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Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121) fires a Tomahawk Land Attack Missile during operations in support of Operation Epic Fury, Feb. 28, 2026. (U.S. Navy Photo)

260228-O-HP119-8717

Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121) fires a Tomahawk Land Attack Missile during operations in support of Operation Epic Fury, Feb. 28, 2026. (U.S. Navy Photo)

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Photo By: Jamie Cosgrove

VIRIN: 260228-O-HP119-8717

The establishment of PAE Munitions is a direct extension of the Department’s broader effort to strengthen the munitions industrial base, accelerate production capacity, and improve enterprise-level alignment across critical weapons programs.

“There is a singular focus across the Department of War on the munitions industrial base and scaling up critical munitions programs,” said Mr. Jason Potter, Performing the Duties of Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition (ASN RDA) during remarks to the Acquisition Research Symposium & Innovation Summit at the Naval Post Graduate School. “We’re seeing results as deliveries of key components and munitions rise above contract rates for the first time in several years.”

PAE Munitions is organized into four pillars to ensure comprehensive management:

• Weapons Industrial Base,
• Air Weapons,
• Surface Weapons, and
• Advanced Capabilities and Innovation.

To streamline execution, the new construct concentrates munitions development from across the Navy and Marine Corps and combines program offices from: The former Program Executive Office Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons:

• Precision Strike Weapons (PMA-201)
• Aerial Targets Program (PMA-208)
• Direct and Time Sensitive Strike Program (PMA-242)
• Air-to-Air Missiles Program (PMA-259)
• Tomahawk Weapons System Program (PMA-280)
• Strike Planning and Execution Systems Program (PMA-281)

The former Program Executive Office Integrated Warfare Systems (IWS):

• Surface Ship Weapons (3.0)
• Terminal Defense System (11.0)
• NATO Seasparrow Program (12.0)
• Note: Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) from the Missile Defense Agency is expected to transition in FY2028 for production and sustainment.

"We must relentlessly execute programs and drive significantly faster production rates of effective, high quantity, affordable munitions for our operational forces,” said Mr. Paul Mann, Interim PAE Munitions. Our ability to simultaneously negotiate win-win deals with our industrial partners, drive supply chain planning and execution, leverage state of the art manufacturing and materials science, and eliminate non-value impediments to speed must become cultural. We must adapt faster than our adversaries and directly enable CNO Fighting Instructions and our National Defense Strategy.”

The PAE model is the new operational standard for the naval acquisition enterprise, injecting urgency and a relentless focus on delivery speed. These organizational changes align with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s directive to transform acquisition in to a warfighting function that enables continuous adaptation and rapid capability delivery for the Fleet and joint force.

About PAE Munitions: Portfolio Acquisition Executive (PAE) Munitions is a Department of the Navy organization responsible for the development, procurement, and delivery of naval munitions and strike capabilities. By unifying key weapons programs and aligning the weapons industrial base, PAE Munitions provides enterprise-level integration to accelerate production, increase capacity, and ensure the Fleet is equipped with the munitions needed to project power and win.

Media Contact: PAE Munitions Public Affairs