PATUXENT RIVER, Md. — A CH-53K King Stallion recovered a downed MH-60S Seahawk from the Sierra Nevada mountains in late September. The nearly 16\,000-pound aircraft was recovered by a CH-53K from Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron (VMX) 1 using a “long-line” with a U.S. Marine Corps Helicopter Sling Load rigging and delivered to an airfield at Naval Air Weapons Station\, China Lake\, California. Because the MH-60S was recovered without incident or damage it will be able to fly again without extensive maintenance.

The recovery utilized a specialized rigging configuration developed with the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) Cargo Lab and Maritime Industrial Base and NAWCAD Structures Lab.

Major Lee Henderson, VMX-1, was the pilot and lead planner for the joint operation.

“We integrated established MH-60S crane-lifting procedures and the hoist sling with a 70-foot long-line to ensure proper load distribution and obstacle clearance,” said Henderson.

Because the long-line used in the recovery is longer than a standard U.S. Marine Corps equipment sling line used across the military in sling load operations, the recovery operation presented an opportunity to certify the CH-53K in its use.

The MH-60S, which belongs to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 31, landed hard at an elevation of 10,000 feet but had no damage. It was unable to take off because of the angle of the terrain. The remote location and elevation added difficulty getting personnel and equipment to the site – meaning it would be extremely difficult to defuel the helicopter to reduce weight.

Enter the CH-53K. The King Stallion is the only aircraft capable of performing the recovery of the MH-60S due to the power requirement and restrictive terrain.

“The hardest part of this recovery wasn’t necessarily lifting the H-60,” said Henderson. “It was figuring out how to do it safely without causing any additional damage.”

The goal of the recovery operation was to keep the MH-60S in as “whole” a condition as possible to avoid damage to any part of it. Experts from the Cargo and Structures Lab were brought in to develop the rigging procedures; coordinate testing and certification of the long-line; perform long-line testing and data processing for the final report; and be on-site during recovery.

The H-60 Fleet Support Team at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, was also consulted to provide guidance on proper configuration of the MH-60S for lifting and also to assist with weight reduction recommendations.

Michele Hoefer is an aerospace engineer with the Cargo Lab.

“We wanted to maintain full structural integrity,” Hoefer said, “so instead of using the main rotor head to lift the aircraft we used the built-in lift points, using the hoisting sling that was designed for it.”

Brandon Norris is the team lead at the Structures Lab and coordinated all the testing of the 70-foot long-line prior to the actual recovery event.

“We were fortunate to acquire a commercially available long-line,” said Norris. With the use of a locally available Defense Supply Center crane that could test the long line up to 20,000 pounds, his team performed safety and test lifts at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, then ran all data through flight clearance for the necessary recovery permission.

“It took us less than two weeks from when the squadron reached out to us to finish testing and gain the necessary clearances,” said Norris. “Best of all, we were able to utilize existing infrastructure to reduce cost!”

Hoefer said the team planned to only remove the H-60S main rotor blades and tail blades, to prevent them being damaged in transit.

“The heavy weight of the H-60, the elevation, the distance to be traveled, and the weather on site meant that this would be putting the CH-53K in the corner of its envelope,” she said, “both for power required and for fuel consumption.”

Henderson approached the lift with a healthy respect for the risks associated in an operation like this.

“I was confident in the aircraft and the team,” he said. “But I understood the challenges of the recovery and what was at stake for everyone involved.

“Once we got to the actual lift the (CH-53K) gave us the power and precision we needed to get the job done.”

According to Henderson the CH-53K’s available power, precision flight-control system, and ability to calculate instantaneous power available using real-time engine performance and environmental conditions significantly reduced risk during this complex recovery and enabled precise, efficient execution.

The mission demonstrated the effectiveness of an integrated Navy and Marine Corps in an austere environment.

“It was a team effort from start to finish,” confirmed Henderson.

From Portfolio Acquisition Executive Aviation, Nov. 4, 2026

CHINA LAKE, Calif. — A year ago, the energetics team at Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division pulled a Tomahawk warhead case out of a museum. The team mixes explosives and rocket propellants and loads them into Navy weapons.

They cleaned the case. They mixed PBXN-107 explosive and filled the WDU-36/B warhead. Testing, imaging and X-rays confirmed the team filled it correctly.

This fall, the same team filled seven first-article Tomahawk warheads, the first units a new producer builds for inspection. Once they pass, they become China Lake’s first production warheads, said Zane Goedert, head of the Energetics Processing Branch.

Those rounds came off a 150-gallon mixer China Lake has run for decades.

On Nov. 9, NAWCWD cut the ribbon on a new 300-gallon mixer in the rebuilt Motor Assembly Compound. Once online around June 2027, the mixer will let the team reach production rate. The goal is warheads ready before Raytheon needs them, helping ensure continuous, on-time Tomahawk deliveries to the fleet.

Patricia Hottowe, director of the Tomahawk Technical Project Office at NAWCWD, said Tomahawk lets ships and submarines fire from safe waters, out of an enemy’s range.

“Having an adequate stockpile of those for a peer or near-peer adversary is critical to the nation’s defense,” Hottowe said.

In August, the Navy awarded Raytheon a $22.9 billion contract to accelerate Tomahawk production.

Faster production calls for more warhead capacity, said Ryan Hunter, head of the Propulsion and Energetics Division. Navy labs at China Lake and at Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division in Maryland said they could do the work.

But key parts and materials can take up to a year to arrive. During the demonstration build, the team also found the warhead specification needed a major update.

Hottowe said the team spent much of the past year updating the specification and the approved supplier list. The Navy’s technical authority for the warhead must approve each new supplier. Every future producer, Navy or industry, must build to that specification.

NAWCWD also bought long-lead materials ahead of the multiyear contract. That puts material on hand sooner. Hottowe said the team took on the work alongside its day jobs, with little added staff so far.

That is changing. More than a dozen new hires are joining the team. Goedert said they will train under experienced technicians on safety, quality and procedures for about a year before working on their own.

Goedert said loading the warhead is the easiest part. Buying materials, bringing on people and getting answers are harder. Hunter said the challenge comes from a system built for fixed multiyear schedules. Now that system must move faster on a shorter clock.

NAWCWD Executive Director Dan Carreño often sums up the problem in one line: “Weapons take too long, cost too much, and are irrelevant when they get there.”

The chemistry rests on decades of practice.

The branch has filled warheads for SLAM-ER, a Navy air-launched missile, since the mid-1990s. Goedert said his team routinely turns one-of-a-kind prototypes around on short timelines. That experience let the team move faster on Tomahawk.

Raytheon builds Tomahawk as the prime contractor. General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems machines the warhead cases. L3Harris loads them with explosive today.

Rear Adm. Eric Gardner, principal deputy for the Portfolio Acquisition Executive Munitions, spoke at the ribbon cutting. He said the first-article warheads lay the groundwork for China Lake to become an additional source of Tomahawk warhead production.

“At PAE Munitions, we know that increasing weapons production takes more than contracts and funding,” Gardner said. “It takes people, infrastructure, materials, and strong partnerships across our Navy, our warfare centers and industry.”

In September, L3Harris and NAWCWD signed a multiyear public-private partnership to manufacture missile components. Under it, Hunter said, NAWCWD plans to produce a portion of the Tomahawk warheads.

Carreño called China Lake’s energetics operation a pilot plant that will keep doing developmental testing. When industry needs NAWCWD, he said, the command now has “the legs and the horsepower to go augment.”

Inside NAWCWD, the warhead effort tied the Tomahawk Technical Project Office tightly to the energetics team. Hunter said he has never seen a closer partnership in his career.

China Lake’s plant layout adds speed.

“Because our plant is dispersed and because we will be curing the warheads in a different area than we’re casting them, we’re able to do simultaneous processes that will get higher throughput,” Hunter said.

The plant’s newest buildings grew out of a rebuild. The July 2019 earthquakes destroyed three energetics compounds in the Salt Wells area of the China Lake Propulsion Laboratory. Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command broke ground on their replacements, known as the trio, in April 2022. The Nov. 9 ceremony celebrated the trio.

Goedert said the team designed the Motor Assembly Compound to cut handling. Large rocket motors risk damage each time crews move them after casting. The same layout will speed warhead work.

The new mixer, built by B&P Littleford, works much like a kitchen stand mixer, Goedert said. It is built for thick propellants and explosives.

The mixer’s bowl will weigh close to 20,000 pounds. Today, crews mix in one building and cast in another, about half a mile away. In the compound’s large mix bay, the bowl will move across the room into a lift. An hourlong move will drop to 15 minutes.

Those minutes count. Once mixed, these explosives start to set. Depending on the mix, crews have a couple of hours to eight or nine hours to cast it. The new layout will give back about 45 minutes of that window.

Even the lift is a China Lake design. Before the team had one, workers hoisted the 150-gallon mixer’s 4,000-pound bowl and worked beneath the suspended load. Eric Wooding, a mechanical engineer, helped design a lift for that bowl years ago.

“It was an idea of some people here and nobody would bid it. So we just decided to do it ourselves,” Wooding said.

China Lake’s machine shop built the frame and parts. The lift worked from the start and has stayed in regular service since 2020. When the 300-gallon mixer went in, the team told the vendor to base the larger lift’s design on that concept.

Hunter said the team is ready to “stand in the gap” when the Navy calls.

“When we successfully complete this warhead production and ultimately return it to industry, where production belongs,” Hunter said, “we’ll be ready to take on the next challenge.”

Story by Michael Smith, Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division , Nov. 9, 2026

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. – Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 115, the “Silver Eagles,” officially reactivated as the Marine Corps’ newest operational F-35C Lightning II squadron during a ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026.

The event served as a combined ceremony marking the squadron’s reactivation, assumption of command and senior enlisted leader appointment. During the ceremony, Lt. Col. Hugh E. Anderson assumed command of VMFA-115, and Sgt. Maj. Derek B. Carlson assumed responsibility as the command senior enlisted leader.

“Having defended our nation in nearly every major conflict from World War II, Korea, and Vietnam to the Global War on Terror, the Silver Eagles hold an exceptionally proud lineage,” said Lt. Col. Anderson. “It is a profound privilege to lead this squadron into its next chapter with the F-35C. Modernization is about more than just a new airframe; it demands an unrelenting focus on warfighting readiness. Our Marines and Sailors have put in tremendous work to reactivate this squadron, and the Silver Eagles will be ready to project combat power whenever our nation calls.”

The reactivation also marks an official change of home station for VMFA-115. Previously based at MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina, under Marine Aircraft Group 31, the squadron completed its final deployment with the F/A-18 Hornet in Oct. 2023, before deactivating on Nov. 9, 2023. With its reactivation, VMFA-115 has reorganized under MAG-14, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, at MCAS Cherry Point.

The F-35C features reinforced landing gear, folding wingtips, and an arresting hook for catapult launches and arrested recoveries aboard U.S. Navy aircraft carriers. The aircraft carries roughly 50 percent more fuel than the F-35B, delivering an extended combat radius and greater on-station time, while larger internal weapons bays accommodate heavier precision-guided munitions.

VMFA-115 completed its first flight in the F-35C in July 2026 and continues routine flight and maintenance operations as it works toward Safe for Flight certification in early 2027 ahead of Initial Operational Capability.

VMFA-115 is a subordinate unit of Marine Aircraft Group 14, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, II Marine Expeditionary Force.

From DVIDS, Nov. 5 2026

NASHUA, N.H. — BAE Systems has delivered all Lot 8 units of its advanced radio-frequency (RF) sensor to Lockheed Martin for the Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM). To meet an accelerated production schedule, the company strategically invested in modern electronic warfare facilities that enable it to design, produce and deliver innovative systems on time and at scale to meet warfighters’ evolving needs.

LRASM is a critical strike weapon and a cornerstone of U.S. military capability and deterrence. BAE Systems’ RF sensor provides advanced guidance technology that allows it to engage strategic maritime targets in highly contested environments. The missile can operate in the presence of advanced air defense systems, ensuring survivable, long-range strike capabilities against well-protected ships.

“We’re delivering essential weapon systems that provide operational asymmetry and a decisive advantage to our warfighters,” said Vanessa Varrati, LRASM program director at BAE Systems. “Our commitment to manufacturing excellence and our strong relationships with Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Department of War enable us to accelerate delivery of critical capabilities.”

BAE Systems is under contract to deliver LRASM RF sensors through 2028, supporting the Department of War’s maritime strike arsenal. Initially a low-volume production program, LRASM will scale significantly in 2026 and beyond. BAE Systems has demonstrated its ability and readiness to increase sensor production to meet demand.

In addition to hardware deliveries, BAE Systems upgraded its LRASM RF sensor software and conducted extensive verification testing, delivering improved capabilities digitally without hardware changes. The company continues to develop the sensor’s software and hardware, evaluating capabilities and evolving the system for future battlespaces.

Engineering, design and manufacturing work on the LRASM RF sensor takes place at BAE Systems’ electronic warfare facilities in Austin, Texas; Greenlawn, New York; Nashua, New Hampshire; and Wayne, New Jersey.

From BAE Systems, Nov. 10, 2026

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Coast Guard is concluding its scheduled 2026 seasonal evaluation of six Saildrone Voyager Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) on the Great Lakes this week ahead of forecasted winter icing conditions. Following the completion of this seasonal evaluation, the Coast Guard intends to conduct an additional test and evaluation period in the spring of 2027 as part of a service-wide effort to evaluate how autonomous technologies enhance Coast Guard missions and assist operators.

Deployed between April and November 2026 across the Great Lakes, the six 33-foot, wind- and solar-powered vessels provided Coast Guard command centers and boat stations with real-time offshore weather data and operational insight across thousands of square miles of open water.

“The U.S. Coast Guard is testing and evaluating autonomous systems across the Service in various areas of responsibility and environments to ensure these technologies help perform our missions and assist our operators,” said Rear Adm. Russell Dash, Commander, Great Lakes District. “Our scheduled seasonal deployment of six Saildrone unmanned surface vehicles on the Great Lakes provided valuable insight into how autonomous platforms support Coast Guard missions in a freshwater environment.”

Rather than replacing Coast Guard personnel, autonomous surface vessels act as force multipliers that assist in Coast Guard mission execution so cutters, boats, and aircraft can focus on high-priority lifesaving and law enforcement missions:

• Real-Time Weather and Wave Forecasting for Search and Rescue: Weather on the Great Lakes can turn dangerous in minutes. By measuring wind speed, wave height, water temperature, and barometric pressure out on open water, these floating sensors tell Coast Guard rescue crews what conditions a stranded boater or capsized kayaker is facing before a rescue boat even leaves the pier.
• Spotting Emergencies Faster Across 94,000 Square Miles: Understanding normal seasonal boating and commercial shipping traffic on the Great Lakes helps Coast Guard watchstanders immediately identify when something is out of place—such as a disabled vessel drifting toward shoals, a navigation hazard, or unsafe activity after dark.
• Protecting Local Fisheries: Maintaining visibility along the international maritime boundary line helps fisheries enforcement officers ensure commercial fishing vessels remain on their respective side of the border, protecting local sportsmen, charter captains, and domestic fisheries.
• Helping Human Crews Work Smarter Alongside Canadian Partners: Instead of resourcing a Coast Guard boat and crew to observe open water or check weather conditions miles offshore, a wind-powered sensor sailboat handles routine observation so Coast Guard men and women are ready to launch the moment someone calls for help.

Each 33-foot Saildrone Voyager is propelled by the wind with an auxiliary 4 kW electric motor and is equipped with marine radar, an Automatic Identification System (AIS) transceiver, meteorological instruments, and an optical camera. To guarantee safe navigation around recreational and commercial vessels, every USV is remotely piloted 24/7 by human operators in mission control centers distributed across three time zones.

The Coast Guard protects the privacy of the public we serve. The vessels’ optical cameras capture periodic still photographs—not continuous video—do not use facial recognition software, and are not designed to target, track, or process recreational boat hull numbers.

Under the Coast Guard’s contract, the Coast Guard is the only party permitted to use the operational data, retains rights to the collected data after the contract ends, and prohibits the vendor from selling or sharing Coast Guard operational data with other customers.

This Great Lakes deployment builds upon previous Coast Guard autonomous evaluations in the Southeast, Southwest, and Northeast districts, as well as historic capital investments to modernize the Service’s fleet and technology. By testing autonomous systems across various geographic environments, the Coast Guard ensures its operating force remains agile, capable, and responsive to evolving mission demands.

From U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, Nov. 9, 2026

MELBOURNE, Fla. —  Maritime Tactical Systems, Inc. (MARTAC), a leading U.S. provider of fully autonomous unmanned surface vessels (USVs), today announced that it has delivered two Devil Ray T38 USVs to the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC), providing the service with an end-to-end asymmetric maritime capability for protecting Philippine national sovereignty. The delivery was done in conjunction with the opening of MARTAC’s Unmanned Center of Excellence (CoE), which will provide comprehensive maintenance, sustainment and training programs to its Philippine customers.

The delivery represents a significant expansion of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) autonomous maritime capabilities and builds on the successful fielding of five MARTAC platforms, one Devil Ray T38 and four all-electric MANTAS T12 vessels, delivered in mid-2024. This growing fleet provides the AFP with an unmatched combination of speed, endurance and operational flexibility to address complex maritime security challenges across the nation’s expansive 7,000-island archipelago.

“We are honored to stand alongside the Armed Forces of the Philippines as they lead the Indo- Pacific region in fielding autonomous marsupial USV capabilities,” said Tony Smeraglinolo, CEO of MARTAC. “The Philippines is one of America’s most valued and important allies in the region, and their commitment to integrating these advanced unmanned systems demonstrates extraordinary vision and operational leadership. MARTAC’s advanced USVs are providing the AFP with operationally proven autonomous solutions at a fraction of the cost of manned systems.”

To sustain high system availability and enable rapid PMC deployment of Devil Ray T38s, the CoE will serve as a local hub for MARTAC to provide expert training to PMC personnel, perform system maintenance and stock spare parts. The CoE will also enable creation of local jobs and partnerships to build Philippines capabilities for deploying a large USV fleet over the next several years.

The Devil Ray T38, MARTAC’s flagship USV, is an 11-meter, high-performance catamaran capable of burst speeds exceeding 60+ knots and carrying payloads of up to 1,814 kilograms. Its open and flexible architecture supports a wide range of mission sets, including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, electronic warfare, mine countermeasures and logistics support. With advanced sliding autonomy control modes ranging from full operator control to fully autonomous operations, the T38 is a proven force multiplier for fleet operations worldwide.

From MARTAC, Nov. 9, 2026

A young California-based company is increasing its capabilities to monitor the world’s undersea and seabed infrastructure and provide ocean intelligence to customers to enhance the security of vital energy, communications, and security systems.

Bedrock Ocean Exploration, based in Richmond, California, is a small company — just over 50 employees — that is setting up overseas sites to be rapidly responsive to customer requirements, particularly in Europe, where nations are concerned about sabotage and other hostile actions by state and non-state entities against vital seabed infrastructure.

“We build the autonomous intelligence infrastructure to map, monitor, and make sense of the undersea world,” said Matt Tirman, chief executive officer of Bedrock, in an interview with Seapower. “Our founding is rooted in the fact that less than a third of the sea floor is mapped to modern day standards and at a fraction of that resolution that you need to find critical infrastructure, a mine, or shifted cable on the seabed. Most of our energy, commerce, and trade is running on an ocean that it can’t see. And we’re different than others out there. We built from the autonomy first. We built the software stack first because there is no GPS, there is no radio down in the subsea.”

Tirman, who previously helped grow the satellite imagery company, Satellogic, emphasized that the autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) used for subsea exploration “have to think for themselves. We went to look to run this autonomy stack on AUVs out there. We tried a number of them. None of them were fit for the needs that we had. … So, we built our own. We operate a fleet of AUVs that do sensing and mapping and bring that transparency from the seabed to space. We’re a true dual-use company, so we work with allied navies, the U.S. Navy, offshore energy in the Gulf, as well as overseas in the North Sea and elsewhere around Europe. So that same vehicle, that same data, and we’re truly the only full stack provider doing both today.”

Bedrock builds its own AUVs — the Siren — for its operations, with Tirman noting that even with all of the AUVs in production, none met the company’s needs and qualifications.

“What we wanted, aside from having the ability to be vertically integrated, was a modular adaptable platform that we could plug and play different sensors,” he said. “We do all of our design, a lot of our in-house manufacturing, everything from the battery to the propulsor. You need a platform that’s extensible. You need a platform that you can build off of and build around your autonomy.”

Bedrock normally operates on a fee-for-services basis for AUV operating time and for the resulting data. Its customers often need service rapidly, so the company has set up a site in Aberdeen, Scotland, from which the company cadre of operators can mobilize respond rapidly for European customers. Bedrock has a team that can operate on a project basis. The company also has been discussing with the U.S. government about training government operators to participate in a company-owned/government-operated basis.

Regarding operations in Europe, Tirman said he thought “we’re transitioning from gray war to an acknowledgement that we’re in open war at this point. You have GuGi, which is Russia’s essentially their top secret subsea special operators are all around the Baltics and the UK, and there is a need for persistent awareness. There is a need for effectors and kinetic response, but there is a need for observability to see something on a persistent basis that you cannot observe. And that’s where we come in.”

Task Force 59 Experience

Colin A. Corridan, head of Government & Defense for Bedrock, is a retired U.S. Navy surface warfare captain who commanded Task Force 59, the U.S. 5th Fleet’s force that experimented with and pushed development of operations of unmanned systems, and later as acting director of the Disruptive Capabilities Office.

“Those last couple of jobs in the Navy shaped the way I look at problem solving and getting solutions to the war fighter quickly and particularly in the subsea environment and critical underwater infrastructure,” Corridan told Seapower. “And what I learned really quickly when I was out there [in Task Force 59] that the robotics and autonomous systems are great, but it really is about the data and how quickly you can get the data, manage the data, and get it to the decision makers quickly from a lot of disparate sources. [When] things were really starting to bubble up with the Houthis and the Red Sea, I really started to understand the importance of the seabed and critical underwater infrastructure and how important it is, how vulnerable it is, and the limited assets that we have to monitor and protect those assets.

“And the things that Matt was talking about that really resonated with me is when we talk about being able to deploy quickly, in my military mind, that’s expeditionary,” Corridan said. “We can be anywhere in the world in record time, and we’ve proven that with some of our European partners where we’ve mobilized from Northern California on a Friday and are operating on the water in Europe on Monday. … And so that ability to launch and recover from vessels of opportunity, be very expeditionary, go out and gather the data that’s needed and help be part of that larger solution for the war fighter is really what Bedrock’s value proposition is.”

Tirman said that Bedrock has done work for the Defense Innovation Unit in a mine-countermeasures challenge and in Exercise Lanternfish 2026.

“The idea was for [U.S. Naval Submarine Forces], how to pass sub-sea information fast, integrate with other industry partners and push the data that you’re collecting at speed into the common operating picture,” Corridan said. “We were able to do that and demonstrate that, so that was a really great step for us.”

Tirman said that Bedrock manufactures its equipment at Richmond, 17 miles from the former Navy submarine shipyard at Mare Island, by San Francisco Bay. He noted the rich subsea history and the talented machinists and composite manufacturers in the region and said that was the reason the company was located there. 

By Richard R. Burgess, Senior Editor, Seapower Magazine

The Department of War announced today that this year, the Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Unmanned Systems (DRPM-UxS) has delivered a massive surge of combat-ready, mass-producible unmanned systems and counter-drone capabilities to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), providing operational commanders with immediate, cost-effective tactical lethality across the theater.

Through an investment of approximately $782 million this year, DRPM-UxS has fielded:

• Over 1,300 One-Way Attack (OWA) Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), providing precision deep-strike mass.
• Over 100 Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) and Unmanned Underwater Vessels (UUVs), expanding maritime reconnaissance and strike lethality; and
• More than 24,000 Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS), establishing a dense, multi-layered defensive shield to protect forward-deployed forces against adversary drone attacks through its counter unit, Joint Interagency Task Force 401 (JIATF-401).

These deliveries demonstrate the Department’s rapid shift from multi-year developmental pipelines to an agile “Warfighting Acquisition” model. In the hands of American warfighters, these low-cost, attritable systems serve as high-volume alternatives to legacy, multi-million-dollar exquisite munitions—flipping the battlefield cost-exchange ratio firmly in favor of the United States.

“Under Secretary Hegseth’s direction, we are moving at the speed of modern combat to equip our forces with decisive, affordable mass,” said Owen West, CEO of Project Agincourt and DRPM-UxS. “DRPM-UxS was established to cut through red tape and put lethal technology directly into the hands of our frontline troops. The thousands of systems operating across CENTCOM this year are just the beginning. We will out-innovate, out-build, and out-adapt any adversary on the battlefield. The goal is to scale these capabilities across the Joint Force.”

By scaling commercial production lines and deploying modular software baselines, DRPM-UxS is driving a fundamental restructuring of defense procurement. This effort serves as the operational foundation for the Autonomous Warfare Command (AUTOWARCOM), a planned four-star functional combatant command scheduled to stand up by October 1, 2027.

At Secretary Hegseth’s direction, DRPM-UxS will sustain continuous deliveries of low-cost, mass-producible unmanned and autonomous systems to CENTCOM while rapidly expanding fielding pipelines to Pacific Command, European Command, and the broader Joint Force.

From the Department of War, Nov. 4, 2026

MIAMI — U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Tahoma’s crew offloaded approximately 3,622 pounds of cocaine and four detainees, Wednesday, in Port Everglades. 

The offload is from two interdictions resulting in the seizure of the illicit narcotics and the apprehension of four detainees in the Caribbean Sea. 

Federal agents took custody of the four detainees, pending further investigation. 

“This interdiction was due to the coordinated efforts of Joint Interagency Task Force – South, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Coast Guard Southeast District, along with our international partners throughout the Caribbean Sea,” said Lt. John Colucci, commanding officer of William Trump. “I’m incredibly proud of the crew of CGC William Trump in their ability to carry out this high-risk mission in a safe, efficient, and professional manner. Their success directly prevented illicit narcotics from reaching our shores and disrupted the operations of transnational-criminal organizations throughout the western hemisphere.” 

The following assets and crews were involved in the interdiction operations: 
 

• Coast Guard Cutter Diligence
   
• Coast Guard Cutter William Trump   
   
• USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul
   
• U.S. Coast Guard Tactical Law Enforcement Team – Pacific, LEDET 105 
   
• A Royal Netherlands Navy maritime patrol aircraft 
   
• A U.S. Customs and Border Protection maritime patrol aircraft 
   
• Joint Interagency Task Force – South
   
• Southeast District watchstanders
   

The offload highlights the Coast Guard’s continued efforts to interdict illicit narcotics, disrupt transnational criminal organizations and prevent dangerous drugs from reaching American communities. 

The U.S. Coast Guard works alongside local, state, federal and international partners to detect, deter and disrupt maritime drug trafficking. Through persistent operations and coordinated law enforcement efforts, Coast Guard crews help protect the nation’s maritime borders and prevent illicit narcotics from entering the United States. 

Coast Guard Cutter Tahoma is a U.S. Coast Guard cutter responsible for conducting maritime law enforcement, search and rescue, and other missions in support of the Coast Guard’s national security and maritime safety objectives. 

DVIDS pages for operational imagery: DVIDS – U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area (dvidshub.net) and DVIDS – U.S. Coast Guard Southeast District (dvidshub.net)
 
Newsrooms for press releases: U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area (newsroom) and U.S. Coast Guard Southeast District (newsroom)  

From U.S. Coast Guard Southeast Public Affairs, Nov. 4, 2026

Curtiss-Wright Corporation today announced it was awarded contracts valued in excess of $225 million by Bechtel Plant Machinery, Inc. (BPMI) to provide advanced propulsion valves, pumps and instrumentation and control systems for the U.S. Navy’s Virginia-class nuclear powered attack submarine, Columbia-class submarine and Ford-class aircraft carrier programs. Under the agreement, Curtiss-Wright will supply critical technology to support ongoing ship construction and fleet maintenance activities.

“Curtiss-Wright is proud to provide mission-critical products that enhance the performance, reliability, and readiness of the U.S. Navy’s nuclear fleet,” said Lynn M. Bamford, Chair and CEO of Curtiss-Wright Corporation. “The Company maintains a longstanding partnership with the U.S. Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, consistently delivering highly engineered solutions that contribute to our nation’s strong defense capabilities. Furthermore, Curtiss-Wright remains well positioned to benefit from the administration’s continued strong funding for naval shipbuilding supporting the acceleration of production on its most critical platforms.”

Curtiss-Wright is performing this work at its facilities in New York and Pennsylvania within the Company’s Defense Electronics and Naval & Power Segments. Engineering, manufacturing, and testing are currently underway, and will continue through 2030.

For over 60 years, Curtiss-Wright has been a trusted supplier to the U.S. Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program supporting every nuclear-powered submarine and aircraft carrier commissioned by the U.S. Navy. Curtiss-Wright’s portfolio includes advanced propulsion equipment, instrumentation and control systems, pumps, valves, motors, and other mission-critical technologies that improve operational performance, increase reliability, enhance safety, and help reduce lifecycle costs for the Navy’s fleet.

From Curtiss-Wright Corporation, Nov. 4, 2026