RADAR, EO/IR, C-UAS, NIGHT VISION AND SURVEILLANCE UPDATE

Sponsored by Echodyne

 

www.echodyne.com

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18 Dec 25. Dedrone by Axon’s 10th annual report, which charts how drone behavior, CUAS adoption, and airspace risk have shifted across public safety, enterprise, and defense. It also highlights what we expect to see in 2026 as it relates to airspace security.

• Exponential increase in CUAS adoption across public safety agencies

o Airspace defence becomes routine for large gatherings including concerts, parades, festivals and sporting events

o Global events like the World Cup and 2028 Olympics act as catalysts for state and local agencies to build airspace monitoring into security plans

o Event organizers begin to face airspace security audits as part of permitting for high-attendance events

• Airspace security embedded as an enterprise compliance standard

o Critical infrastructure, logistics hubs and technology facilities include drone detection and tracking in standard risk and physical security audits

o Insurance providers and assessors begin asking for proof of airspace monitoring capabilities

o Airspace data integrates into existing real-time awareness systems, merging with perimeter and building telemetry

• Convergence of drone operations and airspace protection

o Agencies and enterprises blend operational drone use with CUAS in a shared airspace picture

o Detection, authorization and deconfliction occur automatically between delivery drones, DFR fleets and CUAS systems

o Public, commercial and enterprise users operate through shared trust protocols and common airspace intelligence

• Emergence of low-altitude “drone highways”

o Regulators and major operators introduce structured low-altitude corridors around metro regions and logistics hubs

o Corridors rely on integrated UTM and CUAS technology to maintain safe density and prevent incursions

o These corridors begin forming the basis of a broader low-altitude transportation grid with defined right-of-way expectations

• Drones as standard equipment for law enforcement and response

o Patrol officers will carry small, easily deployable drones for confined-space and indoor operations

o Dock-based patrol drones handle many calls for service, launching and redeploying autonomously

o Agencies gain continuous overwatch and faster incident visibility without proportional increases in staffing

• Shared air support networks across agencies

o Neighboring jurisdictions pool docked drones through unified command dashboards and shared flight zones

o Cloud-based tasking allows police, fire and EMS to access the same aerial assets

o AI-based flight management supports operators supervising multiple drones simultaneously at active incidents

• Part 108 opens BVLOS at scale and raises the bar for integrated airspace management

o BVLOS becomes a routine operational model for delivery, inspection and DFR programs

o Clearer right-of-way rules support larger, more automated operations

o Increased authorized drone traffic intensifies the need for unified UTM and CUAS management

o Other regions begin aligning with similar standards to support consistent commercial operations

• Expansion of airspace defence into multi-domain uncrewed systems

o Defence agencies increase operational use of UUVs, USVs and UGVs for ISR and payload delivery

o Micro-sized drones and bio-hybrid platforms enter field testing and introduce new detection challenges

o Nations invest in autonomous or semi-autonomous interceptor drones able to disable hostile drones in midair

o Adversaries shift to RF-silent and fully autonomous drones as RF-based defences proliferate

• Defence primes move toward more agile, open architectures

o Customers reduce tolerance for long development cycles and closed, proprietary systems

o Open-architecture designs become a baseline expectation for rapid fielding and integration

o Primes adopt more flexible decision-making around buy-versus-build, especially for software-driven capabilities

• Shift from border “air walls” to fully networked CUAS systems

o Nations expand detection networks deep inside their borders as drones increasingly launch from within national territory

o Regional CUAS coalitions begin forming in Europe, followed by broader NATO and Indo-Pacific collaboration

o Shared protocols support real-time exchange of drone signatures, RF telemetry and incident data

• AI-mediated engagement decisions with humans on the loop

o Sensors and targeting algorithms generate real-time recommendations based on speed, flight path and threat behavior

o Operators oversee AI-supported decision-making rather than managing every engagement manually

o This model accelerates responses during multi-threat scenarios and reduces cognitive burden

o Ethical and policy debates grow as automation becomes more central to kinetic authorisation

 

18 Dec 25. General Dynamics Land Systems and AeroVironment Successfully Demonstrate PERCH Loitering Munitions Launcher on M1 Abrams Tank. General Dynamics Land Systems has announced a successful demonstration of the Precision Effects & Reconnaissance, Canister-Housed (PERCH) system, codeveloped with strategic partner AeroVironment (AV), at the U.S. Army’s Machine Assisted Rugged Sapper (MARS) event at Fort Hood, Texas. PERCH is a modular kit that integrates AV’s Switchblade 300 and Switchblade 600 loitering munitions into M1A2 Abrams SEPv3 main battle tanks and Stryker infantry carrier vehicles for beyond-line-of-sight surveillance and lethality. PERCH does not require welding nor cutting for mounting; instead, it replaces the Abrams’ loader sponson box and is bolted into place using existing attachment points. Future iterations will operate on existing vehicle computer systems. At the MARS demo on Oct. 26-30, users completed a complex obstacle breach with the aid of beyond-line-of-sight reconnaissance and over-the-horizon targeting of high-value targets provided by a Switchblade 300 and a Switchblade 600 launched from an Abrams tank via PERCH.

“PERCH allows units to deploy Switchblade loitering munitions far forward on the battlefield while remaining covered and concealed themselves,” said Jim Pasquarette, vice president, U.S. strategy and business development, General Dynamics Land Systems. “We have seen a lot of Soldier interest in this readymade, effective concept, and we look forward to future demonstrations. With our partners at AV, we’re generating the power to win on the modern battlefield.”

“Integrating Switchblade 300 and 600 into General Dynamics Land Systems platforms through the PERCH modular kit delivers immediate operational advantages – extending reach and enabling rapid, precise effects from protected positions,” said Brian Young, senior vice president, loitering munitions systems at AV. “This demonstration showcased the expanded beyond-line-of-sight precision engagement capabilities available to our military by embedding mature loitering munition systems on combat vehicles. We value our partnership with GDLS and our shared commitment to delivering reliable, field-ready solutions to warfighters.”

GDLS also recently released a photo showing the launch of one of the loitering munitions from a pop-up canister mounted on the tank’s turret, where it replaces the standard loader sponson box.

These disclosures follow the demonstration of the PERCH system, which integrates the Switchblade 300 and Switchblade 600 loitering munitions into the M1A2 Abrams SEPv3, the latest variant of the tank in U.S. Army service. PERCH can also be integrated on Stryker 8×8 infantry carrier vehicles, and potentially other platforms. The launcher can hold three Switchblade 300s and one 600 at the same time.

PERCH was developed by GDLS and AeroVironment, which produces the Switchblade, and it was demonstrated from October 26-30 at the Army’s Machine Assisted Rugged Sapper (MARS) event at Fort Hood, Texas. MARS was spearheaded by the 36th Engineer Brigade and III Armored Corps, and focused on soldiers using autonomous technology to complete breaching operations, reducing the overall risk they were exposed to. As a modular system, PERCH is designed to be simply bolted onto an armoured vehicle; in the case of the Abrams, it is fixed in place using existing attachment points. In the MARS event, PERCH was operated via a tablet interface, although GDLS says that future iterations will be fully integrated with existing vehicle computer systems. By utilizing the Switchblade, PERCH provides the vehicle with not only extended-range surveillance but also over-the-horizon lethality. In certain circumstances, this can even be extended to beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS), in which the loitering munition is used in an autonomous, preprogrammed mode to fly a route and/or hit a fixed target. (Source: UAS VISION/General Dynamics Land Systems ; The War Zone)

 

18 Dec 25. ESOX Group will make its first public appearance at CES 2026 with the unveiling of two new defence platforms: the X1 interceptor drone and the X2 UGV technology demonstrator. The showcase reflects ESOX’s focus on fast, mission-led engineering for NATO and allied programmes, built around intelligent propulsion, adaptive software, advanced materials and next-generation simulation. ESOX Group aims to deliver intelligent technology across air and ground domains with significantly faster development cycles than traditional defence contractors.

New platforms at CES

The X1 interceptor drone is a cost-effective counter-UAS platform built on a multi-role airframe. It supports long-range communications and a range of sensor packages, and uses ESOX’s AI algorithms for target acquisition and strike accuracy. The prototype’s first flight is planned for January 2026, with an industrialised variant due in April. A scaled model and development footage will be shown at CES. The X2 UGV demonstrator is a compact autonomous ground platform designed to highlight ESOX’s propulsion and control systems. It uses four 12-inch Theron Motors in a tank-steer configuration and will run on ESOX’s printed airless tyres for added durability. The vehicle is attracting enquiries from UGV manufacturers seeking integrated propulsion solutions.

ESOX will use CES to preview a further technology capability that supports its integrated air and ground systems.

Technology underpinning the platforms

At the heart of both systems is ESOX’s use of integrated technologies. Theron Motors used in the X2 have a hollow-centre architecture that removes the need for complex drivetrains, reducing maintenance and lowering acoustic and thermal signatures. The motors offer high torque density and efficiency at low weight, making them suitable for heavy-lift UAVs and agile ground vehicles. ESOX Software provides a visual, no-code environment for building vehicle logic. Engineers create and test control behaviour through an intuitive interface supported by AI. This allows more rapid iteration and safer fleet-wide deployment when battlefield conditions change. The company is also preparing Digital Twin 2.0, a simulation environment where the same software runs on both the hardware and the model. The environment includes accurate 3D terrain and is being expanded to support weather, ballistics, urban environments and adversary behaviour.

Meeting growing demand for intelligent defence

The launch comes as NATO defence spending approaches €1.5 trillion a year. All 32 member nations are expected to reach 2% of GDP on defence in 2025, with a collective commitment to reach 5% of GDP on total security by 2035. Budgets are shifting toward autonomy, electrification and ISR, creating sustained demand for uncrewed and electrified systems.

“Defence needs faster cycles, smarter systems and solutions guided by the mission,” said Dan Walmsley, CEO of ESOX Group. “X1 and X2 show how our group now works: integrated propulsion, smart control, advanced batteries, coatings and simulation brought together in practical platforms. We’re looking forward to CES and demonstrating this step forward.”

 

17 Dec 25. Cuashub.com said today that Israeli MOD hosts C-UAS seminar for German Police Chiefs to strengthen security cooperation. SIBAT, the International Defense Cooperation Directorate at the Israel Ministry of Defense, organized a specialized seminar showcasing Israel’s advanced counter-drone technologies. The event was held as part of an emergency preparedness conference for German police chiefs, led by the Israel Police. The seminar gathered over 40 participants, including approximately 20 police chiefs from Germany and Israel, who explored Israel’s extensive experience in countering drone threats. Israeli defense industries have developed significant expertise in this domain in recent years, particularly during wartime operations.

Strengthening Bilateral Security Ties

This initiative aligns with the Ministry’s strategy to expand defense exports and reflects Germany’s growing investment in domestic security. It underscores the deepening cooperation between Israel and Germany and the commitment to joint knowledge-sharing efforts to address evolving hybrid threats.

Industry Leaders Showcase Cutting-Edge C-UAS Solutions

Twelve leading Israeli defense companies presented innovative technologies for detecting, tracking, and neutralizing hostile drones.

Four companies – D-Fend Solutions, Sentrycs, ParaZero, and Skylock – conducted live demonstrations simulating real-world threat scenarios faced by security forces worldwide.

Participating companies included:

• D-Fend Solutions
• Sentrycs
• ParaZero
• Skylock
• Airobotics
• XTEND
• Rp Optical Lab
• SMARTSHOOTER
• Magna B.S.P
• Thirdeye Systems
• IWI
• mPrest

Driving Innovation for Homeland Security

By sharing operational insights and showcasing advanced C-UAS solutions, Israel aims to help Germany and other nations strengthen their defenses against emerging aerial threats.https://cuashub.com/en/content/israeli-mod-hosts-c-uas-seminar-for-german-police-chiefs-to-strengthen-security-cooperation/ (Source: https://cuashub.com/

 

17 Dec 25. KNDS and Leonardo Agree on Joint Product Development. KNDS Deutschland (KNDS) and the Italian defense company Leonardo will together develop a mobile artillery system. A corresponding Letter of Intent (LOI) was signed in Amsterdam, the headquarters of KNDS, by Florian Hohenwarter, incoming CEO of KNDS Deutschland, and Roberto Cingolani, CEO and General Manager of Leonardo. This newly-developed artillery system will be based on the KNDS Artillery Gun Module and an enhanced version of Leonardo’s protected wheeled vehicle platform. Both companies intend to intensify industrial cooperation to improve supply chain resilience and time to market. The companies will offer their joint solution for the upcoming procurement program of the Italian Army. The combination of Leonardo’s state-of-the-art electronics, C5I, UAV defense technologies and  new wheeled vehicle platform, together with KNDS’s most advanced artillery system, will significantly contribute to increasing the system’s combat power and effectiveness. Market forecast by Region, Hull Length, and Lifecycle Phase. Country Analysis, Market and Technology Overview, Critical Raw Materials, Opportunity Analysis, and Leading Company Profiles

“This Letter of Intent is an important step toward improving the interoperability of European land forces and the cooperation of European industry,” says Florian Hohenwarter, incoming CEO of KNDS Deutschland.

“This collaborative effort once again confirms our commitment to developing integrated capabilities able to meet evolving market requirements in the new operational scenarios”, says Roberto Cingolani, CEO and General Manager of Leonardo.  (Source: ASD Network)

 

16 Dec 25. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) and 4iG Space and Defence Technologies Ltd. have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to deepen transatlantic cooperation by exploring collaboration in counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS), space and advanced weapons technologies. This collaboration intends to highlight their combined industry expertise to strengthen U.S. technological leadership and Europe’s sovereign defense industrial base and enhance NATO’s capabilities through rapid innovation.

Steve O’Bryan, corporate vice president and global business development officer, Northrop Grumman: “This collaboration with 4iG Space and Defence Technologies reinforces our commitment to expanding space and defense capabilities through trusted transatlantic partnerships. Our combined expertise will deliver the speed, precision and resilience needed for today’s and tomorrow’s security challenges.”

Dr. István Sárhegyi, CEO, 4iG S&D: “Defense industry relations between the United States and Hungary play a key role within the NATO alliance. The collaboration with Northrop Grumman, one of America’s leading defense companies, marks an important milestone in strengthening these ties. I am proud that this cooperation positions Hungary as a European partner and hub for selected technologies, contributing not only to the development of the Hungarian defense industry, but to Europe’s defense capabilities as a whole.”

With the most diversified portfolio of capabilities in missile defense, Northrop Grumman brings trusted, ready-now, next-gen technologies for end-to-end missile defeat. The company is a proven integrator who delivers this technology with speed, through advanced software development, new hardware design, material science and manufacturing at scale.

 

16 Dec 25. Rheinmetall successfully demonstrates drone defence capabilities in Finland. Rheinmetall successfully demonstrated its capabilities in counter measures against small unmanned aerial systems (c-sUAS) at the Ground-based Air Defence (GBAD) Demo Days at the firing range in Lohtaja, Finland. Representatives of Rheinmetall Air Defence AG were invited to participate by the Inspector of Air Defence of the Finnish Armed Forces. Despite challenging climatic conditions in a remote forest area, Rheinmetall impressed with a powerful and professional demonstration. The demonstrated threats, ranging from jet drones to small quadcopters, as well as the frictionless cooperation with the organiser XD Solution and the Finnish Armed Forces underlined the operational readiness of the technologies on display. The main focus of the performance was on the detection, classification and tracking of a wide variety of drones in different airspaces and at different flight speeds. At the core of the presentation was Skyspotter, Rheinmetall’s multi-sensory early warning and reconnaissance system for detecting, classifying and tracking airborne threats. Skyspotter is designed to protect critical infrastructure and secure large areas against drone attacks. The system features an open architecture that allows the integration of different sensors and effectors depending on the threat level. In close cooperation with employees of Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles GmbH, a rapidly deployable version of the Skyspotter system based on the Rheinmetall HX Truck was presented on site. This underscores the flexibility of the system architecture as well as the capabilities of the corporation. During the demonstration, Rheinmetall presented an integrated overall system consisting of the Skyspotter, several dislocated Passive Emitter Locator sensors and a rapidly deployable, specialised C2 shelter. This ensures optimum command and control capability at a safe distance from active components and increases the protection of operating personnel. Skyspotter has the ability to integrate various effectors. Depending on the threat situation, the operator can choose whether to use a jammer, an interceptor drone or, in extreme cases, the highly flexible 30 mm revolver gun, which is currently in the conceptional phase. It uses individually programmable KETF ammunition (kinetic energy time fuze), which acts solely with kinetic energy (socalled impact ammunition).

“The GBAD Demo Days 2025 have impressively highlighted the importance of partnership-based cooperation in the further development of modern air defence capabilities. We would like to thank the Finnish Armed Forces for the invitation and the excellent cooperation, as well as our industry partners and our Finnish partner Oy Telva. Their commitment and expertise have contributed significantly to successfully demonstrating the performance of our systems under realistic conditions”, explains Oliver Dürr, Head of the Electronic Solutions Division.

 

16 Dec 25. Cuashub.com said today that AFRL Rome Lab secures $5m for C-UAS program in defense bill. The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) in Rome, New York, is set to receive $5m for a Counter UAS Advanced Detection Systems Pilot Program, part of a broader $224.5m funding authorization included in the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The funding, championed by U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, represents a significant investment in technologies aimed at strengthening national security. The C-UAS initiative will focus on advanced detection capabilities to address growing threats posed by unmanned aerial systems on the battlefield and in critical airspace.

“Rome Lab is vital to our national defense,” said Senator Schumer. “I’m proud to announce that I have secured the long-desired federal funding authorization of $224.5 m to turbocharge Rome Lab’s testbed for researching and developing quantum algorithms, networks, and communications.”

Senator Gillibrand emphasized the importance of these investments for both security and local jobs: “This investment is a major step forward in strengthening the Mohawk Valley’s position as the nation’s hub for quantum and cyber research. From quantum networking and cloud computing to unmanned aerial systems, these funds will support good-paying New York jobs and bolster our national security.”

The $5m C-UAS allocation is part of a package that also includes $10 m for a Distributed Quantum Networking Testbed and $5 m for an Agile, Assured, and Autonomous Battle Management Network and Readiness Accelerator. These projects aim to advance research in quantum computing, cyber defense, and autonomous systems. Located in Oneida County, Rome Lab has served as the Air Force’s “Superlab” since 1997, specializing in Command, Control, Communications, Cyber, and Intelligence (C4I) technologies. The lab collaborates with federal agencies, universities, and private industry to develop next-generation solutions for air, space, and ground systems. Officials say the funding will deepen partnerships with organizations such as the Griffiss Institute, Assured Information Security, and the CNY Defense Alliance, while reinforcing Rome Lab’s role as a leader in military innovation. https://cuashub.com/en/content/afrl-rome-lab-secures-5-m-for-c-uas-program-in-defense-bill/ (Source: https://cuashub.com/

 

16 Dec 25. Cuashub.com said today that US Space Force expands C-UAS defense at Cape Canaveral. The U.S. Space Force is enhancing its defenses against UAS at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, aiming to provide comprehensive coverage without disrupting civilian air traffic, according to Space Launch Delta 45 Commander Colonel Brian Chatman. Driven by lessons learned from drone threats in Ukraine, Chatman said during last week’s Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP) AI + Space conference that the Eastern Range is “installing a multi-m dollar counter-UAS system that helps detect UAS flying into the airspace beyond capabilities that we have today – which are pretty good [already]. This is going to take it to the next level and allows them to engage those capabilities.”

“It’s giving me a holistic coverage over the Cape, as opposed to pockets of coverage that I have today,” Colonel Chatman told reporters. “We have capability today to render UAS systems incapable if they are flying into our area,” he added, noting that the upgrade will “expand that out” and incorporate new technologies from the Air Force Research Laboratory and the National Reconnaissance Office. These agencies will also have the opportunity to test emerging systems in a complex environment under strict safety conditions.

Launch activity at both the Eastern Range and the Western Range at Vandenberg Space Force Base has surged in recent years, largely due to SpaceX operations. With frequent launches, missile tests, and heavy civilian air traffic, counter-drone measures must be carefully managed to avoid interference with legitimate communications and navigation systems.

“It’s a holistic look at everything that’s happened in the RF [radio frequency] environment to make sure that we protect and defend the Eastern Range, while not having second-order effects that will impact other operations, [using] RF effectors that are deconflicted in the spectrum,” Colonel Chatman explained.

“As the research labs develop new capabilities, we’re open to bringing them out, taking a look at what that would look like out on the Eastern Range, and then if we get to spectrum deconfliction, affording them the opportunity to come out and test those capabilities,” Colonel Chatman said.

“It’s an ongoing effort that we have in partnership, that we’ve started up now, to bring on and then employ over the course of the next couple years.”

Meanwhile, Colonel James Horne, who commands Space Launch Delta 30 and the Western Range, acknowledged that Vandenberg is still working to improve its security posture.

“Counter-sUAS is a key capability that we really are behind on,” Colonel Horne said.

“We have hundreds of incursions from foreign adversaries at our gate, we have 22-mile coastline, over 18,000 acres – most of it unfenced – and we’re mostly behind when it comes to things like counter-UAS capability. So those are things that we’re focused on building.”

https://cuashub.com/en/content/us-space-force-expands-c-uas-defense-at-cape-canaveral/ (Source: https://cuashub.com/

 

15 Dec 25. B-52 with key radar upgrade flies to Edwards for testing. The first B-52H Stratofortress to receive a major radar upgrade last week flew to Edwards Air Force Base in California for testing, marking a significant milestone in the Air Force’s work to modernize its oldest bomber fleet. The B-52 conducted a ferry flight from Boeing’s San Antonio, Texas, facility, where the new radar was installed, to Edwards on Dec. 8, the Air Force said in a Dec. 10 statement. A crew from the 49th Test Evaluation Squadron at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana and the 419th Flight Test Squadron at Edwards conducted the ferrying flight. Now that the bomber is at Edwards, the Air Force said a test team there will conduct ground and flight tests throughout 2026 to make sure the radar is operating properly and inform a decision later next year on whether to move it into production. The modernized Active Electronically Scanned Array radar installed in this B-52 replaced the bomber’s legacy APQ-166 radar system, which the Air Force called “antiquated and failing.” The new AN/APQ-188 Bomber Modernized Radar System, which was developed by Raytheon Technologies, provides upgraded navigation that will work in all forms of weather and improved targeting capabilities. The Air Force said this radar update is a variant of the radar now used on the Air Force’s F-15E and EX Eagle and the Navy’s F/A-18 Hornet fighters and will bring the B-52 comparable radar capabilities and ease of maintenance. The B-52’s new radar is planned to bring high-resolution ground mapping capabilities, which will improve its ability to accurately locate targets and track them across the surface or through the air. The radar upgrades — along with new engines, avionics, weapons, communication systems and other components — are part of a planned nose-to-tail revamping of the Stratofortress fleet that is expected to be so sweeping that the bomber will be renamed the B-52J. The Air Force hopes these upgrades will allow the B-52, which has already been flying for about 65 years, to stay in service into the 2050s or beyond, meaning some bombers could be flying at 100 years old.

“The ferry flight of this upgraded B-52 marks an important moment in our efforts to modernize the bomber force,” Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said in the statement.

“This radar modernization ensures that the B-52 will continue to serve as a cornerstone of American airpower well into the future. We are committed to extending the life of this vital platform, allowing it to operate alongside next-generation fighter and bomber aircraft.”

The Air Force’s bomber fleet is now made up of 76 B-52s, 19 B-2 Spirit stealth bombers and 45 B-1B Lancers. As the service brings on the advanced B-21 Raider bomber, made by Northrop Grumman, it will continue to retire B-1s and B-2s into the 2030s. At some point in the next decade, the service will have a two-bomber fleet of B-21s and B-52s and is upgrading the Stratofortresses to ensure they will be able to fight in a modern war.

“This milestone ensures our future airmen inherit a modernized, ready Air Force,” Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach said in the statement.

“The B-52 Radar Modernization Program is about more than technology. It’s about readiness, deterrence and the ability to fight and win. The B-52 remains a powerful example of how we fly, fix and fight to sustain global strike capability,” he said. (Source: Defense News)

 

15 Dec 25. Northrop Grumman’s AiON shields against enemy unmanned systems. The threat of rogue and enemy drones today is starker than ever. Threats from swarms of drones are no longer on the horizon, they are here. With a proliferation of low-cost systems arming adversaries, U.S. warfighters, allies, and critical infrastructure are at risk.

The solution? AiON, Northrop Grumman’s pioneering, cost-effective and low-risk counter unmanned aerial system (CUAS) command and control system.

Proven Capability

After a decisive performance during a recent live fire test, AiON successfully demonstrated various counter drone capabilities through a prototype project with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU). Following this achievement, any U.S. Department of War (DoW) organization may award a follow-on production transaction for AiON without further competition.

AiON was rigorously tested at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona, where it successfully demonstrated the use of advanced decision aids and full autonomous engagements.

• AiON showcased its state-of-the-art technology by detecting, tracking, identifying and neutralizing both simulated and real targets during four engagements with perfect precision and efficiency.
• Beyond its operational excellence, AiON proved its advanced safety features, such as friendly air track avoidance.
• AiON’s command and control system also allows operators to manage multiple sites from any location. Its flexible, open architecture facilitates the integration of new application programming interfaces (API), sensors and effectors, providing unmatched agility to counter any UAS threat effectively.

“Northrop Grumman rapidly developed AiON to meet the urgent needs of the U.S. military,” said Kenn Todorov, vice president and general manager, command and control and weapons integration at Northrop Grumman. “With AiON’s strong performance at Yuma we’ve demonstrated our ability to innovate and quickly deliver proven capabilities into the hands of our warfighters.”

The Path Forward

With any DoW organization now able to award a follow-on production transaction for AiON without further competition, new possibilities are available domestically and abroad for the system.

“We see significant future opportunities to partner with other customers and allies who recognize the critical need for innovative solutions like AiON,” Todorov said. (Source: ASD Network)

 

15 Dec 25. Rapid £140m boost for drone and counter-drone tech from newly-formed UK Defence Innovation. UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) will invest over £140 m in drone and counter-drone technology in its first year of operation

• UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) invests over £140 m in its first year into new drone systems
• Rapid innovation investment supports British SMEs, Micro-SMEs and universities
• Advanced drone and counter-drone systems for UK Armed Forces and to counter Russian drone threat

Britain’s Armed Forces will be better equipped and small British defence businesses will grow rapidly as the Government boosts investment into innovative drone systems this year.  UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) – launched earlier this year – will inject over £142m rapid investment into drones and anti-drone weapons this year, its first year in operation. This includes around £30 m investment this year into counter-drone technology to protect the UK homeland and allies, in the face of increasing Russian-linked drone incursions across Europe.

UKDI was launched by Defence Secretary John Healey MP in July this year to be the focal point for innovation within the Ministry of Defence, backed by a ringfenced annual budget of at least £400 m. It takes a new approach, using different ways of contracting, to enable UK companies to scale up innovative prototypes rapidly. While many of the companies involved remain anonymous, the drones investment this year includes 20 British SMEs, 11 British ‘Micro-SMEs’, and 2 British Academic institutions. The rapid investment delivers on the Strategic Defence Review which set out how the UK must take the lessons from the war in Ukraine – such as rapidly advancing drones and unmanned systems – to put the UK’s Armed Forces at the leading edge of innovation in NATO.

John Healey MP, Secretary of State for Defence, said:  “After years of hollowing out and underfunding, I am determined to put Britain’s Armed Forces, and British businesses, at the leading edge of defence innovation. The Strategic Defence Review was clear that we must learn the lessons of the war in Ukraine, which is why we’re surging investment into drone and counter drone systems. Russia’s continued bombardment of Ukrainian civilians and their grey-zone drone incursions across Europe show why this drone drive is so urgent. In a new era of threat, this rapid investment will make the UK secure at home and strong abroad, while making defence an engine for growth, ensuring the UK is the best place in the world to start and grow a defence business.”

Specific examples of this year’s investment includes:

• Investment of over £25m delivering a new Royal Navy uncrewed AI submarine ‘Excalibur’, which will play a key role defending against Putin’s fleet as part of the transformative Atlantic Bastion programme to establish a new hybrid Navy. Excalibur was recently unveiled in Portsmouth alongside other capabilities forming part of the Atlantic Bastion programme.
• £20m to support development of additional laser weapons to complement the UK’s ‘DragonFire’ system. This follows the signing of a £300m contract to install the first DragonFire anti-drone systems onto Type 45 destroyers from 2027, five years earlier than previously planned, creating and sustaining almost 600 jobs across the country.
• £7.5m for a new uncrewed helicopter, part of the Royal Navy’s move towards future ‘hybrid air wing’ aircraft carriers, with flight trials already underway.  The project will deliver one of the world’s first full-sized autonomous helicopters.
• £12m to support development of an air-launched collaborative Uncrewed Air Vehicle (UAV), increasing the UK’s effectiveness against air-to-air threats.
• £5m seedcorn investment into prototypes for Land Autonomous Collaborative Platforms – such as autonomous drones to support British Army Apache helicopters.

The rapid investment into emerging British uncrewed systems businesses comes alongside further commitments to industry through the Defence Industrial Strategy that the UK aims to be the best place in the world to launch and grow a defence business.

For example, Ukraine’s largest drone manufacturer, Ukrspecsystems, recently announced £200 m investment to create a new drone factory and training site in East Anglia, creating up to 500 jobs and apprenticeships. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)

 

15 Dec 25. Leidos Delivers Successful Demo of Integrated Counter-Drone Capability for the Australian Defence Force. Last week, Leidos Australia and its Land 156 project partners demonstrated a mission-ready counter-drone capability for the Australian Defence Force, shooting down drones kinetically and non-kinetically, achieving a key milestone in advancing Australia’s ability to counter evolving aerial threats. The Exercise Southern Arrow 25 live-fire event confirmed the effectiveness and successful integration of cutting-edge systems to detect, track and neutralise small Group 1 and Group 2 drones in the field. Leidos Australia validated and integrated core technologies, bringing together advanced sensors, effectors and command and control capabilities into a cohesive, mission-ready solution. Australian technologies included the Acacia Systems’ Cortex command-and-control system, EOS Defence Systems’ effector suite and Department 13’s sensor system, alongside Echodyne’s MESA radars and L3 Harris’ VAMPIRE laser-guided rocket system for detection, tracking, identification and defeat of small drones.

Leidos Australia Chief Executive Paul Chase said: “The development and successful trial of advanced counter-drone technology is a testament to Australia’s thriving innovation ecosystem and the technical expertise within our defence sector. We are proud to be part of the team strengthening Australia’s sovereign defence capability through mission-critical systems that can provide immediate tactical utility and long-term operational relevance”.

Acacia Systems CEO Bob Humphreys said: “Our team is committed to continuously adapting the sovereign Cortex C2 system to align with the warfighter’s priorities and counter the capabilities of the evolving threat.”

Department 13 CEO Ben Westgarth said: “Cutting edge technology, pioneering spirit, and an outstanding sense of collaboration have demonstrated clearly how Australian companies can develop critical capability for the Australian Defence Force. Department 13 is proud to be contributing our advanced drone detection and tracking systems, and we look forward to continuing to help build a sovereign industrial base for the future defence of Australia.”

Echodyne Chief Revenue Officer Todd Fraser said: “We are proud to be the radar system provider for this demonstration. The counter-drone capabilities being demonstrated here require accurate, actionable airspace data that ultimately saves lives and protects assets. Our radars deliver that data layer for the Land 156 team.”

EOS Chief Executive Dr Andreas Schwer said: “This demonstration shows how Australian industry can deliver complex capabilities, in partnership with Defence, at pace. As small drones reshape the battlespace, EOS’ effector technology provides proven protection as part of Australia’s counter-drone capability and demonstrates what sovereign capability can achieve.”

L3Harris Technologies Vice President and General Manager, Targeting and Sensor Systems, Tom Kirkland said: “VAMPIRE has been used extensively in support of European combat operations since 2023 and has successfully shot down hundreds of drones. Working together, this system will also help our allied partners in Australia defeat the rapidly growing threat of hostile drones accurately and affordably.” (Source: ASD Network)

 

15 Dec 25. Project SIREN: advancing networked sensing through collaboration. A major breakthrough, delivered through Project SIREN, directly supports the UK’s future integrated air sensing capability and provides a clear operational advantage. For the first time in the UK, the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) has successfully demonstrated advanced radar signal processing and sensor fusion across multiple air platforms as an enabler for faster and more accurate detection.

Collaborating with industry and academia

The demonstration is an important achievement of Project SIREN (System for Integrated Radar Early-response Networking) which directly supports the UK’s future integrated air domain sensing capability. The outcome demonstrated the power of collaboration with industry and academia, marking a major step toward future integrated sensing capabilities. Funded by the Chief Scientific Advisor’s research programme, this science-led initiative shows the ‘One Defence’ mindset which is central to the Strategic Defence Review 2025. By uniting government scientists, industry partners, and academic researchers, the SIREN consortium moved from concept to demonstration in just 15 months, finishing in a series of airborne experiments off Scotland’s east coast in May 2025. The joint academic and industry team successfully integrated multiple radars to produce a near real-time picture of the air and maritime environment. These technologies promise to significantly improve situational awareness and tracking – something which is vital for modern defence operations. An important step was the fusion of data from distributed sensors using cloud-based integration, linking airborne systems with ground stations. This lays the foundation for future multi-platform sensing across defence, and supports the UK’s emerging Digital Targeting Web, which enables rapid coordination from sensor to decision-maker.

Who the project brought together

The project brought together expertise from Leonardo, Igence Radar, Voyant and academic partners from the University of Edinburgh and University of Liverpool. Dstl provided leadership and technical guidance, helping to align commercial and academic innovation.  This model clearly shows how collaboration between government, primes, SMEs and academia can harness best-of-breed capability, accelerating development through to exploitation and strengthening the UK defence enterprise.

Benefits of SIREN

SIREN offers cutting-edge technology into the hands of our armed forces faster. It has generated valuable intellectual property and technical capability that will inform future defence programmes. The consortium’s knowledge, tools and expertise are now being applied to better understand the value and advantages of networked systems as part of the future force mix. Building on the progress made by SIREN, work is now focused on transitioning to an exploitation footing, targeting both spiral development options for existing platforms as well as new and novel implementations. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)

 

08 Dec 25. C-UAS robotic ground vehicles – Ukraine, Russia field units while the West watches and waits. For battlefield commanders it is a powerful image: fleets of robotic vehicles charging around the battlefield autonomously identifying airborne threats and using a range of mitigation systems to clear the skies of enemy drones without human intervention. But how realistic is this? At the start of December 2025, according to reliable media reports, Ukraine started the first battlefield deployment of the Protector unmanned ground vehicle. The UGV is equipped with a Tavria-12.7 weapon station, fitted with a 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine gun and a digital fire-control system to take on ground targets and drones; it has been in serial production for some months and could soon be deployed in large numbers behind the front line to protect logistical supply lines from drone attacks. Another Ukrainian C-UAS UGV, the Kvertus AD Berserk, is also reported to be in serial production and is equipped with systems which can disrupt control signals across all frequency bands used by FPV drones. According to the manufacturer, the system has a 20 km operational range, can remain active for up to 12 hours, and is remotely controlled from a similar distance of up to 20 km.” Almost by coincidence, Russia’s Marker C-UAS UGV from Android also entered serial production earlier this year and will imminently find its way on to the battlefield of Ukraine. The concept was first unveiled in September 2022. Said RIA Novosti at the time of launch: “To combat swarms of drones, Marker was equipped with a radar capable of recognizing aerial targets with a small scattering area and transmitting their coordinates to a rifle-grenade launcher module. Then the robot monitors the target with optics and hits from a regular machine gun…. Android Technology has developed algorithms for effective destruction of air targets specifically for Marker….the robot’s shooting range in the short-range air defence variant can rotate at speeds of 350 degrees per second.” Meanwhile, at the Interpolitex-2025 International Exhibition of National Security Equipment in October this year Russia’s Gumich RTK exhibited the Impulse-PVO C-UAS uncrewed ground vehicle, equipped with eight Interceptor kinetic projectiles,” according to a Telegram post. “The projectiles weigh 1.35 kg and have a speed of up to 200 km/h (the primary targets are reconnaissance drones). The system can operate in the frequency range from 700 to 6,200 MHz.” While both Russia and Ukraine have fielded many types of UGVs they are mainly involved in logistical, casualty evacuation, mine-clearance.  But Ukrainian Ministry of Defense and the Brave1 tech incubator have for the past few months been fast-tracking the development and production of these systems, aiming to deploy thousands to the front lines to reduce human casualties while increasing front-line mobility and fire power.

But how effective are they in a C-UAV role?

The technical and operational challenges to developing, deploying and operating an effective autonomous C-UAS UGV are immense, especially when combined with kinetic weapons. The platform is unstable and detection systems (cameras, radar) are often obscured and unreliable. Sensor fusion between the different detection systems to identify and track the enemy drone and the weapon systems (primarily in kinetic forms a gun, initially, though lasers will be integrated at a later stage) are also highly complex. There are power and endurance limitations – and often a requirement for human intervention to keep the UGV operational. Then there is the issue of developing the right strategy to ensure the C-UAS UGV operations are properly integrated into the current ground and air defence systems. According to Alex Kugajevsky, Principal on the NATO Innovation Fund’s adoption team, in a recent interview, autonomous systems: “absolutely must offer a modular platform for plug and play capabilities – be it a sensor package, strike capability, or something else. Additionally, these systems do not operate in a vacuum and must connect and interface with existing command and control systems.”

So there is a phased approach to the introduction of C-UAS UGV capabilities, based, in the West at least, on identifying the most effective UGV platforms which have proved to be robust and resilient on the battlefield then developing more complex sensor and weapon systems to equip the platforms. For example, Estonia’s Marduk and Milrem Technologies in 2021 jointly launched an autonomous C-UAS platform based on the THeMIS UGV. Since then, the TheMIS platform has proved to be particularly reliable and the number of weapon systems which it has hosted has rapidly evolved. The original platform hosted a high definition camera for drone detection; in late 2025 Ukraine’s Frontline integrated its Burya (Storm) turret onto the THeMIS platform, comprising a 40mm Mk 19 automatic grenade launcher, enabling stable and accurate fire against targets at ranges beyond 1,100 meters, offering a C-UAS capability primarily through the potential use of specialized airburst ammunition.  Unverified reports suggest the first shootdown of a Russian drone by a Ukrainian C-UAS UGV took place at the start of this year, though this has yet to be confirmed. As Protector and Marker make their way on to the battlefield the number of successful verified engagements should rise, though how and when will be closely analysed by military planners in Europe and North America. In the USA, the Department of War has spent the last few months reevaluating its US Army’s Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) program, halting progress while it decides to invest in separate platforms or add more autonomy to existing vehicles. The UK’s military, meanwhile, evaluated the German ARX Robotics Gereon UGV with a PodView autonomous sensor system and L3Harris Corvus Raven C-UAS system as part of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) Forest Guardian exercise in October 2025. ARX has been supplying Ukrainian forces with several hundreds of Gereon UGVs, all integrated within the AI-powered Mithra OS operating system, enabling coordinated operations and real-time data exchange. Meanwhile, industry is waiting in the wings for the results of recent system trails and evaluations. The US Army assessed the Overland AI ULTRA Fully Autonomous Tactical Vehicle prototype with C-UAS capabilities, during exercise the November 2025  Agile Spirit 25 at the Combat Training Center in Georgia.  The US Army has also looked at the Rheinmetall’s Mission Master CXT equipped with Oerlikon Skyranger 762 RWS in a C-UAS configuration. Meanwhile, Epirus and General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) in October 2025 announced the introduction of Leonidas Autonomous Robotic (Leonidas AR), a mobile counter-UAS capability featuring Epirus’ Leonidas high-power microwave (HPM) platform integrated with GDLS’s Tracked Robot 10-ton (TRX) unmanned ground vehicle. (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)

 

09 Dec 25.  Simulated drone attack on US National Capital Region tests C-UAS defences. The United States Army has simulated a large-scale drone attack to help bolster the defence department’s ability to detect and defeat enemy drones in the National Capital Region. Army Lt. Cols. Brian Reynolds, Chief of the Mission Assurance Division and Jesse Burnette, Joint Staff Director of Operations, designed the exercise which was hosted by the Joint Task Force-Military District of Washington from November 17 – 21. The Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard, Marines and local police joined the Army for the exercise.  Pilots launched drones from locations in the north of Fort McNair, in the east of the installation and in the south near the National War College, as an insider threat. The planners also used another post on Hains Point between the Potomac River and the Washington Channel as an invasion point.

“Colonel Burnette and I had this idea to test our systems in a true live threat scenario,” Reynolds said. “All these systems are tested in a perfect world scenario out in a desert or out in a very remote area, rarely are they tested in the situations and environments that they operate in. To our knowledge, this is kind of the first time that’s ever been done.”

At each location pilots tested the Unmanned Aircraft Systems’ (UAS) ability to hover, orbit and invade in real time during daylight hours. Testers then conducted a sensor check across each participating installation. At night, planners tested the same capabilities while studying mitigation and defence tactics from Fort McNair’s sensors to handheld devices used by the post’s military police units. The UAS began launching at about 9:30 a.m. each day of the exercise until about 3 p.m. Pilots then began the same test from 2 a.m. to 5 a.m. The tests studied whether Fort McNair, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling and the Washington Navy Yard could detect and mitigate UAS threats. After evaluating the results, the data will be used to build a larger exercise for 2026. Reynolds and Burnette hope to identify gaps or weaknesses in the defence department’s counter-UAS capabilities in the National Capital Region and use that capability in neighbouring installations. The planning team also hopes to achieve the ability to attack, identify and monitor aerial activity at the counter-UAS level in the DC metro area as well as the continental United States.

“The small drone problem has stymied countries from Denmark to [the US], Russia-Ukraine, and in the Levant, and in the National Capital Region,” Burnette said. “But an argument could be made for the rest of the Western world that [counter-UAS] is singular in its ability to defeat such incidents should they occur. And the aim of this exercise is to test our defences.”

Reynolds, who has a background in law enforcement, held planning sessions for nearly 60 days with Burnette, an infantry officer, to prepare for the exercise. To conduct the tests, they had to seek permission from government agencies including the Federal Aviation Administration and the Transportation Security Administration.

“We’re not overlapping our capabilities and then integrating those into one common operational picture,” Reynolds said.” We’re sharing the early warning system of our capabilities and then sharing that amongst the interagency at both the federal, the state, the local, the tribal and the territorial levels.”

The soldiers believe that the DC metro region provides the ideal testing ground with its challenging geography and collaborations with more than 40 national and government agencies. It is also home to one of the country’s busiest airports, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

“If you could solve this problem here, you could probably solve it anywhere,” Burnette said. “To be able to operate successfully in that environment is a challenge in and of itself.” (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)

 

09 Dec 25. US Army plans to upgrade Mk19 grenade launchers to C-UAS role. The US Army plans to upgrade its venerable belt-fed MK19 automatic grenade launcher into a counter-UAS weapon. In November, U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command – Chemical Biological Center announced on the sam.gov website that it intends to issue a competitive Cornerstone Initiative Request (CIR) for 40mm Counter Unmanned Aerial System (CUAS) on or after 25 November 2025, with an estimated closing date of 30 calendar days after issuance. The CIR for this effort is restricted to Cornerstone consortium members.

“The objective of this effort is to integrate advanced proximity sensing fuze technology into programmable air burst cartridges for the MK19 grenade launcher, establishing a comprehensive system-level solution for countering small UAS threats for the Army,” said the pre-solicitation request text. “This necessitates the development of a fully integrated system encompassing detection, tracking, targeting, and defeat functionalities, crucially including seamless integration with existing weapon platforms, fire control systems, and remote weapon stations.”

For more information: https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/856286e6c6074830b7650ce46262158d/view (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)

 

12 Dec 25. Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), in close collaboration with U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), Joint Interagency Task Force 401 (JIATF-401), U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, announced top-performing solutions for the Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft System (C-sUAS) Low-Cost Sensing (LCS) challenge. MatrixSpace Inc. has been selected as the overall winner and will receive the top award of $500k. In addition, the top three performers following the overall winner will each receive award amounts of $100k in recognition of their performance: Guardian RF, Hidden Level, Inc., and Teledyne FLIR Defense. The selected systems secured a place among the 10 finalists who advanced to live testing during USNORTHCOM’s Falcon Peak 25.2 exercise, outperforming 115 submissions. The system demonstrated capability in detection, classification, localization, scalability, cost, and integration readiness.

“Small UAS threats are evolving faster than traditional acquisition cycles, and meeting that challenge requires capabilities that can be deployed at speed and scale. The selected solutions show how commercial innovation can strengthen our layered defense – delivering affordable sensing that we can field widely, adapt quickly, and keep the warfighter ahead of the threat,” said David Payne, Acting Director of DIU’s Autonomy Portfolio.

A Scalable, Distributed Approach to Counter-UAS Sensing

The LCS challenge, launched in May 2025, was designed to complement exquisite sensor systems by identifying emerging technologies that enable broad, distributed, and resilient sensing architectures. During FP 25.2, the ten selected finalists demonstrated solutions spanning radio frequency passive detection, active radar, acoustic sensing, optical and infrared modalities, and hybrid systems. These technologies collectively showed potential cost savings of 50–80 percent in total cost of ownership, while still meeting key coverage and performance requirements for C-sUAS defense. During live testing, vendors were evaluated against a variety of small UAS flown both individually and in coordinated multiples, employing diverse communication protocols. Finalists were not informed which platforms or profiles they would be tested against, ensuring performance was measured under realistic, un-scripted, and operationally relevant conditions. Evaluated by experts and end-users, against a rigorous selection criteria, challenge winners differentiated themselves by demonstrating tailored technical strengths, high performance against threat-representative UAS targets and demonstrating a cost-effective architecture enabling deployment at scale across fixed, mobile, and austere environments.

Pathway to Transition

As the top-performing solutions, the selected winners will share the LCS challenge prize pool of $800,000 and will be eligible for potential follow-on opportunities, including Other Transaction (OT) agreements, and other contract types, in order to expedite direct transition into operational use.

“JIATF 401 [Joint Interagency Task Force 401] has one measure of effectiveness: quickly deliver state-of-the-art C-UAS capability to the warfighter at home and abroad,” said Brig. Gen. Matt Ross “Our partnership with DIU contributes to warfighter lethality and homeland defense.”

About the LCS Challenge

The Counter-sUAS Low-Cost Sensing (LCS) challenge sought to identify emerging sensor solutions that could:

• expand detection coverage,
• reduce total lifecycle cost,
• integrate seamlessly into joint C2 architectures, and
• provide the resilience and redundancy required to counter small UAS threats.

Launched in May 2025, the challenge drew participation from traditional and nontraditional vendors across the country, representing the full spectrum of sensing modalities. The Falcon Peak 25.2 exercise provided a realistic environment to evaluate these capabilities under operationally relevant conditions. For more information about DIU’s work accelerating commercial technology into the Department of Defense, visit www.diu.mil. https://www.diu.mil/latest/diu-jiatf-401-usnorthcom-us-army-announce-winner-for-c-uas-low-cost-sensing

 

12 Dec 25. Maritime multi-sensor counter-drone prototype tested in NATO exercise. A new detection system for countering drones conducted its first field tests at sea during NATO’s Bold Machina (BOMA) exercise in the Netherlands this September. Rapidly developed by a small team led by officer-scholars from the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), the system deployed aboard a Dutch Navy fast raiding, interception and special forces craft (FRISC). Designed for passive operation, the system employed artificial intelligence (AI) to integrate multiple independent sensor platforms to detect and identify class 1 drones.  NATO Allied Special Operations Forces Command (SOFCOM) sponsored BOMA with technical support from the NATO Center for Maritime Research and Experimentation. Over 150 personnel from 17 individual NATO special operations forces (SOF) commands and two NATO partner SOF commands participated. Representatives from Ukraine also attended.  SOF combatant craft, such as FRISCs and other rigid-hull inflatable boats can be at high risk of drone attack because they’re exposed without cover. NATO SOFCOM identified this vulnerability as the focus of its design challenge for the 2025 BOMA exercise. At NPS, U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Max Leutermann, an engineering duty officer studying system engineering, and Swedish Armed Forces Maj. Patrik Liljegard, a special forces officer studying defence analysis, took up the challenge. They presented the proposal to NATO Allied SOFCOM in Poland last April, where it was approved and additional funding to build a prototype was provided. By forming partnerships across industry, they found the additional resources and expertise they needed to assist them.

“NATO required us to create a system that was passive so that operators who were on a small boat wouldn’t give off any sort of detectable signatures or emissions,” said Leutermann.

The prototype was tested in a field experiment in August, in high temperatures and on dusty inland terrain that did mimic the conditions to be faced during a SOF mission aboard a FRISC off the coast of northern Europe. However, the harsh environment fully tested the system’s detection capabilities against different drones at various altitudes. The team strapped the system into the back of Leutermann’s pickup truck and used it like a land boat. The system includes multiple independent sensor platforms, which are customisable, as well as a Tactical Hybrid Operational Router (THOR), an AI-driven Operational Data Integration Node (ODIN), and a navigation display, which overlays the drone detection data from the sensors on the graphical user interface for the operators. The sensor platforms used by the system have included short-range acoustic and electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) from Mara; direction-finding radio frequency (RF) from DroneShield; broad-spectrum RF from Silvus Technologies; long-range EO/IR from Trakka Systems; and low probability of intercept/detection radar from DspNor. To counter evolving drone design and adversary tactics, AI from an Nvidia Jetson developer kit drives the system by fusing the multi-sensor data, refining real-time UAS detection models and updating threat libraries. The operators receive the output on a SeaCross navigation display, giving them the detected drone’s bearing, range, altitude, orientation and identification. The BOMA sea trials were conducted by the Dutch Navy from the port city of Den Helder, Netherlands. Liljegard said the counter-drone system was not fully integrated or fully operational before going to BOMA due to the timeline and the unavailability of some of the sensors they planned to use. During the first days of the trials, sensors and equipment were still arriving and had to be connected. The team assembled and integrated hardware and software that they had never used before.

“The great thing is how far we reached in such a short timespan with the NPS team and the industry partners, who all worked together,” added Liljegard. “If one of the companies lacked something, then another company shared its resources. It was fantastic to see everybody work toward the same goal of completing the system.”

Once ready, the team deployed aboard a FRISC several kilometres offshore and waited for contacts. Four different types of class 1 drones launched at them—ordinary RF controlled, modified RF controlled, fibreoptic and autonomous.

The team watched the drones track on the navigation display in real time. For some drones, Leutermann and Liljegard not only tracked the drones themselves for the entire time in the air but also the drone controllers’ positions. In one case, after the third sighting of a drone not in their UAS library database, the system was able to learn it was a new type of drone, add it to the library, and alert the team that it was a threat.

“In the end, we showcased a system that integrated sensors from multiple companies into one display that operators can use,” said Leutermann. “That capability didn’t exist before. We were able to bring something new to the field.”

https://www.dvidshub.net/news/553961/rapidly-developed-counter-drone-prototype-succeeds-natos-bold-machina (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)

 

12 Dec 25.  Microsoft teams up with Lockheed Martin to develop C-UAS with cloud capabilities. Microsoft is joining with Lockheed Martin to develop counter-uncrewed aerial systems (C-UAS) capabilities. Lockheed Martin’s Sanctum’s modular, scalable architecture integrates Microsoft Azure cloud infrastructure in its digital infrastructure, which enables continuous improvement through AI-driven model retraining via the cloud. Sanctum tracks, identifies and defends against hostile threats. Azure services, such as Azure IoT Hub, Azure Synapse and Azure AI Foundry, support Sanctum’s real-time threat detection, multi-sensor tracking and analytics.  “In a live exercise, a single operator used Sanctum’s unified console to detect and neutralise multiple hostile drones approaching a base perimeter reacting in seconds thanks to AI-powered threat classification and intuitive visual cues,” Lockheed Martin said. (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)

 

12 Dec 25. India to integrate on-demand drone network into its emergency response system. India’s Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) and ideaForge Technology Limited are to introduce drone-based intelligence into India’s Emergency Response Support System (ERSS), according to various national media reports.  C-DAC’s ERSS will be integrated with ideaForge’s FLYGHT platform, an on-demand drone network offered through a Drone-as-a-Service model. The FLYGHT platform allows government agencies to use drones without purchasing equipment or running in-house drone operations.  The collaboration also includes joint research and development as well as shared training. For example, C-DAC and ideaForge will examine how the VEGA processor can be incorporated into drone systems, explore VEGA-based system-on-chip designs for flight controllers, and work together on projects involving autonomous swarm drones, AI-enabled analytics, and advanced computing for unmanned systems. (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)

 

12 Dec 25. Industry call for participation in new Project COURAGEOUS airport C-UAS trials. Counter-UAS system providers have until 19 December 2025 to respond to a Call for Participation in the COURAGEOUS Athens Pilot (9–13 March 2026), according to a Linkedin post from Geert De Cubber, Team Leader of the Robotics & Autonomous Systems Research Unit at the Royal Military Academy in Belgium and Project Coordinator of EU projects COURAGEOUS and ORIGAMI.

“Project COURAGEOUS invites Counter-UAS technology providers to express their interest in participating in the upcoming pilot exercise in Athens, Greece, focused on airport protection under realistic operational and environmental conditions,” runs the post. “Funded by the European Union, COURAGEOUS develops standardised, repeatable methodologies for testing and benchmarking C-UAS systems. This pilot builds upon the outcomes of the original COURAGEOUS project and aims to bring transparency and comparability to the C-UAS evaluation process.”

“Pilot highlights:

• Location: Suburban civil airport with ATC coordination
• Conditions: Low-light, rainy, RF-dense, medium bird presence
• Threat UAV: Low-RCS fixed-wing & rotary-wing drones, GPS+INS navigation
• Strict safety and legal framework, including neutralisation controls

“Participation includes

• Real-world testing opportunity with live UAVs
• Get to know the future standard methods for assessing Counter-UAS system performance
• On-site logistics and technical support
• Reimbursement of travel and accommodation for two representatives
• Use of the COURAGEOUS standard data format and reporting templates

For technical requirements and participation details, email Exercise Coordinator: Vivi Petsioti ()

For more information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geertdecubber/

(Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)

 

15 Dec 25. Thales revolutionises the underwater battlespace with new Sonar 76Nano.

• Sonar 76Nano is a compact, advanced acoustic detection system aimed at enhancing maritime security for the UK, NATO, and allies, closely aligned with key UK defence priorities.
• Developed from concept to prototype in just ten months, it features modular deployment, Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven detection, and the potential for seamless integration across naval platforms, including naval drones.
• Sonar 76Nano will not only detect submarines, it will be able to map the seabed, conduct threat acoustic and operational data collection, and even send messages underwater with a low risk of being detected.
• Sonar 76Nano strengthens UK industrial capability, supports potential exports and jobs, and underscores Thales’ ongoing commitment to innovation and national security.

Thales introduces the prototype of Sonar 76Nano, a revolutionary miniaturised acoustic detection system intended to redefine maritime security for the UK, NATO, and their allies. Building on the world-class legacy of the renowned Sonar 2076, the Sonar 76Nano directly supports the UK Government’s Strategic Defence Review and Defence Industrial Strategy ambitions to strengthen national security and UK industrial capability.

Innovation that keeps our warfighters ahead of emerging threats

From concept to real-world prototype in just 10 months, Sonar 76Nano sets a bold new standard in agility, innovation, and operational excellence. Thanks to its modular and flexible design, this sonar system can be deployed onboard a wider range of uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUV) and seabed monitoring systems rather than being limited to large high value platforms. It empowers greater flexibility and responsiveness across naval operations through a hybrid fleet – an approach aligned to the Royal Navy’s Atlantic Bastion vision for integrated defence across the North Atlantic and beyond.

Key features and breakthroughs

• Miniaturised, proven technology: leveraging trusted Sonar 2076 capabilities in a compact, versatile form factor.
• Modular deployment: seamlessly integrated across the full spectrum of platforms — uncrewed systems to crewed systems.
• AI-enhanced acoustic detection: artificial intelligence accelerates target identification and decision-making with unprecedented precision.
• Digital native integration: fully compatible with existing defence infrastructure, enhancing interoperability across UK and NATO forces.
• Rapid development cycle.

This fast-paced innovation cycle underscores Thales’s commitment to fostering agility, cutting-edge research, and secure supply chains – directly supporting UK high-value jobs and driving technological exports.

Public debut with the Royal Navy

On 17th December, Sonar 76Nano will make its official public debut with the Royal Navy at a technology demonstrator, marking a pivotal moment for maritime defence. This will allow naval personnel and experts to witness the prototype’s capabilities first-hand and engage with Thales’ leading engineers and scientists. Sonar 76Nano shows how strategic government defence priorities can drive tangible innovation that strengthens UK maritime dominance and industrial capability.

“Sonar 76Nano is a landmark innovation and a vivid demonstration of what focused ingenuity and collaboration can achieve with tight deadline. In just ten months, our world-class teams have progressed from visionary concepts to an advanced prototype that sets the stage for the next generation of underwater security and agility. As we present this innovation to the Royal Navy, we reaffirm our commitment to keeping the UK at the forefront of global maritime security.” Paul Armstrong, Managing Director Under Water Systems, Thales in the UK.

 

12 Dec 25. Belgium doubles down on drone defenses following mystery flights. Belgium has embarked on a major acquisition push to accelerate the procurement of counter-drone systems, including surveillance radars and drone guns. The ramp-up is part of the country’s €50m ($59m) anti-drone plan following a recent surge in illegal drone overflights near or above airports, military bases, and nuclear-weapons storage sites. Belgian defense minister Theo Francken announced two contracts this week: one for Saab’s Giraffe 1X surveillance radar and one for portable drone jammers from Australian manufacturer DroneShield. An undisclosed amount of the Swedish-made Giraffe 1X radar was purchased as part of a contract valued at €9.2m. The system operates by tracking aerial targets and feeding target data to air-defense systems. According to the contract information, the radars are to be located in the Halle-Vilvoorde district surrounding the capital Brussels. Belgium also concluded a €2.8m deal with Droneshield for handheld drone guns that can detect and jam hostile unmanned aerial systems using artificial intelligence. The guns are also in service in Ukraine. Francken said the country will receive its first National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System from Norway in the second half of 2027. Belgium plans to acquire ten of these systems from manufacturer Kongsberg together with the Netherlands. Data published by EuroNews’ The Cube, a fact-checking program based on publicly available reports of drone-related interference at European airports, cases quadrupled between January 2024 to November 2025. The analysis concludes that the most affected country during this time was Belgium. Many of the European countries that have experienced drone intrusions over the last few months have subsequently been criticized for their security shortfalls. In a recent interview with Defense News, the chief executive of the Danish defense firm Terma, Henriette H. Thygesen, said that one of the gaps in the response to the incidents was the slow speed in verifying that a given threat is, in fact, a drone NATO and allied countries are testing counter-drone technologies in field trials such as the U.S.-led Project Flytrap 4.5 series, which is designed to assess scalable defensive systems for rapid procurement and integration into broader air defense frameworks. A two-week event held last month in Germany brought together troops, procurement teams and industry representatives to evaluate candidate systems against simulated drone threats, including a live-fire engagement. Citing a classified internal security report, German newspaper Bild has reported that since the beginning of this year there have been 1,955 unidentified drone flights recorded, often over or near military and NATO facilities, in Germany alone. (Source: Defense News)

 

16 Dec 25. Marotta Controls, a longstanding and leading innovator in aerospace and defense, today announced it has been awarded U.S. Patent No. 12,287,181 for its groundbreaking control surface deployment and actuation mechanism. This novel design combines the deployment and movement of control surfaces — such as fins used on missiles, guided munitions, and other maneuverable vehicles — into a single, compact unit. By integrating these functions into one device, the design saves space, simplifies integration, and improves overall reliability. The technology was developed by Marotta engineers: Vito Guardi, Travis Spaulding, John Albright, and Brett Seidman.  Deployment and actuation have traditionally required separate mechanisms, each occupying valuable system space and increasing potential points of failure. Marotta’s patented solution uses a single drive train to release and control the fins, eliminating the need for additional motors or release devices. This streamlined approach is particularly beneficial in space-constrained applications, such as gun-launched munitions, where every cubic inch counts.

“This invention was born from a customer challenge where the available space simply couldn’t accommodate multiple mechanisms,” said Vito Guardi, Senior Manager, Mechanical Engineering at Marotta Controls. “By rethinking how we deploy and drive fins, we developed a solution that not only fits the tight envelope but also enhances reliability and testability for high-performance systems.”

The mechanism also uniquely offers a resettable design, allowing full functional testing at the customer’s facility without sacrificing the hardware. Unlike one-time-use devices, which must be replaced after testing, Marotta’s system can be reloaded and retested, providing customers with confidence in its performance before deployment in the field.

While the patent was developed for a gun-launched guided round, its benefits extend to a wide range of platforms, including torpedoes, UAVs, and other systems where stowed control surfaces are advantageous for storage, transport, or aerodynamic performance.

“This patent reinforces Marotta’s reputation for solving the kinds of engineering challenges others shy away from,” said Guardi. “It also demonstrates our ability to innovate within severe constraints of space and performance, delivering solutions that keep our customers competitive in the most demanding environments.” The patented technology has been successfully tested in high-G environments and has already demonstrated its value in meeting strict performance and integration requirements. It marks one of two U.S. patents awarded to Marotta in 2025; the other is for a new synchronous rectification technique used in high-current power conversion. For more information about Marotta Controls and its portfolio of patented innovations, visit www.marotta.com.

 

16 Dec 25. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has entered full-rate production to deliver Mk44 Stretch Bushmaster® Chain Guns® for the U.S. Marine Corps’ new Amphibious Combat Vehicles (ACVs). The Mk44S will be integrated into the Kongsberg remote turret used on the Amphibious Combat Vehicle 30mm program (ACV-30), significantly improving firepower for the Marines.

• The Mk44S offers enhanced range, reliability and overmatch as well as the ability to fire all NATO-standard 30x173mm cartridges, including Northrop Grumman’s suite of advanced ammunition.
• The Mk44S includes the option to upgrade from 30mm to 40mm by simply changing the barrel and a few key parts, allowing for future flexibility.
• Production is underway at Northrop Grumman’s Mesa, Arizona, facility.

Dave Fine, vice president, armament systems, Northrop Grumman: “The Mk44 Bushmaster Chain Gun delivers unmatched firepower and reliability in even the most unforgiving conditions. By integrating this proven capability into the Amphibious Combat Vehicle program, we’re equipping Marines with the tools they need to dominate the battlefield and stay ahead of evolving threats.”

Details on the Mk44S Bushmaster Chain Gun:

The Mk44S is a medium-caliber weapon designed to fire 30x173mm ammunition and can be upgraded to fire 40mm rounds. It offers unmatched flexibility and reliability and is ideal for use with Northrop Grumman’s advanced programmable munitions.  With nearly 100,000 employees and over 30 m square feet of manufacturing

 

12 Dec 25. Netherlands orders Skyranger anti-drone cannons for under €1bn. The Netherlands has ordered Skyranger anti-drone cannons from Germany’s Rheinmetall for less than €1bn (US$1.2bn), below the budget flagged to parliament in January. The Dutch will buy mobile versions of the Skyranger air-defense system as well as systems for stationary use, the Ministry of Defence said late Thursday. The first Skyrangers will be handed over late 2028, with deliveries completed by end-2029, Rheinmetall said in a separate statement Friday. As drones have become ubiquitous on the front line in Ukraine, European countries are figuring out how to protect maneuvering troops against that threat. The Netherlands last month said it would fit a remote-controlled weapon system on wheeled armor as a quick-fix first capability ahead of the delivery of Skyrangers. The Skyranger purchase “gives the Netherlands more options to defend itself against drones in the highest spectrum of violence,” the MoD said. The Skyranger systems will complement existing short- and medium-range air defense, and will protect combat units as well as critical objects and locations such as the port of Rotterdam and military sites, the ministry said. The port of Rotterdam is Europe’s biggest, and a key hub for moving military supplies, including to Ukraine. Rheinmetall said it will supply the Netherlands with a “two-digit number” of Skyranger systems, with a contract value in the “high triple-digit” m euro range. The company is unable to provide exact numbers for contractual reasons, Rheinmetall told Defense News, while the Dutch MoD didn’t immediately respond to emailed questions. The defense firm said the Netherlands will receive “a completely new system” that can be used either in a mobile configuration on vehicles or as a stationary setup. Until now, Rheinmetall had been marketing Skyranger as a mobile system, displaying the cannon mounted on armor at defense shows such as Eurosatory in Paris and DSEI in London. The Skyranger 30 is equipped with a 30mm revolver cannon that fires airburst munition, designed to take out drones weighing up to 600 kilograms at a distance of up to 5 kilometers. In addition to the weapon platform consisting of a standard Skyranger 30 air-defense turret and lower mount for use on an armored carrier, the Dutch also ordered tactical-level control nodes and hook-lift transport platforms for stationary deployment, Rheinmetall said.

“The configuration for the Dutch armed forces, which enables both highly mobile operations and stationary use without a carrier vehicle, is unique to date,” said Oliver Dürr, managing director of Rheinmetall Air Defence. “Another NATO country has already expressed interest in this configuration.”

The Netherlands was planning to buy 22 Skyranger mobile air-defense cannons, in a project with a budget of €1.3 bn, State Secretary for Defence Gijs Tuinman told parliament in January.

“The upgrade of the Dutch mobile air defense capabilities also includes services provided by other suppliers,” Rheinmetall told Defense News in response to a question about the difference in value. “In addition, contracts can be extended.”

The Netherlands signed a contract with Rheinmetall Switzerland, which will build the first three prototypes, while Rheinmetall’s business in Ede in the Netherlands will play a “major role” in production and assembly of the remaining systems, the MoD said. Detailed planning is still ongoing, with the Ede site set to integrate the air-defense systems onto the vehicle structure, while maintenance and spare-parts supply could also be handled from the Dutch location, according to Rheinmetall. Hensoldt signed a long-term framework agreement to provide Rheinmetall with its Spexer 2000 radar for ground-based air defense, in particular for drone defense and the Skyranger 30 system, the German defense-electronics maker said in a separate statement Friday. The agreement will remain valid until the 2030s, and has a potential volume in the “high three-digit range,” Hensoldt said. (Source: Defense News)

 

12 Dec 25. Introducing the DUTY RDS™ MR. The Aimpoint® DUTY RDS® MR is a compact and rugged reflex sight featuring Aimpoint’s new multi-reticle system. Built to withstand the demands of law enforcement – the DUTY RDS MR offers selectable reticles of 2 MOA dot, 65 MOA circle and combination. The reticle can be adapted to the mission giving shooters rapid target acquisition at close range and precise aiming at distance – all in one optic. Elevation and windage turrets provide tactile, audible clicks for precise zeroing. The push buttons allows easy adjustment of brightness settings while the flush-mounted design prevents accidental changes in the field.

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Echodyne is a U.S. designer and manufacturer of advanced commercial radar solutions for defense and national security applications. The company’s proprietary metamaterials electronically scanned array (MESA®) architecture, a rare breakthrough in advanced radar engineering, leverages a physics-design approach to adapt conventional materials and deliver unexpected and beneficial behavior. The result is a solid-state, low-SWaP unit coupled with advanced software capabilities that delivers superior radar performance and unparalleled data integrity, radically improving system performance and enhancing safety for people and machines. With leading positions in counter-UAS, force protection, base security, and portable ISR, Defense Agencies and Suppliers rely on Echodyne radar for extraordinary accuracy and consistent, reliable operation. For more information, please visit: Echodyne.com.

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