Boeing to sell Insitu, SkyGrid and Wisk Aero to Archer
Boeing plans to sell three subsidiaries — drone maker Insitu, air-traffic management firm SkyGrid, and electric aircraft maker Wisk Aero — to eVTOL company Archer. The deals are expected to close by year-end pending regulatory approval, Breaking Defense reported.
Why it matters: Insitu is a major military UAS supplier; the sale reshapes who owns a key piece of the U.S. drone industrial base.
Germany changes course on MQ-28 drone wingman plans, 2029 fielding target in doubt
Germany has altered its approach to acquiring the MQ-28 loyal-wingman drone, a Boeing official told Breaking Defense, casting doubt on Berlin's 2029 target to field a collaborative combat aircraft. Germany had previously signaled interest in the MQ-28 as its CCA solution, which would have made it the first European nation to deploy such a system. The official did not specify what alternative path Germany is now pursuing.
Israel signs agreement with U.S. Pentagon for procurement of 12 Boeing Apache helicopters
Israel's Ministry of Defence instructed its U.S. mission to sign an agreement with the Pentagon for the procurement of 12 Boeing AH-64 Apache helicopters for the IDF. The deal was announced October 15. No delivery timeline or contract value was disclosed.
IsraelUnited StatesBoeing EDR Magazine →Airforce Technology →
Boeing wins $14.7 billion contract to triple Patriot PAC-3 seeker production
Boeing secured a seven-year, $14.7 billion undefinitized contract from Lockheed Martin to expand production of seekers for Patriot PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement interceptors. The award aims to triple output amid record global demand for air defense missiles. The contract was issued by PAC-3 prime contractor Lockheed Martin rather than directly by the U.S. government.
Why it matters: A $14.7 billion seeker subcontract — larger than most prime awards — shows the West is buying interceptors at wartime rates even as production bottlenecks move deeper into the supply chain.
BoeingLockheed MartinUnited States Breaking Defense →Defence Industry Europe →
Pentagon selects four vendors for counter-drone directed-energy pilot programme
The U.S. Department of Defense's Joint Integrated Air and Missile Defense Task Force 401 (JIATF-401) has selected AeroVironment, Epirus, Kord, and Boeing for a pilot programme assessing high-energy laser and high-powered microwave systems for homeland counter-UAS missions. The pilot will evaluate operational deployment of directed-energy C-UAS in domestic defence scenarios.
AeroVironmentEpirusKordBoeingJIATF-401U.S. Department of Defense Breaking Defense →Army Technology →