U.S. Army

New Capabilities

Co-leads JLWS after retiring Valkyrie laser program

The U.S. military spent four decades chasing a laser that could shoot down a cruise missile. On April 28, 2026, the Pentagon detailed its latest attempt: the Joint Laser Weapon System, a containerized 150-kilowatt beam (scalable toward 500 kilowatts) that the Army and Navy will share, mounting it on trucks, ships, or anywhere a 20-foot container can sit.

Updated May 31

Money Moves

Major customer; signed $20B enterprise deal in March 2026

Anduril Industries closed a $5 billion Series H round in May 2026, doubling its valuation to $61 billion in under a year. The raise caps a busy spring: a $20 billion Army contract in March, Arsenal-1's ahead-of-schedule launch, and a lead role in the Pentagon's $185 billion Golden Dome interceptor program.

Updated May 29

Rule Changes

Subject of 8 NTSB recommendations; acknowledged regulatory violations

The National Transportation Safety Board concluded its investigation into the January 2025 collision between American Airlines Flight 5342 and a Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River—the deadliest U.S. aviation accident since 2001. All 67 people aboard both aircraft died, including 28 members of the figure skating community returning from a national development camp. The NTSB found the crash was '100% preventable' and issued 50 safety recommendations, with 32 directed at the Federal Aviation Administration.

Updated May 23