Sponsored By Oxley Developments
www.oxleygroup.com
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06 Feb 26. BAE Systems Launchpad is a new technology incubator programme designed to take dual-use technologies beyond the defence sector and help cutting-edge innovations reach their full commercial potential. Launchpad directly addresses the challenge of moving defence technologies beyond prototype development by spinning them out into independent start-up businesses. This aligns with a key priority outlined in the UK’s Defence Industrial Strategy, which calls for “constant innovation at wartime pace” and highlights the need for more successful spinouts from UK-developed technologies. The programme is designed to leverage BAE Systems’ position as a technology innovator to support national priorities, including rapid technology incubation, sovereign capability and economic growth. It also provides start-ups with access to customers across a broader range of sectors, like energy and advanced manufacturing. By doing so, BAE Systems contributes to UK innovation and strengthening the country’s industrial base. The first company established by the Launchpad programme is Rho-C, which is already making strides in its industry. Rho-C will exploit innovative technology originally developed for use in submarines, which enables the transmission of power and data through solid materials. This technology eliminates the need to drill holes for wires and has the potential to significantly improve the efficiency and safety of operations in the oil and gas industry. Rho-C is in the process of closing its first venture capital funding round.
Julian Cracknell, Chief Technology and Information Officer at BAE Systems said: “BAE Systems has long been a leader in UK research and development and Launchpad represents an exciting evolution in how innovation is taken forwards. It allows us to bring to market agile start-ups that are increasingly vital to sectors beyond defence, including energy and advanced manufacturing. It helps more people use the innovative technology being developed by some of the smartest brains in the UK.”
Rob Malkin, Chief Technology Officer at Rho-C said: “BAE Systems Launchpad has given us a highly effective, mature technology that we can quickly turn into a product. We’re currently working on our first operational unit, which would never have happened this fast without BAE Systems’ support. They’ve given us access to their technology experts as well as help to set up and run our new company. We’ve got a huge amount of interest from our first prospective customers and an exciting first year ahead of us.”
The first Launchpad business is based on technology created within BAE Systems’ internal research and development programmes. Future ventures could also include partnerships with academics and other technology specialists, including opportunities using quantum clocks for radar and hyperspectral sensing. The Defence Industrial Strategy highlights the importance of turning innovative technologies into scalable businesses. Launchpad aims to address this challenge head-on, using BAE Systems’ technologies and expertise.
05 Feb 26. Palladyne AI Corp. (NASDAQ: PDYN and PDYNW) (“Palladyne AI”), a U.S.-based defense and industrial technology company delivering embodied AI-powered collaborative autonomy solutions, advanced avionics, precision-manufactured components, UAVs, and advanced aerospace engineering services, today announced the successful flight test of IntelliSwarm, the integrated autonomy stack combining its SwarmOS autonomy software with its BRAIN X2 Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC) flight computer, demonstrated for the first time on Palladyne Defense’s Banshee loitering munition platform and in autonomous collaboration with Red Cat (NASDAQ: RCAT) drone platforms.
“IntelliSwarm is flight-proven technology today – not a future concept. This successful integration fundamentally changes what’s possible and economically viable in AI-enabled unmanned systems,” said Ben Wolff, President & CEO, Palladyne AI.
Ben Wolff, President and Chief Executive Officer of Palladyne AI, commented: “IntelliSwarm is flight-proven technology today – not a future concept. This successful integration fundamentally changes what’s possible and economically viable in AI-enabled unmanned systems. Demonstrating IntelliSwarm on our Banshee platform, while collaborating with Red Cat drone platforms, showcases our vertical integration, rapid execution, and commitment to delivering battlefield advantages. For defense customers and UAV manufacturers, IntelliSwarm provides the foundational autonomy layer to accelerate next-generation swarming while reducing costs, speeding deployment, and enabling decisive edge performance in denied domains.”
This milestone represents the inaugural flight of Palladyne AI’s IntelliSwarm autonomy stack, deployed on its proprietary Banshee mini-bomber UAV concept, which autonomously collaborated with drones from Red Cat. Building on prior SwarmOS demonstrations with third-party UAV platforms, this test validates the combined, tamper-proof edge-AI solution in a real world, heterogeneous multi-vehicle scenario and represents a pivotal step in advancing both IntelliSwarm and Banshee towards operational readiness. IntelliSwarm results from the rapid, three-week integration of Palladyne AI’s patented SwarmOS autonomy software with its NDAA-compliant BRAIN X2 edge-AI avionics. By integrating GNC with autonomous swarming capabilities into a single, unified stack that embeds perception, decision-making, flight control, and coordinated behavior at the edge, Palladyne Defense is delivering real-time performance in GPS- and communications-denied environments. Unlike centralized command or homogeneous fleet approaches, IntelliSwarm enables platforms from different manufacturers with varying roles, payloads, and performance characteristics, to autonomously operate as intelligent, collaborative peers within a secure mesh network. This decentralized design supports graceful degradation, mission resilience, alignment with DoD open-systems requirements, robust security, and operator oversight. Palladyne Defense’s Banshee is a next-generation reusable mini-bomber UAV concept purpose-built for modern contested warfare, emphasizing autonomy, affordability, and resilience. It provides precision effects with a cost per effect that is substantially lower, while offering greater autonomy, reusability and mission resilience than low-cost FPV (First Person View) drones.
“By natively integrating SwarmOS with BRAIN X2 we’ve created a seamless stack for embodied intelligence, precise flight control, and heterogeneous coordination,” said Dr. Denis Garagić, Chief Technology Officer of Palladyne AI. “This allows platforms of any design, mission, or origin to function as a unified, adaptive force—achieving levels of interoperability and resilience that were previously out of reach.”
Palladyne AI expects IntelliSwarm to serve as a core building block for current and future unmanned programs, with plans to make it available to other UAS and attritable munitions OEMs once fully tested and commercialized. Every UAV or attritable munition equipped with IntelliSwarm will seamlessly communicate with others as part of a collaborative autonomous network, enhancing scalability and operational effectiveness across diverse systems. For more information about Palladyne AI, including GuideTech and Palladyne Defense, please visit www.palladyneai.com. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
04 Feb 26. Building on its award-winning portable AI-sensing radar for counter UAS, MatrixSpace announces a major update to its edge-to-cloud MatrixSpace AI Software Platform. The platform now supports multi-sensor, multi-drone detection in real time for counter UAS applications. It delivers true threat assessment and early warning – detecting, tracking and identifying – to empower on-site and remote operators to make split-second decisions regarding airspace activity. The platform is sensor agnostic and easily integrated into existing systems through open APIs. This dramatically improves assessing risk from small, low-flying drones in complex airspace, such as public events, critical infrastructure, and battlespaces. The MatrixSpace AI Platform consists of MatrixSpace AiEdge, the company’s intelligent sensor operating system, and MatrixSpace AiCloud, a software-as-a-service that collects data from AiEdge-enabled sensors for a unified view of airspace activity. Unlike other offerings retrofitted for AI, MatrixSpace AiEdge and AiCloud are AI-native, making information rapidly actionable and easier to comprehend.
Quote from Matt Kling, VP and General Manager, AI Systems, MatrixSpace: “Most traditional systems rely on noisy, exotic sensors with siloed, cumbersome command and control (C2) structures that hinder decisive action. But as threats of drone detection get only more complex, they require instant “threat truth”. Using AI to corroborate multiple inputs into one clear signal is the beauty of the MatrixSpace AI Software Platform, empowering customers to fully meet the threats we’re seeing today and in the future.”
MatrixSpace AiEdge, embedded in every MatrixSpace system, provides actionable intelligence at the point of sensor data collection. It detects, classifies and tracks multiple object types, removing “clutter” to present a relevant picture of aerial activities, while fusing feeds from different sensors. AiEdge fuses detections from MatrixSpace radars with complementary sensors such as Remote ID and ADS-B into a single, real-time track. By correlating multi-sensor data at the edge, AiEdge creates a common data representation and cues PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) cameras for rapid visual confirmation, passing high-confidence tracks to the cloud for enterprise-level analysis. Sitting above distributed AiEdge deployments, MatrixSpace AiCloud simplifies the management of geographically diverse sensor networks into a single, unified view. Instead of a bank of monitors displaying individual sensor feeds, AiCloud provides operators with clear visibility into low-airspace activity, alerts, and warnings across all protected sites—accessible on any device. MatrixSpace AiCloud combines fused, real-time data from radar, optical, ADS-B, and Remote ID sensors to deliver consistent object tracking and actionable threat intelligence at scale. Within AiCloud, whitelisting and threat classification determine whether objects are friendly, unknown, or hostile, enabling fast, coordinated operator response. Local sensors continue operating autonomously when cloud connectivity is disrupted, with all activity synchronized for review once connectivity is restored.
04 Feb 26. Science fiction prepares military for complex and unpredictable future of technology.
Short stories inspiring defence and national security thinking.
The Creative Futures science fiction book
The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) has unveiled Creative Futures, a new collection of science fiction stories designed to spark fresh thinking about the future of defence and security over the next 100 years.
Edited by Dr Allen Stroud of Coventry University, Creative Futures brings together leading science fiction authors who worked alongside defence experts to imagine future scenarios stretching as far as 2122.
These stories explore how emerging technologies, societal shifts, and global challenges might shape the world beyond this century.
Themes explored include:
- wars fought by autonomous machines
- quantum technology that can predict the future
- AI making life and death decisions
One of Dstl’s key aims is to help UK defence and security prepare for the future by avoiding uncertainty and strategic surprise. By combining scientific rigour and deep technological understanding with creative storytelling, Creative Futures offers a unique lens to consider alternative futures – both desirable and undesirable.
Professor Tim Dafforn, MOD Chief Scientific Adviser, said: “Innovation isn’t just about inventing new technology – it’s about understanding how it will be used, and by whom. Fiction gives us the freedom to explore those scenarios in ways traditional analysis can’t, helping defence prepare for futures that are complex, contested, and unpredictable. If we only plan for what seems likely today, we will be blindsided tomorrow.”
Sarah Herbert, Dstl Futures Programme Manager, said: “Preparing for the future means thinking beyond the next upgrade or system. Science fiction challenges us to consider the human, societal, and geopolitical dimensions of technology. These stories aim to engage, evoke, and provoke – pushing us to imagine new ways of working and rethink what the future could be. By carrying that creative mindset into the present, we can apply their lessons to real‑world challenges and unlock better ways of working today.”
Science Fiction author Dr Allen Stroud, of Coventry University and editor of Creative Futures, added: “Working with Dstl was an incredible opportunity to merge creativity with real-world expertise. Science fiction isn’t just entertainment – it’s a strategic tool. These stories help us explore the risks and opportunities of emerging technologies beyond today’s horizon that we might otherwise miss.”
The book also includes a timeline into the 22nd century using a variety of academic, commercial and international government-backed studies which includes:
- the trials and implementation of universal basic incomes across the world
- the rise of antibiotic-resistant infections and diseases
- the first commercial quantum networks and proliferation of AI
- the world’s population peaking and then declining with the global birth rate falling below 2.0
- autonomous and robotic policing
- the impacts of climate change and swings in economic fortunes amongst nations
Through the power of storytelling, Creative Futures invites defence and security professionals to think beyond the here and now – and engage with possibilities that could redefine our world. As technology accelerates and global dynamics shift, foresight ensures that the UK remains agile, informed, and prepared for whatever lies ahead. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
03 Feb 26. Snode secures US patent for threat detection system that does not compromise communications privacy.
By DefenceWeb3 February 2026Updated:3 February 20263 Mins Read
Encryption protocols protect legitimate traffic but they also provide cover for malicious actors to hide attacks from traditional security tools. This dual nature of encryption has created a complex security landscape where organisations must balance data privacy with threat detection.
Snode Technologies has secured South African and now United States patents for a novel threat detection system for encrypted communications, which detects threats without giving up encryption and compromising communication privacy.
According to the patent, the threat detection system analyses the metadata surrounding encrypted data packets, instead of decrypting the information to look for malware or monitor web usage. This information is then parsed through Snode’s AI and machine learning models to cross correlate and prioritise threats, helping teams protect their environments in the most effective way.
Nithen Naidoo, Snode Founder and CEO of cybersecurity, told DefenceWeb that the way traditional intrusion detection systems work is by looking inside messages, “asking you to give up your secrets.” Snode’s system does not decrypt secured messages but combines the metadata, the source and destination, frequency and volume of messages, user associations and patterns of behaviour, etc., to flag threats without compromising communication privacy.
Other signature-based detection identifies threats such as viruses, malicious IP addresses, hash files etc. by matching network traffic, files, or system activity against a database of known malicious signatures. However, especially in the age of artificial intelligence (AI), it is harder to detect those signatures as AI is constantly creating new threats.
Nithen said that now the patents are in place, Snode is putting the system to work in critical infrastructure, initially targeting industrial environments and operational technology environments such as ports, power grids, autonomous vehicles etc. “This is a technology we believe is the future for machine-to-machine communication, whether it’s applied to fields such as warfare, finance or industry (such as mining).
“In terms of commercialisation, we’re not looking to sell this; in a sense, we are implementing with our existing customers,” Nithen explained. “Today Snode looks after customers across six continents, with the majority in the critical infrastructure space, so it makes sense to apply there first.” He added that taking this new capability and putting it inside Snode’s existing products will strengthen its value proposition.
Snode Technologies provides automated cyber defence and continuous risk reduction for critical infrastructure covering IT, OT and Cloud. They use a real-time digital twin to predict, prioritise and prevent attacks before they disrupt operations. The Snode team have already deployed their technology and delivered services to local and international governments, with a flagship project detailed in a whitepaper on their website called: Cyber Intelligence Analysis. The paper covers their analysis of the #feesmustfall university protest and insights into the various disinformation techniques used to destabilise sovereign security. The award-winning company said it aims to protect businesses by identifying, managing, and responding to vulnerabilities and threats in real-time. Intended clients include organisations seeking to enhance their cybersecurity posture and safeguard against emerging risks. Snode is also active in the sovereign security space, including law enforcement. Snode is active on six continents and is moving into new regions, particularly the Middle East. Being based in South Africa, with locally developed technology, is an advantage given the country’s non-aligned status in a time of increased geopolitical tension. Nithen believes there are big opportunities for companies like Snode and countries like South Africa, with things like the new patent promising to put South Africa back in the cybersecurity spotlight. (Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)
02 Feb 26. Snowbird Technologies, a U.S.-based provider of expeditionary advanced manufacturing solutions, and Meltio, a disruptive laser metal deposition technology manufacturer, announce a next-generation containerized hybrid manufacturing solution for defense, capable of producing and repairing critical components directly at the point-of-need, integrating the Meltio Engine Blue into Snowbird’s next-generation deployable system. Designed for deployment just in time, Snowbird’s next-generation SAMM Tech platform is a forward-deployable hybrid manufacturing system powered by the Meltio Engine Blue. Housed within a ruggedized container, the system features a patented gantry-mounted hybrid manufacturing cell and combines additive and subtractive capabilities to deliver on-demand repair, replacement, and prototype production in austere conditions. SAMM Tech, powered by the Meltio Engine Blue, delivers expeditionary metal manufacturing at the point of need. It reduces supply chain dependency, increases mission readiness, and enables critical repair and production in remote and contested environments. This integrated solution supports advanced hybrid material processing, enabling fabrication in both metal and plastic, while ensuring safety, reliability, and supply chain resilience. The system is designed for rapid deployment and global mobility, fully compatible with existing military logistics infrastructure. Its modular and robust construction allows it to operate in extreme land and maritime conditions, giving defense forces the ability to manufacture, repair, and sustain mission-critical components closer to the battlefield, reducing lead times, material waste, and dependence on centralized supply chains. Powered by Meltio Engine Blue, the system supports a wide range of industrial metals, including aluminum, titanium, and marine-grade bronze, materials critical for defense and naval applications, enabling reliable production and repair of structural and functional components in deployed environments.This collaboration reinforces Meltio’s growing presence within defense and expeditionary manufacturing, where hybrid solutions combining additive and subtractive processes are increasingly recognized as key enablers for operational sustainment and readiness. Snowbird’s SAMM Tech platform, powered by Meltio technology, has already demonstrated its value in real-world naval operations, including the rapid repair of a reverse osmosis pump aboard a U.S. Navy vessel—preventing an early return to port and restoring freshwater generation capabilities within hours. Meltio’s wire-laser metal additive manufacturing technology has also been adopted across multiple defense programs worldwide, including deployments with military and naval forces to support onboard manufacturing, forward repair, and supply chain resilience. Snowbird and Meltio will present this new hybrid, containerized manufacturing solution at the 10th Annual Military Additive Manufacturing Summit & Technology Showcase (MILAM), taking place February 3–5, 2026, in Tampa, Florida, at booth #125. As the largest military-focused additive manufacturing event in North America, MILAM serves as a strategic forum for government, defense, and industry leaders to explore how advanced manufacturing technologies are being deployed across the Joint Force.
“This collaboration further validates the role of laser-wire directed energy deposition technology in the most demanding defense environments. By integrating the Meltio Engine Blue into our next-generation SAMM Tech platform, we are demonstrating how laser-wire DED can deliver reliable, repeatable hybrid manufacturing at the point of need, enabling critical repair and production where traditional supply chains and infrastructure are unavailable.” said Scott Morse, Chief Executive at Snowbird Technologies.
From Meltio’s perspective, the collaboration further validates the role of laser-wire DED technology in demanding defense environments.
“Defense organizations require manufacturing solutions that are reliable, flexible, and deployable,” said Gabriel Ortiz, America’s Channel Manager at Meltio. “Integrating the Meltio Engine Blue into Snowbird’s containerized system demonstrates how our technology can support expeditionary operations, helping defense users strengthen supply chain resilience and maintain operational readiness in the most challenging environments.”
By combining Snowbird’s expertise in deployable manufacturing systems with Meltio’s industrial metal additive technology, this new hybrid solution underscores the accelerating adoption of deployable, point-of-need manufacturing across defense, security, and government operations.
About Snowbird Technologies
Snowbird Technologies is a U.S.-based provider of expeditionary advanced manufacturing and logistics solutions for defense, government, and industrial customers. The company specializes in deployable, ruggedized systems that enable hybrid additive and subtractive manufacturing at the point of need, supporting sustainment, repair, and operational readiness in austere and contested environments. Snowbird’s technologies are designed to reduce supply chain dependency, increase resilience, and deliver mission-critical capabilities wherever they are required.
About Meltio
Meltio takes metal additive manufacturing to the next level by developing high-performance, affordable, and easy-to-use metal 3D printing solutions using wire-laser metal deposition technology. Meltio’s mission is to make industrial metal 3D printing more accessible, reliable, and scalable for critical industries, including defense, energy, and manufacturing.
02 Feb ,26. Lockheed Martin and Fujitsu Limited today announced a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to jointly accelerate technology development in several critical areas, leveraging Lockheed Martin’s integrated systems expertise and Fujitsu’s world-leading technologies and commercial scale to advance innovation of dual-use capabilities. Through the MOU the companies plan to strengthen the technological foundation for dual-use solutions in quantum computing, edge computing enabled by advanced sensing and real-time data fusion, artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML), advanced microelectronics, and multi-domain next-generation network solutions.
CTO Perspectives
“This collaboration accelerates technologies that are critical to meeting the future needs of our customers,” said Craig Martell, vice president and chief technology officer, Lockheed Martin. “Coupling the expertise of Lockheed Martin and Fujitsu across technology areas will be a force multiplier, advancing leadership in critical technologies like microelectronics, inference at the edge and quantum solutions. We look forward to our work together and delivering innovation with speed to our customers.”
“We are honored to collaborate with Lockheed Martin, a leader in defense technologies, on the development of advanced ICT technologies for future dual-use applications,” said Vivek Mahajan, corporate executive officer, corporate vice president, and chief technology officer in charge of System Platform, Fujitsu Limited. “Through this collaboration, we aim to strengthen the competitive standing of both companies.”
A Continuing Collaboration
The MOU expands on a May 2025 agreement that selected Fujitsu as the supplier of Lockheed Martin’s SPY-7 Subarray Suite Power Supply Line Replaceable Unit, and established a strategic collaboration to strengthen Japan’s defense industrial base.
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Oxley Group Ltd
Oxley offer a range of Military Marine NVG friendly LED lighting that includes navigation lights and controls, flight deck landing lights and interior compartment lighting. Our lighting products are used by Navies around the world including our own Royal Navy on UK Aircraft Carriers, Canadian Frigates, Swedish Submarines, Australian Surface vessels and Submarines, on board French Naval Carriers and in Naval Gun Turrets.
https://oxleydevelopments.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdhkulk-yujhutkljd-r/
The technology is extremely energy efficient and built robustly, with proven long life. The lighting is NVG friendly, dimmable and programmable to allow for operations with aircraft pilots using military night vision goggles. They offer superior design giving high reliability for the most demanding environments with high sealing and the ability to meet the most stringent EMC standards.
https://oxleydevelopments.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdhkulk-yujhutkljd-y/
Oxley are proud to say that we are working in partnership with SeaKing to enable a control panel to be offered with our LED Navigation Lighting. All of Oxley navigation lights have been specifically developed for vessels over 50 metres.
Contact Marcus Goad on 07850 917 263 for more information or to arrange samples.
Oxley specialises in the design and manufacture of advanced electronic and electro-optic components and systems for air, land and sea applications within the military sector. Established in 1942, Oxley has manufacturing facilities in the UK and USA and enjoys representation worldwide. The company’s products include night vision and LED lighting, data capture systems and electronic components. Oxley has pioneered the development of night vision compatible lighting. It offers a total package incorporating optical filters, equipment modification, cockpit and external lighting along with fleet wide upgrade services including engineering, installation, support, maintenance and training. The company’s long experience of manufacturing night vision lighting and LED indicators, coupled with advances in LED technology, has enabled it to develop LED solutions to replace incandescent and fluorescent lighting in existing applications as well as becoming the lighting option of choice in new applications such as portable military hospitals, UAV control stations and communication shelters.
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