Overview

• SDA plans to launch 21 York Space transport‑layer satellites, with beyond‑line‑of‑sight Link‑16 utility for fielded forces expected four to six months after liftoff, acting director GP Sandhoo said.
• The Army expects four M1E3 Abrams tank prototypes in 2026 after accelerating a timeline previously projected for 2031, Gen. Randy George told the Maneuver Warfighter Conference.
• A Pentagon inspector general report says the Navy declared MQ‑4C Triton initial operational capability despite unresolved deficiencies and before completing intended initial testing.
• The Navy awarded RTX a $205 million contract modification to continue MK 15 Phalanx CIWS procurement, upgrades, conversions and overhauls, with work running through January 2029.
• AeroVironment reported a nearly $240 million order from an undisclosed customer to purchase and deploy its new space long‑haul laser communications terminals on orbit.