The Insider

DIU to team up with UAE tech council
By Theresa Maher
May 20, 2025 at 11:45 AM

The Defense Innovation Unit and the United Arab Emirates' Tawazun Council signed a memorandum of understanding yesterday, signaling an agreement to strengthen defense technology cooperation.

The MOU follows the signing of a letter of intent by United States and UAE military leadership to establish a new “major defense partnership,” which would see DIU in charge of facilitating potential investments in the co-development of defense technologies, according to an earlier Pentagon announcement.

The U.S.-UAE agreement resembles one the United States signed with India in 2016, most recently updated in September 2024. Like the India-U.S. Defense Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X), the collaboration with the UAE will include bilateral prize challenges to address shared warfighter needs and lowering barriers for start-ups looking to access test and evaluation infrastructure.

“We are building a global network by fostering collaboration to stay ahead of emerging threats,” DIU Director Doug Beck said. “By co-developing technologies, converging national security and private sector expertise, and onboarding non-traditional companies, we are accelerating the integration of commercial technologies into the defense market.”

Driscoll estimates Army could save $48B over five years from restructure
By Dan Schere
May 20, 2025 at 10:06 AM

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll said Monday that senior leaders have identified $48 billion in savings over the next five years that could result from the recent Army Transformation Initiative.

Driscoll and Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George announced May 1, at the direction of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, that the Army would be cutting a host of legacy programs such as the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, humvee, AH-64D Apache helicopter and Gray Eagle unmanned aerial system and investing more money into capabilities such as drones, counter UAS and electronic warfare. The shakeup also includes several force structure changes and consolidation of commands, such as a merger of Army Futures Command and Training and Doctrine Command.

Driscoll, during a visit Monday to Redstone Arsenal, AL, told local television reporters during a press conference that the Army owes both the U.S. taxpayer and the American soldier “a duty of care about every single dollar that we spend.”

“We the Army have not always been good at that. I don’t think we’ve ever intended to be nefarious, but I think we’ve gotten in our own way with a lot of systems and processes, and just too many people helping to make our decisions,” he said.

“And so, we are focused on every single dollar. I think we’ve unlocked $48 billion in savings in the next five years to recycle to the warfare of the future.”

A spokesman for Driscoll confirmed to Inside Defense that Driscoll’s comment about the $48 billion in savings was related to the transformation initiative.

Pentagon announces new partnership with UAE
By Tony Bertuca
May 19, 2025 at 2:33 PM

The United States has signed a letter of intent with the United Arab Emirates to begin a new "major defense partnership," tapping the Defense Innovation Unit to facilitate potential investments in the co-development of military technologies, according to a Pentagon announcement.

The letter, signed at a ceremony today in Abu Dhabi by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and UAE Minister of State for Defense Affairs Mubarak Al Mazrouei, “represents a shared commitment to develop a structured roadmap that will guide enhanced military-to-military cooperation, joint capability development, and long-term defense alignment between the two nations,” DOD said.

Both nations will now work to develop a “phased framework for advancing bilateral force readiness, interoperability and innovation-driven collaboration,” according to DOD.

The partnership, which is similar to one the United States signed with India in 2016, includes a new “strategic initiative” between DIU and the UAE’s Tawazun Council.

“This collaboration will deepen ties in defense innovation, facilitate joint research and development, and expand industrial and investment partnerships across both defense ecosystems,” DOD said.

The UAE was also formally welcomed into the U.S. National Guard State Partnership Program through a new partnership with the Texas National Guard that is intended to “bolster military modernization efforts and enhance cooperation in integrated air and missile defense, cybersecurity, disaster response and operational planning,” DOD said.

“The designation of the UAE as a Major Defense Partner reflects a decades-long relationship anchored in mutual trust, shared objectives and a common commitment to regional and global security,” DOD said. “It builds on the longstanding record of both countries working side-by-side to counter threats, stabilize conflict zones, and promote security and prosperity in the Middle East and beyond.”

DOD, NNSA speed production timeline for new nuclear gravity bomb variant
By Shelley K. Mesch
May 19, 2025 at 1:54 PM

The Defense Department and National Nuclear Security Administration completed the first variant of its new nuclear bomb, according to an announcement today, almost a year ahead of schedule.

The B61-13 gravity bomb -- the newest upgrade to the B61 family of nuclear weapons -- had been announced in October 2023 with this first bomb completed at the Pantex Plant in Amarillo, TX.

“Modernizing America’s nuclear stockpile is essential to delivering President Trump’s peace through strength agenda,” Energy Secretary Chris Wright said. “The remarkable speed of the B61-13’s production is a testament to the ingenuity of our scientists and engineers and the urgency we face to fortify deterrence in a volatile new age."

DOD and NNSA didn’t expect the first B61-13 production unit to be completed until fiscal year 2026.

Manufacture of the B61-13 uses the “proven production capabilities” from the B61-12. The last of those bombs was produced in December as part of the B61-12 Life Extension Program.

With that modification, B61-12s are scheduled to last for at least 20 more years, according to NNSA.

Many of the B61 family of weapons can be used on a variety of fighter and bomber aircraft, but the B61-13 will only be used on strategic bombers deployed from bases in the continental U.S.

NNSA and the Air Force accelerated the schedule for the program by leveraging decades of B61 design and qualification data to accept “calculated risks,” NNSA said in the announcement. Program managers and engineers streamlined and combined some of the reviews conducted at each step in the design process, allowing for production to begin sooner.

“Balancing programmatic risk against the urgency of the deterrence mission showed great creativity and foresight on the part of our program managers and engineers,” said David Hoagland, NNSA's acting deputy administrator for defense programs. “I'm confident many of these practices can be applied to future weapon modernization efforts, with promising implications for their delivery timelines.”

The INSIDER daily digest -- May 19, 2025
By John Liang
May 19, 2025 at 1:39 PM

This Monday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Pentagon's proposed Golden Dome missile defense system, plus additional coverage from last week's Quad-A conference and more.

We start off with coverage of the proposed Golden Dome missile defense system:

MDA awards $1B for SM-3 Block IB as Golden Dome prompts rethink of missile inventory

The Pentagon has awarded Raytheon Technologies a $1 billion contract to produce up to 55 Standard Missile-3 Block IB interceptors, a move that comes as defense leaders reconsider the future of the combat-tested interceptor -- slated for a production sunset -- amid growing demands from the emerging Golden Dome domestic missile defense architecture.

Various DOD agencies collaborating for Golden Dome in upcoming FY-26 request

The Space Force's fiscal year 2026 budget will have a "big flavor of Golden Dome within it," according to Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Strategy, Plans, Programs and Requirements Lt. Gen. Shawn Bratton.

We also have additional coverage of the recent Quad-A conference in Tennessee:

Army leaders will rely on feedback from commanders to address aviation capability gaps left by cuts

NASHVILLE, TN -- Addressing capability gaps in Army aviation left by a recent slew of program cuts announced by the service will mean commanders must give their feedback in order to help shape requirements, a service leader emphasized last week.

Deep sensing a priority as Army transforms, ISR task force chief says

NASHVILLE, TN -- The Army is working with industry on a launched effects demonstration for next year using sensing effects that can fly farther than current Army ranges, according to a service leader.

Acting U.S. Cyber Command Commander and National Security Agency Director Lt. Gen. William Hartman testified on Capitol Hill last week:

Potential splitting of CYBERCOM, NSA leadership draws ire of House lawmakers

Lawmakers came out swinging against rumors of a Trump administration plan to sever the "dual-hat" leadership of the National Security Agency and U.S. Cyber Command.

Document: CYBERCOM chief's FY-26 posture statement

Maj. Gen. Joseph Kunkel, the service's director of force design, integration and wargaming, spoke at a recent discussion hosted by the Mitchell Institute:

Air Force eyeing low-cost, air-to-air missile alternative to AMRAAM

The Air Force wants to invest in developing a new high-speed, air-to-air missile in part to arm the first iteration of Collaborative Combat Aircraft, according to a top service official and a recent request for information filing.

Document: Air Force RFI for low-cost, air-to-air missile alternative to AMRAAM

Anduril Industries' Roadrunner air vehicle was recently deployed aboard a U.S. warship for the first time:

Commercial cruise missile deployed on Navy destroyer, potential pathway to new capacity

The Navy deployed a commercially developed cruise missile aboard an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in the Red Sea as part of a broader exploration into countering drone threats, an experiment defense officials say could help lay the groundwork for expanding the Navy's capacity to defeat complex missile raids.

The week ahead
By Tony Bertuca
May 19, 2025 at 5:00 AM

Senior defense officials are scheduled to speak at several events this week, including congressional hearings.

Monday

The Council on Foreign Relations hosts an event with senior military leaders.

Tuesday

The Senate Armed Services Committee holds a hearing on the Air Force budget.

The Senate Armed Services strategic forces subcommittee holds a hearing on nuclear weapons programs.

The House Appropriations defense subcommittee holds a hearing on the National Guard and Reserve.

The Global Cyber Innovation Forum is held in Baltimore, MD.

Wednesday

The Senate Armed Services seapower subcommittee holds a hearing on unmanned Navy systems.

The Senate Armed Services cybersecurity subcommittee holds a hearing on the Defense Department information network.

Thursday

Gen. Stephen Whitting, chief of U.S. Space Command, speaks at the Chicago Global Affairs Council.

The Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee holds a hearing on the National Guard and reserve.

The INSIDER daily digest -- May 16, 2025
By John Liang
May 16, 2025 at 2:04 PM

This Friday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Army's transformation initiative, foreign military sales, Navy civilian worker losses and more.

We start off with continuing coverage of the Army Aviation Association of America conference:

Army aviation leaders to give top brass 'options' on transformation initiative

NASHVILLE, TN -- The Army aviation portfolio was already on the road to transformation before Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's major restructuring memo, according to a senior service leader.

In the face of Army shakeup, OEMs Sikorsky, Boeing insist they can adapt

NASHVILLE, TN -- It has been just two weeks since the Army announced one of the more major service restructurings in recent years, and one that will see a significant scaling back of manned aviation platforms.

(Read our full Quad-A coverage.)

The House Armed Services intelligence and special operations subcommittee held a hearing this week on the "Defense Intelligence Enterprise Posture":

Defense intel chiefs expect challenges amid personnel cuts, new border missions

Top U.S. defense intelligence officials told House lawmakers today that they expect to be impacted by the 5% to 8% civilian personnel cut mandated by the Trump administration amid the stress of a new mission to help seal the southern border from the flow of illegal migrants, but they struck chords of optimism, pledging to do more with less.

Document: House hearing on the defense intel enterprise

The House Appropriations Committee held a Navy oversight hearing this week:

Lawmakers question Navy personnel cuts; officials see opportunity to streamline maintenance and acquisitions

The Navy is losing approximately 16,000 civilian workers to layoffs and voluntary resignations, according to a prominent House appropriator, who questioned reductions to public shipyard labor and other hard-to-replace personnel while service officials pointed to opportunities to “rebalance” their enterprise.

Document: Navy, Marine Corps FY-26 posture statements

Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) this week said she is "not happy" with how the White House Office of Management and Budget is handling the defense budget situation, echoing concerns expressed by others in her party earlier this month:

Fischer 'not happy' with OMB after 'smoke and mirrors' surrounding FY-26 budget proposal and reconciliation bill

Lawmakers are continuing to express their dissatisfaction with the Trump administration's fiscal year 2026 defense spending request, as they hold concurrent hearings on Capitol Hill to sort through budget priorities across the Defense Department.

President Trump spoke this week about next-generation fighter aircraft during a business leaders meeting in Doha, Qatar:

Trump reveals potential for new 'F-55' jet and upgrades to F-22

President Trump today said he wants to give the U.S. military's fifth-generation fighters a makeover, including by overhauling the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter with a twin engine and a "super upgrade."

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) questioned a panel of expert witnesses this week, saying DOD needs a "dramatic shift in mindset" when it comes to the foreign military sales system:

Senate Armed Services Committee eyes new round of FMS reforms

The Senate Armed Services Committee convened today to consider potential reforms to the U.S. foreign military sales process, including a possible reorganization at the Pentagon.

Document: Senate hearing on FMS

Navy to hold industry day for Future USV
By Abby Shepherd
May 16, 2025 at 1:30 PM

The Navy plans to hold an industry day next month for a new open-ocean, high-endurance, non-exquisite, autonomous vessel to show industry members how it would fit into an evolving surface force.

The June 17 industry day -- held by the Navy’s Program Executive Office for Unmanned and Small Combatants -- will highlight the vessel that will be up to commercial standards, with an ability to support two 40-foot-equivalent-unit containerized payloads weighing up to 80,000 pounds, according to a notice posted Friday.

“Future USV Industry Day will provide an overview of the Future USV Program vision and objectives; the program schedule; and the engineering/technical requirements and objectives,” the notice states.

A request for information will be released prior to the industry day, according to the notice, which will be held in Washington, DC and will only be open to Defense Department contractors.

The INSIDER daily digest -- May 15, 2025
By John Liang
May 15, 2025 at 2:22 PM

This Thursday INSIDER Daily Digest has coverage of this year's Army Aviation Association of America conference in Nashville, along with news on the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle and more.

We start off with coverage of this year's Army Aviation Association of America conference:

Mingus: 101st Airborne Division will be first to receive FLRAA

NASHVILLE, TN -- The Army's 101st Airborne Division based at Ft. Campbell, KY will be the first division to receive the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft, Chief of Staff Gen. James Mingus said during the Army Aviation Association of America conference here.

Even with program ending, Army leaders say FTUAS-like capabilities are still needed

NASHVILLE, TN -- Army leaders insist the service will still pursue acquiring tactical unmanned systems capabilities that provide surveillance and reconnaissance, but in a fashion that differs from the now-cancelled Future Tactical UAS effort.

ITEP survival hinges on FY-26 budget

NASHVILLE, TN -- The Army hasn't officially dropped its program for a wholesale new helicopter engine, but the system's future largely weighs in the balance of a constricted fiscal year 2026 budget amid shifting priorities, according to a senior leader.

No cancellation cost on JLTV contract, Army leader says

NASHVILLE, TN -- The Army's first order of the A2 variant of Joint Light Tactical Vehicles will be its last, a senior leader told reporters Wednesday.

(Read our full Quad-A coverage.)

More JLTV coverage:

JLTV costs will rise for Marine Corps after Army's exit, commandant says

The Marine Corps anticipates Joint Light Tactical Vehicle unit costs to rise following the Army's cancellation of future JLTV procurement, Commandant Gen. Eric Smith told lawmakers today, saying his service branch is still assessing the full impact of the Army's abrupt exit from the joint program.

Acting Navy Assistant Secretary for Energy, Installations & Environment Brenda Johnson-Turner testified on Capitol Hill this week:

Official: Navy plans to move ahead with nuclear power site development, despite DOD reversal on climate pledges

The Navy has witnessed substantial interest from industry experts and developers on a potential expansion of clean energy generation through nuclear power sites on underutilized military land, an official told lawmakers Wednesday.

Document: DOD energy, installations and environment officials' FY-26 testimony

The Joint Fires Network, or JFN, is an ambitious effort to knit together the sensors, weapons and decision-making tools of the U.S. military and its partners:

Congress eyes $400 million expansion for Pentagon's Joint Fires Network

A House proposal to add $400 million to the Pentagon's Joint Fires Network marks a sharp escalation in support for a system the Defense Department views as central to future high-end warfare.

Last but by no means least, some news on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program:

F-35 Lots 18 and 19 may be combined; award now expected late June

The Air Force and Lockheed Martin are in talks to accelerate the contract award for Lot 19 of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter "potentially into the second quarter" by combining it with Lot 18, according to company Chief Financial Officer Evan Scott.

Senate confirms Michael as DOD chief technology officer
By Theresa Maher
May 14, 2025 at 6:28 PM

The Senate voted 54-43 today to confirm former Uber executive Emil Michael as under secretary of defense for research and engineering.

The move comes more than a month after the Senate Armed Services Committee advanced Michael’s nomination to the full chamber for confirmation.

Michael -- who most recently held the position of CEO for special purpose acquisition company DPCM Capital -- also served in President Trump’s first administration as special assistant to the defense secretary.

DPCM Capital in 2022 bought a quantum computing company that would later be identified as an approved vendor for Defense Department contracts. The business, D-Wave Systems, received an “awardable” designation in October 2024 from Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace -- a digital repository housed in the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office housing videos of emerging technology solutions that have been pre-vetted for DOD awards.

Michael is one of several top Pentagon officials in the Trump administration with private-sector experience who have highlighted that background as an asset.

“We should be working with private industry more,” Michael told lawmakers during his confirmation hearing in late March. “If you take artificial intelligence, there’s a lot of money being spent, and a lot of research and a lot of dollars. We shouldn’t have to duplicate that in every area of the government. We should be leveraging where they’re spending more and doing ahead and making.”

He also spoke about the potential for private capital to support the defense industrial base in his answers to advance policy questions from lawmakers.

“Venture capital and private equity investment in defense technologies could play an even bigger role in the revitalization of the defense industrial base,” Michael wrote.

He said such investments would be particularly beneficial for “small businesses seeking to gain entry and provide innovative solutions to meet evolving warfighter demands, delivering breakthrough, war-winning capabilities.”

The INSIDER daily digest -- May 14, 2025
By John Liang
May 14, 2025 at 2:11 PM

This Wednesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Air Force's Next Generation Air Dominance aircraft, lawmakers' concerns over the reconciliation bill and more.

In an infographic posted on the social media site X, the Air Force's top uniformed officer highlighted the kinds of characteristics the NGAD family of systems will bring to the service’s future fleet to complement the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, F-22 Raptor, F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-15EX Eagle II:

Air Force sets sights on more than 185 F-47s, dubbed 'stealth++'

The Air Force anticipates it will purchase more than 185 Boeing-made F-47 Next Generation Air Dominance aircraft, according to service Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin.

Senate Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-RI) told reporters today on a Defense Writers Group call that Congressional Republicans' reconciliation bill is "an extraordinary mistake":

Senior defense Dem warns of losing lawmaker oversight via reconciliation, yearlong CR

Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), an appropriator and the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said today he is concerned the GOP's reconciliation bill, though it increases funding for defense, could undermine Congress' authority and give the Pentagon a "slush fund."

A senior Republican appropriator had a similar warning:

McConnell: White House 'skinny budget' sets stage for defense investment 'cliff'

Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee Chairman Mitch McConnell (R-KY) today said he opposes the Trump administration's fiscal year 2026 defense spending request because of its reliance on a "budgetary sleight of hand" that masks a failure to pursue real and sustained growth in Pentagon buying power.

More Golden Dome coverage:

Guam's $8 billion missile shield fuels questions about Golden Dome costs

The U.S. military's top official overseeing missile defense for Guam told Congress the cost of developing a 360-degree integrated air and missile defense architecture for the Western Pacific island is approximately $8 billion, offering the first public accounting of a system Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth views as a model for Golden Dome for America.

DIA forecasts surge in adversary missile inventories by 2035, arguing Golden Dome need

A new U.S. intelligence assessment forecasts a sweeping expansion of adversary missile arsenals over the next decade, with China projected to make the most dramatic quantitative gains -- far outpacing Russia, North Korea and Iran -- in long-range and precision strike capabilities.

Document: DIA's Golden Dome threat analysis

Honeywell satellite system chosen for upgrade to Army ISR demonstrator aircraft
By Dan Schere
May 14, 2025 at 9:00 AM

NASHVILLE, TN -- Honeywell's JetWave X satellite communication system has been selected to upgrade the Army's Airborne Reconnaissance and Electronic Warfare System (ARES), the company announced this morning, ahead of the Army Aviation Association of America's conference here.

ARES is an Army demonstrator aircraft owned and operated by L3Harris, which features a Bombardier 6000/6500 business jet. It is one of the demonstrator aircraft the Army’s ISR task force has used in recent years to help inform future multidomain sensing requirements.

JetWave X is meant to give soldiers “improved connectivity around the globe,” and will allow the Army to transmit “mission-critical information at higher data rates than currently available,” according to the company. The system is meant to provide greater network flexibility by having the capability to connect to any Viasat Ka-band satellite and has “open architecture” that “ensures compatibility with future Ka-band networks.”

Matt Milas, the president for defense and space of Honeywell Aerospace Technologies, said in a statement Wednesday that “today’s pilots need access to real-time data with uninterrupted connectivity to make mission-critical decisions.”

“Honeywell is proud to provide ARES with JetWave X, the only multinetwork satellite communications system for government aviation that seamlessly connects to the Inmarsat Global Xpress, ViaSat-3 and other Ka-band constellations,” he said.

Senate confirms Meink as Air Force secretary
By Shelley K. Mesch
May 13, 2025 at 4:13 PM

The Senate confirmed Troy Meink as Air Force secretary Tuesday in a 74-25 vote.

During his confirmation hearing in March, Meink committed to increasing the number of aircraft in the Air Force fleet and fielding new platforms to boost the size of the fleet and drive down the average age.

Meink, who most recently served as principal deputy director of the National Reconnaissance Office, is expected to bring a new level of space expertise to the department that includes both the Air Force and Space Force.

President Trump named Meink as his pick for the department’s top civilian in January.

Before entering his role at NRO in 2020, he served as the director of geospatial intelligence systems acquisition at the spy agency. He had also served as deputy under secretary of the Air Force for space.

Meink began his career as a KC-135 Stratotanker navigator in the 1980s.

As secretary, Meink will be overseeing several major acquisition programs, including the over-cost and behind-schedule LGM-35A Sentinel nuclear missile modernization, the B-21 Raider bomber and the recently announced F-47 Next Generation Air Dominance fighter.

As the head of the Space Force, he will also play a major role in the Golden Dome homeland defense system, that was laid out in an executive order by Trump earlier this year.

DIU awards 12 new contracts under combined space network portfolio
By Theresa Maher
May 13, 2025 at 3:50 PM

The Defense Innovation Unit awarded 12 new contracts for its project aimed at combining government and commercial space-related capabilities into one connected network, the agency announced yesterday.

The Hybrid Space Architecture (HSA) initiative, according to DIU, will build the technical and programmatic foundation to pilot an operational commercial and government space network by 2026.

The latest awardees include Capella Space Corp., EdgeCortix, Eutelsat America Corp. and OneWeb Technologies, Fairwinds Technologies and AST Space Mobile, Illumina Computing Group, Lockheed Martin Space, MapLarge, SES Space & Defense, Skycorp Incorporated, SkyFi, Ursa Space Systems and Viasat.

They’ll join existing HSA vendors SpiderOak Mission Systems, Amazon Web Services, Amazon’s Project Kuiper, Microsoft Azure Space, Aalyria, Anduril, Atlas and Enveil to prototype their capabilities in operational demonstrations across several combatant commands starting this summer and continuing through the next year.

“DIU partnered closely with the U.S. combatant commands to assess operational needs, prototype software architectures, and chart effective transition pathways,” the release said.

Areas of responsibility where operational demonstrations will take place include U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, European Command, Central Command and Southern Command, DIU said.

“Success with these demonstrations will be moving the department closer to realizing an operational, resilient and hybrid space architecture,” DIU said.

Golden Dome Industry Summit rescheduled to June 11
By Jason Sherman
May 13, 2025 at 3:38 PM

The Pentagon has rescheduled a high-profile summit intended to draw nontraditional companies into its next-generation missile defense initiative, pushing the event from its original April 29 date to June 11.

The Golden Dome for America Industry Summit will now take place at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, AL, according to an updated announcement from the Missile Defense Agency published May 13. The one-day event remains unclassified.

MDA said the summit is designed to engage both traditional defense contractors and commercial tech firms that have not previously worked with the Pentagon. The event aims to provide insight into acquisition, prototyping and testing pathways that could shape what officials describe as a transformational missile defense architecture for the U.S. homeland.

Originally scheduled for April 29, the summit was delayed due to what officials called logistical adjustments and high industry interest. All attendees must now re-register by May 29, according to the notice.

The Golden Dome initiative, launched by the Trump administration earlier this year, seeks to build a layered missile shield against threats ranging from hypersonic weapons to nuclear-armed intercontinental ballistic missiles -- expanding the traditional focus beyond rogue states to include peer adversaries like Russia and China.