THE NEWS DESK
Reporting, source announcements and the context behind them.
93 entries
NATO says its new counter-UAS marketplace lists 16 competitively selected solutions from five firms under multi-award frameworks. Listing enables faster Allied procurement; it is not an order by every member or acceptance of every configuration.
The Royal Navy reports several Nyan Maritime one-way drone flights from HMS Queen Elizabeth in mid-October, plus a TEKEVER AR5 carrier trial. These were flight demonstrations for a future hybrid air wing, not operational carrier deployment.
Safran and MSI-Defence Systems say an unnamed NATO European navy ordered SEAHAWK DS30M gun mounts with Safran VIGEO sights for mine-countermeasure vessels. Deliveries are planned for 2027; counter-drone performance of the combined fit remains unreported.
Baykar says a Bayraktar TB2 flew carrying 16 Skydagger FPV drones, released two and relayed operator control to their targets. The supplier reports a flight test, not an accepted 16-drone attack capability.
France's Defence Innovation Agency says it has agreed with Naval Group to build a large UCUV demonstrator, with sea trials planned from 2028. It is a development step, not an operational French Navy vehicle.
Ondas says it secured counter-drone contracts for portable Ranger systems with an unnamed European police organisation and Iron Drone Raider interceptors with an unnamed Asian government customer. Deliveries and acceptance were not reported.
Ocius has announced its contract with Seisgadget to support Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force verification of Bluebottle surface drones. The contract began in August; in-water trials and acceptance remain ahead.
Airbus says the French DGA has qualified the vertical-take-off U010 Aliaca after land and sea tests. Two systems were delivered in September, while deployment aboard support vessels is still planned.
Australian Defence says a Japanese REMUS 620 sent position data through Australia's Rock Lobster acoustic node and a US gateway, then received a command back during Keen Sword 27. The trial proves a reported communications chain, not an operational multinational UUV network.
TEKEVER and General Dynamics Mission Systems–Canada say AR5 deployed sonobuoys at REPMUS 2026 and their processing chain detected and tracked underwater contacts. The companies do not give target identities, ranges, trial dates or independent naval acceptance.
The US Army says its VICTOR Group 3 drone flew using a 3D-printed heavy-fuel rotary engine paired with a 400-volt motor-generator. This is a research flight demonstration; the proposed PULSAR swarm remains a concept.
AEVEX says two US Navy awards worth $41.6 million cover production and operation of SightGlass mine-hunting and Fisher mine-neutralisation payloads for small uncrewed surface vessels. The supplier reports earlier testing, but gives no quantities, delivery schedule or independent acceptance record for the new payloads.
BACKGROUND / 22 Jun 2026
Ukraine’s defence ministry reported that 95% of UAVs bought by its Defence Procurement Agency DOT were Ukrainian-made. It said DOT-Chain Defence had supplied 485,000 UAVs and other equipment in less than five months of 2026. The combined total must not be reported as 485,000 drones alone.
Ministry of Defence of Ukraine (opens in a new tab)