Daily briefing
November 10, 2026
Executive summary
Drones led today's 58-item feed with 20 stories, followed by air with ten, industry with nine and land with seven, while North America generated 34 items against 19 for Europe, including Russia, and five for the Indo-Pacific, including Pakistan, with nothing tagged to cyber, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America or the Arctic. Undersea surveillance and anti-submarine warfare formed the connective thread across the naval and uncrewed domains, as the United Kingdom announced a proposed £90 million Atlantic Net framework with Ocean Infinity Solutions to network uncrewed vessels and seabed sensors for the Royal Navy's Atlantic Bastion programme, Kongsberg Maritime and Thales UK teamed on the Arctic Hunter design for the Type 92 uncrewed ASW requirement, Leonardo set out an ASW autonomy path for its Proteus uncrewed helicopter using Shield AI's Hivemind, and Naval Sea Systems Command sought industry ideas on applying AI described as Super Intelligence to quieting the future SSN(X) attack submarine. Collaborative combat aircraft advanced on both sides of the Atlantic, with Airbus and Kratos confirming the first European flight of the U740 Valkyrie toward a 2029 deployable capability, Kratos putting the basic MQ-58 Valkyrie at $6 million to $8 million per aircraft, General Atomics bringing in Spirit Defense as FQ-42 fuselage partner and the Royal Navy planning 2027 trials of Northrop Grumman's Talon from a Queen Elizabeth-class carrier under Project VANQUISH, while Chinese state television aired new GJ-11 footage showing two internal weapons bays. Munitions and sensor output remained a parallel signal as Lockheed Martin delivered its 100,000th GMLRS round at a pace approaching 14,000 rockets a year and tested a General Dynamics second-source motor ahead of 2027 qualification, Diehl and Nammo opened a 155 mm shell-body line at Röthenbach, BAE Systems completed Lot 8 LRASM seeker deliveries and Hensoldt pledged to double TRML-4D radar capacity within two years. Uncrewed maritime logistics also moved as the Defense Innovation Unit awarded Autonomous Low Profile Vessel prototypes to Saronic Technologies, Sea Machines Robotics and Rudder Industries for resupply of dispersed Marines, and in space Rocket Lab paired more than $515 million in Neutron launch bookings with a conditional Office of Strategic Capital loan commitment of up to $150 million before the rocket's first flight. Signals to watch include SSN(X) industry responses due November 13, DARPA's Anzio aero-assisted manoeuvring industry day on December 16–17, the Bundeswehr's acceptance of an audit finding that Airbus Helicopters cannot hold the H145M LKH service-entry timeline, and the Navy's Undergraduate Jet Training System resting on a single established bid, Leonardo-Textron's M-346N, after Sierra Nevada Corporation's withdrawal.
◆ Articles covered
- IndustryDefence BlogSecretive U.S. drone maker AEVEX lands $400M drone contract
AEVEX Aerospace announced a multiyear indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract worth up to nearly $400 million to supply unmanned aircraft systems to an unidentified US customer on November 10, 2026. The ceiling authorizes future orders for aircraft and associated equipment and support, but does not represent a confirmed purchase of a fixed number of drones. The company has experience developing expendable and tactical unmanned platforms, although it did not identify the specific systems covered by this agreement. Individual orders will determine configurations, quantities and delivery schedules, and neither the ultimate contract expenditure nor the customer's identity has been disclosed.
- NavalNaval NewsUK Launches £90M ‘Atlantic Net’ Project to Protect Undersea Cables and Hunt Submarines
The United Kingdom announced a proposed £90 million framework with Ocean Infinity Solutions for Atlantic Net, an autonomous maritime surveillance network serving the Royal Navy's Atlantic Bastion programme. The architecture will combine uncrewed vessels, underwater sensors, communications, remote operations and data services to detect submarines and monitor critical seabed infrastructure across the North Atlantic. Surveillance information is intended to provide earlier warning to anti-submarine warships and Astute-class attack submarines while extending observation beyond crewed patrols. The framework was announced at an international sea-power conference in Oslo on November 10, 2026, with detailed equipment quantities and delivery schedules still unspecified.
- DronesArmy RecognitionAirbus U740 Valkyrie Unmanned Combat Aircraft Completes Maiden Flight for Germany and European Forces
Airbus and Kratos announced on October 12, 2026, that the U740 Valkyrie collaborative combat aircraft had completed its first European flight. The trial took place on September 29 at an undisclosed northern European location. The aircraft used a rocket-assisted, runway-independent launch and conducted maneuvers at different altitudes, reached approximately Mach 0.8 and accepted mission changes while airborne. Based on Kratos' Valkyrie design, which first flew in the United States in 2019, the U740 is being adapted for prospective operations alongside European crewed fighters including the Eurofighter. The partners are targeting a deployable capability in 2029, but this test did not demonstrate operational readiness or qualified weapon employment.
- DronesDefense WarRoomPentagon's DIU Awards Autonomous Low Profile Vessel Prototypes to Resupply Dispersed US Marines
The US Defense Innovation Unit awarded three prototype agreements for Autonomous Low Profile Vessels to Saronic Technologies, Sea Machines Robotics and Rudder Industries on November 9, 2026. The project seeks autonomous, low-signature, semi-submersible craft able to deliver approximately 18,000 pounds of supplies to dispersed Marine Corps units across contested littoral waters. The vendors will develop and demonstrate competing approaches to navigating, resupplying and operating while limiting detectable emissions and crew exposure. DIU did not publish award values, prototype quantities or a production schedule, and the awards do not constitute a fleet procurement decision.
- SpaceDefense WarRoomRocket Lab Neutron Lands $515 Million in Space Force and Satellite Launch Deals Before First Flight
Rocket Lab disclosed more than $515 million in contracts for eight Neutron launches booked during the third quarter of 2026, including missions for the US Space Force and commercial satellite customers. The commitments came from five operators, among them ICEYE, Muon Space, Starcloud and Kepler Communications, bringing the unflown medium-lift rocket's manifest to 16 missions. Rocket Lab also raised Neutron's stated base launch price from $55 million to $70 million as it prepared its reusable first-stage architecture for flight. The bookings are launch-service agreements rather than completed missions, and flight execution depends on the rocket's first successful launch and subsequent qualification.
- LandDefence Industry EuropeLockheed Martin delivers 100,000th GMLRS rocket, reaches nearly 14,000 a year ahead of schedule
Lockheed Martin announced delivery of the 100,000th Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System round and an annual production pace approaching 14,000 rockets ahead of its planned schedule. GMLRS is launched from the M270 MLRS and M142 HIMARS systems used by the US Army and allied forces for precision surface-to-surface fires. At its Camden, Arkansas, facility, the company is expanding staffing and production capacity while working with more than 200 suppliers across 35 US states. The milestone coincides with testing of an additional General Dynamics solid rocket motor intended to broaden the propulsion supply base following qualification planned for 2027.
- LandDefense DailyLockheed Tests New GD-Built Rocket Motor For GMLRS, On Track For Qualification In 2027
Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems completed an initial test of a new US-produced solid rocket motor for the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System. General Dynamics already supplies GMLRS warheads, motor cases and launch-pod containers, and its motor is intended to add another qualified domestic propulsion source for the high-volume rocket programme. Further testing and verification are planned before motor qualification in 2027, so the component has not yet entered approved serial production for operational rounds. The work accompanies Lockheed Martin's rise toward an annual output of nearly 14,000 GMLRS rockets for HIMARS and M270 launchers.
- AirThe War ZoneAIM-174B Long-Range Missile Packed With Glide Munitions Teased, New Details Shared
General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems has outlined a concept for modifying the AIM-174B long-range missile into a carrier for seven compact Vektrex-derived precision glide submunitions. A rendering shown at Euronaval 2026 depicted the proposed payload, which could allow a carrier aircraft with two modified missiles to transport 14 separate glide weapons. Vektrex originated as an unpowered, wing-deploying precision munition developed for launch from 155 mm artillery, with other configurations also explored. The AIM-174B arrangement remains an industry concept under study, not a tested or approved US Navy loadout or an announced procurement programme.
- DronesThe War ZoneMQ-58 Valkyrie Drones Now Cost $6M-$8M Each
Kratos disclosed that a currently produced Valkyrie unmanned aircraft costs approximately $6 million to $8 million in its basic configuration, depending on equipment, without certain mission systems installed. The price was presented during a company earnings discussion and is higher than earlier affordability targets, while a fully missionized aircraft would cost more. The Air Force has used XQ-58A demonstrators for development testing, and the Marine Corps is pursuing an operational configuration through its collaborative combat aircraft effort. The disclosed figure is therefore a configuration-dependent price indication, not a fixed acquisition price for a complete combat-ready fleet or a confirmed new purchase contract.
- Airquwa.orgPakistan Air Force Reveals New Loitering Munitions, Decoys & Cruise Missiles
The Pakistan Air Force presented a group of domestically associated loitering munitions, decoys and cruise-missile designs, including an improved YIHA-III or Sivrisinek-related aircraft, Lightning-1, Lightning-2 and Arrow-1. The displays also featured a jet-powered decoy or munition resembling the Turkish Şimşek family, reflecting several approaches to stand-off attack and electronic deception. These are distinct systems with different proposed roles, from expendable target decoys to longer-range precision weapons, rather than one integrated operational missile package. Public disclosures do not establish that every displayed design has completed qualification or entered series production, and some technical designations and operational details remain uncertain.
- IndustryDefence Industry EuropeBWX Technologies books $189 million annual fuel contract for naval nuclear propulsion
BWX Technologies booked a $189 million annual naval nuclear-fuel contract during the third quarter of 2026, supporting specialized fuel production for US Navy nuclear-powered vessels. Management disclosed the award during a November 2 investor briefing and said negotiations were continuing on the next multiyear pricing arrangement for naval propulsion work. The company's government operations segment reported four-percent revenue growth and a 22-percent increase in adjusted EBITDA to $144 million, despite lower materials purchases affecting naval propulsion revenue. BWX expects a larger naval propulsion workload in 2027, while the $189 million award represents one annual contract rather than a finalized longer-term agreement.
- NavalNaval NewsBAE Systems accelerates delivery of advanced LRASM missile sensors
BAE Systems announced completion of all Lot 8 deliveries of its advanced radio-frequency sensor to Lockheed Martin for the AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missile. The sensor provides guidance and target-discrimination capability for maritime engagements in contested electromagnetic environments, and BAE also upgraded its software and completed verification testing without changing hardware. Manufacturing and engineering are distributed across company facilities in Texas, New York and New Hampshire, with increased capacity supporting faster missile production. Existing BAE sensor delivery contracts extend through 2028; the announcement concerns a completed component-production lot and accelerated follow-on supply, not delivery of entire missiles by BAE.
- LandDefense WarRoomBelgium's Blue Dome Air Defense Will Use Thales GM200 MM/C Radars to Track Drones and Missiles
Thales announced that Belgium selected its Ground Master 200 Multi-Mission Compact radar for the Blue Dome national air-defence architecture on November 10, 2026. The mobile AESA sensor will contribute surveillance of aircraft, unmanned systems and cruise-missile threats, feeding Kongsberg's Fire Distribution Centre and NASAMS interceptors through a common detection-and-engagement network. The selection follows a configuration similar to that used by the Netherlands and is intended to support future interoperability between neighbouring air-defence forces. Thales did not specify the number of radars, contract value or delivery dates, and the selection itself is not evidence that the complete Blue Dome system is operational.
- LandDefence BlogDiehl and Nammo open 155mm shell production in Bavaria
Diehl Defence, Diehl Metall and Norway's Nammo inaugurated a 155 mm artillery-shell body production line at Röthenbach in Bavaria, expanding European manufacturing of NATO-standard ammunition components. The facility will produce shell bodies for the jointly developed DiNa ammunition programme, which subsequently require loading and final assembly before becoming usable rounds. The industrial partnership is designed to increase regional supply capacity and reduce manufacturing bottlenecks as European forces replenish artillery inventories. The opening marks the start of a manufacturing operation rather than the delivery of a specified quantity of finished ammunition, and the companies did not disclose an exact annual production rate in the announcement.
- IndustryDefense WarRoomLithuania Adds Carl-Gustaf M4 Anti-Tank Weapons as 10-Year Saab Deal Worth Up to EUR 58M Begins
Lithuania announced receipt of the final Carl-Gustaf M4 recoilless weapons and spare parts under a €14 million Saab contract signed in late 2024, while deliveries under a newer agreement have begun. The separate contract with Saab Dynamics, concluded in May 2026, runs for ten years with a maximum value of €58 million and covers further equipment and support. The 84 mm M4 is a reusable shoulder-fired weapon employing different ammunition types for engagements against armoured vehicles, field positions and other targets. The ministry's November 10 announcement describes actual deliveries under two agreements, not a newly signed €58 million order for immediate delivery.
- SpaceDefense DailyFirst Anduril Satellite On Orbit Is For Space Domain Awareness
Anduril Industries confirmed that its first spacecraft, ANDURIL-216, is operating in orbit after a July 2026 launch aboard a SpaceX rocket to demonstrate space-domain-awareness technology. The satellite carries a long-wave infrared sensor designed to observe and characterize other objects in space, with the company releasing early imagery from the instrument. The flight is intended to validate sensing hardware, mission operations and the firm's entry into space-based surveillance applications beyond its established autonomous defence systems. This is an on-orbit technology demonstration rather than a confirmed operational military constellation, and Anduril has not announced a production order for follow-on satellites.
- DronesJanesGA-ASI partners with Spirit Defense on FQ-42 airframe production
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems announced an October 23, 2026, partnership with Spirit Defense, part of Boeing, to support production of the FQ-42 Vengeance Collaborative Combat Aircraft. Spirit will serve as a fuselage design-and-build partner, adding aerostructure manufacturing capacity and reducing dependence on a single industrial source as the US Air Force develops its autonomous-aircraft fleet. The arrangement concerns manufacturing preparation for General Atomics' Gambit-derived platform, rather than transfer of programme leadership or a new aircraft procurement contract. General Atomics also reports discussions with potential foreign customers about national production participation and integration of domestic sensors, weapons and other equipment.
- Airaviationweek.comMerlin Moves Into System Integration Phase For C-130J Autonomy
Merlin has moved its C-130J Hercules autonomous-flight project into system integration after completing a critical design review for the intended cockpit installation. The company received an $8.9 million US Special Operations Command order to integrate its autonomy system on a Lockheed Martin C-130J, linking software functions with aircraft avionics and controls. The programme explores how automated flight management could support special-operations airlift while retaining the transport's existing mission capabilities. Design-review completion and integration work are intermediate engineering milestones; the software has not yet been demonstrated as an approved operational replacement for a C-130J flight crew.
- DronesDefense DailySafe Pro To Integrate Automatic Mine Detection Software On Anduril UAS Under First Prime Contract
The US Army awarded Safe Pro Group a $2.5 million prime contract to integrate and evaluate automated mine-detection software aboard Anduril Industries' Ghost-X unmanned aircraft. The software processes aerial imagery to locate and map mines and other explosive hazards, with the project examining how airborne detection can assist M1 Abrams crews operating in threatened terrain. Safe Pro described the award as its first contract directly as a prime contractor, although its technology was already under Army evaluation in other trials. The new work is a test and demonstration effort, not an announced fleet-wide deployment or a completed certification of the detection system.
- IndustryDefense WarRoomUS Army Orders $31M More Oshkosh FMTV A2 LVAD Trucks Built to Be Parachuted From C-130s and C-17s
The US Army placed an additional $31 million order for Oshkosh Defense FMTV A2 Low-Velocity Airdrop cargo trucks, bringing cumulative orders for the variant to 953 vehicles. The latest award covers 4×4 and 6×6 configurations designed for parachute delivery from C-130 and C-17 aircraft, using collapsible cabs to fit airborne deployment constraints. These vehicles provide tactical cargo transport and ground mobility after parachute insertion, supplementing equipment available to rapidly deploying Army formations. Oshkosh expects orders under the present production arrangement to continue through February 2028, with the Army planning a follow-on FMTV A2 production competition in fiscal 2028.
- Dronesbairdmaritime.comUS robotics firm introduces underwater glider family for multi-year missions
General Atomics described a family of buoyancy-driven underwater gliders intended to transport sensors, smaller autonomous underwater vehicles and potentially deployable aerial drones over prolonged submerged missions. Its existing 6.7-metre large-displacement demonstrator has supported submerged trials lasting up to 70 days, while planned larger vehicles measuring roughly 30 to 41 metres target multiyear endurance. The proposed blended-wing, low-power architecture would combine glider propulsion with auxiliary thrusters and modular cargo spaces for intelligence collection and other mission payloads. These long-endurance figures are development ambitions for future extra-large designs, not evidence that the largest variants have already completed multiyear operational deployments.
- DronesShephard MediaLeonardo details Proteus’s path to autonomous anti-submarine missions for the Royal Navy
Leonardo is developing greater mission autonomy for its Proteus uncrewed helicopter under an October 2026 agreement to use Shield AI's Hivemind software development kit. The companies intend to integrate and adapt autonomy functions for rotary-wing tasks, including anti-submarine warfare, intelligence and surveillance, and logistics in contested environments. Proteus is a Royal Navy and UK Defence Innovation technology demonstrator that achieved its first flight in January 2026, supporting research into crewed and uncrewed aircraft working together. Integration of Hivemind remains a development activity, and independent submarine detection or engagement by an operational Proteus fleet has not been demonstrated or ordered.
- DronesDefence Industry EuropeKongsberg Maritime unveils Arctic Hunter, an uncrewed vessel designed to hunt submarines for the Royal Navy
Kongsberg Maritime unveiled Arctic Hunter on November 9, 2026, as an uncrewed surface-vessel design intended to meet the Royal Navy's emerging Type 92 anti-submarine warfare requirement. Adapted from an existing commercial Arctic hull, the proposal combines remote and autonomous operation with dynamic positioning, secure communications, a Thales UK towed sonar and space for modular payloads. Kongsberg is discussing construction with Balaena Maritime at a Birkenhead shipyard, with an aim to supply hulls ready for military fitting and deployment before the end of the decade. Arctic Hunter has not entered construction, and its presentation is an industrial proposal rather than a Royal Navy acquisition award.
- AirArmy RecognitionLeonardo-Textron's M-346N leads US Navy T-45 Goshawk replacement program after SNC withdrawal from UJTS
Sierra Nevada Corporation has withdrawn its Freedom Trainer from the US Navy's Undergraduate Jet Training System competition, leaving the Leonardo-Textron Beechcraft M-346N as the only confirmed proposal from an established aircraft manufacturer. The programme is intended to replace the Navy's aging T-45 Goshawk fleet and currently envisages about 216 advanced training aircraft, with a development ceiling expanded to approximately $2.7 billion. SNC cited unacceptable risk from firm-fixed-price production commitments before design maturity, following earlier withdrawals by other contenders. The remaining M-346N offer has not been formally selected, and an uncontested bid does not constitute a signed production contract.
- DronesArmy RecognitionU.S. Marines Train with Neros Archer FPV Attack Drones to Extend Infantry Strike Range
US Marines conducted training with Neros Archer first-person-view attack drones as the service expands small-unit proficiency in remotely piloted strike systems. The disposable quadcopter can carry interchangeable mission payloads and is being fielded through an effort supported by the Defense Innovation Unit, with operators learning launch procedures, video-based navigation and tactical employment. Marine Corps guidance issued in 2025 directed initial fielding and short-term operator instruction while the service develops a standardized, scalable attack-drone training framework. The observed training represents adoption and tactical evaluation of Archer, not evidence that every Marine infantry formation already has a fully equipped operational drone unit.
- AirJanesAirbus Helicopters unable to keep German H145M LKH timeline, Federal Audit Office states
Germany's Federal Audit Office has warned that Airbus Helicopters cannot meet the previously agreed schedule for bringing H145M Leichter Kampfhubschrauber light combat helicopters into operational service. The Bundeswehr accepted the finding on November 4, 2026, citing an incomplete equipment configuration and unresolved technical challenges that could postpone full capability by several years. Germany has expanded the purchase to 82 H145Ms, comprising 72 for the Army and ten for Luftwaffe special operations forces. Deliveries of the initial 62 were originally due by the end of 2028, while no completion date has been disclosed for the expanded order. The oversight finding concerns operational availability and programme implementation, not cancellation of the helicopter order or a complete halt to deliveries.
- NavalShephard MediaUS Navy weighs “Super Intelligence” role in designing a quieter SSN(X) attack submarine
The US Naval Sea Systems Command issued a presolicitation seeking industry ideas for applying advanced artificial intelligence, described as Super Intelligence, to the future SSN(X) nuclear attack-submarine design. Proposed applications include acoustic quieting, engineering optimization, increased weapons capacity and integration of unmanned systems, but the Navy has not released a definitive technical specification. Interested suppliers were asked to provide information by November 13, 2026, with a potential later development phase using Other Transaction Authority contracting. The effort is early market research and risk reduction for a submarine class whose first procurement is envisaged around 2040, not a construction contract.
- IndustryDefense DailyRocket Lab Gets $150 Million Conditional Loan Commitment from Pentagon OSC for Neutron
The Pentagon's Office of Strategic Capital announced a conditional loan commitment of up to $150 million to Rocket Lab for development and industrial expansion related to its Neutron launch vehicle. The proposed financing is intended to help increase the flight rate of the reusable medium-lift rocket after its inaugural launch and support additional government and commercial access to orbit. Neutron remains in testing and has secured launch agreements, including national-security missions, but had not completed its first flight when the announcement was made. The commitment is conditional financing rather than a disbursed grant or a confirmed purchase of launch services by the Pentagon.
- DronesDefence BlogU.S. firm XDOWN’s throwable drone passes strike test
US defence startup XDOWN reported a successful strike demonstration of its STUD compact hand-launched unmanned aircraft after more than 500 hours of flight development. The Group 1 system is designed to fit in a soldier's pack and launch by hand, while the company also proposes a portable BLOOPER launcher for ground vehicles, surface vessels and fixed positions. The trial reportedly validated launch, flight control and terminal strike functions in an integrated configuration, and further military assessments are being prepared. XDOWN has outlined plans for possible European production from 2027, but no completed military procurement or mass-production order was announced.
- DronesDefense WarRoomUS Navy Tours Saronic's Louisiana Shipyard Building 10 Marauder MUSV Autonomous Ships
Saronic Technologies hosted a US Navy programme team at its Franklin, Louisiana, shipyard during the week of November 2, 2026, following an agreement to build ten Marauder medium uncrewed surface vessels. The 180-foot autonomous craft is designed for modular payloads and extended maritime operations, with a mission deck suitable for containerized equipment and other systems. The ten-hull agreement is part of a wider initial Navy purchase involving three competing builders and 30 medium uncrewed vessels, with first deliveries expected by the end of fiscal 2027. The visit reviewed construction preparations and yard expansion rather than marking acceptance or operational deployment of the ships.
- Airaviationweek.comB-1B Pilots Start Supplementary Training With HondaJets
The US Air Force began supplementary flight training for B-1B Lancer pilots using contractor-operated HondaJet HA-420 aircraft under its Bomber Supplemental Trainer for Aircrew Readiness programme. The first military training flight took place on November 2, 2026, near Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, with XSTAR Aviation providing jets, instructors, maintenance and scheduling. The service expects eligible pilots to gain roughly 100 additional flying hours annually, emphasizing instrument procedures, mission planning, handling and crew resource management. Aerial refueling, tactical operations and weapons delivery will still be trained in B-1Bs, preserving bomber sorties for tasks that require the combat aircraft.
- Navalbairdmaritime.comUS Navy takes delivery of 19th LCAC-100-class landing craft
The US Navy accepted LCAC 118, the 19th Ship-to-Shore Connector or LCAC-100-class air-cushion landing craft built by Textron Systems. Measuring about 28 metres long, the four-person hovercraft can transport up to 67 tons of vehicles and equipment across open water and onto beaches without permanent port facilities. Its layout is compatible with the well decks of amphibious ships and expeditionary transfer docks, with a separate transport module accommodating as many as 145 equipped troops or 108 casualties. The delivery adds another modern connector to the Navy's replacement programme for legacy LCACs, but does not describe an operational amphibious landing.
- IndustryDefense WarRoomGreece Expands V-BAT Drone Fleet for Army and Navy Through NATO Agency Order to Monitor the Aegean
The NATO Support and Procurement Agency ordered additional Shield AI V-BAT vertical-takeoff unmanned aircraft for Greece's Army and Navy under a contract announced on November 9, 2026. The agreement includes spare parts, ground-support equipment, operator training and long-term sustainment, supporting intelligence and maritime surveillance from ships, islands or coastal sites without runways. Greece previously received four V-BAT aircraft in 2025, and its government approved a further joint-service acquisition programme in June 2026. Shield did not disclose the exact aircraft quantity, contract value or delivery timetable for this order, so figures reported for the wider Greek programme should not be treated as confirmed contract totals.
- IndustryDefense WarRoomUS Navy Awards General Dynamics $20M for Physics-Based Undersea Dominance Research Through 2031
The US Office of Naval Research awarded General Dynamics Applied Physical Sciences a nearly $20 million cost-plus-fixed-fee completion contract for advanced undersea and naval-engineering research. The five-year effort, entitled Advancements in Undersea Dominance and Naval Engineering, emphasizes first-principles physics, modeling and simulation, with work in Groton, Connecticut, through September 2031. Of the $19,999,957 maximum contract amount, only $5.1 million in Navy research funds was obligated when the award was made, leaving the balance subject to later funding. The announcement does not identify specific submarines, sensors or classified applications to be delivered, and the award is for research rather than platform construction.
- IndustryDefense WarRoomUS Navy Sends Ammunition Ship USNS Alan Shepard to Vigor Marine for $13.8M Mid-Term Maintenance
Military Sealift Command awarded Vigor Marine a $13.8 million firm-fixed-price contract for a 50-day mid-term maintenance availability on USNS Alan Shepard, a Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo and ammunition ship. The work is scheduled at Vigor's Portland, Oregon, yard from December 1, 2026, to January 19, 2027, with three unexercised options potentially lifting the total to about $14.15 million. The auxiliary vessel supports at-sea replenishment of US Navy carrier and amphibious groups with stores, equipment and ammunition. This award covers planned ship maintenance, not construction of a replacement vessel or an additional operational deployment.
- DronesDefence BlogJapan develops its own UGVs, up to 10 tons, for its military
Japan's Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency is researching domestic unmanned ground vehicles in three weight categories, from under one ton to a heavy class of five to ten tons. A Ground Systems Research Center display showed a small four-track cargo carrier, a wheeled utility platform in the one-to-two-ton range and a larger tracked vehicle with a flat payload deck. The work covers off-road mobility, self-position estimation and coordination with crewed vehicles, with some prototypes still under construction. The projects are exploratory designs presented at an agency technology symposium, not a confirmed purchase of operational robotic combat vehicles by Japan's ground forces.
- SpaceDefence BlogPentagon wants satellites to use the atmosphere to change orbits
The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency announced the Anzio initiative to explore using Earth's upper atmosphere for large, precise satellite orbit changes with substantially less propellant. DARPA is seeking thermal protection, lightweight aeroshells, atmospheric sensing and control algorithms that could enable aero-assisted maneuvers without developing a new spacecraft bus or conventional propulsion system. An industry event is scheduled for December 16–17, 2026, in Arlington, Virginia, with a draft solicitation expected no earlier than December 9. This is an early research programme announcement, not a demonstrated operational spacecraft or an award specifying satellite quantities and funding.
- DronesDefence BlogU.S. special forces want a helmet display with drone control
US Special Operations Command issued a sources-sought notice for a helmet-mounted display that could combine first-person-view drone control with tactical data in the operator's field of vision. Requested features include a 50-degree viewing angle, head tracking, certified ballistic protection and integration with the Android Tactical Assault Kit, while remaining compatible with existing radios, helmets and power equipment. The concept is intended for dismounted personnel working in contested or congested environments, with companies asked to respond by December 1, 2026. The notice is preliminary market research and does not specify a funded contract, a production quantity or a date for fielding the equipment.
- InstitutionalDefence Industry EuropeHensoldt says it aims for €10 billion in annual sales by 2035 and will double TRML-4D radar capacity
German defence-electronics group Hensoldt set a target of €10 billion in annual sales by 2035 and said it would double capacity for the TRML-4D air-defence radar over the next two years. At its November 2026 capital-markets event, the company also retained a €6 billion revenue goal for 2030, compared with about €2.8 billion expected in 2026. Hensoldt reported a €10.4 billion order backlog at the end of September and outlined additional industrial facilities, including a radar-production site scheduled for 2027. The figures are corporate forecasts and capacity plans, not guaranteed revenue or a newly awarded order for a fixed number of radars.
- DronesArmy RecognitionRussia Showcases Export Version of Harpia-A1 (E) Loitering Munition with 1,000 km Strike Reach
Russia presented the Harpia-A1(E) export-version loitering munition at a Moscow security exhibition on November 10, 2026, advertising a strike range of up to 1,000 kilometres. Russian sources claimed a warhead heavier than 50 kilograms, endurance of at least six hours and an automated flight profile for attacking predesignated targets. The system is being promoted for long-range unmanned attack missions, although the public presentation did not establish its performance under independent testing or identify an export customer. The figures should be understood as manufacturer or Russian-government claims, and the appearance of an export model does not confirm a signed sale or operational deployment abroad.
- AirJanesAero Vodochody closes in on Skyfox sale to Serbia
Czech aircraft manufacturer Aero Vodochody said it was in advanced discussions with Serbia over a possible sale of L-39 Skyfox advanced trainers and light-combat aircraft. The company clarified on November 10, 2026, that a concrete proposal had been presented during a Czech prime-ministerial visit but that technical, commercial and financial terms still required agreement. Although Czech political remarks referred to six or eight aircraft, Aero did not confirm a contracted quantity, delivery schedule or signed purchase. The negotiation could cover supporting operational and technical arrangements as well as aircraft, but remains a proposed export transaction rather than a completed procurement.
- InstitutionalDefence Industry EuropeU.S. Air Force unveils 2026 plan to sustain combat operations when key systems are disrupted
The US Air Force published Force Design 2026, a planning document describing how aircraft, weapons, sensors and command systems should operate together when parts of the force are disrupted. Building on One Force Design 2024, the document emphasizes connected operations, distributed combat power, human-directed autonomy and information systems able to function in contested communications environments. The service identifies long-range weapons, electronic warfare and new sensing and networking technologies as factors shaping its future aircraft and support requirements. The release establishes modernization priorities and force-design concepts, not a new equipment contract, fixed procurement quantity or immediate activation of a particular combat unit.
- DronesArmy TechnologyLMT Defence, Thales Italia to explore mobile networks for drone detection
Latvia's LMT Defence and Thales Italia signed a memorandum of understanding to study counter-drone detection using commercial mobile-communications networks and defence-oriented 4G and 5G technologies. The companies plan to combine LMT's telecommunications infrastructure and services with Thales Italia's secure networking expertise to identify and track unmanned aircraft through characteristic behaviour in the radio environment. The cooperation follows work on integrated sensing and communications and aims to assess technical feasibility for future counter-UAS applications. No operational surveillance network, procurement value or deployment timetable was announced, and the agreement should be treated as joint technology exploration rather than a fielded detection system.
- DronesJanesRift trials persistent drone surveillance off the French coast
French company Rift conducted initial maritime trials of its containerized persistent-surveillance system off Brittany on November 5, 2026, supported by €1.3 million in France 2030 innovation funding. Two transportable stations, each 12 metres long and able to support three aircraft, were used to test remotely operated Spirit vertical-takeoff fixed-wing drones. Rift quotes up to five hours of endurance, approximately 300 kilometres of range and a four-kilogram payload capacity, with sensors intended to investigate coastal radar detections. The demonstration is an early evaluation of a deployable surveillance architecture, not a declaration that a nationwide coastal network is already operational.
- DronesDefense DailySeasats and Neros Partner To Deploy FPV Drones From USVs
Seasats and Neros announced a partnership after demonstrating launches of Neros Archer first-person-view attack drones from the enclosed payload bay of a Seasats Quickfish uncrewed surface vessel. The concept combines Quickfish's multiweek maritime endurance with several Archer 10-inch Strike or Archer AI aircraft, satellite communications and onboard control relays enabling remote launch and piloting. Seasats describes Quickfish as capable of 40-knot sprints, while the drone-carrying vessel can return for refuelling and reloading after missions. The companies reported at-sea integration trials, not a government order or operational naval deployment, and have not disclosed quantities purchased by military customers for this combination.
- AirDefence Industry EuropeNH90 helicopters from Spain make first NATO air defence scramble after drone alert in Romania
Two Spanish Air and Space Force NH90 helicopters scrambled from Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base in Romania on November 5, 2026, following reports of unidentified drones, alongside Spanish F/A-18 fighters. NATO's Allied Air Command described the flight as the first Quick Reaction Alert scramble by the Spanish helicopters assigned to the alliance's air-defence mission in Romania. The rotorcraft, operated by the 48th Wing, complement fighters when commanders must investigate low-flying or slow-moving potential threats, while remaining part of an integrated command-and-control response. The event was a real alert mission, not a weapons engagement or evidence that the NH90s replaced the deployed fighters.
- AirDefence Industry EuropeU.S. Army crews take on F-22 Raptor refueling at Keen Sword 27 exercise in Japan
US Army fuel specialists supported F-22 Raptor fighter operations during the Keen Sword 27 exercise in Japan, refuelling aircraft from the 525th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron with Army equipment. Personnel from the 593rd Corps Sustainment Command had completed preparation at Joint Base Lewis-McChord to apply Air Force safety procedures to fixed-wing aircraft refuelling. In Japan, crews coordinated with Air Force maintainers, tested fuel quality and monitored pressure, transfer flow and static-electricity hazards during aircraft servicing. The cross-service arrangement was an exercise in distributed logistics and ground-support flexibility, not an announcement of permanently transferring F-22 maintenance or fuel operations to the Army.
- LandArmy RecognitionU.S. Army Deploys New SIG Sauer M250 6.8mm Machine Gun for High-Intensity Jungle Warfare in the Pacific
US Army soldiers from the 25th Infantry Division operated SIG Sauer's M250 6.8 mm light machine gun during jungle-oriented training in Hawaii on November 8, 2026. The weapon forms part of the Next Generation Squad Weapon programme and is intended to replace selected older squad automatic weapons while using the military's newer 6.8 mm ammunition. The training gave personnel experience carrying, handling and firing the system in vegetation and complex terrain during preparations for distributed Pacific operations. The event demonstrates field training with the M250, not a combat deployment or an independent measurement of its performance under battlefield conditions.
- IndustryDefense WarRoomUS Marine Corps Orders Another UC-12W+ King Air Transport for Passenger, Cargo and Medevac Missions
Naval Air Systems Command awarded Textron Aviation an $18.6 million firm-fixed-price contract for one UC-12W+ light transport aircraft and an initial spares package for the US Marine Corps. The aircraft is a militarized Beechcraft King Air 360CER configured for passenger and cargo transport and medical evacuation, with secure communications, night-vision-compatible equipment and protection for operations from gravel runways. Textron disclosed the September 28, 2026, award in November, and delivery of this additional aircraft is scheduled for 2028. The Marine Corps plans a UC-12W+ fleet of approximately 30 aircraft, although this specific award covers just one airframe.
- LandDefense WarRoomPortugal Approves Leopard 2A6 Midlife Upgrade Worth Up to €82.35M as Tank Spare Parts Run Short
Portugal's Council of Ministers authorized spending of up to €82.35 million, excluding VAT, on a midlife upgrade of the Portuguese Army's Leopard 2A6 main battle tanks. The authorization addresses maintenance and obsolescence pressures affecting an aging fleet, including difficulties obtaining spare parts for existing vehicle equipment. The programme is intended to restore reliability and sustain the tanks' combat utility through repairs, component replacements and modernization work, with the precise equipment package subject to implementation arrangements. This decision approves an expenditure ceiling rather than documenting completed upgrades or a newly delivered tank fleet, and a detailed execution schedule has not been published.
- LandArmy TechnologyRaytheon completes third DeepStrike JR3 flight test for US Army
Raytheon completed the third flight test of its DeepStrike JR3 practice rocket for the US Army's Joint Reduced Range Rocket programme at Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona. Multiple rounds were launched in rapid succession to assess range, trajectory, accuracy, visible impact marking and the reusability of the launch-pod container. The training rocket is being developed to replace the existing Reduced Range Practice Rocket and fit standard MLRS-family pods holding 24 rounds. It is intended for training with both M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System and M142 HIMARS launchers, rather than serving as a new long-range combat missile.
- DronesJanesNew details emerge on China's GJ-11 stealth UAV
Chinese state television released new footage on November 9, 2026, showing the Hongdu GJ-11 low-observable unmanned combat aircraft, including its blended-wing planform, dorsal intake and two internal weapons bays. The broadcaster said the bays can carry several types of air-to-surface munitions and identified strike and suppression of enemy air defences among the intended missions. Footage also depicted planning for manned-unmanned operations alongside J-16 and J-20 fighters and described an initial group of female aircraft operators. China's air force previously said the GJ-11 had entered service in November 2025, although detailed performance specifications remain undisclosed.
- SpaceDefense WarRoomUK's Titania Satellite Reaches Orbit to Watch Military Activity as MOD Trials Space Threat Sensors
The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed that Titania reached orbit as the second spacecraft associated with UK Space Command's ISTARI military-space programme, with the announcement made on November 7, 2026. Developed with the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory and BAE Systems, the satellite supports experimentation with sovereign observation and space-related technologies. The ministry also introduced Project Inaros, a separate ground-based trial deploying three neuromorphic sensors to detect potentially threatening activity near British spacecraft. Titania's arrival establishes an additional orbital test asset, while Inaros remains a sensor experiment and neither announcement by itself constitutes a fully deployed space-surveillance network.
- Dronesbairdmaritime.comFrench robotics firm unveils logistics and mine warfare USV
French maritime robotics company NXT LVL Naval has presented a concept for a 15-metre ocean-going unmanned surface vessel intended for logistics, surveillance, infrastructure protection and mine countermeasures. Its proposed modular payloads include seabed-mapping equipment, underwater sensors, autonomous underwater-vehicle launch-and-recovery systems and support for special operations. The design envisages supervised autonomy, redundant energy and propulsion arrangements, and navigation and communications resilience when satellite links or GNSS are disrupted. Development remains at the concept and partner-selection stage, with no confirmed demonstrator, production contract or disclosed performance figures for speed, endurance or payload.
- Airthediplomat.comWhat the Fa’az Missile Means for Pakistan’s Air Force
Pakistan successfully flight-tested its indigenous Fa'az beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile from a JF-17 fighter on 3 November 2026, according to the country's military. The programme includes reported infrared- and radar-guided variants, with observers identifying the tested round as a possible imaging-infrared version, although official data on range and seeker configuration remain limited. Domestic development could give the Pakistan Air Force more control over missile production, maintenance and inventory replenishment alongside existing imported weapons. The event demonstrates a missile test, not confirmed mass production, operational induction or a proven capability to defeat specific foreign aircraft types.
- DronesDefense WarRoomOverland AI Makes NASCAR-Built 6WAP Military Vehicle Drive Itself Under Heavy Load
Overland AI demonstrated its OverDrive autonomous-driving software on an RCR 6WAP six-wheeled military vehicle built by the manufacturing arm associated with NASCAR team Richard Childress Racing. Footage released on 10 November 2026 showed the modified 6×6 travelling over rough terrain without a driver while carrying a substantial load. The autonomy package uses sensors and onboard software to navigate unprepared routes, with potential applications in tactical resupply and other ground transport tasks. The demonstration establishes a vehicle-level integration and mobility test, not a military procurement decision or proof that the platform is operationally fielded.