The disclosure adds another option to the Pentagon’s ever-expanding arsenal of hypersonic weapon development programs.

The estimated $2.37 billion deal announced by the U.S. State Department would include 100 Harpoon Coastal Defense Systems, 4111 missile containers, 100 transporters, 25 radar trucks and support services.

It is tempting to speculate that Lockheed’s third-quarter, classified earnings windfall—accounting for 26% of a year-over-year, $502 million sales increase for Aeronautics—is based on something we already know about.

Ten NATO countries have linked arms for the development of short and medium range ground-based air defenses. 

With confirmation of an Oct. 16 test by Turkey of its Russian S-400 air defense system, the U.S. Defense Department again condemned the decision.

The Directorate’s Direct Attack Division published a broad agency announcement on Oct. 19 calling for a study of a next generation Global Precision Attack Weapon. 

The package of deals, worth an estimated $1.8 billion, follows the sale of 66 Lockheed F-16C/D Block 70 fighters to Taiwan, which was finalized in August. 

If National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien’s statement about the Arleigh Burke-class upgrade applies to the Conventional Prompt Strike program, it would imply a significant retrofit program.