On Monday, the Pentagon announced Lockheed Martin has been awarded a contract to produce three Next-Gen Overhead Persistent Infrared satellites. The satellites will make up three of the five total Next-Gen OPIR satellites and are set for launch as early as 2025.
On Tuesday, Israel Aerospace Industries successfully tested its Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile air and missile defense system in India. The project, jointly developed with India's Defense Research and Development Organization is set to provide India with naval MRSAM systems.
On Wednesday, it was reported that Israel Defense Forces deployed the Iron Dome missile defense system in Eilat in Southern Israel. This move comes just three days after Israel completed its delivery of the second Iron Dome system to the U.S. Army.
On Friday, Iran unveiled video footage of a new underground missile base on its Persian Gulf coast in the Hormozgan province. Major General Hossein Salami, who was visiting the facility, said it is “one of several IRGC Naval strategic missile facilities.”
Also on Friday, it was announced Huntington Ingalls had officially started fabrication for the fourth Flight III destroyer, the USS Jeremiah Denton (DDG 129). Arleigh Burke Flight III destroyers will be equipped with SPY-6 radar and Aegis Baseline 10.
Throughout the week, North Korea held its Eighth Party Congress where Kim Jong Un vowed to continue developing the country’s nuclear capabilities and solid-fuel ICBMs. Kim Jong Un also said the U.S. was North Korea’s “biggest enemy” but does “not rule out diplomacy.”
