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Air Force

BAE Systems To Develop 300 Prototypes For AGR-20F Upgrades Against Drone Swarms

Frank Wolfe

Friday, February 20th, 2026

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BAE Systems To Develop 300 Prototypes For AGR-20F Upgrades Against Drone Swarms

Pictured is a U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle equipped with AGR-20F Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II laser-guided rockets (Photo on Air Force 96th Test Wing Website)

In response to a U.S. Central Command and Air Forces Central Joint Urgent Operational Need (JUON) in August 2024, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center's (AFLCMC) armament directorate at Eglin AFB, Fla., has awarded BAE Systems a $145 million contract to mature a Long Wave Infrared (LWIR) seeker system to Technology Readiness Level 7 and build 300 prototypes to put in the nose of Air Force F-16 fighters and Navy MH-60 helicopters to test with the company's AGR-20F Fixed-wing Air-Launched…

‘Theoretical Potential’ to Achieve 1,509 Combat-Coded Fighters by 2035, USAF Says

In the latest U.S. Air Force fighter force structure report submitted to Congress, the service speaks of a “theoretical potential” to achieve a goal of 1,509 combat-coded fighters in the […]

Budget

Hegseth Pushes For Reconciliation With At Least $350 Billion For Defense ‘Regardless’ Of Midterms Outcome

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday the Trump administration plans to continue its push for at least $350 billion in defense funds via the reconciliation process “regardless of what happens […]

Congress

Bipartisan Push in Senate to Hasten Export of 155 mm, GMLRS, HIMARS for Ukraine

A small, bipartisan group of senators is backing the Fast Tracking European Investment in Ukraine’s Defense Act, S. 5175, to hasten the export of allied buys of U.S. munitions for […]

Congress

Rep. Himes Signals Increased Contractor Oversight, if Democrats Win House

Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.), the ranking member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, plans to increase the committee’s contractor oversight if the Democrats win control of the House […]