Welcome to today's Defense Business Briefing, your weekly roundup of the latest defense industry news.

Lockheed invests in startup that envisions micro factories, mass customization, robotics

Lockheed Martin today announced an undisclosed investment in Launchpad.build -- a start-up that aims to collapse the traditional prototype and testing cycle by using a set of artificial intelligence driven technologies to convert an idea directly to final physical product, upending the manufacturing paradigm.

MDA awards new round of funding for GPI technology development

The Missile Defense Agency is pumping $104 million into the Glide Phase Interceptor program, awarding RTX, formerly Raytheon, and Northrop Grumman $52 million options each for competing technology development efforts to design variants of a ship-launched missile capable of protecting an aircraft carrier from a long-range hypersonic weapon.

Ursa Major entering solid-rocket motor biz, brings 3D printing

Ursa Major, a rocket propulsion company focused on space and hypersonic systems, is jumping into the solid-rocket motor sector, offering state-of-the-art manufacturing processes -- including 3D printing -- to help replenish inventories depleted by U.S. donations to Ukraine and Israel.

DIU announces new contractors for hypersonic initiative

The Defense Innovation Unit has announced that two new companies were awarded contracts to help with different aspects of the Hypersonic and High-Cadence Airborne Testing Capabilities (HyCAT) initiative.

Oshkosh wins $160M foreign sales contract for JLTV

Oshkosh won a $160 million contract to produce the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle for seven foreign militaries, the Defense Department announced.

Stevison leaves Mercury Systems

Mercury Systems last week announced the departure of Mitch Stevison, the head of the company's Mission Systems division, effective Dec. 1, 2023.

DOD releases information ops strategy to 'guide investments'

The Defense Department has released the 2023 Strategy for Operations in the Information Environment, which aims to strengthen national security and counter U.S. adversaries through building integrated deterrence and directing future investments.

LTAMDS 'nominal' in first live-fire test; surrogate cruise missile intercepted

The Army's Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS) -- in a seminal event for the service's decade-long effort to field a next-generation, 360-degree radar -- detected a cruise missile target and guided a Patriot interceptor to destroy the threat during a live-fire test at White Sands Missile Range, NM.