Lockheed Martin to Acquire i3 Hypersonics Portfolio

Huntsville, Ala. – Oct. 9, 2020 – Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] today announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire a portion of Integration Innovation Inc. (i3), a software and systems engineering company based in Huntsville, Alabama. The portfolio alignment between i3 and Lockheed Martin provides the opportunity to design and deliver hypersonic-specific technology solutions that benefit the warfighter.

Source: Lockheed Martin to Acquire i3 Hypersonics Portfolio

Changing the Future Fight: Hypersonics, Directed Energy and More

REDSTONE ARSENAL, AL — Much like the first tank, the first helicopter, and the first radar undeniably changed warfare, the first hypersonic and laser weapons stand to do the same.Starting next year, combat units will begin to see these battlefield firsts, which are being executed by the Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO). Established to spearhead rapid prototyping efforts and deliver residual combat capabilities to Soldiers, the RCCTO is on pace to deliver strategic outcomes, and other emerging technologies, to ensure the Army and its Joint partners, can engage across all domains to deter and defeat near-peer threats.

Source: Changing the (Not So Distant) Future Fight: Hypersonics, Directed Energy and More

DoD Focuses on “Reshoring” Electronics to the US 

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) launched its Electronic Resurgence Initiative (ERI) in 2017 with the intention of reshoring a domestic chip industry that has been moving steadily offshore for decades. Microelectronics are a foundational building block of most of our defense systems.

Source: IFTLE 463: DoD Focuses on “Reshoring” Electronics to the US – 3D InCites

Notebook PCB makers expect strong 4Q20

Taiwan-based notebook PCB specialists expect a stronger-than-ever fourth quarter this year, bolstered by persistent demand for notebooks supporting stay-at-home economy, according to industry sources.The world’s top-5 notebook brand vendors saw their combined shipments for the first eight months of 2020 rise 15% on year to 94.46 million units, according to statistics from Digitimes Research, which also forecasts their overall sales for the year to maintain roughly the same growth rate, as most upstream components suppliers and ODMs have expressed optimism about their shipments to the vendors in the months ahead.

Source: Notebook PCB makers expect strong 4Q20

Berkshire Grey raises $263 million for industrial robots 

Industrial robots and warehouse automation are lucrative intermingling markets, as evidenced by Berkshire Grey. The Lexington, Massachusetts-based company, which combines AI and robotics to automate omnichannel fulfillment for retailers, ecommerce, and logistics enterprises, today announced that it has secured a mammoth $263 million in series B funding led by SoftBank. Khosla Ventures, New Enterprise Associates, and Canaan participated in the round. CEO Tom Wagner says the fresh capital will fuel the startup’s global expansion, acquisitions, and team growth.

Source: Berkshire Grey raises $263 million for industrial robots | VentureBeat

Gartner: IoT 2-5 Years From Transformational Impact 

The Gartner, Inc. 2020 Hype Cycle for Supply Chain Strategy shows that the Internet of Things (IoT) has reached the bottom of the Trough of Disillusionment. The market will begin to climb out of this trough, as the technology advances and practitioners succeed in defining the best opportunities for the unique measurement and tracking capabilities of IoT.

Source: Gartner: IoT 2-5 Years From Transformational Impact – EPS News

AMERGINT eyes acquisition of space-based optics business from Raytheon Technologies following merger

WASHINGTON – AMERGINT Technologies, Inc. in Colorado Springs, Colo., has completed the purchase of the Collins Aerospace space-based optics business from Raytheon Technologies Corp. C4ISRnet reports. Continue reading original article

Source: Raytheon Technologies acquisition optics | Military & Aerospace Electronics

Air Force Awards $13.3 Billion Contract for Nuclear Missiles 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Air Force on Tuesday awarded a $13.3 billion contract for engineering and development work on a replacement for the Minuteman 3 missile, which has operated continuously for half a century as a key part of the nuclear force.

Source: Air Force Awards $13.3 Billion Contract for Nuclear Missiles | Political News | US News

Lockheed Martin: Behind The Huge $62 Billion F-16 Win 

Lockheed Martin (LMT) has been one of the names I have been bullish on for some years. Admittedly, the stock price performance since I wrote my first report on Lockheed Martin has only outperformed the broader market by a few percent, but its total return has been strong and that’s realized by strong growth in the dividends. In turn, that ability to grow dividends is driven by a strong product complementary product portfolio and ongoing wins in the field.

Source: Lockheed Martin: Behind The Huge $62 Billion Win (NYSE:LMT) | Seeking Alpha

Global Smartphone Shipments Expected to Drop Nearly 10% in 2020

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. August 27, 2020 — The worldwide smartphone market is forecast to decline 9.5% year over year in 2020 with shipments totaling 1.2 billion units, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracke r. While the second quarter of 2020 (2Q20) resulted in slightly better than expected numbers, the market was still down 17% year over year with visible signs of economic concerns. On a positive note, IDC expects the smartphone market will return to a full recovery by 2022, and will achieve a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.7% over the five year forecast, largely driven by the assumption that smartphones will continue to be the computing platform of choice for most of the world.

Source: Global Smartphone Shipments Expected to Drop Nearly 10% in 2020, But a Strong 5G Push Is Expected to Bring the Market Back to Growth in 2021, According to IDC

Japan Cleared to Buy 32 Amraam Missiles in $63M Deal

WASHINGTON — The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Japan of thirty-two (32) AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) with support for an estimated cost of $63 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.

Source: Japan – AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles

Abbott’s Fast Easy-to-Use COVID-19 Antigen Test Receives FDA Emergency Use Authorization

ABBOTT PARK, Ill., Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Abbott (NYSE: ABT) announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for its BinaxNOW™ COVID-19 Ag Card rapid test for detection of COVID-19 infection. Abbott will sell this test for $5. It is highly portable (about the size of a credit card), affordable and provides results in 15 minutes. BinaxNOW uses proven Abbott lateral flow technology, making it a reliable and familiar format for frequent mass testing through their healthcare provider. With no equipment required, the device will be an important tool to manage risk by quickly identifying infectious people so they don’t spread the disease to others.

Source: Abbott’s Fast, $5, 15-Minute, Easy-to-Use COVID-19 Antigen Test Receives FDA Emergency Use Authorization; Mobile App Displays Test Results to Help Our Return to Daily Life; Ramping Production to 50 Million Tests a Month – Aug 26, 2020