Pentagon Signs Framework Agreements With Defense Firms for Over 10,000 Low-Cost Containerized Missiles

The Pentagon has reached framework agreements with four defense companies that will enable the purchase of more than 10,000 low-cost containerized missiles over the next three years. The department announced the deals with Anduril, CoAspire, Leidos and Zone 5 on Wednesday to launch the Low-Cost Containerized Missiles program.

Purchases of test missiles from the four companies will begin next month, with firm-fixed material unit costs set for production lots in 2027 through 2029. The agreements commit the companies to on-time and on-cost delivery while encouraging investment in research and development and production facilities without direct Pentagon capital outlays for several vendors.

This approach reflects a commercial-style partnership model. Anduril will deliver a minimum of 1,000 surface-launched rounds per year for three years under its agreement, with the first tranche scheduled for the first half of 2027. Leidos will provide an initial 3,000 missiles modeled after its AGM-190A Small Cruise Missile but approximately twice the size, with full system design, development and testing leading to production beginning in 2027.

The Low-Cost Containerized Missiles program aims to field large numbers of inexpensive munitions that can be stored and launched from standard shipping containers. Production under the framework agreements is set to scale in 2027. The Pentagon will begin acquiring test articles from all four companies next month.

The deals establish clear demand signals to American industry while rewarding speed and private-sector investment.

The agreements align with broader efforts to transform how the Defense Department acquires weapons systems. They emphasize commercial partnerships that reduce the need for upfront government funding of production facilities. Several of the new vendors are expected to reach production scale without direct department investment.

This model seeks to accelerate innovation and fielding of capabilities. " — Pentagon release, May 2026 (Breaking Defense) The announcement stated that the approach represents a new model of commercial partnership. Deliveries under the production lots are scheduled from 2027 to 2029.

Anduril's portion of the agreements covers procurement and delivery of at least 1,000 rounds annually. Leidos described its missiles as larger variants of an existing cruise missile design. The companies issued separate statements detailing their roles following the Pentagon's announcement.

Zone 5 and CoAspire were also parties to the framework agreements but received less specific mention in individual releases. The deals mark an early step in a broader initiative to increase inventories of low-cost munitions that can be rapidly produced and deployed from commercial platforms.