The Pentagon is racing to buy more than 10,000 cheaper cruise missiles as the war with Iran strains U.S. missile stockpiles and puts fresh pressure on the military’s ability to quickly replace expensive weapons.
The Department of Defense announced on Wednesday that it reached framework agreements with Anduril, CoAspire, Leidos and Zone 5 to launch the Low-Cost Containerized Munitions program, a new effort aimed at buying cheaper cruise missiles in bulk as the war with Iran intensifies concerns about U.S. missile stockpiles. Military.com reached out for comment to the Defense Innovation Unit, the Air Force, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, Leidos, Zone 5 and Castelion.
The Low-Cost Containerized Munitions program aims to give the military cheaper missiles it can buy in bulk, field quickly, and potentially fire from mobile launch systems. It comes as ongoing operations in the Middle East intensify questions about whether the U.S. can sustain a missile-heavy conflict while keeping enough firepower available for future crises.
“Today’s announcement is the latest sign that our Acquisition Transformation Strategy is delivering on its promise to rebuild the Arsenal of Freedom,” Michael Duffey, the under secretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, said Wednesday. “We are moving beyond the traditional prime contractors to expand our industrial base, accelerating testing timelines, and sending a clear, long-term demand signal to innovative new entrants.”
Join the conversation as a VIP Member