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Pentagon Partners With New Companies To Deliver Missiles

The new framework agreements aim to rapidly produce strike capabilities.

The USS Thomas Hudner fires a land attack missile in support of Operation Epic Fury in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, March 1, 2026. Credit: U.S. Navy

To expand the U.S. military’s munitions industrial base and strike capabilities, the Defense Department has made new framework agreements with companies Anduril, CoAspire, Leidos and Zone 5.

According to a press release from the Pentagon, the goal of the low-cost containerized missiles (LCCM) program is to help the department procure more than 10,000 low-cost cruise missiles in three years, starting in 2027. The agreements establish the terms for future firm-fixed-price production contracts to enable rapid and repeatable production of high-volume strike capabilities.

An additional agreement with Castelion will help scale low-cost hypersonic solutions, the release said.

The department will also award a multiyear procurement contract for at least 500 Blackbeard missiles annually, with options to extend for up to five years, once Castelion achieves testing and validation, the release stated.

According to the release, the department is currently looking for authority and funding to purchase thousands of hypersonic missiles.

“We will deliver affordable mass for our warfighters at unprecedented speed,” said Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering Emil Michael. “In concert with establishing a clear demand signal, these framework agreements commit American industry to on-time, on-cost delivery and investment in R&D and facilities. This commercial style of partnership is fully aligned with Secretary Hegseth’s Acquisition Transformation Strategy.”

The Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering will lead the LCCM experimentation and assessment campaign, and the Army Program Acquisition Executive Fires will be the acquisition lead for procurement.

The department will procure test missiles from all four LCCM companies starting in June, according to the release.

“Today’s announcement is the latest sign that our Acquisition Transformation Strategy is delivering on its promise to rebuild the Arsenal of Freedom,” said Michael Duffey, under secretary of war for acquisition and sustainment. “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.”