Daily briefing
October 13, 2026
Executive summary
Drones dominated today's 49-item feed with 20 stories, followed by industry with ten and air with nine, while the United States generated 16 items and Europe, counting Türkiye, Ukraine and NATO-tagged reporting, a further 19 as AUSA 2026 in Washington set the news agenda. The clearest signal is the commercialization of counter-drone defense: Raytheon won $729 million for KuRFS radars and Coyote effectors covering the US Army, Qatar and Jordan, the first international sales of both systems, while MARSS signed a conditional $489 million nationwide counter-drone network with Kuwait and Kongsberg committed more than 200 million zlotys to a Polish factory supporting 18 SAN batteries. Institutionally, the US Army formalized its autonomy pivot by directing creation of Futures and Autonomous Systems Command, redesignating Futures and Concepts Command as FASCOM, standing up a Portfolio Acquisition Executive for Autonomy with fielding due no later than fiscal 2028, and assigning corps-level experiments in robotic fires, breaching, reconnaissance and crewed-uncrewed helicopter teaming. Türkiye was the most active single nation outside the United States, with ASELSAN signing €2.46 billion in hybrid air-defense contracts, MKE's 20 kW TOLGA laser destroying a drone at 760 meters and ASELSAN outlining a 198-satellite ASTRALINK constellation. Counter-UAS effectors on display now span the full cost spectrum, from Fortem DroneHunter nets and BAE Systems' high-power microwave demonstrator to 50 mm Raid Hunter guns and 155 mm MDACS hypervelocity projectiles, while Palantir is backing a new Ukrainian interceptor maker targeting Russia's jet-powered Geran-5. Signals to watch are whether AUSA concepts such as GM Defense's Silverado UGV and American Rheinmetall's HX CAML convert into Army orders, whether further Gulf customers follow Qatar, Jordan and Kuwait into layered drone defense, and whether Europe's interim counter-UAS buys, notably Germany's GARMR for Panzerbrigade 45, harden into larger programs.
◆ Articles covered
- Industryquwa.orgASELSAN Signs €2.46 Billion Hybrid Air Defence Contracts With Türkiye
ASELSAN and Türkiye's Presidency of Defence Industries signed contracts worth €2.46 billion for hybrid air-defence systems, the company announced on October 5, 2026. The disclosed package identifies the procurement category and aggregate value but does not specify the systems, quantities or allocation of funding among individual agreements. A separate radar procurement agreement announced on October 7 was valued at $195 million and represents an additional order rather than a stated component of the air-defence package. Delivery schedules and the configuration of the hybrid architecture have not been disclosed, limiting the detail available on the equipment Türkiye will receive.
- IndustryDefense WarRoomU.S. Raytheon LIDS Contract Arms Qatar and Jordan With First Exported Coyote Drone Killers
Raytheon has won $729 million in contracts to supply KuRFS radars and Coyote effectors for the US Army, Qatar and Jordan's LIDS counter-drone systems. Announced on October 13, 2026, the awards cover fixed-site and mobile configurations and constitute the first international sales of both KuRFS and Coyote. KuRFS provides 360-degree detection and tracking, while the Coyote family includes kinetic and non-kinetic effectors intended to defeat individual unmanned aircraft and swarms. Raytheon is expanding production and developing upgrades for faster launches, higher speeds and engagements at greater ranges and altitudes; recipient-specific quantities and delivery dates were not announced.
- DronesDefense WarRoomL3Harris VAMPIRE Counter-Drone Kits Reach US Army Two Months After $106M Order
L3Harris has begun delivering VAMPIRE counter-drone systems to the US Army, with initial units arriving within two months of the service's order worth up to $106 million. The vehicle-agnostic package combines a WESCAM MX-10D targeting sensor, Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System rockets, a proximity fuze and Widow mission-management software for reconnaissance and precision engagements. L3Harris announced the delivery milestone on October 13, 2026, after establishing a dedicated production facility in Huntsville, Alabama, earlier in the year. The company says VAMPIRE has accumulated more than 350,000 operational hours in European combat operations since 2023, providing an existing field-use record for the Army acquisition.
- AirDefense WarRoomL3Harris Red Wolf Flies From Army MH-60 Black Hawk in First Special Operations Test
L3Harris and the US Army Special Operations Aviation Command completed the first Red Wolf air-launched effect flight demonstration from an MH-60 helicopter, announced on October 13, 2026. The flight used a test payload to validate launch-system compatibility and demonstrate the vehicle's flight characteristics in an operational setting; the test location and flight date were not disclosed. Red Wolf belongs to L3Harris' modular Wolf Pack family, which also includes Green Wolf and supports precision-strike and non-kinetic mission configurations. The demonstration brings the portfolio to 60 flight demonstrations and extends its integration work to Black Hawks and other H-60 variants following launches from fixed-wing, rotary-wing and ground platforms.
- DronesDefense WarRoomHoneywell Flies Its First Autonomous Aircraft in Six Weeks on Shield AI Hivemind
Honeywell Aerospace flew its first autonomous aircraft using Shield AI's Hivemind Enterprise six weeks after beginning training, then completed a coordinated two-aircraft surveillance demonstration on October 8, 2026. The initial BFD-SE8 multirotor flight followed training that began in late April, with a July demonstration showing autonomous take-off, route following, avoidance of a no-fly zone and return to base. The subsequent mission near Phoenix combined Hivemind autonomy with an AI target-detection model developed by Honeywell engineers. Announced on October 13, the demonstrations validate software integration and aircraft teaming rather than an operational deployment or production aircraft contract.
- DronesDefense WarRoomTurkish MKE's 20 kW TOLGA Laser Weapon Destroys Drone at 760 Meters in Live-Fire Test
Türkiye's MKE destroyed a drone target at 760 metres using its new 20 kW TOLGA fibre-laser weapon during the Ateş Serbest-2026 live-fire activity at Polatlı. The laser forms part of the TOLGA close-range air-defence architecture and combines four 5 kW fibre-laser sources to deliver its stated power. The Ministry of National Defence exercise also included firing by TOLGA's 12.7 mm and 20 mm fixed and vehicle-mounted weapon stations, including a twin-barrel revolver system. The engagement demonstrates the laser's performance against the particular test target, while the wider TOLGA architecture integrates directed-energy and gun-based effectors for short-range defence.
- AirDefense WarRoomUS-Based Leonardo DRS Begins cxMHR Radar Production With 330 km Aircraft Detection
Leonardo DRS has begun initial production of its cxMHR radar, unveiling the system at AUSA on October 12, 2026. The fully digital C-band AESA integrates four radar panels, identification friend-or-foe equipment and command-and-control functions in an ISO-containerised package that deploys on a single vehicle. DRS quotes continuous 360-degree coverage, detection beyond 90 kilometres against drones and loitering munitions, and beyond 330 kilometres against transport aircraft. Designed for integrated air and missile defence, the software-defined radar provides fire-control-quality tracking and interfaces with multiple battle-management architectures to support simultaneous surveillance of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, rockets and unmanned aircraft.
- IndustryDefense WarRoomNorwegian Kongsberg to Build Counter-Drone Factory in Poland for 18 SAN Batteries
Kongsberg will establish a manufacturing and sustainment plant in Poland for counter-drone systems supporting the SAN programme, the company announced on October 13, 2026. The facility will be located in Pomerania near the Trójmiasto area, with investment exceeding 200 million zlotys and more than 100 long-term jobs expected at full capacity. Kongsberg plans to conclude the construction contract by year-end, begin work immediately afterwards and start serial production in the first half of 2028. The plant supports the Kongsberg-PGZ programme for 18 Polish counter-drone batteries and will form part of the company's wider manufacturing network serving future European customers.
- AirArmy RecognitionU.S. Army Tests GPS-Denied Navigation on Mach 5 Hypersonic Aircraft for Future Weapons
General Dynamics Mission Systems and the US Army demonstrated the Multiple Orbit Navigation receiver aboard Stratolaunch's Mach 5-capable Talon-A hypersonic test aircraft. The compact, software-defined MO-Nav circuit card can process positioning and timing inputs from alternative satellite constellations, commercial navigation services and radio-frequency signals of opportunity when GPS is degraded or unavailable. The demonstration extends earlier artillery testing in which the receiver survived cannon-launch acceleration and supplied measurements to a munition's mission computer. General Dynamics and DEVCOM Aviation and Missile Center are funding further development, with a MOHAWK receiver incorporating M-Code planned for hypersonic demonstration in 2027 and guided-munition demonstrations in 2028.
- NavalJanesJapan launches seventh Taigei-class submarine
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries launched Shogei, the seventh Taigei-class submarine for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, at its Kobe shipyard on October 8, 2026. The diesel-electric boat has a standard displacement of approximately 3,000 tonnes, an 84-metre hull and a 9.1-metre beam, with accommodation for around 70 personnel. Its configuration includes reduced radiated noise, improved sonar and six 533 mm bow torpedo tubes supporting heavyweight torpedoes and Harpoon anti-ship missiles. The launch begins the submarine's outfitting and systems-integration phase before sea trials and commissioning, as the Taigei programme progressively replaces Japan's earlier Sōryū-class boats.
- Dronesbairdmaritime.comThree teams selected for French Navy's armed USV programme
France's Defence Innovation Agency and navy selected three teams to develop larger armed uncrewed surface vessel prototypes under DANAE, announced on October 8, 2026. The finalists are SeaOwl, the SEAir-led Orcas consortium comprising Ægir, MBDA and Diades Marine, and the Sirehna-Couach-Naval Group team. Their approaches respectively include an optionally crewed patrol craft, a hydrofoil-equipped vessel suitable for frigate embarkation, and a modular nine-metre USV designed for uncrewed operation. The teams have 12 months to refine their prototypes before evaluation, with final selection expected by the end of 2027; port protection and escort missions will retain human authority over weapon use.
- Industrythediplomat.comTajikistan, Turkmenistan to Import Indian Surface-to-Air Missile Systems
India's defence secretary confirmed Tajikistan and Turkmenistan as export customers for the indigenous Akash mobile surface-to-air missile system in early October 2026. Akash provides medium-range, radar-directed air defence against aerial targets and is produced through India's domestic missile and electronics industrial base. The announcement follows Armenia's acquisition of multiple batteries, which the secretary identified as the system's first export sale, and expands the disclosed customer base into Central Asia. Contract values, battery quantities and delivery schedules for the two newer customers were not specified, so the confirmation establishes their participation without defining the scale or fielding status of either national procurement.
- DronesDefense WarRoomGM Defense Unveils Silverado UGV With 8,000-lb Payload for Army Resupply at AUSA 2026
GM Defense unveiled a Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD-based uncrewed ground vehicle at AUSA on October 12, 2026, with a stated payload capacity of 8,000 pounds. The concept incorporates 102 kWh of Ultium-based battery capacity and Scout AI's Fury autonomy, with an open architecture intended to accommodate different mission systems. GM is targeting the Army's Project Sustainment autonomous-resupply requirement and displayed the vehicle with AeroVironment's LOCUST X3 counter-drone laser as another possible payload. A technology demonstrator is planned for June 2027, but GM was outside the initial Project Sustainment prototype cohort and has no scheduled Army test delivery.
- IndustryDefence BlogLeonardo DRS wins $63M U.S. Army thermal sight order
Leonardo DRS received a $63 million US Army production order for its Family of Weapon Sights–Individual thermal sights, announced on October 13, 2026. Placed under an existing indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract, the order supports lightweight, uncooled infrared sights that wirelessly connect to ENVG-B goggles and the Integrated Visual Augmentation System. Soldiers can view the sight's thermal image through a helmet-mounted display for rapid target acquisition without necessarily shouldering the weapon. The clip-on configuration supports multiple weapon platforms and day-or-night observation of heat signatures, while the announcement does not specify the number of sights ordered or their delivery timetable.
- DronesShephard MediaCanada targets 2027 frigate trials for CU179 Peregrine uncrewed helicopter
The Royal Canadian Navy plans the first launch and recovery of its CU179 Peregrine uncrewed helicopter from a Halifax-class frigate in 2027, ahead of initial operational capability in the first quarter of 2028. Earlier operations from other maritime platforms will support testing, crew training and development of shipboard procedures before the frigate trials. The vertical-take-off-and-landing system is intended to expand the navy's shipborne unmanned aviation capability through a phased introduction rather than immediate fleet-wide deployment. Integration arrangements for the future River-class destroyers remain undefined, making the Halifax-class trial the next confirmed ship-specific milestone in the programme.
- LandJanesAUSA 2026: USARPAC learning ‘Typhon' missile system lessons over 30-month deployment
US Army Pacific is using more than 30 months of forward Typhon deployment in the Philippines to refine employment, sustainment, protection and sensor-to-shooter integration, officials said at AUSA on October 12, 2026. The Mid-Range Capability launches Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles and SM-6 interceptors from a ground-based system positioned between Precision Strike Missile and Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon ranges. Its standard battery comprises four launchers, a battery operations centre, a support vehicle and reload equipment. The Army conducted its first Philippine Tomahawk launch from Typhon during Balikatan on May 5, providing live-fire experience alongside the continuing deployment and cooperation with Philippine forces.
- NavalNaval NewsSweden Formalizes Interim Submarine Training and Södermanland Lease for Poland
Sweden has formalised agreements for Polish submarine crew training and the lease of HMS Södermanland as an interim capability under Poland's Orka programme. The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration and navy will support 18 months of training in Karlskrona, where the first Polish crews are already receiving instruction. Södermanland is an upgraded A17-class submarine fitted with Stirling air-independent propulsion, and Sweden will provide maintenance and sustainment support during the lease. The arrangement gives Polish personnel experience with Swedish submarine operations ahead of the planned delivery of three Saab A26 boats, with the first new submarine scheduled to arrive in 2031.
- IndustryDefense WarRoomGerman Army Moves to Buy GARMR Drone Defense System for Panzerbrigade 45 in Lithuania
Germany is preparing to procure Diehl Defence GARMR counter-drone systems as an interim capability for Panzerbrigade 45 in Lithuania, according to reporting on October 13, 2026. An initial qualification purchase is expected to remain below €25 million and use Mercedes-Benz G-Class vehicles, with a larger procurement being prepared separately. The proposed configuration combines an MG6 7.62 mm rotary machine gun and CICADA interceptor drones with radar and electro-optical threat detection. The effort addresses the brigade's near-term protection requirement while Skyranger 30 fielding remains pending; the reports describe procurement preparations rather than a disclosed fleet-wide production award.
- DronesDefense WarRoomEurope's MBDA to Offer Fortem DroneHunter Net Interceptors and Anti-Shahed FireThorn
MBDA and Fortem Technologies expanded their counter-drone partnership on October 12, 2026, enabling MBDA to offer DroneHunter interceptors within customers' existing air-defence networks. DroneHunter uses autonomous net capture for engagements where limiting collateral damage or recovering an intact drone is important, building on its earlier integration into SKY WARDEN. The partners will also offer their jointly developed FireThorn interceptor, which combines Fortem's radar-guided airframe with an MBDA warhead for kinetic engagements against Shahed/Geran and Orlan-type drones. The announcement establishes a joint commercial offering, subject to export approvals, rather than a named customer's procurement contract or operational deployment.
- Dronesaviationweek.comAirbus Expands U145 Ambitions To Armed Loyal Wingman
Airbus Helicopters is exploring an armed loyal-wingman version of its U145 uncrewed rotorcraft to accompany attack helicopters into combat. Derived from the H145, the U145 has a planned maximum take-off weight of 3,800 kg and a modular architecture originally presented for cargo transport, reconnaissance and other civil or military missions. Airbus is also working with MBDA on an air-launched-effects role, while the broader concept includes crewed-uncrewed teaming and autonomous mission management. A first flight with a safety pilot is planned by the end of 2026, with service entry targeted for the early 2030s; the armed variant remains a development concept.
- DronesThe War ZoneSpecter Jet-Powered Drone Aims At Low Cost, Multi-Mission, Single Use
AEVEX displayed its Specter jet-powered expendable drone for the first time at AUSA 2026 after announcing the platform in September. Planned ground- and air-launched variants use a modular architecture and interchangeable nose section for warheads, electronic-warfare equipment, cameras or other mission payloads. The aircraft has high-mounted trapezoidal wings, a V-tail and rear conformal engine intakes, with a turbine-powered design intended for subsonic, one-way missions in high-risk environments. AEVEX has not disclosed range, payload capacity, terminal-targeting methods or unit cost, and the exhibition presentation does not establish a production award or demonstrated output at the proposed scale.
- IndustryDefence Industry EuropeNorthrop Grumman to upgrade U.S. Army’s IBCS for greater mobility and battlefield survivability
Northrop Grumman will build two mobile command-workspace prototypes for the US Army's Integrated Battle Command System under a $21 million contract, with delivery due by June 2027. The new Integrated Collaborative Environment replaces the original tent-based arrangement with an expandable van accommodating six operator workstations and four staff stations. Its configurable interior and protected structure are intended to improve survivability and shorten deployment and dismantling times while retaining IBCS mission functions. IBCS fuses distributed sensor information into a common air picture and supplies fire-control-quality tracking, allowing the workspace upgrade to support the Army's existing integrated air-and-missile-defence network.
- LandThe War ZoneBradley’s Old TOW Launchers Get New Teeth With Spike Missile Adapter
Rafael USA and Leonardo DRS presented an adapter enabling vehicles with existing TOW launchers, including the Bradley, to fire Spike LR2 anti-armour missiles at AUSA 2026. The solution supplies mechanical and electrical interfaces between the missile, launcher and vehicle, with additional onboard electronics supporting the weapon's functions. It builds on a Project Convergence 2021 demonstration and is intended to retain the installed launcher and gunner station with limited vehicle modifications. The companies are offering the integration as an upgrade option for TOW-equipped platforms, but have not announced a US Army fleet-wide adoption or a production contract for Bradley conversion.
- Industryaviationweek.comLockheed Martin, Avio Announce Solid Rocket Motor Agreement
Lockheed Martin and Avio announced a strategic cooperation agreement on October 13, 2026, for solid rocket motor production supporting Extended Range GMLRS and Precision Strike Missile. Following qualification, Avio USA will manufacture the motors at its new facility in Hurt, Virginia, using its Italian parent company's solid-propulsion expertise. The agreement gives Lockheed Martin access to part of Avio's merchant production capacity as Avio invests more than $500 million in additional US manufacturing capability. The partners intend to diversify supply and increase ammunition output, but did not disclose motor quantities, a delivery schedule or the value of the cooperation agreement.
- DronesDefence BlogFlying machine gun: IAI and Sig Sauer test Fire Storm 250
Israel Aerospace Industries and SIG SAUER completed a live-fire test of FIRE STORM 250, a vertical-take-off drone carrying an M250 machine gun in a MICROLIGHT weapon station. Announced at AUSA on October 13, 2026, the trial demonstrated target acquisition through the onboard camera and firing from several distances and altitudes in single-shot and semi-automatic modes. The companies quote up to three hours endurance with 200 rounds, while the weapon station, gun and ammunition weigh 24 kg together. A multi-fuel engine supports field refuelling, and the operator must authorise every engagement, distinguishing the tested system from an autonomously firing weapon.
- Dronesquwa.orgASELSAN MORFOZ Guidance Kit Hits Target in First AKINCI Firing
Baykar's AKINCI struck a target during its first firing of ASELSAN's MORFOZ guidance kit over the Gulf of Saros on October 8, 2026. The kit separated safely, executed predetermined manoeuvres to validate its autopilot and completed the guided engagement before the aircraft returned to Çorlu. MORFOZ combines deployable wings, inertial and satellite navigation, waypoint tracking, selectable impact angles and onboard telemetry, with an eight-channel antenna designed to resist navigation-signal jamming. The aircraft also carried ALPAGUT during the sortie, but no ALPAGUT firing was reported; MORFOZ's range, accuracy and resistance to jamming during this particular test were not disclosed.
- Spacequwa.orgASELSAN Sets Out 198-Satellite ASTRALINK Communications Plan
ASELSAN outlined plans for a 198-satellite ASTRALINK low-Earth-orbit communications constellation at the International Astronautical Congress in Antalya, with the first launch targeted within two years. Also called GÖKBAĞI in Türkiye, the programme combines satellite links and a military 5G/6G communications architecture for secure, high-capacity connectivity beyond terrestrial line of sight. ASELSAN plans domestically developed waveforms and subsystems, electronically steered ground antennas and manufacturing capacity scalable to four satellites per month. The October 2026 disclosures describe planned constellation size, initial launch timing and production targets rather than a completed network or an announced schedule for all 198 spacecraft.
- InstitutionalDefense NewsUS Army to stand up command for unmanned and autonomous warfare
The US Army has directed the establishment of Futures and Autonomous Systems Command under an October 1, 2026, memorandum that also creates a Portfolio Acquisition Executive for Autonomy. The acquisition office will prioritise autonomous fires, combat vehicles, watercraft resupply, breaching, reconnaissance and crewed-uncrewed teaming, with fielding directed no later than fiscal 2028. The Army subsequently selected Futures and Concepts Command for redesignation as FASCOM, led by a three-star general and consolidating five research, experimentation and analysis organisations. The initiative also requires force-structure changes across aviation, armour, fires, sustainment, engineering and training, alongside broader assignment of drone and robotics specialists.
- DronesDefense WarRoomUS Army Autonomy Push: FASCOM to Test Robotic Fires, Breaching and Recon Units
The US Army selected Futures and Concepts Command for redesignation as FASCOM on October 13, 2026, assigning it corps-level autonomy experiments. I Corps will test autonomous fires and watercraft units, III Corps an armoured reconnaissance company, V Corps a breaching company, and XVIII Airborne Corps aerial surveillance and lift companies. An 8th Army experiment will pair crewed and uncrewed helicopters, allowing attack pilots to control drone sensors for over-the-horizon targeting and coordinated fires. Fort Rucker becomes the UAS Autonomy Center of Excellence, while experimental formations receive 390A robotics technicians to support evaluation of autonomous equipment, tactics and future unit structures.
- AirDefense WarRoomRheinmetall HX CAML Shown at AUSA 2026 After Low-Cost Interceptor Live Fire
American Rheinmetall displayed its HX-based Common Autonomous Multi-Domain Launcher at AUSA 2026 after a live interceptor firing from a containerised launcher conducted with Furientis during the autumn. The CAML AMP concept combines a mobile truck, autonomous operating functions and open interfaces intended to accommodate different effectors, including Furientis' low-cost interceptor offerings. Rheinmetall says the HX platform supports waypoint and convoy navigation, teleoperation, autonomous loading and unloading, and operation with or without a crew. A separate CAML mission demonstration took place at Redstone Arsenal in June 2026; the exhibition and firing milestones do not constitute a disclosed US Army production order.
- DronesArmy RecognitionU.S. Raid Hunter 50mm Air Defense System Gains Longer-Range Radar to Counter Mass Drone Attacks
Northrop Grumman is integrating SRC's Gryphon R1810 radar into the Raid Hunter 50 mm gun-based air-defence system to improve detection and projectile tracking. The radar doubles antenna subarrays per panel from four to eight relative to the R1540 design, with SRC quoting detection ranges of 21.6 kilometres for Group 1 drones and 49.4 kilometres for Group 3 aircraft. It can simultaneously track a target and the guided ammunition fired against it, while four panels provide 360-degree surveillance. Developed from design to prototype in six months, the sensor's stated detection distances do not represent the effective engagement range of Raid Hunter's cannon.
- DronesDefense WarRoomTaiwan Coast Guard Receives First Shield AI V-BAT VTOL Drones for Shipborne ISR
Shield AI delivered the first V-BAT aircraft to Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration with local partner AIDC, announcing the milestone on October 13, 2026. Twelve aircraft are due over the coming months following competitive selection in July for the coast guard's Shipborne UAV programme. The Group 3 drone uses a ducted-fan vertical-take-off configuration and a heavy-fuel engine, with Shield AI quoting endurance exceeding 12 hours for maritime surveillance, coastal patrol and law-enforcement missions. Newly arrived aircraft were demonstrated at the Port of Taipei on October 7, while Shield AI and AIDC will provide operator training, maintenance instruction and local support.
- LandDefense WarRoomUS Firm Oshkosh Begins DXPV Kaaiman Prototype, a Littoral JLTV for Dutch Marines
Oshkosh Defense began building the first Dutch Expeditionary Patrol Vehicle prototype, known as Kaaiman, for the Netherlands Ministry of Defence on October 13, 2026. Based on the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle production line, the configuration adds maritime corrosion protection, suspension and mobility improvements, modular protection options and integrated mission systems for littoral operations. The initial June 2025 agreement covers 150 vehicles for the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps, with series deliveries scheduled from 2028 and a later follow-on order adding vehicles and training kits. Prototype production advances the programme into hardware development, but Dutch-specific dimensions, weights, powertrain details and final variant allocations remain undisclosed.
- DronesJanesPalantir to fund Ukrainian interceptor UAV company targeting Russia's Geran-5
Palantir will be the first investor in a new Ukrainian defence-technology company developing interceptor drones against jet-powered Russian attack UAVs, Janes confirmed on October 13, 2026. The unnamed company is being launched by Mykhailo Fedorov, who says its interceptor destroyed two Geran-5 drones during combat tests over one month with the National Guard's Lasar's Group unit in Kyiv. Production is targeted at hundreds of interceptors per month by the end of 2026. The aircraft currently requires a human pilot, while AI-enabled autonomous detection and engagement remain development objectives rather than capabilities demonstrated in the disclosed tests.
- AirDefence BlogEurope certifies AMPS missile protection on VIP business jet
BIRD Aerosystems installed its Airborne Missile Protection System on a Bombardier Global 7500 business jet and obtained European Union Aviation Safety Agency certification, announced on October 12, 2026. The AMPS suite detects and confirms infrared missile launches, tracks the incoming threat and directs an infrared countermeasure at the seeker's guidance system. BIRD handled design, installation and certification as one programme, integrating protection against shoulder-fired heat-seeking missiles into the aircraft's approved configuration. The owner and operator were not identified, but the certified installation is available to other Global 7500 customers, extending AMPS beyond its existing military transport, helicopter and VIP-aircraft applications.
- DronesShephard MediaFrom REPMUS to procurement: the four capabilities NATO navies want from USVs
Syos Aerospace is directing its first institutional investment toward research, production capacity and international expansion following maritime experimentation at REPMUS 2026 in Portugal. Its SM400 uncrewed surface vessel participated in the September exercise, which brought together more than 300 unmanned systems, as navies sought integrated fleets able to operate despite communications interference. Syos' AAIMS software provides a common autonomy layer across aerial, ground, surface and underwater vehicles, allowing individual platforms to form a wider network. The convertible-note funding round involved Outset Ventures, NZVC, Altered Capital and strategic investors, supporting industrial expansion rather than constituting a new NATO fleet procurement award.
- AirJanesSweden begins air policing of Poland, to be followed by Patriot deployment in December 2026
Sweden began Gripen air-policing operations over Poland on October 1, 2026, and will deploy Patriot air-defence systems with 100 soldiers from early December. The Patriot deployment will continue through the first half of 2027 and protect the Rzeszów logistics hub used for military and civilian support to Ukraine. Equipment and personnel from Sweden's Halmstad-based Air Defence Regiment will relieve Dutch Patriot units, marking Sweden's first participation in a NATO operation with the system. Gripen C/D aircraft from the Blekinge Wing and the ground-based defences will contribute to NATO integrated air and missile defence under alliance command.
- LandDefense WarRoomFinnish Patria AMV XP 8x8 Targets Czech Pandur II Replacement With Local Industry
Patria and STV GROUP will present the locally tailored AMV XP 8×8 CZ at Prague's Future Forces Exhibition on October 21–23, 2026, targeting the Czech Army's Pandur II replacement. The proposed vehicle family includes Czech participation in integration, production, maintenance and lifecycle support, backed by technology transfer and partnerships with state defence enterprises. Patria will also display an AMV full-mission simulator and its NEMO 120 mm turreted mortar, without an announced Czech selection of either configuration. The company is organising an October 23 industry event to expand the national supplier network; the presentation remains a procurement campaign rather than a confirmed fleet order.
- IndustryShephard MediaUS Coast Guard faces key procurement decisions after C-130J and MQ-9B orders
The US Coast Guard is advancing aviation modernisation after ordering six additional C-130J long-range surveillance aircraft and MQ-9B unmanned aircraft, while helicopter and mission-equipment decisions remain open. The September 24, 2026, C-130J order will expand the fleet to 25 aircraft, with the first delivery expected in fiscal 2028 and completion by the end of fiscal 2030. Further contracts are still required for aircraft missionisation and new helicopters, separating airframe purchases from the equipment and support needed for operational fielding. The programme therefore combines awarded fixed-wing and unmanned acquisitions with unresolved rotary-wing and integration requirements across the service's maritime-surveillance fleet.
- Airaviationweek.comFour Options Emerge For U.S. Army UH-72A Trainer Future
Airbus and the US Army are discussing four options for reassigning 215 UH-72A Lakota training helicopters as Robinson R66 aircraft take over their training role. The alternatives identified include transferring aircraft in their existing configuration to Army National Guard units and converting selected helicopters for autonomous logistics or strike missions. The discussions concern reuse of an existing airframe fleet, with autonomous conversion requiring additional equipment and integration work rather than representing an already fielded capability. Airbus described the alternatives in October 2026, but the Army has not announced a final fleet allocation, conversion contract or implementation schedule for these options.
- DronesJanesLand Forces 2026: Defendtex unveils latest Night Wraith loitering munition variant
DefendTex presented its latest Night Wraith loitering-munition variant at Land Forces 2026 in Perth, held from October 6 to 8. The Australian company promoted Night Wraith at the exhibition as a precision-strike system with a stated 1,000-kilometre range, addressing requirements for Australia and allied customers. The display introduced an updated member of the company's expendable weapon portfolio, rather than announcing an operational deployment or a named military procurement contract. DefendTex's exhibition disclosures did not specify an order quantity, delivery timetable or the latest configuration's warhead and guidance details, so the range figure remains a manufacturer-stated system characteristic.
- DronesJanesLand Forces 2026: BAE Systems positions ATLAS UGV variants for Australia's Project Land 156
BAE Systems presented counter-drone variants of its ATLAS 8×8 uncrewed ground vehicle at Land Forces 2026, positioning the concepts for Australia's Project Land 156. The A$1.3 billion programme, led by integration partner Leidos Australia, addresses counter-unmanned-aircraft requirements over the next decade, while the displayed ATLAS configurations remain candidate concepts. ATLAS measures 5.6 metres long and 1.9 metres wide, with gross weight ranging from seven to 13 tonnes depending on payload and autonomous on- and off-road operation. Exhibition models included a low-profile Vantage turret with a 25 mm M242 Bushmaster cannon and 260 ready rounds, developed with TerraSense Analytics.
- Airquwa.orgTOMTAŞ Sets Out 70% Structural Share in HÜRJET Production
TOMTAŞ plans to manufacture approximately 70 percent of HÜRJET structural parts, with initial component deliveries to Turkish Aerospace Industries targeted for December 2026. The company's Kayseri operation allocates around 10,000 square metres to assembling roughly 7,000 parts into five principal components before shipment to Ankara for aircraft completion and engine installation. Its responsibility covers structural manufacturing and component-level assembly, including hydraulic, fuel-system and wiring integration, rather than 70 percent of the aircraft's total value or onboard systems. TOMTAŞ expects aircraft incorporating the first delivered assemblies to fly in 2027, supporting HÜRJET production for the Turkish and Spanish programmes.
- Airquwa.orgASPİLSAN Details KAAN Battery and Charger Production
ASPİLSAN says it is producing two different battery types and associated charging equipment for Türkiye's KAAN fighter, detailing the work in an October 2026 interview. The company develops and qualifies energy-system components with domestic partners for integration into military aircraft and other critical platforms. Its wider portfolio includes batteries for torpedoes, underwater equipment, unmanned vehicles, land and naval systems, rockets and space applications, with total cell-production capacity of approximately 21 million annually. The disclosed work concerns locally manufactured electrical subsystems and their qualification, while no KAAN-specific production quantity, battery capacity or charging-performance figure was announced.
- Landthediplomat.comWhy Pakistan Tested an Extended Range Version of the Fatah-IV
Pakistan tested an extended-range version of its Fatah-IV ground-launched cruise missile on October 6, 2026, marking the system's third reported launch after a previous test in May. The article reports a range exceeding the earlier missile's stated 750 kilometres and suggests around 1,000 kilometres from imagery, an estimate by the authors rather than a confirmed official maximum. The authors link the extended-range development to India's planned use of longer-range stand-off weapons and the potential relocation of Indian combat aircraft to rear bases. They argue that the variant could expand Pakistan's conventional deterrent by threatening more distant military targets, while terrain-hugging flight would help it contend with India's expanding air-defence network.
- DronesDefense WarRoomRoyal Navy Eyes 12-Meter Hull for Type 93 XLUUV Drone Submarine
The Royal Navy opened preliminary industry engagement for the Type 93 Chariot extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicle on October 12, 2026. It is initially considering hulls approximately 12 metres long and two metres in diameter, while inviting alternative dimensions and proposals for payloads, autonomy, mission management and through-life support. The programme is linked to the AUKUS Pillar II Signature Project and envisages vehicles operating independently or alongside crewed submarines for anti-submarine missions. This consultation precedes a defined acquisition requirement, with no announced fleet quantity, budget or service-entry date; suppliers can register interest through March 31, 2027.
- IndustryArmy TechnologyMARSS wins $489m Kuwait counter-drone defence contract
MARSS, an Electro Optic Systems subsidiary, signed a conditional £370 million (approximately $489 million) contract with Kuwait for a nationwide counter-drone network covering airborne and coastal maritime threats. The company will integrate electro-optical, radar and sonar sensors through its NiDAR command-and-control platform, linking distributed sites to central command centres and supplying both hard-kill interceptors and electronic jammers. Execution requires a £74 million bank guarantee, a matching customer advance and export licences; deployment is planned in phases over 24 months once the conditions are met, with operator training and multi-year logistics support. MARSS will act as prime contractor and systems integrator, with the project expected to create around 100 jobs across its British operations and supply chain.
- DronesDefense WarRoomBAE Systems Pairs MDACS Cannon With Microwave Weapon Against Drones at AUSA 2026
BAE Systems presented the Multi-Domain Artillery Cannon System and a High Power Microwave demonstrator at AUSA on October 12, 2026, offering complementary counter-drone layers. MDACS uses a mobile 155 mm cannon firing guided Hypervelocity Projectiles, with an Army prototype battery comprising eight guns, four precision radars, two battle managers and at least 144 projectiles. Delivery is required in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2027, followed by an operational demonstration in fiscal 2028 and integration with IBCS. The microwave system is designed to disrupt drone electronics and is rated at technology-readiness level six, but BAE has announced no Army contract for it.