Daily briefing
September 12, 2026
Executive summary
The day was dominated by the drone and air domains, with the counter-drone cost-exchange problem emerging as the clearest connective thread across an intense industrial mobilization for mass and long-range fires. In North America, the US Army pushed affordable counter-UAS forward as Allen Control Systems demonstrated its robotic Bullfrog M240 turret under NORAD and US Northern Command at Falcon Peak 26.2, the Army and Navy down-selected from roughly 40 armed Group 1 drones at Gauntlet 2, and Northrop Grumman committed to a $2 billion munitions expansion adding capacity for 300 strike missiles annually. Europe moved in parallel, with Britain funding the £240 million Project PRESAGIUM counter-drone effort and a £490 million directed-energy program, Canada and Ukraine announcing more than $2 billion in defence and energy packages centred on Patriot interceptors, and Britain and Germany committing £770 million to a 2,000-kilometre Deep Precision Strike weapon. Allied missile integration advanced sharply as Australia declared initial operational capability for the AGM-158B JASSM-ER and AGM-158C LRASM on its F/A-18F Super Hornets, while Japan formally admitted nuclear-powered submarines into its defence-posture review. Watch three signals: GPS-denied navigation is maturing, shown by Northrop and SandboxAQ flying the Lumberjack loitering weapon with quantum magnetic AQNav guidance; military space is hardening for contested operations through orbital nuclear reactors, GPS IIIF anti-jam upgrades, and AI-driven threat prediction; and the MSPO exhibition in Kielce is functioning as the focal point for Eastern European procurement, from KNDS-WB Group artillery to Northrop's Polish and Estonian agreements.
◆ Articles covered
- AirArmy RecognitionAustralia Declares U.S. Long-Range JASSM-ER and LRASM Missiles Operational on FA-18F Fighter Jets
Australia declared initial operational capability for the AGM-158B JASSM-ER and AGM-158C LRASM on Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18F Super Hornets on September 11, 2026. JASSM-ER provides land-strike reach of up to 900 kilometres, while the semi-autonomous LRASM can attack ships beyond 370 kilometres. The milestone follows Australian test firings of two LRASMs in February 2025 and two JASSM-ERs in November 2025, plus a P-8A LRASM launch during RIMPAC 2026. Previous US approvals covered packages of up to 200 LRASMs and 80 JASSM-ERs, valued at an estimated $990 million and $235 million respectively.
- IndustryDefence Industry EuropeCanada and Ukraine announce more than $2 billion in defence and energy packages covering Patriot interceptors, F-16 weapons and drones
Canada and Ukraine announced defence and energy packages worth more than $2 billion, including over $1 billion in Canadian government support focused largely on air defence. The military assistance covers Patriot interceptors, F-16 munitions, drones, and other deliveries, while Ottawa is seeking additional Patriot missiles from international suppliers. The two governments also signed an initial document for a bilateral drone-production arrangement and announced commercial energy agreements. Canada additionally offered technology for Europe’s proposed FREYJA anti-ballistic-missile initiative, although quantities and delivery schedules for several elements were not released.
- IndustryDefence Industry EuropeNorthrop Grumman adds capacity for 300 strike missiles a year in West Virginia amid $2 billion munitions production drive
Northrop Grumman is expanding the Allegany Ballistics Laboratory in West Virginia to add capacity for approximately 300 strike missiles annually. The project introduces greater automation and digital process controls and forms part of a wider $2 billion company investment in munitions capacity. Northrop is also establishing production for ductile-iron 155mm artillery shell bodies, with potential output of 150,000 units per year. The laboratory employs about 1,700 people and works with 35 suppliers; the company has not identified every missile type covered by the new capacity or provided a complete ramp-up schedule.
- DronesArmy RecognitionU.S. Army Tests 40 Armed Drones From 19 Manufacturers Before Selecting Systems for Mass Production
The US Army and Navy evaluated roughly 40 armed Group 1 drones from 19 manufacturers during Gauntlet 2 at Fort Carson under the Drone Dominance Program. Trials covered long-range strikes near 20 kilometres in degraded navigation and communications conditions, plus tactical attacks around two kilometres against buildings, tunnels, trenches, and bunkers. Evaluators assessed moving and stationary targets, day and night operation, radio links, obstacle avoidance, operator workload, video, and payload safety. The competition followed qualification of 79 aircraft from 49 companies and requires contenders to deliver 120 drones within about five weeks before mass-production selections are made.
- IndustryDefence Industry EuropeBritain invests £770 million in 2,000-km cruise and hypersonic strike weapons with Germany to strengthen NATO deterrence
Britain committed an initial £770 million to develop Deep Precision Strike weapons with Germany under the 2024 Trinity House Agreement. The ground-launched capability is intended to exceed 2,000 kilometres and enter service in the early 2030s, with air- and sea-launched variants also being studied. Officials have described possible cruise-missile and hypersonic elements but have not selected final designs, and the weapons would complement rather than replace Tomahawk. The program sits within £11.1 billion of British weapons and munitions spending over the next four financial years, followed by at least £20 billion planned for 2030–35.
- AirDefence Industry EuropeU.S. Air Force plans new radar, mission computer, electronic warfare suite and engines for future F-15EX Eagle II production lots
The US Air Force plans a substantial redesign of F-15EX production Lots 9 through 12 as its intended fleet grows from 98 to 268 aircraft. Planned changes include a new radar, mission computer, engines, and a second-generation Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System to address obsolescence and future requirements. Current planning targets initial fielding in January 2031, followed by operational flight-program integration and testing through fiscal 2035. Research and development is estimated at $1.57 billion in constant fiscal 2020 dollars, or about $1.93 billion in then-year funding, while specific component suppliers remain unannounced.
- AirDefence Industry EuropeIsrael expands F-35I modernization agenda with SPICE 1000B, extended-range fuel tanks and electronic-warfare pod integration
Israel is advancing three nationally tailored upgrades for the F-35I Adir: the SPICE 1000B precision weapon through a project called SPICE Lite, extended-range fuel tanks, and an external electronic-warfare pod. Israeli officials have not published performance specifications or fielding dates for these integrations. Deliveries are meanwhile continuing with Technology Refresh 3 aircraft; three arrived in January 2026 and two expected in December would complete the initial 50-aircraft force. A third squadron is scheduled to receive its first jet in 2028, expanding the planned fleet to 75 aircraft under funding reported at roughly $12.82 billion.
- NavalDefence Industry EuropeGeneral Dynamics lays keel for future USS John E. Kilmer, expanding U.S. Navy destroyer-based ballistic missile defense capabilities
General Dynamics Bath Iron Works laid the keel for the future USS John E. Kilmer, DDG 134, in Bath, Maine, on September 10, 2026, joining the ship’s first major hull modules. The vessel is one of seven Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyers assigned to the yard. Its AN/SPY-6(V)1 radar and Aegis combat system are designed to conduct simultaneous air and ballistic-missile defence, while the ship will also support Tomahawk strike, anti-surface, and anti-submarine missions. The destroyer honours Hospital Corpsman John E. Kilmer, who received the Medal of Honor for actions during the Korean War.
- DronesDefence BlogNorthrop’s kamikaze drone gets jam-proof navigation
Northrop Grumman and SandboxAQ flew the Lumberjack loitering weapon with AQNav, a GPS-independent quantum magnetic navigation system, at Fort Hunter Liggett. Integrated in about one month, AQNav uses magnetic-field measurements and artificial intelligence to navigate without satellite signals; the reusable Group 3 aircraft completed multiple launches, flights, and landings. SandboxAQ says the technology has accumulated more than 450 flight hours on four aircraft, including Air Force platforms. Northrop describes Lumberjack as carrying a roughly 250-pound payload over several hundred miles or loitering for about two hours, with an estimated mission cost of $75,000–$100,000, but no customer has been disclosed.
- IndustryDefence BlogBoeing KC-46A export deal ceiling jumps to $19.1 billion
The US Air Force raised the ceiling of Boeing’s KC-46A post-production contract from $5.7 billion to $19.1 billion, a potential increase of $13.4 billion. The indefinite-delivery framework covers modifications, regulatory work, upgrades, and sustainment for Japan, Israel, and future foreign military sales partners through April 28, 2035. Boeing will perform the work primarily in Seattle, including changes needed to meet customer and Federal Aviation Administration requirements after aircraft production. The modification establishes contracting capacity only: it orders no tankers, commits no customer to purchases, and had no funds obligated at announcement.
- Dronesukdefencejournal.org.ukCounter-drone system to protect British bases
Britain’s Ministry of Defence plans to spend £240 million on Project PRESAGIUM, an enhanced counter-drone capability for protecting fixed military infrastructure. The system is intended to detect and defeat evolving unmanned-aircraft threats at British bases, but the ministry has not identified suppliers, technical specifications, deployment locations, or an entry-into-service date. The investment is separate from £470 million allocated to wider security improvements across the defence estate. Together, the measures respond to growing concern about hostile reconnaissance and attacks by inexpensive drones while leaving the precise mix of sensors and effectors undisclosed.
- InstitutionalDefence BlogChina’s nuclear stockpile climbs to 620 warheads, SIPRI says
China’s nuclear inventory rose to an estimated 620 warheads in January 2026 from 600 a year earlier, according to the SIPRI Yearbook 2026. SIPRI assesses that 34 warheads are deployed and about 586 remain in storage, giving China the fastest-growing arsenal among the nuclear-armed states it tracks. The institute says hundreds of missiles have been installed in three large silo fields in northern China, while roughly 30 additional silos are nearing completion in eastern mountain areas. The estimates are based on public information because Beijing does not publish a detailed breakdown of its nuclear forces.
- IndustryDefence Industry EuropeCovenant exits stealth with $250 million funding, $150 million order book and Texas factory targeting 5,000 weapons a year
Covenant emerged from stealth with more than $250 million in funding, about $150 million in booked orders, and plans to mass-produce its Anthem long-range weapon. The system first flew in August 2025 and has since completed more than 200 flights, including US Army activity. A 105,000-square-foot Dallas-area factory is scheduled to begin serial production in the first quarter of 2027 and ramp toward 5,000 weapons annually, supported by facilities in Saxony and northern Israel. Current work includes an Army testing agreement and an approximately $70 million Navy Rapid Capabilities Office effort for Maritime Anthem, while some customers remain undisclosed.
- SpaceDefence Industry EuropeEutelsat plans €1 billion investment in 229 Airbus-built OneWeb satellites to secure LEO network continuity through 2034
Eutelsat plans to invest about €1 billion in 229 additional OneWeb low-Earth-orbit satellites built by Airbus Defence and Space. The companies have signed an Authorisation to Proceed allowing Airbus to begin initial industrial work; the planned order follows an earlier procurement of 440 satellites and would bring the two agreements to 669 spacecraft. The new satellites are intended to replenish and expand the network through 2034, using advanced digital channelisers to improve onboard processing and supporting hosted payloads. The programme is designed to maintain OneWeb capacity until the commercial Ku-band component of Europe’s IRIS² constellation is expected to enter service around mid-2032.
- DronesDefence BlogU.S. Army tests robotic machine gun against drones
Allen Control Systems demonstrated its autonomous Bullfrog counter-drone weapon during Falcon Peak 26.2 at the Cibola Range within Yuma Proving Ground on September 9. Mounted on a pickup truck, the robotic turret used computer vision and automated fire control to detect, track, and engage drone targets with a standard M240 machine gun. The exercise was led by NORAD and US Northern Command to examine affordable, low-collateral responses to small unmanned aircraft. Bullfrog has already been fielded by the Army and Navy, while the company reported a 100% engagement rate at the 2026 Technology Readiness Experimentation event.
- LandDefence Industry EuropeKNDS and WB Group position 105mm light artillery for Polish Armed Forces with TOPAZ integration and local ammunition plans
KNDS France and Poland’s WB Group signed a letter of intent at the MSPO exhibition in Kielce on September 10 to pursue a 105mm light-artillery capability for the Polish Armed Forces. The proposal combines a KNDS weapon system with WB’s TOPAZ fire-control architecture and calls for Polish integration, support, and technology participation. The partners also plan to examine domestic ammunition production to strengthen local supply and sustainment. The document establishes a framework for cooperation rather than a procurement contract, and neither company disclosed quantities, program value, delivery timing, or a final platform configuration.
- LandDefence Industry EuropeAustralian Army says AS9 Huntsman can prepare to fire in 30 seconds after first full tactical self-propelled artillery test
The Australian Army completed the AS9 Huntsman’s first full exercise in a tactical environment on August 27 at the Townsville Field Training Area. Crews from 106 Battery, 4th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery received target coordinates from 16th Regiment sensors after a HIMARS mission, conducted direct fire out to six kilometres, and reloaded live ammunition from an AS10 armoured vehicle. The Army says the AS9 can prepare to fire in about 30 seconds before rapidly relocating. The event also validated a digital sensor-to-shooter chain and was the unit’s first operation of the system without instructor supervision.
- SpaceDefence BlogU.S. Space Force taps California startup for orbital nuclear reactor
The US Space Force awarded California startup Antares a $161 million Strategic Breakthrough contract to advance compact nuclear power for space missions. The effort covers an R1-S ground demonstration, spacecraft integration, and an eventual orbital flight, while a separate Mark-1 reactor is intended to power an operational ground-to-space asset. Antares previously took its Mark-0 prototype critical at Idaho National Laboratory on June 4, 2026, with federal and Army observers present. Testing of the Mark-1 system is planned for 2027, but the service has not announced a launch date or final operational platform.
- DronesDefence Industry EuropeU.S. Army-built drone motors power record 521-minute flight in push to secure domestic component supply chains for military drones
Two US Army-built 3115-size brushless motors powered a Group 1 drone through a claimed 521-minute, 43-second endurance record during the Defense Contract Management Agency’s Game of Drones on July 16. The motors came from a new production facility opened at Tobyhanna Army Depot on June 30 and were paired with a software-designed, three-dimensional-printed airframe and independent battery. Rock Island Arsenal produced frames, Red River Army Depot supplied batteries, and Tobyhanna also made circuit cards. The effort seeks Blue List approval and a domestic supply chain that reduces reliance on components sourced from potential adversaries.
- AirDefence Industry EuropeGKN Aerospace selected for Sweden’s future combat air technology programme covering propulsion, onboard power and thermal management
Sweden’s Defence Materiel Administration awarded GKN Aerospace a SEK 390 million contract for the country’s Future Combat Air System Concept programme. Running through 2028, the work will develop concepts, technologies, and demonstrators to inform decisions on Sweden’s combat-air capability after 2040. GKN will concentrate on propulsion, thermal management, onboard electrical power, and technologies that reduce aircraft detectability. The programme brings together the procurement agency, Swedish Armed Forces, Defence Research Agency, Saab, and GKN under the Vägval Stridsflyg effort; it supports technology selection and risk reduction rather than ordering a new fighter.
- SpaceDefence Industry EuropeLockheed Martin says $114 million Space Force awards will upgrade GPS ground network for IIIF satellites and anti-jamming resilience
The US Space Force awarded Lockheed Martin two GPS ground-system task orders worth about $114 million to prepare for GPS IIIF satellites and improve resilience. A $96 million order modifies the operational control architecture for new payload functions, including encrypted M-Code and anti-jamming features, while a $17.5 million first phase begins replacing ageing hardware with an x86-based modular platform. Lockheed says GPS IIIF will provide up to 63 times the anti-jam capability of legacy signals. The awards concern ground control and modernization, separate from a $105 million launch-and-early-orbit services award made in April.
- DronesDefence BlogUkraine claims first-ever battle between naval drones
Ukraine’s Navy and military intelligence agency said a Ukrainian surface drone destroyed a Russian unmanned boat in the Black Sea, describing it as the first combat engagement between two naval drones. Intelligence personnel reportedly identified the Russian craft before a Sargan-3000 unmanned surface vessel attacked it with a Protector remotely operated 12.7mm weapon station. The agencies released imagery but did not disclose the date, precise location, or Russian vehicle type. The first-of-its-kind characterization and the outcome therefore remain Ukrainian claims that have not been independently verified.
- LandDefence Industry EuropeBrazil’s 300-kilometre Tactical Cruise Missile passes key Army firing test, bringing ASTROS weapon closer to certification
The Brazilian Army and Avibras Aeroco completed a successful firing test of the MTC-300 Tactical Cruise Missile at the Marambaia Test Range in Rio de Janeiro on August 26. Avibras said the missile met all objectives established for this phase of the certification programme. The weapon forms part of the smart-munitions portfolio for the ASTROS Artillery System and is designed to engage targets at ranges of up to 300 kilometres. Army evaluation, project, manufacturing, engineering, and technology organisations supported the activity alongside Avibras personnel.
- NavalArmy RecognitionU.S. Starts Construction of DDG 134 Arleigh Burke Flight III Destroyer to Boost U.S. Navy Air Defense
Bath Iron Works joined the first major modules of DDG 134 and laid the keel for the future USS John E. Kilmer in Maine on September 10, 2026. The ship is a Flight III Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer equipped with the AN/SPY-6(V)1 radar and Aegis combat system for simultaneous air and ballistic-missile defence. Its Mk 41 vertical launch system will also support Tomahawk strike, while the vessel retains anti-surface and anti-submarine missions. DDG 134 is one of seven Flight III destroyers assigned to the General Dynamics yard and is named for Medal of Honor recipient John E. Kilmer.
- AirArmy RecognitionAustralia Pushes P-8A Poseidon Beyond Maritime Patrol With AGM-158C Long-Range Anti-Ship Strike Capability
A Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon launched an AGM-158C LRASM against a target during RIMPAC 2026, the type’s first Australian use of the weapon and part of coordinated firings with the US Navy. The semi-autonomous missile has a stated range exceeding 370 kilometres and adds a long-range anti-ship option to the aircraft’s maritime-surveillance role. Australia completed its 14-aircraft P-8A fleet in May 2026. The demonstration did not constitute operational clearance on the Poseidon; Australia’s September 11 initial operational capability declaration for LRASM applies to the F/A-18F Super Hornet.
- InstitutionalReutersBoeing and engineers' union reach tentative contract agreement
Boeing and the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace reached a tentative four-year labour agreement on September 11 after union members rejected an earlier proposal on August 21. The deal provides a 10% wage increase on October 16, followed by 4% annual increases plus merit adjustments through 2030, and includes provisions covering remote work and overtime. The union’s negotiating team recommended approval to roughly 17,000 represented employees in the Seattle area. Members must still ratify the agreement before the current contract expires on October 6, leaving a strike possible if the vote fails.
- IndustryDefence BlogU.S. Army orders more engines for Israel’s Eitan vehicle
The US Army added $39.1 million to a Rolls-Royce Solutions America contract for engines used in Israel’s Eitan 8×8 armoured personnel carrier, raising the award’s cumulative value to about $158.9 million. Work will be performed in Graniteville, South Carolina, and is scheduled for completion by September 11, 2027, using fiscal 2010 foreign military sales funds for Israel. The modification is the contract’s eleventh change and follows a separate $180 million engine sale approved in April 2025. The engine is identified as the 8V199TE21-D, but the Army did not disclose the quantity covered by the latest award.
- IndustryDefence BlogU.S. Army’s top ammo supplier lands another big contract
The US Army awarded Olin Corporation a five-year, indefinite-delivery contract worth up to $788.4 million for small-arms ammunition. The agreement covers 5.56mm, 7.62mm, and .50-calibre rounds through September 10, 2031, with funding and production volumes to be assigned through individual orders. Army Contracting Command at Rock Island Arsenal made the award after receiving one bid. Olin’s Winchester business operates the government-owned Lake City Army Ammunition Plant, which can produce as many as 1.4 billion rounds annually, as well as a commercial ammunition facility in Oxford, Mississippi.
- SpaceDefence BlogU.S. Air Force funds research into orbital combat tools
The Air Force Research Laboratory awarded BlueHalo a five-year contract ceiling of nearly $100 million for the Leveraged Orbital Battlespace Optimization programme. The indefinite-delivery vehicle runs through August 29, 2031, and supports research into tools for operating in a contested orbital environment, with work centred in Huntsville, Alabama, and Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. About $1.7 million was obligated at award, and the first two task orders together can reach approximately $20.2 million. BlueHalo was the only bidder, while the government has not publicly described the specific systems or experiments covered by those tasks.
- LandArmy RecognitionRussia Delivers More T-90M and T-72B3M Tanks as It Rebuilds Combat Power in Ukraine
Uralvagonzavod and Rostec announced delivery of an undisclosed batch of T-90M Proryv and modernized T-72B3M tanks to the Russian Army on September 12. The manufacturers said the vehicles incorporate improved all-aspect protection developed from combat experience, including adaptations intended to reduce vulnerability to unmanned aircraft. T-90Ms are newly built versions of Russia’s most advanced fielded T-72/T-90 derivative, whereas T-72B3Ms are refurbished older hulls with upgraded sights, armour, mobility, and fire control. Russian officials say output is rising to replace wartime losses, but neither vehicle numbers nor receiving units were identified.
- AirDefence BlogNorthrop Grumman: E-2D talks with Poland still ongoing
Northrop Grumman confirmed on September 10 that discussions with Poland about the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye continue, covering possible acquisition, training, and industrial cooperation. The company has promoted the aircraft at Poland’s MSPO exhibition for four years and signed related memorandums with Exence in 2024 and Military Aviation Works No. 2 in 2025. Equipped with the AN/APY-9 radar, the E-2D is designed to maintain 360-degree surveillance of more than 3,000 air and surface tracks and could connect with Poland’s IBCS network. Poland has issued no solicitation or purchase decision and currently operates two second-hand Saab 340 Erieye aircraft as a stopgap.
- NavalArmy RecognitionJapan Considers Nuclear-Powered Submarines as China and Russia Increase Pacific Naval Pressure
Japan has formally included nuclear-powered submarines in a review of its future defence posture, but has not decided to acquire them. Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said on September 11 that the option would not be excluded as Tokyo weighs greater speed, endurance, and range against higher costs, larger hulls, nuclear-support requirements, and acoustic considerations. Japan’s current Taigei-class boats are conventional submarines using lithium-ion batteries, displacing about 3,000 tonnes and exceeding 20 knots submerged. Any nuclear programme would require new infrastructure, training, regulation, and foreign cooperation, with the United States the most likely prospective partner.
- AirArmy RecognitionU.S. Air Force Opens KC-46 Program to More Allies for Long-Range Refueling Operations Through 2035
The US Air Force increased a KC-46A post-production contracting ceiling from $5.7 billion to $19.1 billion to accommodate Japan, Israel, and possible future foreign military sales customers through April 2035. Contract FA8609-19-D-0007 can cover customer modifications, upgrades, sustainment, and work needed for Federal Aviation Administration requirements after production. Boeing will perform most activity in Seattle. The $13.4 billion ceiling increase does not purchase aircraft or commit funds; it creates capacity for later task orders, so additional allied participation, quantities, and delivery schedules will depend on separately negotiated agreements.
- AirDefence BlogUkrainian pilots in Canada prep for F-16 and Gripen jets
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited 21 Ukrainian pilots training on L-39 aircraft at the International Test Pilots School in North Bay, Ontario, on September 12. The Canadian programme began in April 2025 and covers advanced phases intended to prepare aircrew for conversion to F-16 or Gripen fighters. Four L-39s participated in a flyover during the visit. Zelensky said Ukraine expected Gripens during 2026, although Sweden’s prime minister had previously indicated that a donation of 16 used Gripen C/D aircraft could begin in early 2027; a separate 2025 letter of intent envisages up to 150 new Gripen Es over 10–15 years.
- Airukdefencejournal.org.ukFalklands Typhoons to be swapped for later aircraft
The Royal Air Force will replace the four Tranche 1 Typhoons assigned to 1435 Flight in the Falkland Islands with four Tranche 2 aircraft from the existing fleet. The rotation is planned for late November to early December 2027, after which the returning Tranche 1 jets will be removed from the Military Aviation Authority register and prepared for disposal. Tranche 2 aircraft provide newer avionics and a broader weapons-growth path, including Meteor, Storm Shadow, and Brimstone through later enhancements. The detachment maintains quick-reaction alert coverage for the Falklands, South Georgia, and the South Sandwich Islands.
- InstitutionalDefence BlogTiny nuclear reactors headed to a Georgia U.S. Army base
The US Army selected Fort Benning, Georgia, as one of five installations for Project Janus, announcing plans for three Radiant Kaleidos microreactors on August 26. Each unit is designed to generate one megawatt, creating a combined three-megawatt source for Lawson Army Airfield and other critical infrastructure while connected to the installation grid. Radiant will own, operate, fuel, and remove the reactors; each can run for up to five years between refuelling and has a projected 20-year life. The Army targets the first Janus reactor for operation in 2028, while the exact Fort Benning site remains undecided.
- Landscmp.comWhy PLA’s laser-equipped Type 19 vehicle could matter in a Taiwan conflict
Unverified images posted on August 29 appear to show a Chinese Type 19 amphibious 8×8 vehicle fitted with a turret-mounted laser and additional sensors alongside its conventional autocannon. The Type 19 family has reportedly entered service with the People’s Liberation Army’s 73rd Group Army and other amphibious formations aligned with the Eastern Theatre Command. A mobile directed-energy system could accompany landing forces and engage reconnaissance or loitering drones without expending missiles. China has not confirmed the variant’s fielding, laser power, range, or intended doctrine, and added equipment may affect weight and saltwater operations.
- Airukdefencejournal.org.ukTalks under way over Britain’s next batch of F-35s
Britain remains in negotiations through the F-35 Joint Program Office over the profile, timing, and configuration of its next aircraft purchase. Defence Minister Luke Pollard told Parliament that discussions concern the next production batch and the second tranche of the United Kingdom’s wider procurement plan, with deliveries still expected in the early 2030s. The multinational office coordinates Lockheed Martin production lots and common program arrangements for partner countries. No binding order, aircraft quantity, detailed delivery sequence, or final mix of F-35B and any other variant was announced in the parliamentary response.
- Dronesukdefencejournal.org.ukBritish Army seeks suppliers for FPV drone training
The British Army opened market engagement for Project UBIQUITY, seeking affordable and scalable first-person-view drone training systems rather than combat aircraft. The proposed contract is valued at £3 million excluding VAT, would run from January 11, 2027, to January 10, 2028, and includes an option extending it to January 2029; responses are due October 2. Suppliers are expected to address drones, ground-control stations, batteries, spares, repairs, documentation, and training support. The exercise is intended to refine the Army’s user requirement before any competitive tender, so it is not yet a procurement award.
- DronesDefence Industry EuropeL3Harris says nationwide U.S. air traffic surveillance network offers homeland-defense head start against drones and cruise missiles
L3Harris proposed adapting the United States’ existing civil air-traffic surveillance network to help detect drones, low-flying aircraft, and cruise missiles. The infrastructure spans the continental states, Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and Puerto Rico, with more than 750 radio sites, 36 weather stations, 12 regional control centres, and over 225 service-delivery locations. Its Enterprise Surveillance Manager already fuses radar, ADS-B, and multilateration data, while added passive radar or software-defined active arrays could improve tracking of noncooperative targets. L3Harris cites 99.99971% network availability, but the homeland-defence concept remains a company proposal without an announced government programme.
- Navalukdefencejournal.org.ukType 31 schedule challenges being monitored
Britain’s Ministry of Defence says it is monitoring schedule pressure on the five-ship Type 31 frigate programme, citing an ambitious construction plan and the demands of system integration, testing, and assurance. Officials did not identify a new discrete delay or issue a revised delivery timetable. Babcock is building the general-purpose frigates at Rosyth using a production approach intended to become increasingly stable and repeatable across the class. The ships will replace part of the Royal Navy’s Type 23 fleet and perform maritime-security and presence missions, while the ministry and contractor continue managing risks before entry into service.
- DronesDefence BlogUkraine combat experience shapes Redwire’s new drone
Redwire says operational experience from more than 250 Penguin drones delivered to Ukraine since 2022 shaped its new Penguin Mk3 and associated European support model. Feedback from contested electronic-warfare conditions influenced maintenance, training, configuration control, local repair, modularity, and rapid integration of new mission equipment. The public Mk3 configuration includes automated vertical take-off and landing, multiple payload bays, greater payload capacity, continuous mission-system power, winter provisions, and a compact two-person deployment footprint. An undisclosed NATO country has ordered the model under a multi-year contract valued in the high eight figures, with sustainment supported from Redwire’s European operations.
- NavalArmy RecognitionUS Forces Redirect 99 Ships as MH-60R Sea Hawk Helicopters Enforce Iran Blockade in Strait of Hormuz
Army Recognition reports that US forces redirected 99 ships while enforcing a selective blockade on traffic entering or leaving Iranian ports through the Strait of Hormuz. MH-60R helicopters operating from ships including USS Boxer and USS Rafael Peralta use AN/APS-153 radar, AAS-44C electro-optical sensors, Link 16, and Hawklink to identify vessels beyond surface-radar range and relay tracks for interception. CENTCOM’s July 13 order allowed unrelated regional traffic to continue. The report says forces disabled the tanker Belma with Hellfire missiles on July 15 after repeated warnings, illustrating an escalation path from identification and diversion to boarding or precision attack.
- Navalukdefencejournal.org.ukSplit of hybrid navy money to be worked out with industry
Britain will invest at least £1.5 billion over four years to begin creating a hybrid Royal Navy, with the allocation among vessel types to be determined with industry. Plans cover autonomous underwater, surface, and airborne systems intended to add mass and persistence around crewed command ships. By 2030, the ministry aims to field the first large autonomous vessels, including a prototype Type 91 missile platform and extra-large Type 93 underwater vehicles carrying AUKUS-developed payloads. The architecture also envisages Type 92 underwater sensors and Type 94 radar platforms, but quantities, unit costs, and the final spending split remain undecided.
- Institutionalukdefencejournal.org.ukLaser weapons could go on a range of platforms, MP told
Britain’s Ministry of Defence is assessing how directed-energy weapons could be integrated across land, maritime, airborne, and autonomous platforms. Defence Minister Luke Pollard said the government will invest £490 million over four years to bring the capabilities into service, primarily as a cost-effective response to low-cost massed drone attacks. Laser engagements may consume only a few pounds of electricity, but effective installations require substantial electrical generation, cooling, and suitable weather conditions. Those constraints favour ships initially and make vehicle integration more difficult; the ministry has not named specific platforms or published deployment dates.
- LandDefence BlogGreek firm gives old military jeeps a modern makeover
Greek manufacturer ELVO unveiled the first modernized Mercedes G-Class vehicles from a programme intended to extend the life of the Army’s roughly 30-year-old fleet. The refit adds a new engine and automatic transmission, electric air conditioning, redesigned suspension seats, 360-degree day-and-night cameras, LED lighting, thermal and visual camouflage, reinforced windshields, non-shattering mirrors, and an anti-drone net. ELVO says the vehicles meet relevant MIL-STD requirements and can be configured for weapons. The company previously supplied more than 10,000 Mercedes 290GD and 240 vehicles to Greece and Cyprus, but it did not announce the upgrade quantity or programme value.
- LandDefence BlogNew Russian tanks arrive with upgraded protection
Uralvagonzavod delivered another undisclosed batch of T-90M Proryv and T-72B3M tanks to the Russian Army for the 80th observance of Tank Crew Day. Company footage showed a T-90M with a protection kit developed over roughly two years, including woven steel-cable screening around the turret, additional armour over the running gear, and spring-mounted rubber strips along the hull sides. Recent deliveries have also used anti-FPV-drone nets and electronic-warfare equipment, although the manufacturer did not confirm those features on every vehicle in this batch. Each tank reportedly completes at least a 100-kilometre test drive before shipment; quantities and destinations were withheld.
- Industryukdefencejournal.org.ukDirect award planned for helicopter load equipment deal
Britain’s Ministry of Defence plans a noncompetitive £1.34 million amendment to its AmSafe Bridport contract for helicopter underslung-load equipment and airdrop cargo nets. The change would raise the agreement from £17.43 million to £18.77 million excluding VAT, retain its June 2027 expiry, and could be signed from September 30. Officials cite the absence of technically viable alternatives because AmSafe holds the proprietary design data, manufacturing expertise, and qualification evidence required for military airworthiness; switching suppliers would require extensive requalification. The amendment also includes post-design services and renewed documentation, but the transparency notice does not itself confirm an award.
- IndustryDefence BlogNorthrop Grumman expands ties across Eastern Europe
Northrop Grumman announced industrial agreements with Polish and Estonian partners at MSPO in Kielce on September 10, 2026. Nonbinding memorandums with Estonia’s Go Craft and DefSecIntel cover defence-system integration and specialized mast fabrication supporting the Integrated Battle Command System, while discussions with Poland’s Huta Stalowa Wola concern domestic production and support of Bushmaster chain guns used on Rosomak and Borsuk vehicles. The company is also discussing E-2D Advanced Hawkeye cooperation with Poland and promoting its developmental Raid Hunter counter-drone gun. No values or schedules were disclosed, and the Estonian agreements and E-2D talks do not constitute purchase commitments.
- DronesThe War ZoneFirst-Ever Kill Of A Drone Boat By Another Drone Boat Claimed By Ukraine
Ukraine’s Navy said a Sargan 3000 uncrewed surface vessel destroyed an unidentified Russian drone boat in the Black Sea, describing it as the first recorded USV-versus-USV kill. Ukrainian military intelligence reportedly detected the target before the Sargan engaged it with a Kongsberg Protector remote weapon station carrying a 12.7 mm machine gun. An 81-second publicly released video shows repeated fire and the apparent target sinking stern-first. Ukraine did not disclose the time or location of the engagement, and the claim has not been independently verified.
- DronesDefence Industry EuropeShield AI targets European markets with X-BAT uncrewed strike fighter, seeking Polish production partnership with PGZ Group
Shield AI signed a five-year letter of intent with Poland’s PGZ and WZL-2 to explore domestic design, production, delivery and sustainment of the X-BAT uncrewed combat aircraft for Polish and export customers. The arrangement is an industrial framework rather than a firm aircraft order; definitive agreements must still assign sites, responsibilities and technology-transfer terms. Shield AI describes X-BAT as a low-observable, AI-piloted vertical-takeoff aircraft powered by an F110 engine, with internal weapon bays and no runway requirement. Flight testing is planned for 2026, while training, maintenance and supply-chain cooperation would accompany any production program.
- NavalJanesUkrainian Navy claims first USV-on-USV kill
The Ukrainian Navy said a Sargan 3000 uncrewed surface vessel destroyed a Russian USV in the Black Sea, claiming the first recorded USV-on-USV kill. Video released on September 12 shows the Ukrainian craft using a Kongsberg Protector remote weapon station armed with a 12.7 mm machine gun, while Defence Intelligence of Ukraine reportedly identified the target before engagement. The Sargan 3000 entered naval service in April 2026. The claim is supported by multiple camera views released by Ukraine, although independent access to the destroyed Russian craft was unavailable.