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.

General Dynamics lands $2.28B Columbia submarine contract

The United States Navy has awarded General Dynamics Electric Boat a $2.28 billion contract modification to support advance procurement and advance construction of additional Columbia‑class ballistic missile submarine hulls, according to a contract announcement. The modification applies to...

Kratos launches turbojet production hub in Michigan

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. has opened a new propulsion manufacturing facility in Auburn Hills, Michigan, aimed at accelerating production of its Spartan family of turbojet engines to meet growing U.S. defense demand for affordable, high-volume...

U.S. Army trials long‑endurance tethered drone with EW pod

A tethered unmanned aircraft system (UAS) by TCOM was field-tested during the U.S. Army’s first armored “Transforming in Contact” (TiC) 2.0 combat training center rotation at the National Training Center (NTC), Fort Irwin, on November 3, 2025. The...

U.S. allies expand orders for JASSM missiles

Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control has received an $84.7 million contract modification to support Foreign Military Sales (FMS) production of the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM), the Department of War said in a release. The award is...

Lockheed’s Mk21A contract grows to $1.48 billion

The United States Department of War has awarded Lockheed Martin Corp. an additional $453.9 million for the ongoing development of the Mk21A reentry vehicle, a central component of the Air Force’s future intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) system. The...

Boeing to build 60 CH-47F helicopters for Germany

The U.S. Army has awarded a new contract to The Boeing Company for the production of up to 60 CH-47F Block II cargo helicopters for Germany, as part of a foreign military sales agreement. The hybrid cost-plus-fixed-fee and...

BAE Systems to deliver cotton linters for ammunition plant

BAE Systems Ordnance Systems Inc., based in Radford, Virginia, has been awarded a firm‑fixed‑price contract valued at $20,348,798 to procure and store 6.4 million pounds of sheeted cotton linters, a primary raw material used to produce nitrocellulose...

Boeing to support special ops Little Bird fleet through 2030

The Boeing has been awarded an $18,5 million contract to provide engineering and technical support services for the A/MH-6 “Little Bird” helicopters operated by U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). The award was announced on November 12, 2025. According to...