US boosts cruise missile output, locks a deal with Leidos for mass production

Leidos is lining up suppliers in 14 U.S. states to build thousands of cruise missiles, the defense contractor said in a Nov. 2 release.

The company held a supplier summit at its Reston, Virginia, headquarters. Leidos said the meeting aligned partners on requirements, manufacturing capacity, timelines and delivery schedules for two weapons: the Low-Cost Containerized Missile, or LCCM, and the AGM-190A Havoc Spear.

Cruise missiles are guided weapons that fly low to a target under their own power. The effort supports a May 13 framework agreement between Leidos and the Department of War for an initial 3,000 LCCM weapons, according to Leidos. It also supports Havoc Spear, which Leidos describes as combat-proven.

Leidos Defense President Cindy Gruensfelder said the company is investing in its people, facilities and supply chain to deliver with “a real sense of urgency,” according to the Leidos release.

Where the work will happen

Leidos said production for both weapons will happen mainly in Huntsville, Alabama, and McEwen, Tennessee. The Defense Post reported that the company is also preparing to raise Havoc Spear output.

Initial Havoc Spear deliveries to Air Force Special Operations Command have begun, Leidos said. Leidos also won a summer 2026 contract from U.S. Special Operations Command for 45 of the missiles, with deliveries expected to start in fall 2027, the release said.

Jessica Villardi, vice president of fighter and mobility programs at Pratt & Whitney, said the company is investing in capacity and advanced manufacturing. Ben Nicholson, Divergent’s chief commercial officer, said, “I haven’t seen a prime pull suppliers together like this.” A prime is the lead contractor on a program.

Leidos says it has decades of experience designing and integrating missile systems, launchers and precision strike technology for the U.S. military. Its work includes the Army’s Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2 launcher and hypersonic strike technology. Hypersonic weapons fly faster than five times the speed of sound.

Other cruise missile programs

Leidos’ plans come as the Pentagon expands several cruise missile lines, The Defense Post reported. In August, RTX’s Raytheon received a seven-year $22.9 billion contract to speed up Tomahawk production, which would take annual output past 1,000 missiles, the outlet said.

An Air Force notice posted in July projected purchases of up to 16,450 missiles over five to seven years across two programs, the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile and Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile. Lockheed Martin builds both. The same month, the Pentagon announced framework deals with Anduril, CoAspire and Zone 5 Technologies for low-cost air-launched cruise missiles.

Several points are unconfirmed. Most details come from Leidos, whose release gives no contract value or supplier count. A framework agreement typically sets terms ahead of a final order. The first LCCM missiles are for testing, so the weapon’s performance in service is unproven. Leidos isn’t the only LCCM contractor; Anduril, CoAspire and Zone 5 were also selected, according to Air & Space Forces Magazine.

Leidos expects the first LCCM missiles in 2027 for testing and evaluation, with full-rate production, meaning steady large-volume output, planned for 2028 and 2029.

Source: https://interestingengineering.com/military/leidos-suppliers-us-cruise-missiles