Boeing nets $552 million for new uncrewed refueling aircraft | Defense Dollars

Welcome to Defense Dollars, your update on the defense and aerospace markets around the world

and what's making the numbers move. Let's dive in. First up, the U.S. Navy is moving a new

unmanned aircraft into production. Boeing has won a $562 million contract to build the first

production version of the MQ-25 Stingray. The MQ-25A will become the Defense Department's first

unmanned tanker and the Navy's first operational carrier-based unmanned aircraft. The Navy will

get three aircraft in the first batch with parts also being bought for three more. It will fly

from aircraft carriers and refuel fighter jets in the air. The Navy says the MQ-25 will be able to

carry about 14,000 pounds of fuel more than 500 miles from an aircraft carrier. The first aircraft

are expected to arrive in 2029 with the Navy planning to eventually buy more than 60 of the

drones. The UAV is designed to extend the life of the Navy's F-18 Super Hornets and relieve the

fighter jets of their aerial refueling role so the aircraft can focus on strike missions

Meanwhile, a new drone company is trying to shake up the military drone market with a lower

cost option. California-based Swarm Aero has unveiled a new drone called Gamera. The company

He says it is designed to offer some of the same capabilities as the MQ-9 Reaper, but at a much lower cost

Gamera is a large long drone that can carry more than 2 pounds of equipment and weapons Swarm says it could fly about 9 nautical miles before needing to refuel

The drone is also designed to carry large weapons, including long-range missiles

but it says the cost could be a fraction of what the military currently pays for some large drones

That is important as the Pentagon looks for drones that can be built quickly

cost less, and be used in large numbers. And finally, the U.S. is spending billions to make more Patriot missiles

Lockheed Martin has given L3 Harris Technologies a $4.7 billion deal to help build key parts for the Patriot PAC-3 MSC Interceptor

It is designed to shoot down incoming missiles and other threats before they reach their target

L3 Harris will make the rocket motors and other parts that help the Interceptor fly and hit its target

The deal runs for seven years, and it comes as Lockheed Martin works to massively increase Patriot missile production

The company wants to go from making about 600 Pac-3 interceptors a year to as many as 2,000

Demand for these missiles has soared as the U.S. and its allies face more missile and drone threats around the world

Althory Harris is also building two new production facilities in Arkansas, with both expected to be up and running by 2027

The bigger picture is that the U.S. is trying to build more missiles faster

and make sure it has enough supplies if a major conflict breaks out

And that wraps up your defense dollars for this week. Join us daily on Cheddar and Defense News for more stories like these