Daily briefing
September 23, 2026
Executive summary
Air, naval, and drone activity dominated today's feed of 72 tracked items, with a pronounced cross-domain emphasis on counter-drone defense and industrial mobilization for precision strike and air defense. The single largest structural development was Britain's £6 billion plan to roughly double nuclear-submarine output toward one SSN-AUKUS boat every 18 months, centered on Barrow-in-Furness and the Rolls-Royce Raynesway reactor site. Industrial-base signals were equally striking as Lockheed Martin committed up to $9 billion through 2030 to expand PAC-3 MSE, THAAD, PrSM, and JATM production across more than 20 sites, won a $1.2 billion PrSM Increment 2 award, and Patriot demand across Europe surged through a $3.7 billion GEM-T award for Ukraine and NATO orders for Poland and the Netherlands. Counter-UAS emerged as the connective thread, spanning AeroVironment's LOCUST laser at the southern border, a planned December DoD directed-energy shoot-off, Ukraine-tested Bumblebee interceptors, and Roketsan's first KARAOK aerial intercept. A 42-second Russian Mi-8 incursion into Polish airspace and European warnings of intensifying Russian sabotage underscored continued hybrid pressure, while the UK moved to restore an air-delivered NATO nuclear role with at least 12 F-35A fighters. Watch the accelerating fusion of sovereign AI into cockpits and SIGINT, from Dassault's Rafale trials to Babcock's Nomad and NestAI's new Tallinn center, as the enabling layer beneath these hardware bets.
◆ Articles covered
- IndustryNaval NewsLockheed Martin Wins $1.2B PrSM Increment 2 Contract Following Second Maritime Test
Lockheed Martin received a $1.2 billion indefinite-delivery contract covering initial procurement, future orders and continued development of the U.S. Army's Precision Strike Missile Increment 2. The award followed a flight campaign that validated the missile against moving maritime and relocatable land targets using a terminal seeker combining imaging infrared and passive radio-frequency sensing. Designed for launch from HIMARS and M270 systems, Increment 2 adds a maritime-strike mission to the PrSM family and moves the configuration toward production after its second reported test against a vessel target.
- NavalDefence Industry EuropeBritain to double nuclear submarine output under £6 billion industrial plan, targeting one SSN-AUKUS boat every 18 months
Britain will invest £6 billion across the current spending review to expand nuclear-submarine facilities, skills and suppliers, with the long-term objective of producing one submarine every 18 months. The work centers on Barrow-in-Furness, the Rolls-Royce reactor site at Raynesway and the wider supply chain needed to build SSN-AUKUS attack submarines alongside Dreadnought ballistic-missile boats. The first British SSN-AUKUS is scheduled to begin construction in 2027 and enter operational Royal Navy service in the late 2030s, while a full program investment decision is expected in 2028.
- CyberDefence Industry EuropeAirbus lands 25 year French defence cybersecurity contract covering secure gateways from data centres to submarines and drones
Airbus Cybersecurity SAS won a 25-year French defense contract to design, develop, produce and support the PARACOM family of secure information-exchange gateways. The systems are intended to filter transfers between networks carrying different classification levels, from secret environments to unclassified services, while preserving controlled data flows across military organizations. Planned configurations range from data-center racks and deployable command posts to installations aboard surface ships, submarines, aircraft, helicopters, drones and armored vehicles, giving the French armed forces one common sovereign architecture for controlled cross-domain information sharing.
- AirJanesSouth Korea inducts first production KF-21 fighter
Korea Aerospace Industries delivered the first production KF-21 Boramae from its Sacheon plant to the Republic of Korea Air Force, beginning operational introduction of the indigenous fighter. The aircraft is assigned to the 156th Fighter Squadron at Yecheon, where crews will build readiness as production-standard jets replace the test fleet used during development. South Korea has contracted an initial 20 Block I aircraft and plans to field 40 air-to-air-focused fighters by 2028, followed by another 80 Block II multirole aircraft for its national combat force by 2032.
- InstitutionalJanesNorth Korea test-fires apparent HGV-equipped Hwaseongpho-11 variant
North Korea launched two missiles from the Wonsan area on September 20, with South Korean and Japanese tracking indicating flights of roughly 440 to 600 kilometers and peak altitudes near 60 to 70 kilometers. Imagery suggests a Hwaseongpho-11 family missile carrying an apparent hypersonic glide vehicle, while a North Korean display claimed a longer 908-kilometer trajectory, lower altitude and speed of about 2,146 meters per second. The available data do not independently confirm sustained hypersonic glide or significant maneuvering, so the payload's demonstrated capability remains uncertain.
- NavalNaval NewsSouth Korea Begins Development of New Anti-ship Missile
South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration approved the acquisition strategy for Ship-to-Ship Missile II, starting development of a longer-range successor to the SSM-700K Haeseong anti-ship missile. The stealth-shaped, turbofan-powered weapon is intended to approximately double the navy's surface-strike reach while improving target detection and tracking against increasingly capable ships and defenses. The program has a reported budget of about 1.63 trillion won, aims to complete development in 2033 and begin mass production in 2034, with the future KDDX destroyer identified as a planned launch platform.
- DronesReutersTekever raises $580 million as investors back Ukraine-honed defence tech firm
Portuguese autonomous-systems company Tekever raised $580 million in the first close of a Series D round that valued the business at $6.4 billion. University of California Investments and Baillie Gifford led the financing, joined by new investor Merlyn Advisors and existing backers including Crescent Cove, Ventura and Iberis Capital. Tekever plans to use the capital for research, global manufacturing, delivery and customer support capacity as demand grows for its artificial-intelligence-enabled uncrewed aircraft and related systems, which have gained operational experience through deployments including in Ukraine.
- AirDefence Industry EuropeDassault tests sovereign AI on Rafale as new algorithms move closer to integration in future fighter upgrades
Dassault Aviation flight-tested two sovereign artificial-intelligence algorithms aboard a Rafale fighter, one developed internally and one produced with Thales through its cortAIx organization. The company said the software has reached sufficient maturity to be considered for future aircraft standards, while withholding mission-specific details that could reveal sensitive functions or performance. Dassault framed the technology as controlled decision support for flight crews rather than pilot replacement, emphasizing the challenges of embedded computing, certified integration and safe, reliable operation over time within the fighter's constrained onboard environment.
- IndustryDefence Industry EuropeAdvanced Navigation secures $18.5 million Kongsberg order for Boreas systems on Polish Protector counter drone platforms
Advanced Navigation secured an $18.5 million supply agreement with Kongsberg for several hundred Boreas fiber-optic-gyroscope inertial navigation systems to support counter-drone platforms for Poland. The units will be integrated into PROTECTOR-family remote weapon and medium-caliber turret configurations within Poland's SAN counter-UAS program, which is planned around 18 batteries. Boreas provides precise attitude and position data when satellite navigation is jammed or unavailable, allowing onboard sensors and effectors to retain stable pointing and targeting information in the contested electromagnetic conditions expected during drone attacks and engagements.
- Navalbairdmaritime.comFrench Navy begins at-sea trials of new modular multi-purpose launcher
Naval Group's Rampart modular launcher has begun its sea-trial phase aboard a French Navy Mistral-class amphibious assault ship observed off Toulon on September 21. Previously known as the multipurpose modular launching system, the roughly one-ton-payload mount uses interchangeable ammunition modules for rockets, missiles and other short-range defensive effectors. The installation follows successful land firing with Thales 68-millimeter laser-guided rockets and prepares the complete naval system for planned counter-drone evaluation, including the Wildfire exercise, before any later decision on industrialization, fleet procurement or possible export sales.
- DronesDefence BlogU.S. puts Ukraine-tested interceptor drones through border tests
U.S. Northern Command and Joint Interagency Task Force 401 tested Perennial Autonomy's Bumblebee semi-autonomous interceptor drone during the Falcon Peak 26.2 counter-UAS experiment at Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona. The event applied operational lessons from Ukraine and the southern border to engagements against small unmanned aircraft associated with surveillance, smuggling and other cross-border activity. Bumblebee's participation demonstrated one candidate approach to low-cost aerial interception, but the command has not yet identified which systems from the exercise will be deployed operationally or provided a fielding schedule.
- DronesArmy RecognitionU.S. Deploys LOCUST Laser Weapon Against Cartel-Linked Drones at Southern Border
The U.S. Army released imagery of an AeroVironment LOCUST directed-energy system engaging a drone during southern-border operations, showing a high-energy laser mounted on a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle. The mobile system combines detection, tracking and a laser effector intended to defeat small unmanned aircraft without expending a conventional missile for each target. The activity represents operational counter-UAS employment against drones linked to cartel surveillance or smuggling, although publicly available material does not establish a complete engagement record, verified kill count or the system's performance under all field conditions.
- AirArmy RecognitionUK Restores Air-Delivered Nuclear Role With U.S.-Made F-35A Fighters for NATO
The United Kingdom is advancing plans to buy at least 12 conventional-takeoff F-35A fighters and contribute them to NATO's dual-capable aircraft nuclear mission. The aircraft will be based at RAF Marham, support formation of a third frontline Lightning squadron and use United States nuclear weapons that remain under U.S. custody and control within alliance arrangements. The decision reintroduces a nuclear delivery role for the Royal Air Force for the first time since Britain retired its sovereign air-launched weapons, while the country's independent deterrent remains the submarine-based Trident system.
- NavalNaval NewsU.S. Special Forces Operate Helicopter From Autonomous Barge for the First Time
A U.S. Army MH-47G Chinook from the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment conducted landing and replenishment operations from a Sea Machines autonomous barge in a first publicly disclosed demonstration of its kind. The vessel used the company's SM300 autonomy package, an architecture that can convert different hulls to long-range uncrewed operation and support resupply of aircraft, surface vessels or shore sites. The trial shows how a low-cost maritime platform could extend distributed special-operations aviation logistics, although it demonstrated a concept rather than announcing a deployed barge fleet or combat capability.
- CyberDefence Industry EuropeBabcock secures UK defence role for Nomad AI signal intelligence platform supporting frontline ISR operations
Babcock delivered its Nomad artificial-intelligence platform to the United Kingdom under an urgent operational requirement supporting frontline intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance activities. The software ingests hostile or target voice and text communications, then cleans, transcribes, translates and analyzes the material in near real time to accelerate exploitation by deployed teams. Nomad is intended to reduce reliance on scarce field linguists and handle substantially larger information volumes in contested battlefield environments, while keeping human analysts involved in judging meaning, relevance and operational action under time pressure.
- InstitutionalDefence Industry EuropeBittium and Safran target French defence market with tactical communications partnership covering air defence and counter drone networks
Bittium and Safran Electronics and Defense signed a two-year memorandum of understanding to explore an integrated tactical-communications offering for the French Ministry of Armed Forces and military services. The planned cooperation covers ground-based air-defense networking, counter-drone links, communications for unmanned systems, mission networks, dismounted-soldier radios and other secure connectivity requirements. Bittium contributes resilient mobile radio and network technology, while Safran provides local market knowledge, program access and systems-integration experience; the memorandum defines prospective collaboration and marketing work over time rather than a French procurement contract.
- SpaceJanesLite Coms to supply satcom terminals for Australian C4 programme
Lite Coms was selected by Boeing Defence Australia to supply more than 100 LITE SAT 1.3A tactical satellite terminals for the Australian Defence Force's LAND 4140 land command-and-control modernization programme. The rugged, lightweight terminals automatically acquire satellite links and are intended to provide deployed users with beyond-line-of-sight connectivity without the setup burden of larger fixed systems. Engineering and early low-rate production units are already being shipped, with the first main batch scheduled for delivery by the end of 2027, although the contract value was not disclosed.
- Airasianmilitaryreview.comDisplacing Russia, China scores aircraft sales in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan is expanding military-aviation ties with China through planned acquisition activity involving six K-8W jet trainers and Chinese Y-9E medium transport aircraft. Kazspecexport discussed delivery, technical acceptance and crew familiarization with China's CATIC export organization, while flight testing has shown Y-9E airframes in Kazakh markings. The K-8Ws would replace aging Czech L-39 trainers and prepare pilots for front-line combat aircraft, while the Y-9Es broaden a military airlift fleet that has historically depended on aircraft from Soviet and Russian sources, though final contract details remain limited.
- NavalNaval NewsBelgium's second rMCM ship 'Tournai' Arrives in Zeebrugge
Tournai, Belgium's second City-class robotic mine-countermeasures vessel, arrived at Zeebrugge on September 22 after completing harbor and sea acceptance trials. The ship is the third vessel produced under the Belgian-Dutch rMCM program and is designed to keep its crew outside minefields while deploying unmanned air, surface and underwater systems for detection and neutralization. Built through the Naval Group and Exail industrial team, Tournai remained the consortium's property on arrival and was scheduled for formal transfer into Belgian Navy ownership on September 25 following that acceptance process.
- NavalNaval NewsVOYANT Demonstrates Software-Defined Approach to Strengthen ASW Operations
Voyant demonstrated probabilistic tracking software integrated with Thales UK's S2087 variable-depth sonar and a Mind Foundry decision-support system for the UK Ministry of Defence and Royal Navy. The software-defined approach applies particle-filter techniques to sonar data to improve the detection, tracking and classification of submarines while using existing sensor hardware. The demonstration showed how new algorithms can be inserted into an established anti-submarine warfare architecture, although no procurement decision or operational fielding timetable was announced.
- Spaceukdefencejournal.org.ukBritain puts space at centre of defence buying revolution
Britain placed space among the first portfolios managed through its new National Armaments Group, making satellite and counter-space needs an early test of wider defense-procurement reform. The government plans nearly £13 billion in space spending over the next decade and is creating a more active customer organization intended to connect requirements, acquisition bodies and suppliers more directly. Related measures include an Office for Small Business Growth and roughly £400 million a year for defense innovation, aimed at reducing barriers for smaller firms and moving usable capability into service faster.
- SpaceDefence Industry EuropeIndra Space wins ESA backing for two IRIS2 Low LEO projects targeting future government and defence communications services
The European Space Agency selected Indra Space's ATLAS and SELENE concepts for a four-month consolidation phase within the secure IRIS2 Low LEO program. ATLAS addresses space-based communications and surveillance for air-traffic management, while SELENE combines government and defense connectivity with 5G non-terrestrial-network and direct-to-device services. The studies may lead to a limited in-orbit mission demonstration procurement, with any selected spacecraft expected to launch near the end of the decade as part of the European Union's broader €15.6 billion IRIS2 sovereign connectivity architecture and associated services.
- Landdailysabah.comTürkiye's Roketsan says its Karaok system hit aerial target for 1st time
Roketsan reported that its KARAOK short-range anti-tank guided missile struck an aerial target for the first time, demonstrating a potential secondary role beyond its original anti-armor mission. KARAOK is a shoulder-launched, fire-and-forget weapon designed to attack armored vehicles, so the test indicates that its existing seeker and launcher can engage at least some airborne targets. The company did not disclose the target type, engagement range, test geometry or probability of kill, leaving the operational limits of this application unconfirmed.
- LandArmy RecognitionLockheed Martin Advances Javelin Dual-Launcher Integration on KONGSBERG Medium-Caliber Turret
The Javelin Joint Venture completed a simulation-based demonstration of a two-missile Javelin launcher integrated with a Kongsberg medium-caliber turret prototype in Norway. The configuration places two ready-to-fire anti-armor missiles alongside a stabilized 30- or 40-millimeter cannon, giving a future vehicle crew more engagement choices without leaving protection. The event established digital and mechanical integration in an initial development phase, while formal qualification and planned live-fire testing remain necessary before the dual launcher can be treated as an operationally available future turret option for armored vehicles.
- AirArmy RecognitionU.S. F-35 Stealth Fighters to Train With Indian Air Force in India for First Time During Major Exercise
U.S. Air Force F-35A fighters are expected to train with the Indian Air Force in India for the first time during the multinational Tarang Shakti 2026 exercise at Jodhpur. The event begins September 26 and is planned to bring the stealth aircraft into tactical scenarios with Indian Rafale, Su-30MKI and Tejas fighters, including combined and opposing-force activity. The deployment provides experience in procedures and interoperability between dissimilar combat aircraft, but participation in the exercise does not indicate any future Indian decision to purchase the F-35.
- DronesArmy RecognitionU.S. Navy Refuels Seahawk USV Drone from Destroyer to Extend Unmanned Missions Across the Pacific
The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Chafee refueled the medium-displacement unmanned surface vessel Seahawk in the Pacific on September 11 using an astern hose arrangement. The 145-ton trimaran had previously received fuel from the oiler USNS Guadalupe and operated with the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group during Rim of the Pacific 2026. The evolution tested how a frontline combatant could sustain an uncrewed vessel without a routine return to its home port, although personnel were aboard Seahawk and the procedure was not a fully autonomous replenishment.
- DronesShephard MediaUkraine turns legacy Kongsberg land turrets into semi-autonomous USV weapons
Ukraine has installed modified Kongsberg PROTECTOR remote weapon stations, originally supplied for armored vehicles, on Sargan 3000 unmanned surface vessels. The integration gives the boats a reusable direct-fire option alongside reconnaissance or one-way attack missions, while operators can supervise targeting and authorize engagements over communications links from hundreds of kilometers away. Describing the system as semi-autonomous reflects stabilized remote operation and onboard platform automation rather than independent lethal decision-making, and the available public information does not establish how many armed boats are operational at sea.
- Landquwa.orgWhy Ukraine Now Prefers Unguided 155 mm Artillery Shells Over Guided Ones
Some Ukrainian artillery units increasingly favor conventional 155-millimeter shells for many missions because they are cheaper, more available and suitable for sustained fires than scarce precision-guided rounds. Commanders are shifting part of the accuracy burden to improved guns, digital fire control and drone observers that detect targets and correct impacts, allowing standard ammunition to achieve useful effects through repeated adjustment. The choice also reflects the vulnerability of satellite-guided projectiles such as Excalibur to Russian electronic warfare, but guided ammunition still retains value for targets and conditions where its precision can be exploited.
- InstitutionalDefense DailyGreenland Agreement Allows For Golden Dome System
A new United States, Denmark and Greenland security agreement permits future Golden Dome missile-defense elements to be installed in Greenland as part of expanded American military access. The island's Arctic position is valuable for sensors, communications and possible intercept architecture monitoring missile trajectories approaching North America, building on the existing role of Pituffik Space Base. The agreement creates legal and political scope for deployment but does not itself identify specific interceptors, construction sites, costs or an operational date for a Greenland component of the still-developing system.
- Navalbairdmaritime.comTaiwan conducts test launch of supersonic anti-ship missile from coast guard catamaran
Taiwan's Anping-class coast guard cutter Qijin launched a locally produced supersonic Hsiung Feng III anti-ship missile during a joint precision-fire exercise on September 18. The missile struck a decommissioned Republic of China Navy frigate from about 50 nautical miles away, while a separate coast guard unit fired a Hsiung Feng II during the same exercise. Taiwan designed all 12 Anping-class patrol catamarans to accept naval weapons during wartime, allowing the coast guard fleet to add distributed surface-strike capacity without permanently carrying missiles in peacetime.
- InstitutionalReutersRussian military helicopter entered Polish airspace briefly, Polish army says
A Russian Mi-8 military helicopter flying from the Kaliningrad region entered Polish airspace for approximately 42 seconds on September 23, according to Poland's Operational Command. Polish tracking indicated a maximum penetration of roughly 300 meters, prompting fighter aircraft to be scrambled and ground-based air-defense assets to be placed on standby. The Polish command said the nature of the incident suggested that Russia was testing the readiness of Poland's air-defense system.
- SpaceDefence BlogOfficial: Russia's satellite constellation nears 400 spacecraft
Roscosmos chief Dmitry Bakanov told Russia's prime minister that the national orbital constellation is approaching 400 spacecraft, including nearly 60 launched during 2026. He linked near-term expansion to new Soyuz-5 launches, hydrometeorological satellites and additional GLONASS spacecraft intended to improve positioning accuracy to about 2.8 meters by 2027. Russia also plans 32 serial Rassvet satellites by the end of September as an early step toward a much larger 2035 communications constellation, although these figures are official program claims rather than an independent external inventory assessment.
- NavalShephard MediaQuantum Systems enters maritime domain with Baltic-focused USV and UUV
German uncrewed-systems company Quantum Systems entered the maritime market with the Seavex unmanned surface vessel and Subvex unmanned underwater vehicle, unveiled in Portugal in September. Both platforms connect through the MOSAIC UXS software architecture, which can coordinate air, land, surface and undersea assets and combine their sensor data into a common operational picture. The concept targets persistent surveillance of Baltic infrastructure, coastlines and ports, with Subvex rated for operating depths up to 6,000 meters, but the new vehicles still require sea trials and operational validation.
- IndustryDefence BlogUnder new deal, U.S. military buys non-standard weapons
U.S. Special Operations Command included Global Military Products among contractors eligible to compete for orders under a five-year, $19.5 million indefinite-delivery vehicle for non-standard weapons and support items. The scope covers U.S. and foreign-origin arms, ammunition and protective equipment used for training, testing, operational needs or assistance to partner forces whose inventories are not based on standard American systems. The award establishes a purchasing mechanism rather than an immediate acquisition of disclosed weapons, and individual quantities, recipients and delivery schedules will depend on subsequent task orders.
- NavalNaval NewsINS Trishul Arrives in Toulon Sporting Recent Upgrades
Indian Navy frigate INS Trishul arrived at Toulon on September 22 for the bilateral Varuna exercise with France after receiving a broad package of upgrades. Visible changes include a BrahMos-capable universal vertical launcher replacing the Klub system, an Atlas Elektronik ACTAS towed sonar, an anti-torpedo decoy, AK-630 close-in weapon systems replacing Kashtan mounts, Western radars and four 12.7-millimeter remote weapon stations. The ship also carries new Bharat Electronics electronic-support-measures and communications-intelligence equipment, strengthening passive detection and collection of radar and communications signals.
- LandArmy RecognitionU.S. Army and Singapore Conduct Rocket Artillery Live Fire to Improve Long Range Strike Coordination
Singaporean and U.S. Army artillery crews conducted combined rocket live fire at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, on September 22 during Exercise Daring Warrior 2026. The event paired Singapore's M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System with U.S. multiple-launch rocket capabilities and rehearsed common fire-mission procedures, communications and long-range strike coordination. Large U.S. training areas are particularly important for Singapore because the small city-state cannot routinely fire long-range rockets at home, making the annual exercise both a readiness event and a venue for sustained bilateral interoperability between forces.
- AirArmy RecognitionU.S. Marine Corps Sends F-35B Squadron to Japan to Bolster Indo-Pacific Readiness
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 533 deployed F-35B Lightning II aircraft from Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, arriving on September 5 under the Unit Deployment Program. The Hawks joined Marine Aircraft Group 12 and replaced VMFA-232's F/A-18 Hornets in the rotational slot, bringing short-takeoff and vertical-landing stealth fighters to the forward-based training cycle. The deployment gives the recently converted Marine squadron valuable experience with U.S. and Japanese forces across the Indo-Pacific while preserving a rotational presence rather than permanently relocating the unit.
- AirArmy RecognitionUK Provides RAF Voyager Air-to-Air Refuelling Support for Saudi Defenses Against Houthi Attacks
The United Kingdom deployed an RAF Voyager tanker from RAF Akrotiri to provide air-to-air refueling for Saudi aircraft conducting defensive patrols against Houthi drones and missiles. Voyager support can extend the endurance and on-station time of Royal Saudi Air Force Typhoons, improving their ability to maintain coverage during prolonged or repeated attack warnings. The mission was described as a limited defensive contribution to Saudi air defense rather than British participation in strikes, using an existing tanker asset to support a regional partner's routine interception operations.
- Dronesaviationweek.comDutch Drone-Maker DeltaQuad Unveils VTOL Concept
Dutch manufacturer DeltaQuad introduced the Evo-LE, a fixed-wing vertical-takeoff-and-landing unmanned aircraft designed for long-endurance surveillance, border monitoring and communications-relay missions without a runway. Depending on payload and operating conditions, the aircraft is advertised with endurance up to eight hours, range up to 480 kilometers, a 13-kilogram maximum takeoff weight and 1.5-kilogram payload capacity. A dual-battery architecture and revised electrical and VTOL propulsion systems are intended to improve reliability, while a stated radio range of 120 kilometers limits direct-control operations unless other links or relays are used.
- Dronesmilitarytimes.comAirmen design AI-powered shotgun for last-ditch drone defense
U.S. Air Force personnel developed a prototype called Mantis as a low-cost, last-layer defense against small drones that penetrate electronic warfare or longer-range counter-UAS systems. The concept pairs artificial-intelligence-assisted detection or aiming with a shotgun, seeking to help an operator acquire fast, low-altitude targets more consistently at very short range. Mantis illustrates the service's layered approach of identifying incoming drones, attempting non-kinetic disruption and retaining an inexpensive close-range kinetic fallback, but no procurement decision, publicly verified engagement envelope or operational fielding plan has been announced.
- NavalDefence Industry EuropeNavantia completes S-83 trials of third-generation AIP system designed to keep Spanish Navy submarines submerged for weeks
Navantia has completed land-based trials of the third-generation air-independent propulsion system intended for S-83 Cosme García, the third S-80-class submarine. Testing at Cartagena used the final onboard configuration to simulate operational depth and speed while verifying power generation and battery charging with liquid oxygen and bioethanol. The roughly 12-metre, 400-tonne propulsion section will now be integrated into the pressure hull before launch and harbour acceptance trials. The system is designed to keep the submarine submerged for weeks, reducing exposure and improving survivability during long-duration Spanish Navy missions.
- IndustryDefense DailyNorthrop Grumman Lands $508 Million Missile Defense Support Contract
Northrop Grumman has received a $508.5 million Missile Defense Agency follow-on contract for Legacy IRBM and ICBM Flight Test Support. The company will provide flight-test support for remaining intermediate-range and intercontinental ballistic-missile target vehicles, together with integrated logistics for government-furnished equipment used in Missile Defense System testing. Awarded on a noncompetitive basis, the work is scheduled to run from September 2026 through August 2035. The long performance period sustains specialized target capabilities needed to conduct realistic evaluations of US missile-defense sensors, interceptors and command systems.
- AirDefence Industry EuropeAnduril Industries says Barracuda is first mass-produced weapon to clear independent U.S. Air Force WOSA verification ahead of 2027 deliveries
Anduril says its Barracuda-M family is the first weapon already in large-scale production to pass independent US Air Force verification against the Weapon Open Systems Architecture standard. Air Force Research Laboratory testing examined 14 technical domains, including autonomy, seekers, propulsion, guidance, navigation, flight control and data interfaces. Verification means major subsystems can be replaced or upgraded without redesigning the entire weapon, supporting faster technology insertion and lower integration risk. Production is underway, with initial customer deliveries expected in early 2027 and planned capacity reaching several thousand weapons annually.
- IndustryArmy TechnologyLeidos wins $127m contract extension for US Army's ARTEMIS ISR mission
Leidos has received a contract extension worth up to $127 million to continue supporting the US Army’s Airborne Reconnaissance and Targeting Exploitation Multi-Mission Intelligence System. The arrangement covers operations in the US European Command area through summer 2027 and includes two additional option years. Leidos provides a contractor-owned and contractor-operated Bombardier Challenger 650, its mission systems, flight operations and sustainment for high-altitude intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. The extension maintains a rapidly deployable sensor platform that has supported Army requirements since 2020 while longer-term airborne intelligence capabilities continue to evolve.
- IndustryDefence Industry EuropeLockheed Martin says up to $9 billion investment will accelerate PAC-3, THAAD, PrSM and JATM missile production across America
Lockheed Martin plans to invest as much as $9 billion through 2030 to expand missile production across more than 20 US sites. The spending will add manufacturing capacity, strengthen suppliers, modernize facilities and create jobs supporting PAC-3 MSE, THAAD, Precision Strike Missile and Joint Air-to-Ground Missile production. Longer-term, commercially structured agreements with the US government are intended to provide the demand certainty needed for sustained expansion. The initiative responds to sharply higher domestic and allied demand for air defense and precision-strike weapons while seeking to shorten delivery times and improve supply-chain resilience.
- AirDefence Industry EuropeHoneywell unveils F-35 cooling upgrade with 25% near-term boost and pathway to more than 62 kilowatts for future systems
Honeywell has unveiled a P40 upgrade for the F-35 Power and Thermal Management System that raises cooling capacity from 32 to 40 kilowatts, a 25 percent near-term increase. The package relies on software and liquid-cooling improvements, requires no structural airframe changes and could be installed during scheduled maintenance alongside the Engine Core Upgrade from 2029 or 2030. Honeywell also outlined a development path to more than 62 kilowatts for future mission systems. Based on fleet data, the company projects the P40 configuration could also reduce Honeywell-attributable, non-resettable in-flight shutdowns by about 30 percent.
- Navalaviationweek.comU.S. Navy To Field E-2D Precision Landing Capability In 2027
The US Navy plans to begin fielding a precision landing capability on the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye in 2027, extending comparable assistance to the last fixed-wing carrier aircraft without it. A $33 million award to Northrop Grumman covers documentation updates and software development and testing, including operation in contested environments. The system is intended to help crews maintain a more consistent glidepath during carrier approaches, reducing workload and improving safety in demanding conditions. Its introduction will align the E-2D with precision landing technologies already available across the Navy’s other carrier-based fixed-wing fleets.
- DronesDefense DailyDoD Plans Counter-Drone Laser Shoot Off In December
The Department of Defense plans a counter-drone demonstration in December 2026 focused on commercially available high-energy laser systems. Joint Interagency Task Force 401 and the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering will oversee the event, which will assess selected systems against small unmanned aircraft under operationally relevant conditions. Vendors will be evaluated on the effectiveness and deployability of their solutions, supporting the Pentagon’s effort to accelerate fielding. The shoot-off reflects growing demand for scalable, low-cost defenses against proliferating drone threats.
- AirDefence Industry EuropeMexico acquires second Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 Super Hercules to expand military airlift and disaster response across Latin America
Mexico has acquired a second Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 Super Hercules, doubling its planned fleet of the latest-generation transport. The first purchase, announced in January 2026, made Mexico the first Latin American operator of the C-130J. The stretched-fuselage aircraft will help recapitalize an aging Hercules inventory and expand capacity for military airlift, humanitarian assistance, disaster response and regional security missions. Neither the contract value nor the delivery schedule has been disclosed, but the follow-on order signals confidence in the platform and a broader effort to modernize national transport capabilities.
- AirDefense DailyLockheed Martin Vectis To Have 'F-35 Like Capabilities'
Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works is developing Vectis, an internally funded Group 5 collaborative combat aircraft intended to operate autonomously or alongside crewed fighters. The tailless, low-observable design is planned for missions including precision strike, intelligence and targeting, electronic warfare and counter-air operations. Lockheed Martin has described the aircraft as offering F-35-like capabilities, a characterization of its intended mission-system sophistication rather than a demonstrated performance equivalence. Five prototypes are planned, with first flight targeted by the end of 2027 as the company positions Vectis for future US and allied requirements.
- Airmilitarytimes.comLast operational HH-60G Pave Hawk completes final flight
The US Air Force’s last operational HH-60G Pave Hawk, tail number 27045, completed its final flight with the California Air National Guard’s 129th Rescue Wing at Moffett Field on September 10, 2026. Converted from a US Army UH-60L, the aircraft supported combat search and rescue as well as domestic disaster response. The wing credits its HH-60G operations with more than 300 combat saves during deployments to Afghanistan and significant relief missions after major hurricanes. The retirement closes a long service chapter as the unit transitions to the newer HH-60W Jolly Green II.
- DronesReutersUkraine's Zelenskiy says he signed drone deal with Finnish president
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he and Finnish President Alexander Stubb signed a drone cooperation agreement during meetings in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. The arrangement is intended to combine Ukraine’s battlefield-developed technical expertise with partner-country industrial capacity. Zelenskiy said related cooperation is being pursued with roughly 10 countries and the European Union, with formats tailored to border protection, infrastructure security and national resilience. The announcement did not disclose the drone types, quantities, financing or delivery schedule, leaving the agreement’s operational scale and implementation details unresolved.
- NavalDefense DailyNavy Set To Issue SIOP Dry Dock Awards This Month
The US Navy planned to issue a September 2026 solicitation for a Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program contracting vehicle supporting a new multi-mission dry dock at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. The competition is expected to produce approximately five indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contracts, with proposals due in December and awards targeted for June 2027. The vehicle will support construction of a major dry-dock capability intended to accommodate multiple classes of nuclear-powered vessels. The project is central to modernizing an aging public shipyard and improving the Navy’s long-term capacity to maintain submarines and aircraft carriers.
- SpaceDefense DailyImpulse Space Nabs $28 Million Award For Domain Awareness Mission
Impulse Space has received a $28 million US Space Force award for a future space-domain awareness mission scheduled to launch no earlier than 2029. A government-provided launch will place the company’s Mira spacecraft in low Earth orbit, carrying an optical payload supplied by MIT Lincoln Laboratory. Mira will maneuver to observe and track objects in geosynchronous orbit, demonstrating responsive monitoring from a different orbital regime. Part of the funding comes through the fiscal 2026 Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies program, reflecting military interest in commercially built, highly maneuverable spacecraft for improved orbital awareness.
- IndustryDefence Industry EuropeCombat-proven air defense: recent Patriot® contract awards signal surge in demand across Europe
Recent Patriot air-defense awards highlight accelerating European demand for interceptors, radars, launchers and command systems. The announced business includes a $3.7 billion award for GEM-T interceptors for Ukraine, a $627 million Dutch direct commercial sale covering a broader Patriot package, and a $988 million NATO Support and Procurement Agency order for Poland. Raytheon and MBDA Deutschland are also establishing a COMLOG production facility in Schrobenhausen to expand regional interceptor output. Together, the contracts deepen European Patriot inventories, strengthen industrial capacity and improve interoperability, though delivery schedules and national configurations will vary by customer.
- AirThe War ZoneVideo Shows RAF Hawk T2 Trainer Crew Ejecting Before Jet Crashes (Updated)
A Royal Air Force Hawk T2 trainer crashed near Pencarnisiog on Anglesey shortly after departing RAF Valley for a training mission on September 23, 2026. Both crew members ejected before impact and sustained minor injuries, while authorities reported no casualties or wider damage on the ground. Video showed the aircraft descending and burning after the ejection, but the cause of the accident remains unknown. An official investigation is underway, and any connection to earlier technical problems affecting the Hawk T2 fleet would be speculative until investigators release evidence.
- CyberDefence Industry EuropeNestAI opens Tallinn AI centre, plans more than 25 specialists to build adaptive battlefield systems for NATO's eastern flank
Finnish defense technology company NestAI is opening an artificial-intelligence research and development center in Tallinn and plans to employ more than 25 specialists in Estonia during 2027. The site will focus on adaptive AI, autonomous systems, battlefield software and command-and-control capabilities relevant to NATO’s eastern flank. NestAI has maintained a small Estonian team for more than a year and is expanding after establishing operations in Sweden and Latvia. The move also builds on a June 2026 cooperation framework between Finnish and Estonian defense authorities aimed at cross-border AI research and faster transfer of technology into operational use.
- InstitutionalReutersFour US Republicans call for Trump to release Taiwan security funds
Four Republican lawmakers urged the Trump administration to release more than $15 billion in security assistance for Taiwan that they said remained stalled. Their appeal came before Chinese President Xi Jinping’s three-day visit to Washington, amid concern that Taiwan support could become leverage in broader US-China negotiations. The lawmakers argued that approved assistance should move forward to strengthen deterrence and demonstrate that Beijing cannot veto US security cooperation. The request covers a politically sensitive period in which Washington is balancing arms transfers, Indo-Pacific stability and diplomacy with China, while the administration has not publicly detailed when the funds will be released.
- CyberDefence Industry EuropeL3Harris says AI and open architecture will turn distributed electronic warfare systems into a coordinated combat force across domains
L3Harris is promoting an electronic-warfare architecture that links distributed sensors and effectors across aircraft, uncrewed systems and ground platforms instead of treating each platform as an isolated system. The approach combines open interfaces, software-defined radios, commercial electronics and artificial intelligence to coordinate detection, classification and response. Programs such as DiSCO and the Deceptor payload illustrate how modular hardware and autonomy software could be updated or reassigned as threats change. The concept remains an industry strategy rather than a newly announced procurement, but it targets faster upgrades, wider data sharing and more resilient multi-domain operations.
- Institutionalaviationweek.comDebrief: U.S. Air Force Hopes For Deployment 'Reset' Following Iran Conflict
US Air Force leaders are seeking a deployment reset after the conflict with Iran placed demands on the force beyond its sustainable generation model. Chief of Staff General Kenneth Wilsbach said some units remained deployed for more than six months and returned with less than 18 months of recovery time, disrupting the service’s Air Expeditionary Wing 2.0 cycle. The Vermont Air National Guard’s F-35A deployment exceeded nine months, illustrating the strain. The service intends to restore predictable rotations, readiness and dwell periods, although continued operations could delay a full return to the planned force-generation schedule.
- AirThe War ZoneDid NASA's Administrator Just Tease An SR-71 Blackbird Follow-On X-Plane? (Updated)
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman displayed a presentation slide showing an SR-71-like silhouette under the heading “Rebuilding our X-plane portfolio,” prompting speculation about a new high-speed demonstrator. He said the agency wants to resume flying higher and faster but declined to identify the aircraft or confirm an active program. The image could therefore represent concept art, an aspiration or an undisclosed project rather than evidence of an SR-71 successor. NASA is already advancing experimental aviation through the X-59 and has proposed faster flight demonstrations, but no Blackbird follow-on has been formally announced.
- AirDefense NewsLeonardo DRS Showcases JTT-X Hybrid SATCOM for Tactical Aircraft
Leonardo DRS has showcased JTT-X, a hybrid satellite communications terminal designed to give tactical aircraft resilient access to multiple government and commercial networks, including proliferated low Earth orbit constellations. The US Navy recently awarded the company a $39.6 million contract for engineering, production, qualification, aircraft integration and support on the EA-18G Growler. JTT-X uses a modular open architecture and secure encryption components to move threat, target and force-position data into aircraft mission systems. The terminal supports the Navy’s Global Lightning initiative by improving communications diversity, situational awareness and survivability in contested environments.
- InstitutionalReutersEuropeans warn of rising Russian sabotage but see no imminent NATO attack
European officials say Russia is intensifying sabotage, cyberattacks, drone incursions and other covert activity across the continent to pressure governments and weaken support for Ukraine. Ministers meeting around the United Nations General Assembly described the campaign as a growing hybrid threat that tests infrastructure, public confidence and alliance cohesion. They nevertheless said Moscow currently does not appear capable of launching an imminent conventional attack on NATO territory. European governments are therefore emphasizing sanctions, action against Russia’s shadow fleet, stronger counterintelligence and infrastructure protection while maintaining deterrence and military support for Ukraine.
- NavalThe War ZoneWhere Are The Aircraft Carriers?: September 23, 2026
The September 23 US carrier tracker showed three aircraft carriers deployed, including USS Abraham Lincoln, which briefly stopped at Guam while returning from an unusually long deployment. USS George Washington and USS George H W Bush remained on station in the Middle East, while other carriers were preparing, working up, undergoing maintenance or nearing retirement. USS Ronald Reagan had rejoined the fleet after extended maintenance, and USS Nimitz was training ahead of planned 2027 deactivation. The published locations are approximate and based on official releases, imagery and open-source reporting, so operational movements may not be shown in real time.
- DronesDefense DailyArmy Taps Vulcan Elements For Rare Earth Magnets To Support UAS Component Production
The US Army has selected Vulcan Elements to supply rare earth magnets supporting drone component production under the Skyfoundry small UAS initiative, addressing a critical dependency on foreign sources for key motor components. Rare earth magnets are essential to the electric motors used in UAS propulsion systems, and the selection of a domestic supplier responds to longstanding concerns about supply-chain vulnerability in this sector. The award represents a concrete step toward building a resilient, US-sourced industrial base for military small unmanned aircraft systems.
- Airaviationweek.comSonobuoy Test Opens Path To Anti-Sub Role For Ospreys
A successful sonobuoy launch and acoustic data processing test conducted from an MV-22B Osprey has opened a potential new anti-submarine warfare role for the tiltrotor platform, according to Aviation Week. The trial demonstrated the Osprey's ability to deploy sonobuoys and process the resulting underwater acoustic data in real time, a capability previously associated with dedicated maritime patrol aircraft. If developed further, the ASW-configured Osprey could provide US Navy carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups with an organic submarine-detection capability that does not require a fixed-wing or dedicated rotary-wing ASW platform.
- AirThe War ZoneChina's Recent J-36 Heavy Stealth Tactical Jet Testing Offers New Insights Into Its Evolving Design
Recent flight testing of China's J-36 heavy stealth tactical jet has provided new insights into the aircraft's evolving design, according to The War Zone analysis of available imagery and flight data. The J-36 appears to be a large, tailless flying-wing-configuration aircraft intended to complement or supplement the J-20 in PLAAF operations, potentially offering greater range and payload than existing Chinese stealth platforms. The ongoing test programme indicates that the J-36 is progressing through a structured development phase, though its operational timeline and definitive configuration remain unconfirmed.
- AirDefence Industry EuropeAustralian F-35As deploy to New Zealand for first time, demonstrating overseas rearming and refueling capability with C-130J support
Royal Australian Air Force F-35As have deployed to New Zealand for the first time, demonstrating an overseas rearming and refuelling capability supported by C-130J logistics aircraft, according to Defence Industry Europe. The deployment marks the first time Australian fifth-generation aircraft have operated from a New Zealand base and validates the combined RAAF-RNZAF ability to sustain F-35A operations at allied locations with organic logistic support. The exercise advances interoperability between the two air forces and demonstrates the growing reach of Australia's F-35A fleet in the broader Indo-Pacific region.
- AirDefence Industry EuropeU.S. Air Force launches competitive B-52 SATCOM upgrade to secure global command links and strengthen long-term strategic deterrence
The US Air Force has launched a competitive procurement for a satellite communications upgrade to the B-52 Stratofortress, intended to secure resilient global command and control links for the bomber in support of strategic deterrence missions. The upgrade is valued at approximately $17 million according to supporting reporting, and aims to replace or enhance existing SATCOM systems to ensure the B-52 can receive and transmit mission-critical communications in contested electromagnetic environments. The competitive process reflects USAF intent to modernize the bomber's connectivity in parallel with the ongoing B-52J engine replacement programme.
- AirDefence Industry EuropeRAF grounds Hawk fleet following crash
The Royal Air Force has grounded its entire Hawk fleet following a crash, according to Janes, suspending jet training operations pending an investigation into the incident. The Hawk T1 and T2 serve as the RAF's primary advanced jet trainer and are also operated by the Red Arrows aerobatic display team, meaning the grounding affects both operational training pipelines and public-facing activities. The investigation will need to determine whether the cause is systemic before flying can resume, with potential implications for RAF pilot graduation schedules.
- Landforbes.comThe Evolving Role Of Ukraine's Artillery In The Age Of Drones
The War Zone examines how Ukrainian artillery is adapting its tactics, targeting methods and employment doctrine in response to the pervasive drone environment on the modern battlefield. The analysis draws on operational evidence from the conflict to describe how artillery units are integrating drone reconnaissance and targeting data while simultaneously managing their own vulnerability to counter-battery drone strikes. The assessment has direct relevance for Western armies reviewing artillery doctrine and the role of fires in high-intensity peer conflict.
- SpaceDefence Industry EuropeUK RAF Establishes Space Effects Unit To Counter Orbital Threats
The Royal Air Force has established a dedicated Space Effects Unit to develop and deliver capabilities for countering orbital threats, according to Aviation Week. The unit will focus on both defensive and offensive space operations, including the ability to respond to adversary satellite activities that threaten UK and allied military systems. The formation of the unit formalizes the RAF's role as the lead UK military service for space domain operations and aligns with the broader NATO recognition of space as a contested and warfighting domain.
- IndustryDefense DailyGD Nabs $49.3 Million Deal For More Stryker DVHA1s, Army Plans Future Order For 20 More
General Dynamics has secured a $49.3 million contract for additional Stryker DVHA1 vehicles for the US Army, with the Army also planning a future order for 20 more, according to Defense Daily. The DVHA1 is a double-V-hull variant of the Stryker providing enhanced protection against improvised explosive devices. The contract and planned follow-on order sustain production of a priority survivability-enhanced variant as the Army continues to refresh its Stryker fleet.
- DronesDefense DailyNavy Tests CCA Mission Planning With MQ-20
The US Navy has conducted tests of Collaborative Combat Aircraft mission planning using the MQ-20 Avenger unmanned aircraft, according to Defense Daily, advancing the service's autonomous wingman concept for carrier aviation. The trials examine how mission planning tools integrate with the MQ-20 platform to enable coordinated operations between manned and unmanned aircraft. The Navy's parallel development of CCA concepts alongside the US Air Force programme underscores growing cross-service interest in autonomous combat aircraft integration.
- Spacemilitarytimes.comNATO In 'Overdue' Move To Include Space In Defense Planning Process
NATO plans to incorporate space into the NATO Defense Planning Process, the alliance mechanism that translates collective requirements into capability targets for member states. Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Air Chief Marshal Johnny Stringer described the step as overdue, because satellites and space services now underpin communications, navigation, intelligence, warning, and targeting across every operational domain. Formal inclusion means allies can be assessed against agreed space needs, creating clearer procurement and investment signals for resilient communications, surveillance, command systems, launch access, and protection of orbital services.