🔷 Saved Rounds 5.27.25

Welcome to Tuesday's Saved Rounds, where we send out all the goodies we couldn't squeeze into our Sunday newsletter.

📺 PODCAST: Check it out on YouTube or download the podcast on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your content.

In that Number

30%

The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) may reduce its $450M commercial imagery budget by 30%, signaling a major shift in how it partners with commercial satellite providers.

Zoom in

The Pentagon’s policy on autonomous weapons is often misquoted and misunderstood.

Zoom in here for mythbusting ‘loop language’ and other fallacies.

 Together with The Rundown AI

Learn AI in 5 minutes a day

What’s the secret to staying ahead of the curve in the world of AI? Information. Luckily, you can join 1,000,000+ early adopters reading The Rundown AI — the free newsletter that makes you smarter on AI with just a 5-minute read per day.

Sign up to start learning.

 ICYMI

 Together with 1440 Media

Fact-based news without bias awaits. Make 1440 your choice today.

Overwhelmed by biased news? Cut through the clutter and get straight facts with your daily 1440 digest. From politics to sports, join millions who start their day informed.

Sign up now!

Saved Rounds

• The MDA received the first upgraded AN/TPY-2 radar from RTX—it can see 2X as far and is capable of tracking hypersonics

• FLANQ unveiled Q-RECON, a compact uncrewed surface vessel (USV) built for coastal and near-shore missions

• Poland was approved to buy 1,400 GBU-39 (SDB-I) glide weapons (RTX)

• The Pentagon is raising the contract ceiling for Palantir Technologies’ Maven Smart System to $1.3B

• Rocket Lab launched a radar imaging satellite for Japanese company iQPS

• General Atomics conducted Gray Eagle counter-drone testing (Hellfires and laser-guided rockets)

• Raytheon was given a $380M contract extension for its long-delayed OCX GPS ground control system

• Japan’s search for a new jet trainer is drawing industry interest

• The Air Force stood up a new F-35 test force

• Sophia Space raised $3.5m in pre-seed funding for orbiting data centers

• RTX was awarded a $1B MDA Contract for 55 SM-3 Block IB missiles

• Northrop Grumman received a $188.6M contract mod for MQ-4C Triton support

• Palantir secured a $217.8M contract for data services from Space Systems Command

• Ricardo Defense rebranded itself to Detroit Defense

• Australia committed to developing precision loitering munitions

• Austria & Italy finalize a 12 M-346FA fighter attack jet deal for the Austrian Air Force

• MBDA invested in Hydra Drone, a UK drone startup

• AFRL is looking for tools to evaluate mission effects based on sensor data

• Ultra Maritime and General Atomics are partnering to demo air-deployed miniaturized sonobuoys to track submarines

• DIU is adding third-party vendors to accelerate its Blue UAS process

• The Navy is worried it won’t get enough KC-130Js

• BAE Systems won a $423M Army contract for self-propelled howitzers

• China's cargo drone completed its first flight, carrying 2,200 pounds over 1,000 miles

• Japanese firms see the GCAP 6th-gen fighter as a growth opportunity for the industrial base

💎 Free Merch! 💎 

Don't keep us a secret!
Share the Merge = earn free swag.
It's that simple.

You currently have 0 referrals, only 3 away from receiving Stickers.

Or copy and paste this link: https://themerge.co/subscribe?ref=PLACEHOLDER