Raytheon did not specify a restart date or customer orders.
Why it matters: MALD's comeback reflects the post-Ukraine reality that Western air forces now expect to penetrate contested airspace, not merely dominate it — a doctrinal shift with large procurement consequences.
Corroborated contract 2026-08-31
Tata Advanced Systems and the Javelin Joint Venture — a Raytheon and Lockheed Martin partnership — signed a memorandum of understanding to explore co-production of the Javelin All Up Round missile in India. Under the agreement, the parties will examine setting up final assembly and testing facilities in India. No timeline, production volumes or contract values were disclosed. The deal would mark India's first domestic assembly of the Javelin system.
Why it matters: If it moves beyond MoU, Javelin co-production in India will tighten U.S. supply to the Indo-Pacific and pressure European rivals bidding on New Delhi's anti-armour tenders.
Corroborated contract 2026-08-31
Tata Advanced Systems Limited and the Javelin Joint Venture—a partnership between Raytheon and Lockheed Martin—signed a memorandum of understanding on Sunday to co-produce the Javelin All Up Round anti-tank missile in India. The agreement explores establishing a final assembly facility in India and integrating Indian suppliers into the global Javelin supply chain.
Why it matters: India continues to prize U.S. weapons deals that come with technology transfer and local production—if Tata can build Javelins domestically, New Delhi gets industrial depth and export potential, while Washington locks in another large non-NATO customer dependent on American fire-control and seeker tech for decades.
Corroborated procurement notice 2026-08-27
The US Army is seeking additional Stinger surface-to-air missile replacement designs for testing next year, beyond the competing concepts already under development by Lockheed Martin and Raytheon. Lockheed's QuadStar seeker has cleared a key flight-test milestone in the competition. The Army wants to evaluate a broader set of options before committing to a next-generation short-range air defence missile.
Why it matters: Two prime contractors and a stalled replacement timeline weren't delivering — the Army is forcing real competition into a programme that Europe will watch closely, since NATO Stinger stocks are nearly empty.
Corroborated contract 2026-08-26 €696m
The Air Force has issued two contracts for B-52 radar upgrades: Raytheon receives up to $603 million for the new AESA system, while Boeing gets roughly $163 million for integration work. The radar replacement is part of the broader B-52 Commercial Engine Replacement Program keeping the bomber flying into the 2050s.
Corroborated product 2026-08-23
The U.S. Navy and Raytheon publicly revealed the AIM-424 LRAAM, nicknamed 'Malice', at the Tailhook Symposium in Reno, Nevada on 22 August 2026. The weapon is designed to engage targets beyond 250 nautical miles (460+ km) and is intended for the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, F-35C and the upcoming F/A-XX programme. The missile addresses a long-stated need to extend engagement range in contested airspace and protect high-value assets.
Why it matters: Europe will face pressure to respond: a Pacific-first missile with 460 km reach changes the calculus for air dominance investments from FCAS to Tempest, and widens the transatlantic capability gap in long-range air-to-air.