Leidos Aligns Missile Suppliers for Cruise Missile Output
Component suppliers across 14 states must align manufacturing schedules as LCCM and Havoc Spear production scales.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Manufacturing
Defense contractor Leidos convened missile-component suppliers at its Reston, Virginia headquarters on September 26 to coordinate production of the LCCM and AGM-190A Havoc Spear cruise missile programs. The effort follows a May 13 agreement covering an initial batch of 3,000 LCCM weapons for U.S. manufacturers and suppliers across a network extending to 14 states.
Why it matters
The supplier coordination supports the May 13 agreement for 3,000 LCCM weapons and the delivery of Havoc Spear missiles to Air Force Special Operations Command. For manufacturers in the defense supply chain, the program signals sustained demand for components built to tight production schedules.
The initial LCCM agreement covers 3,000 weapons, with the Department of War aiming to procure more than 10,000 low-cost cruise missiles over three years beginning in 2027. The broader supplier network extends to 14 states, with primary manufacturing concentrated in Huntsville, Alabama, and McEwen, Tennessee.
The players
Leidos
A large U.S. defense and government technology contractor whose Dynetics subsidiary supplies missile programs for the Department of War and Air Force.
Department of War
The U.S. defense department that procures low-cost cruise missiles and signs production agreements with contractors including Leidos, Anduril, CoAspire and Zone 5.
Pratt & Whitney
An aerospace engine manufacturer whose TJ150 turbojet powers the AGM-190A Havoc Spear missile under a supply contract.
The details
Leidos brought together companies supplying components for the LCCM and AGM-190A programs to discuss manufacturing requirements and delivery expectations for both weapons. Pratt & Whitney's TJ150 turbojet engine powers the AGM-190A under a supply contract from Dynetics, a Leidos company, illustrating how engine and airframe suppliers are tied into a single production chain. Coordination at this stage determines whether component schedules align with the delivery timeline for the first missiles.
Timeline
February 2026: Air Force formally designated Leidos' Black Arrow as the AGM-190A.
May 13, 2026: Leidos signed an agreement with the Department of War for an initial batch of 3,000 LCCM weapons.
September 26, 2026: Leidos held its supplier summit at its Reston, Virginia headquarters.
Fall 2027: Shipments under the SOCOM contract are expected to begin.
Market Landscape
The Department of War's Low-Cost Containerized Munitions program has awarded agreements to Anduril, CoAspire, Zone 5 and Leidos, placing multiple contractors in competition for production. The effort represents a shift toward lower-cost, mass-produced cruise missiles under procurement goals exceeding 10,000 units over three years.
Manufacturers and suppliers in the defense sector should expect production schedules tied to fixed delivery milestones in 2027 and beyond. Procurement and operations teams should plan component capacity against the 3,000-weapon initial batch and the larger multi-year procurement goal.
The takeaway
For suppliers in the defense manufacturing base, the key insight is that component coordination now precedes full-rate production by roughly two years. Operators should track the first delivery milestones and the 2027 shipment start as the signal for whether component schedules are holding.
What happens next
Shipments under the SOCOM contract are expected to start in fall 2027, and testing and evaluation activities for the LCCM are expected to begin with delivery of the first missiles.
Further reading
For broader context on how defense production shapes industrial suppliers, see Manufacturing coverage on the production base behind government contracts.
