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Space

Firefly and Northrop Grumman’s New Rocket Gets a Name, and $50 Million Investment

By Rachel Jewett

Thursday, May 29th, 2025

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Firefly and Northrop Grumman’s New Rocket Gets a Name, and $50 Million Investment

Rendering of the Eclipse rocket at Wallops Island, Virginia. Photo: Firefly Aerospace

Firefly Aerospace and Northrop Grumman [NOC] revealed the name of their co-developed rocket as Eclipse, alongside a $50 million investment by Northrop Grumman to advance production. The companies have been working together since 2022 to develop an American-built first-stage upgrade for Northrop Grumman’s Antares 330 rocket and a new medium-lift launch vehicle. On Thursday, the companies announced that qualification testing is underway on Eclipse flight hardware, with more than 60 Miranda engine hot fire tests performed to date. Eclipse will first launch from Wallops…

Congress

SASC Cites Concern With Army’s sUAS Approach, Seeks Info On Plans To Scale Fielding

Senate defense authorizers are seeking more info from the Army on its plans for scaling and deploying small drone capabilities citing concern with the service’s current “fragmented and insufficient” approach. […]

SASC Bill Would Raise Amphib Requirement To 33 Ships

The Senate Armed Services Committee’s (SASC) fiscal year 2027 defense policy bill adds new provisions that would raise the Navy and Marine Corps’ minimum requirement for amphibious warships and extend […]

Army

Army Plans To Initiate ISV-Heavy Competition Later This Year, Official Says

The Army is planning to initiate its competition to build the Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV)-Heavy in the fourth quarter of this year, a senior acquisition official has said. Jesse Tolleson, […]

Senate Authorization Bill Restricts Building Navy Warships Overseas With Limited Exception For Auxiliaries

The Senate Armed Services Committee’s (SASC) version of the FY 2027 defense policy bill looks to cut the ability for the Trump administration to buy foreign-made warships, but still allow […]