Colton Jones

Colton Jones serves as Deputy Editor of Defence Blog, with a specialization in the U.S. defense industrial base. A former member of the United States Air Force, Colton brings firsthand military experience to his analysis of procurement, defense manufacturing, and Pentagon policy. He is one of the blog’s lead writers and most respected defense experts.

US Army hunts for cheap missiles to counter drone threats

The United States Army is searching for a missile cheap enough to be fired in large numbers against the kind of threats that modern battlefields produce by the hundreds, and it wants working hardware ready to demonstrate...

U.S. Army commits $404M to build its first TNT plant since the 1980s

The United States has not produced its own TNT since the 1980s, relying entirely on overseas allies to supply the explosive that fills its artillery shells, bombs, and grenades. That four-decade gap in domestic production is now...

Raytheon to repair JSOW glide bombs for Greece

Four of Greece's American-made standoff missiles need fixing, and the U.S. Navy is about to pay the only company on Earth capable of repairing them to do exactly that. The procurement notice, published June 4, 2026, signals that...

U.S. Army buys new Outlaw Gen 3 drones

America's military campaign against Iran has been running for three months, and the Army is already writing checks to close one of the capability gaps it exposed. A $68 million contract awarded June 3, 2026, to Griffon...

U.S. Army buys 82 P550 drones in $117 million deal

The U.S. Army awarded California-based AeroVironment a $117 million contract on June 3, 2026, to deliver 82 of the company's P550 unmanned aircraft systems, giving ground commanders an organic reconnaissance and targeting capability that requires no runway,...

Raytheon wins $516M to keep the Navy’s top radar combat-ready

The U.S. Navy is doubling down on what it considers its most capable air and missile defense radar at sea, committing $516 million to keep the system integrated, tested, and ready across the fleet. Raytheon Missiles and Defense,...

U.S. Navy orders six stealth recon boats designed by Australian veterans

The U.S. Navy bought six specialized reconnaissance boats designed by former Australian Navy frogmen, built in North Carolina, and validated through two years of testing with Marine Corps special operations units. Naval Sea Systems Command awarded The Whiskey...

Northrop wins $61M to upgrade Growler’s jamming receivers

Before any American strike package enters defended enemy airspace, an EA-18G Growler goes in first to blind the radars, jam the communications, and break the targeting chain that would otherwise kill the jets behind it. The Navy...