Mike Stone

Reuters reporter covering the U.S. arms trade. Mainly focused on Ukraine for now. @michaelstone.bsky.social DMs = open RT's≠endorsements. Views=own.

[Mike Stone @MichaelStone]

Find me on Bluesky here: https://t.co/lH4Ggghxid

[Gram Slattery @G_Slattery]

New:

The NSC’s Europe chief is out a few weeks before the NATO summit

Sources tell us a broader shakeup is on the way as Mike Needham, Rubio’s top deputy, moves to leave his mark on the White House natsec body

w @humeyra_pamuk @jonathanlanday

https://t.co/EJxciZYEE4

[Mike Stone @MichaelStone]

@connorobrienNH @LeoShane 11:55

[Owen West @OwenWest91]

Correction: Dozens of U.S. companies have been invited to the qualifier. Several int'ls signal the intent to onshore. The US is brimming with talented new entrants determined to scale best-in-class weaponry. POTUS' budget request is critical to the pivot. https://t.co/AhTBcfs2DQ

[Phil Stewart @phildstewart]

(Reuters) - The Pentagon is set to announce on Wednesday framework agreements that position it to potentially acquire over 10,000 low-cost, containerized missiles over three years starting in 2027.

A statement seen by Reuters ahead of its release said that the Pentagon's agreements are with Anduril, CoAspire, Leidos and Zone 5, and will together launch the "Low‑Cost Containerized Munitions (LCCM) program."

The assessment phase of the program will involve purchasing test missiles from all four companies starting in June 2026. The statement did not provide a cost or specify the weapons systems from the four firms, but said the agreements established the terms for future firm-fixed-price production contracts.

The Army has long touted containerized weapons systems as a low-cost, mobile way to deploy missiles in standard shipping containers.

A separate agreement with defense startup Castelion lays out a plan to award a two-year contract for a minimum annual purchase of 500 Blackbeard missiles, which are Castelion's first hypersonic strike weapon, once Castelion achieves testing and validation, the statement said.

It said the Pentagon was seeking authorizations and appropriations to purchase over 12,000 Blackbeard missiles over five years.

Michael Duffey, who as under secretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment is the Pentagon's chief weapons buyer, said in the statement that the agreements show how the U.S. is moving beyond traditional "prime" contractors to expand the industrial base.

The agreements, he added, send "a clear, long-term demand signal to innovative new entrants."

Emil Michael, under secretary of defense for research and engineering, said the agreements commit the firms to on-time, on-cost delivery.

"We will deliver affordable mass for our warfighters at unprecedented speed," Michael said in the statement.

The Pentagon is ramping up its requests from Congress for funding for munitions, which are in high demand with the ongoing war in Iran.

General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in written testimony this week that the Pentagon's fiscal year 2027 budget would fund over $26 billion for multi-year procurement contracts for critical munitions.

[Mike Stone @MichaelStone]

@casualclubguy FYSA. https://t.co/rbzap54MyM

[Mike Stone @MichaelStone]

Exclusive: US aims for Fourth of July to deploy Qatar-gifted jet as Air Force One https://t.co/X6L4aVAHLO $LHX $BA

[Mike Stone @MichaelStone]

@reesejgorman @reesejgorman you’re doing great covering this. Keep going. There are OLD podcasts from @BeltwayGolfer and @fried_egg_golf where @links_national leadership talks about the philosophy they had towards the leases and the renovation of the courses. Have a 👂

[Phil Stewart @phildstewart]

SCOOP! Internal Pentagon email details options to punish NATO allies who the US believes failed to support it in Iran war operations. Will post a link to my story later but US official says the options include:
    * Suspending Spain from NATO alliance.
    * Reassessing US diplomatic support for European "imperial possessions," to include Britain's claim to the Falkland Islands near Argentina
    * Suspending "difficult" countries from important or prestigious positions at NATO
    * No option to close U.S. bases in the email
    * No option for withdrawing U.S. from the alliance in the email

[Mike Stone @MichaelStone]

If you know Japan, you will find this profound.

[John Bistline @JEBistline]

This is my favorite climate change chart. Japanese monks, aristocrats, and emperors kept meticulous records of cherry blossom festivals for 1,200 years and accidentally built the world's longest climate dataset.

[Mike Stone @MichaelStone]

@Trinirudegyal_ @DJRTistic Which checkpoint please?

[Jonathan Landay Reuters @JonathanLanday]

US judge blocks Pentagon's Anthropic blacklisting for now - https://t.co/FKhgFaxh9d

[Mike Stone @MichaelStone]

I've got to figure out how to buy those I-bonds again.

[Mike Dorning @MikeDorning]

Investors are now betting overall US inflation over the next 12 months will surge above 5%. Implied inflation rate from 1 year breakeven, per Bloomberg @business @TheTerminal

[Nancy Youssef, نانسي يوسف @nancyayoussef]

I, along with print photographers, have been denied entry to cover today’s Pentagon briefing. All other media were allowed in.

[Mike Stone @MichaelStone]

This is a signal: the US feels it has air superiority and will drop bombs that come from a deep magazine.

Over 200,000 JDAM kits have been produced. (The thing that makes these “dumb” bombs smarter)

[Richard Gaisford @richardgaisford]

Missiles delivery systems are being removed from the B1 Lancers at RAF Fairford this afternoon, to be replaced by JDAM bombs. For those asking, the US Airforce has positioned these aircraft close to the fence in full view of media. @AJENews

[Mike Stone @MichaelStone]

@MeghannMyers_ Noted

[Mike Stone @MichaelStone]

Wow, there is a @Polymarket post on my story. https://t.co/fDY0aoVIjW

[Polymarket @Polymarket]

BREAKING: The Pentagon reportedly about to ask Congress for ~$50 billion in extra funds for the special military operation in Iran.

[Mike Stone @MichaelStone]

The Trump administration plans to meet with executives from the biggest U.S. defense contractors at the White House on Friday to discuss ‌accelerating weapons production, https://t.co/fDY0aoVIjW

[Mike Stone @MichaelStone]

You’ve got to wonder if there is change of heart for #Anthropic over the 6 month “phase out” period.

[Sam Stein @samstein]

Trump admn is dropping its law firm sanctions. So humiliating for those firms who preemptively settled

https://t.co/8LRK5Y9OeJ

[Mike Stone @MichaelStone]

These appear to be ATACMS.

[U.S. Central Command @CENTCOM]

The Iranian regime was warned. CENTCOM is now delivering swift and decisive action as directed.

[U.S. Central Command @CENTCOM]

The Iranian regime was warned. CENTCOM is now delivering swift and decisive action as directed.