Munitions Archives

Defense Threat Reduction Agency test personnel prepare to carefully offload the 30,000-pound massive ordnance penetrator, or MOP, for a static test at White Sands Missile Range, N.M. (DTRA photo)

Air Force taps ARA to develop Next Generation Penetrator prototypes

The NGP is the planned successor for the GBU-57/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator, which was used by the Pentagon earlier this year to strike Iran's underground nuclear facilities.

3 days ago By Mikayla Easley

Battle damage assessment from Iran strikes could lead to improvements in MOP bomb technology

A senior defense official discussed the Massive Ordnance Penetrator weapon during a briefing with reporters Thursday.

Jul 10, 2025 By Jon Harper

A tomahawk cruise missile launches from the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Shoup (DDG 86) for a live-fire exercise during Valiant Shield 2018. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class William Collins III)

Fixing munitions shortages demands better hardware and new software

The U.S. will run out of strike missiles in a protracted conflict against China. The Pentagon can use commercial tech — hardware and software — to accelerate…

Jul 8, 2025 By Jeffrey Jeb Nadaner

A U.S. Air Force Airman assigned to the 27th Special Operations Wing remotely piloted aircraft community checks weather during an Exercise Talon Spear at Melrose Air Force Range, N.M., June 20, 2023. (Photo by Senior Airman Alexcia Givens)

SOCOM looking to acquire new drone-launched glide bombs

A technology assessment event is slated for April.

Feb 20, 2025 By Jon Harper

DOD expanding effort to boost its domestic supply of chemicals for munitions

The Pentagon extended a contract with the American Center for Manufacturing Innovation.

Feb 8, 2024 By Brandi Vincent

Airmen from the 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron munitions flight load an AIM-120D Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile onto an F-15E Strike Eagle during an integrated combat turn training event at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, March 3, 2021. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Greg Erwin)

More drones, more problems? The Air Force needs additional missiles for collaborative combat aircraft

SASC Chairman Sen. Jack Reed said fielding these types of uncrewed systems "would compound our missile problem."

May 3, 2023 By Jon Harper

Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment William LaPlante holds a press brief at the Pentagon, May 6, 2022. (DoD Photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class James K. Lee)

Pentagon acquisition chief sees ‘lots of different options’ for procuring kamikaze drones

The DOD's top weapons buyer doesn't see supply chain issues or industrial base shortfalls when it comes to loitering munitions.

Oct 3, 2022 By Jon Harper

William LaPlante speaks during a fireside chat at DefenseTalks 2022. (DefenseScoop)

Pentagon aiming to buy hypersonic missiles for $5M-10M per round

The DOD has already spent billions of dollars on research, development, test and evaluation for these types of systems, and officials hope to transition them into production…

Sep 15, 2022 By Jon Harper

A U.S. soldier of 4th Battalion, 319th Field Artillery Regiment, 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), communicates over the radio during Saber Junction 18 at the U.S. Army’s Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, Sept. 23 , 2018. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Dhy’Nysha Shaw)

Ukraine-Russia war teaching US military a lesson about secure communications

The ongoing conflict demonstrates the need for secure battlefield communication and the potential for soldiers to undermine it.

May 31, 2022 By Jon Harper

Army inks unique R&D agreement with consortium on advanced weapons development

The head of the National Armaments Consortium talked to FedScoop about a new "master CRADA" with Army Futures Command.

May 20, 2022 By Brandi Vincent