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17 Feb 26. Cuashub.com said today that TAF Industries advances interceptors to counter Russian Shahed drones. Ukrainian defense manufacturer TAF Industries is developing a new interceptor drone, the TAF-I10, while also preparing its Octopus interceptor for serial production as part of efforts to counter Shahed-type drones. According to the company, the TAF-I10 is a high-speed interceptor UAV designed to resist electronic warfare. It features a protected communication channel and encrypted MilELRS protocol and is intended to engage aerial targets.
“The military had long been using our 10-inch Kolibri as an interceptor. Field solutions were working, so we decided not to stand aside but to take up this initiative and improve it at the manufacturer level,” TAF Industries stated.
The company said that over several months, more than 350 aerial targets were destroyed using Kolibri 10-inch FPV drones operating in an interceptor role under its TAF Bonus program. The initiative rewards service members with points for confirmed video evidence of enemy targets destroyed using Kolibri FPV drones, with points redeemable for equipment, gear and additional drones.
The TAF-I10 interceptor is currently in development and undergoing testing. In parallel, TAF Industries is preparing for serial production of the Octopus interceptor drone. The system is described as a certified development approved by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. According to information published by the company, the Octopus-100 variant was designed specifically to counter Shahed-type drones. It is equipped with an automatic target guidance module, can reach speeds of more than 300 kilometers per hour and operate at altitudes of up to 4,500 meters. The developments come as Ukrainian manufacturers continue to expand domestic counter-UAS capabilities in response to persistent aerial threats.
TAF Industries advances interceptors to counter Russian Shahed drones
(Source: https://cuashub.com/
18 Feb 26. Towed Defence Platform to Protect Commercial Shipping from Drone Attacks. DARPA and Raytheon have partnered to address a growing threat to global shipping: attacks by drones. Their new initiative, Pulling Guard, aims to develop a semi-autonomous, tow-behind platform that trails commercial vessels, providing detection and countermeasure capabilities without requiring ships themselves to be armed. The urgency of the problem is visible in places like the Black Sea. In 2026, commercial vessels there have increasingly hugged Turkey’s southern coastline rather than sailing direct routes. The shift reflects the risk posed by Ukrainian uncrewed systems targeting Russian shipping. Despite lacking a conventional navy, Ukraine has used airborne and maritime drones to disrupt traffic, prompting ships of many nations to steer clear of contested waters. Similar drone-related incidents have occurred in the Red Sea, the Strait of Hormuz, and even the Baltic Sea. Navies are stretched thin and cannot guarantee constant protection against piracy, terrorism, or regional conflicts. The result is longer routes, higher insurance premiums, and mounting pressure on global supply chains. Rather than retrofit merchant ships with weapons and advanced sensors—an approach fraught with legal, political, and financial complications—Pulling Guard proposes an external solution. The towed platform carries layered sensors and countermeasures, supported by a tethered drone equipped with electro-optical and infrared systems for elevated surveillance. Sensor data feeds into secure software designed to identify threats and resist cyber interference. A single remote operator can oversee multiple units and authorize engagements. The program is now entering phased development, beginning with platform integration and simulations, followed by live-fire testing and full operational demonstrations. (Source: UAS VISION/New Atlas; Raytheon; DARPA)
17 Feb 26. JIATF-401 Expands Counter-Drone Training, Bolsters Homeland Defense. As small, unmanned aircraft systems become cheaper, more accessible and increasingly weaponized, Joint Interagency Task Force 401 is expanding its efforts to strengthen the military’s ability to counter the growing threat at installations in the United States and abroad.
“Unmanned systems are a defining threat of our time,” said Army Brig. Gen. Matt Ross, task force director. “Drones are prolific, inexpensive, evolving quickly and increasingly accessible to nonstate actors and individuals.”
At the center of the effort to train the joint force for this growing threat is the Joint Counter-Small Unmanned Aircraft System University at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, a critical component of JIATF-401. The university develops and validates counter-UAS curriculum for the War Department and serves as the task force’s hub for instruction, mobile training teams and technical integration. Rather than focusing solely on individual operators, the university is shifting to a train-the-trainer model designed to multiply expertise across the force. JCU students will now receive advanced training and return to their units to build local capability, reducing reliance on centralized courses and accelerating the spread of counter-UAS knowledge. The university will continue to offer its counter-UAS planner’s course to support the protection of installations and other defense critical infrastructure. Ross said the approach is intended to create a sustainable training ecosystem as drone threats continue to evolve.
That philosophy was recently put into practice in Guam, a U.S. territory in the Indo-Pacific region that serves as a key hub for American military operations. JCU instructors deployed to the island to provide hands-on, counter-UAS training to Task Force Talon and Guam National Guard Security Forces, working alongside base defense forces to integrate detection and mitigation procedures into routine security operations.
“Our mission is to ensure every warfighter has the skills to defend their post, wherever that may be,” Ross said. “We must recognize that the homeland extends beyond the continental United States; defending Guam is defending the homeland.”
While new sensors and mitigation systems remain important, Ross emphasized that “Hardware alone is not sufficient. We need to train service members and work in concert with interagency partners and local law enforcement to ensure that we’re all pulling together to accomplish the same mission.”
Building full capability also requires clearly defined authorities, rules of engagement, sustainment plans, maintenance support and integration into daily operations.
Army Lt. Col. John Peterson, JCU director, said instructors are adapting curriculum to reflect emerging threats and operational lessons learned.
“Whether it’s in a classroom at Fort Sill or on an airfield in Guam, our job is to support JIATF-401’s priorities,” Peterson said. “We are improving joint force training to ensure our service members have the skills they need to defend every inch of the homeland.”
Through forward deployments and its evolving training model, JIATF-401 aims to deliver more than equipment. Ross noted that the goal is to build enduring counter-drone capability across the joint force — from installations in the continental United States to strategic outposts in the Indo-Pacific region — ensuring service members are prepared to detect, disrupt and defeat one of the fastest-growing threats in modern warfare. (Source: U.S. DoD)
16 Feb 26. Cuashub.com said today that JIATF 401 and FBI expand counter-drone partnership ahead of World Cup. Army Brig. Gen. Matt Ross, director of Joint Interagency Task Force 401, visited the FBI’s National Training Center for Counter-sUAS in Huntsville, Alabama, on Feb. 12 to reinforce cooperation between the Defense Department and federal law enforcement on counter-drone operations. The visit focused on expanding joint training and accelerating the development of counter-UAS capabilities in coordination with federal interagency partners. Officials said the goal is to strengthen homeland defense against small drone threats through more integrated planning and operational alignment. A central topic of discussion was security coordination for this summer’s 2026 FIFA World Cup, organized by FIFA. The tournament will include matches in 11 U.S. host cities, prompting heightened security planning across federal, state and local agencies.
Ross and Mike Torphy, the FBI’s acting assistant section chief for UAS and counter-UAS, met with instructors leading a specialized training course for local law enforcement agencies in each of the host cities. The course is designed to improve preparedness against potential drone-related threats during large-scale public events.
“The security of our homeland depends on a seamless, unified defense, and that is only possible through robust interagency collaboration,” Ross said during the visit. He added that while preparations for the World Cup are a priority, the broader objective is to establish enduring, integrated counter-UAS capabilities across the federal government.
Ross emphasized that lessons learned from battlefield environments can inform domestic counter-drone strategies, particularly when combined with the FBI’s law enforcement authorities and investigative expertise. He described the partnership as part of a “whole-of-government” approach to building a layered defense against small drones. Future efforts are expected to include closer coordination between JIATF 401’s Joint Counter-sUAS University at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and the FBI’s National Training Center in Huntsville. Officials said the collaboration is intended not only to secure high-profile events but also to serve as a long-term model for a more integrated national response to drone threats.
JIATF 401 and FBI expand counter-drone partnership ahead of World Cup
(Source: https://cuashub.com/
09 Feb 26. Fortem completes autonomous drone swarm intercept. Fortem has completed an autonomous 5-vs-5 drone intercept with safe capture of every target, demonstrating a scalable counter-swarm defence capability. In a live test, five DroneHunter® F700 interceptors operating under the command of a single AI-powered SkyDome® software platform intercepted and safely captured five incoming drones, each flying an autonomous, pre-programmed attack mission. SkyDome autonomously planned, sequenced and coordinated all five intercepts, with no human involvement. The demonstration used Fortem’s fifth-generation DroneHunter F700 interceptor, which features improvements in autonomous decision-making, manoeuvring and operational reliability. The test also validated new upgrades to SkyDome’s path-planning engine, which now accounts for complex airspace constraints and dynamically deconflicts multiple DroneHunters using a combination of airspace separation techniques. The United States’ defence department has selected DroneHunter as its first operational purchase under the Replicator-2 initiative, a fast-track programme designed to accelerate the fielding of deployable counter-drone systems. (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
16 Feb 26. Visionary Machines signs distributor agreement with Imrex in Singapore. Australia’s Visionary Machines has signed a counter-drone agreement with Singaporean defence and aerospace distributor Imrex. The agreement includes Visionary Machines’ Pandion Sentinel system, which is designed to provide passive, multi-domain drone detection, tracking and classification without detectable emissions. It can be integrated with third-party command and control systems for precise targeting. In December, the Pandion Sentinel took part in a series of live trials against ‘red team’ drones as part of Canada’s Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security sandbox, which was held in the dense city environment of Ottawa Canada. Spencer Ong, President and Owner of IMREX Pte Ltd. said that the Pandion Sentinel’s counter drone situational awareness sensing is an important addition to its portfolio and highly relevant to customers confronting increasingly sophisticated small Group 1 and Group 2 drone threats. (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
16 Feb 26. US defence department seeks C-UAS for Spring 2026 demonstration. The United States defence department, through the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), is seeking counter-uncrewed aerial systems (C-UAS) products for a Spring 2026 test at Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona. Proposed solutions are organised into two Lines of Effort (LOE). LOE 1 solutions are intended to establish a persistent, high‑fidelity protective sensing layer over fixed installations within the United States. The solicitation calls for systems that will operate safely near populated areas, within congested airspace and across complex electromagnetic environments dominated by lawful emitters. The intended application includes replacement or augmentation of legacy fixed‑site sensing systems. Solutions may employ single or multi‑modal sensing to enhance the radar solution, however the solution must include a radar sensor as part of the total proposal. LOE 1 solutions must be able to consistently detect and track all Group 1 UAS types at ranges of 2 km or greater. Autonomous classification of detected tracks, distinguishing small UAS from non‑UAS objects is required, as is effective discrimination of biological clutter, ground clutter and false tracks to maintain a clean air picture. Systems should provide simultaneous detection and tracking of multiple UAS threats. They should also be capable of being rapidly integrated with government-designated C-UAS fire control systems. Additional, secondary capabilities are also desired and include the capability to detect, track and classify Group 2 and Group 3 UAS with actionable data on threat disposition. The second LOE solutions are intended to provide small units with resilient, mobile sensing capabilities while stationary and on the move. LOE 2 systems must function in GNSS‑denied or degraded environments and maintain low physical and spectral signatures to support survivability in contested battlespaces. “The solution’s ability to deliver early warning, allowing units to take protective action, is critical and depends upon a low physical and spectral signature to prevent targeting by enemy forces,” the solicitation states. All sensing modalities are welcome, with a preference for passive approaches. LOE 2 solutions should be able to rapidly adapt to evolving threats. The preference is for solutions with reduced set-up for initial operation including calibration time, reconfiguration time, mean time between failures and efficient operator level repairs. Simultaneous detection and tracking of multiple UAS threats is required and systems must discriminate from biological and ground clutter to maintain a usable air picture. Teaming is encouraged and the government may seek to team companies with AI/ML solutions with companies that are integrators in the C-UAS technology space or request collaboration between two or more solutions. Responses are due by February 26, 2026. (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
11 Feb 26. “Ukraine boosts long-range drone detection with new Indra LTR-25 tactical radar.” Spain’s Xataka, and other press sources, report the Ukrainian Armed Forces have finally received an Indra Lanza LTR-25 long range tactical radar.
The Lanza LTR-25 radar is capable of detecting aerial targets such as drone at up to 250 nautical miles and can be intetrsted into air defence and C-UAS networks such as Patriot, NASAMS and IRIS-T systems.
According to an Indra specifications sheet, the LTR-25 is a full solid-state three dimensional (3D) long range radar capable of providing target identification through interrogation and automatic processing of transponders replies in modes 1, 2, 3/A, C, 4, S and 5. “The LTR-25 integrates a 3D Primary Surveillance Radar (SR) based on a pencil beam architecture which provides long range coverage,” said the company. “The main function of the SR is the detection of non-cooperative aircrafts within the instrumented coverage volume, even under adverse conditions, including clutter and ECM environment. Target coordinates provided by the LTR-25 include target altitude (3D position). The LTR-25 has been designed as a tactical deployable radar, with the capability of being transported by a variety of means, (road, air -aircraft or helicopter, rail or sea). All the LTR-25 associated equipment is completely integrated, so that all operative,”
For more information
https://www.xataka.com/magnet/ucrania-acaba-recibir-espana-arma-ansiada-que-le-ha-negado-eeuu-ojos-para-anticipar-drones-rusia
(Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
11 Feb 26. European Commission proposes radical overhaul of the European Union’s C-UAS capabilities. The European Commission has published an EU Action Plan on Drone and Counter Drone Security which will radically overhaul the way There are give key strategic action points the Commission plans to undertaking in concert with Member States.
First, the Commission will initiate with Member States a civil-military industrial mapping, designed to define the right priorities in terms of technologies and capacities. This will inform the investments into the development of technologies, their integration into drones and counter-drone systems and the necessary industrial production ramp-up.
Second, the EU will aim to strengthen a network of multinational test and expertise centres for drones across Member States, established to test, demonstrate, validate and qualify military or dual-use systems in their specific operational environments, such as the maritime Seabed Security Experimentation Centre (SEASEC). The counter-drone Living Lab of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) will be upgraded into a fully-fledged EU counter-drone centre of excellence. The Commission will also support the development of a harmonised testing methodology6 for counter-drone systems and will issue a Recommendation on voluntary performance requirements for counter-drone systems.
Third, there is a need to bring clarity and security into the market through targeted safety requirements and a certification scheme for counter-drone systems. The Commission has concluded EASA, as the competent authority for aviation safety, should therefore develop criteria to be respected by counter-drone systems.
Fourth, the Commission, with the support of the High Representative, will examine ways to promote the use of standards applicable to both civilian and military drone and counter-drone technologies.
Fifth, producing drones and counter-drone systems at scale is paramount. The European Commission will assess the possibility to leverage the forthcoming Industrial Accelerator Act, as well as the joint deployment initiative for critical infrastructure. Additionally, it will also use industry reinforcement actions under the European Defence Industry Programme to boost the production in the EU of drones and counter-drone capacities.
The Commission will expand industry engagement by convening a drone and counter-drone Industrial Forum, building on the Drone Alliance initiative with Ukraine. This will bring together a large ecosystem of underlying and enabling technologies such as chips, AI, quantum, cloud and cyber. The Commission will furthermore consider options for public-private partnership to address key technology gaps for the development and industrialization of EU produced drone systems. The Commission has also outlined a series of “key actions on preparedness” aimed at the coordinating efforts with Member States
- As a matter of priority, the Commission, together with Member States, where appropriate, will:
- Propose a Drone Security Package by Q3 2026 to rapidly adapt the regulatory framework to new security threats: ensure mandatory registration for all drone operators of smaller drones (above 100g); extend drone direct remote identification obligation to smaller drones (above 100g); avoid take-off of drones unless an operator identification number has been entered; introduce regulatory simplification and flexibility for certain operations.
- Work with willing Member States on a voluntary plan to stress test the resilience of critical infrastructures against drone intrusion.
- Adopt non-binding CER guidelines on resilience enhancing measures for critical entities with targeted guidance on countering threats posed by drones (Q2 2026).
- Issue a Recommendation on voluntary performance requirements for counter-drone systems (Q4 2026)
- Launch by Q3 2026 a Coordinated Security risk assessment on drones and counter-drone capacities, with a view to adopt a Drone Security Toolbox.
- Launch in Q2 2026 a drone and counter-drone industrial forum – the “D-TECT Forum” (Drone TEch for Countering Threats).
- Support the scaling up of drone and counter-drone start-ups and the ramping up of production capacities.
- Gather immediately a working group with interested Member States targeting balloon threats and launch in Q2 2026 a dedicated hackathon on balloons threats, for the industry and start-up community to propose innovative solutions.
Other actions include establishing an EU wide capacity to detect, track and identify in near real time any legitimate drones. “Different information feeds will need to be fused. In this regard, Eurocontrol has developed a single air display system – CIMACT (Civil-Military Air Traffic Management Coordination tool), allowing the detection and identification in real time of potential threats from drones. “The Commission will support the emergence of such tools integrating detection and identification data as well as upstream enablers to distinguish between authorised and non-cooperative drone activity. Looking ahead, enhanced situational awareness could be further strengthened through the gradual development of drone conspicuity solutions, building on U-space, registration and identification frameworks.” The Commission is also moving to ensure relevant data should be accessible by competent authorities and to foster more information sharing between Member States to improve lessons learnt. “Detection, tracking and identification capabilities should also be integrated into national border surveillance systems and contribute to the European situational picture, including EUROSUR19, to enable operational support and the coordinated handling of cross-border incidents,” it continued…” detection of malicious drones requires a multi-sensor approach, integrated through AI-powered command-and-control (C2) software, allowing to establish clear situational awareness, in particular to protect critical infrastructure.”
For more information: https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/action-plan-drone-and-counter-drone-security (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
12 Feb 26. The institutional challenges of C-UAS protection of airports laid bare in El Paso. The challenges of coordinating appropriate responses to rogue drone incursions around airports – institutional and technical – have been vividly thrown into sharp relief these last few days in the Texas city of El Paso. According to media reports, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on February 9 issued a temporary flight restriction that grounded all flights up to 18,000 feet around the city for 10 days – lifted eight hours later. The exact reason for the initial ban is not clear but media reports suggest the FAA had acted after the US Department of War (DoW) had told the FAA it planned to use a laser counter UAS system against drones flying near El Paso operated by Mexican cartels.
The DOW had been testingC-UAS laser systems in the area.
Unconfirmed media reports say the institutional issues had been further complicated by the fact that control of the laser C-UAS system had been temporarily passed from the Department for War to the Customs and Border Protection agency. But a lack of coordination between the different agencies was a key element in the confusion which led to the airport’s shut down – and this angered local political representatives who say they were not informed of events. The issue was eventually resolved. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy posted to X on 11 February “The FAA and DOW acted swiftly to address a cartel drone incursion. The threat has been neutralized, and there is no danger to commercial travel in the region. The restrictions have been lifted and normal flights are resuming.”
For more information: https://edition.cnn.com/2026/02/11/us/faa-el-paso-texas-flight-restrictions-hnk (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
12 Feb 26. Dronamics, HENSOLDT partner to develop long-range, airborne multi-domain threat detector. Dronamics has announced the launch of its Black Swan-based long-range cargo UAV aimed at detecting and targeting multi-domain threats from the air. Dronamics is partnering with HENSOLDT to provide a European Airborne Early Warning (AEW) system Strategic Class III UAS. The platform is equipped with HENSOLDT’s MissionGrid suite featuring MissMarvin mission management software, and PrecISR Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), to detect and target airborne, ground and maritime threats.
Early demonstrations of the joint solution are planned for later this year, said Dronmaics, followed by operational deployment with a focus on strengthening Europe’s capabilities along its Eastern Flank, the Mediterranean, and the Atlantic. (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
12 Feb 26. Fortem to provide DroneHunter C-UAS interceptors at US World Cup venues. Fortem Technologies has today announced it has received a multi-m-dollar order to protect US venues at the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup using its net-equipped DroneHunter® interceptors to capture and remove hostile drones without creating debris or endangering crowds below. This mark Fortem’s second consecutive FIFA World Cup deployment. As in 2022 in Qatar, Fortem was selected as the only kinetic mitigation solution among the counter-drone technologies chosen to protect events at this year’s soccer showcase, says the company. The order includes ground-based TrueView™ R30 radar units for drone detection and tracking, SkyDome® command-and-control software for autonomous threat response, and DroneHunter® hexcopter interceptors. The systems are designed for rapid deployment and can be positioned to protect venues and events as the tournament moves across host cities. The order is part of a broader Department of Homeland Security investment in counter-drone capabilities ahead of the World Cup and celebrations marking the nation’s 250th anniversary. In January, DHS announced a new Program Executive Office for Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Counter-UAS, along with $115 m in counter-drone investments. (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
13 Feb 26. EOS and ROKETSAN partner to market directed energy C-UAS systems. Australian C-UAS company Electro Optic Systems (EOS) has signed a strategic partnership agreement with ROKETSAN to collaborate on future opportunities involving integrated defence capabilities in selected markets.
“Announced at World Defense Show on 10 February, the agreement establishes a framework for EOS and ROKETSAN to collaborate in responding to customer requirements as they arise,” said EOS in a press release. “In 2025, EOS secured the world’s first export contract for a 100 kilowatt-class high energy laser weapon with the Netherlands, marking a significant milestone in the deployment of laser-based counter-drone capability. EOS has also entered into a conditional high energy laser contract with a customer in the Republic of Korea, reflecting growing international demand for high energy laser solutions.”
“EOS has seen growing international demand for high energy laser capability, and this agreement reflects how we are positioning to respond to that demand,” said Dr Andreas Schwer, Chief Executive Officer, EOS. “Working with ROKETSAN gives us a practical pathway to engage on opportunities where integration and local industrial participation are important.”
ROKETSAN also provides robust directed energy solutions against asymmetric threats. The agreement brings these complementary strengths together to support future customer requirements for integrated capability. (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
13 Feb 26. WhiteFox and MiTAC partner to develop C-UAS solutions for Taiwan. WhiteFox Defense Technologies and MiTAC Advance Technology Corp, a Taiwan-based technology systems integration company, have announced a long-term strategic partnership to jointly manufacture, integrate, and deploy next-generation counter-drone systems in support of the Taiwan Ministry of Defense and other national security stakeholders. The collaboration brings together WhiteFox’s RF detection, identification, tracking, and mitigation technologies, currently deployed in over nine countries, with MiTAC’s in-country manufacturing, systems integration, and lifecycle sustainment capabilities. “By combining advanced U.S.-developed counter-UAS technology with Taiwan-based production and supply chain participation, the partnership establishes a sovereign, locally sustained capability designed to protect Taiwan’s airspace, military installations, and critical infrastructure from emerging unmanned threats,” said WhiteFox in a press release.
“Under the agreement, MiTAC will lead manufacturing and final system assembly of the DroneFox counter-drone system in Taiwan while sourcing components and materials through Taiwan’s domestic industrial base. WhiteFox will provide core RF technologies, system architecture, and engineering design to ensure secure, high-performance capability aligned with allied defense standards. MiTAC will also serve as the program lead locally, supporting demonstrations, installation, training, spare parts logistics, and long-term sustainment for operational readiness.” (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
13 Feb 26. Polish military eyes Korean C-UAS. Korean manufacturer Bstarcom will participate in counter-uncrewed aerial systems (C-UAS) combat demonstration hosted by the Ministry of Defence in Poland. The week-long demonstration will be held in April and is part of the East Shield project, which aims to establish counter-drone systems along the Poland–Belarus border. A global tender under NATO supervision is scheduled for the first half of 2027. Bstarcom plans to focus on the Electronic Warfare (EW) sector during the upcoming demonstration. Additional rounds of combat demonstrations are expected to follow. In addition to the demonstration, Bstarcom is scheduled to deliver its hybrid counter-drone ‘3-in-1’ system to the Polish defence ministry in July. The company recently supplied a vehicle-mounted version of the system to the Republic of Korea Marine Corps. (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
16 Feb 26. Ireland “will be C-UAS-ready for EU presidency.” Counter-drone technology will be in place before Ireland’s presidency of the Council of the European Union, reports Irish news source Extra. The article quotes Defence Minister Helen McEntee as being “absolutely certain” that the technology would be in place. McEntree’s comments come as critics say the Department of Defence’s new implementation plan highlights timeline concerns. The implementation plan prioritises a new radar capability among other comprehensive measures. It follows the department’s announcement for EUR 1.7 bn for national defence. This includes EUR 19 m accelerated investment in Counter-drone systems ahead of Ireland’s 2026 EU Council Presidency. (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
16 Feb 26. Will the EU’s new counter drone package speed or slow the adoption of U-space? The European Commission’s EU Action Plan on Drone and Counter Drone Security should in theory speed up the adoption of U-space throughout the EU by integrating security, identification, and detection directly into more high-density, complex drone operations and give more confidence to regulators that these operations can be scaled with an acceptable level of risk. But will this really happen? Or will the limited resources which EU and national regulators have set aside for certifying more U-space area be diverted to work on security instead?
At its heart, the action plan seeks to stitch together three elements: short term cycles of innovation in the drone/counter-drone sectors; telecommunications as a detection capability driver; and emerging defence and security requirements.
So at first sight, the new measures look good for U-space.
The Commission’s proposals will support the scaling up of drone (and counter-drone start-ups) and the ramping up of production capacities and expand industry engagement by convening a drone and counter-drone Industrial Forum, building on the Drone Alliance initiative with Ukraine, bringing together a large ecosystem of underlying and enabling technologies such as chips, AI, quantum, cloud and cyber. “The Commission will furthermore consider options for public-private partnership to address key technology gaps for the development and industrialization of EU produced drone systems,” says the report. It will establish an EU wide capacity to detect, track and identify in near real time any legitimate drones, supporting the emergence of such tools integrating detection and identification data as well as upstream enablers to distinguish between authorised and non-cooperative drone activity. This will help in standardising rules and procedures throughout the EU. The adoption of a single airspace display format directly supports the U-space goal of shared situational awareness.
Looking ahead, “enhanced situational awareness could be further strengthened through the gradual development of drone conspicuity solutions, building on U-space, registration and identification frameworks,” says the Commission. By Q3 2026 mandatory registration for all drone operators of smaller drones (above 100g) will be required. Direct remote identification obligation will be spread to smaller drones (above 100g). Drones will not be allowed to fly unless an operator identification number has been entered. And there is a commitment to regulatory simplification and flexibility for certain operations.
The Commission is also moving to ensure relevant data should be accessible by competent authorities and to foster more information sharing between Member States to improve lessons learnt. “Detection, tracking and identification capabilities should also be integrated into national border surveillance systems and contribute to the European situational picture, including EUROSUR19, to enable operational support and the coordinated handling of cross-border incidents,” it continued…” detection of malicious drones requires a multi-sensor approach, integrated through AI-powered command-and-control (C2) software, allowing to establish clear situational awareness, in particular to protect critical infrastructure.” By improving detection and tracking, these new measures will allow authorities to distinguish legitimate, U-space-compliant drones from malicious ones while accelerating the adoption of 5G networks for real-time tracking, a core requirement for U-space service providers (USSPs) to manage traffic efficiently, will be accelerated. Moreover, independent UTM service suppliers have seen the way the wind has been blowing for some time and have almost all of them integrated counter-UAS features into their UTM offerings, so integrating C-UAS into UTM is essentially a software challenge.
“The danger is that by focusing primarily on counter-UAS, rather than the wider airspace traffic environment, Member States will fail to develop the U-space potential of providing traffic management and security personnel with a holistic view of low-level airspace.”
For many in the industry the key issue is whether EU Member States will now act on the plan.
“It’s all about execution – the elements are all there,” said Koen De Vos, Secretary-General, of the Global UTM Association (GUTMA).
An early test will be for Member States to move ahead on key elements of the action plan such as agreeing the framework for a single airspace display format and defining a “white-lists” of authorised drones. Once these are in place then U-space could, and should, be the key enabler to the Commission’s action plans.
“To us, this is positive news; it sounds like the European Commission is preparing the ground for infrastructure supporting much larger and more robust UAS ecosystems,” said Alon Abelson, CEO & Founder of UTM company High Lander.” Counter-UAS systems are vital for airspace security, but it should be noted that response to hostile drones is only a small part of their role – detection of unidentified, unregistered drones will be their chief purpose. Ideally, all drones would be registered and visible as friendly to the local USSP system, and counter-UAS systems will help make that happen – they’re a vital piece of the puzzle, along with the ability to detect and manage compliant drones. Further, we think that new registration requirements will speed up U-space growth because they’re critical to airspace coordination, without which you can’t build viable drone ecosystems.”
However, the danger is that by focusing primarily on counter-UAS, rather than the wider airspace traffic environment, Member States will fail to develop the U-space potential of providing traffic management and security personnel with a holistic view of low-level airspace. This means that despite the new commitment towards defence and security which is sweeping the continent, EU and wider European countries will not dedicate the resources to developing a wider, low-level airspace management capability. The Commission and Member States could focus too much on platforms, warn some industry experts, rather than software which ties the platforms together. If they do, legitimate drone operators could lose out.
“We welcome the initiative by the EU Commission on the positive implementation of the EU Drone Strategy 2.0 and the action plan to counter drone threats,” said Julie Garland, President of the Joint European Drone Associations (JEDA). “As JEDA we have been proactively involved from the outset; urging proportionality and the balance between security and safety and allowing our commercial drone industry to continue to the heights it should be achieving. We fully embrace and promote mandated conspicuity, but it must be interoperable, cost effective and feasible for the range of drone operations currently being carried out and future use case. And it must be interoperable with other airspace users. We don’t just need to see drones, we need to be able to see all airspace users.”
National regulators who have been working with common information system (CIS) and UTM service providers to certify U-space services beyond the handful currently in operation may have to pause their efforts as they assess the implications of the new Commission plans. Their focus will shift from introducing U-space areas which will allow for the scalable introduction of more complex civil drone operations to planning the implementation of stricter rules on identification and registration – which may make, in the long term, for a more secure low level airspace management system but at the price of losing commercial drone operators who will be unable to scale their businesses. Many small drone operators may struggle with the new requirements for secure, tracked, and “trusted” equipment.
“The European drone industry has been stifled by over regulation and complexity for years, the EASA simplification task force has been very proactive working with the Drone Community Steering Group and these requirements need to enhance and not stifle the regulatory work currently being undertaken to facilitate simple low risk SAIL I/II operations,” according to JEDA’s Julie Garland. “There is also a significant risk that widespread U-Space implementation will be further delayed as it has already fallen from being a high priority and the industry cannot survive without access to airspace for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operators.”
The European Commission, the drone industry and the wider airspace management community will be looking on anxiously over the next few months to see whether Member States embrace and fund the Commission’s action plan – and do so in a balance way which takes account of all airspace users. (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
17 Feb 26. China’s SKYFEND Presents Thunder Interceptor Drone and RER System at World Defense Show. At the World Defense Show 2026 in Riyadh, Chinese company SKYFEND Technology showcased its latest counter-UAV innovations, highlighting capabilities designed to meet evolving threats from small unmanned aerial systems (UAS). The exhibition focused on two key systems: the Skyfend Thunder interceptor drone and the Skyfend Tracer Air II electronic reconnaissance system. The Skyfend Thunder interceptor drone is built around an integrated artificial intelligence (AI) core that enables autonomous navigation and adaptive targeting. This AI enables the system to process data in real-time and engage small drone threats without constant operator input. According to the manufacturer, the interceptor’s successful engagement probability is at least 90% against loitering targets moving at speeds up to 150 km/h. The Thunder has a tactical range of 5 km, a service ceiling of 3 km, and a maximum interception speed of 230 km/h. It weighs approximately 3.5 kg and can stay airborne for up to 7 minutes during interception missions. Complementing the interceptor drone, the Skyfend Tracer Air II is an advanced electronic reconnaissance & detection system. Operating across a 0.4–6 GHz frequency range, it provides high-precision, three-dimensional direction finding and positioning of UAS control links in complex electromagnetic environments. The system uses AI-based visual recognition to distinguish and locate control channels—including first-person view (FPV) links, jammers, radar, and communications nodes—making it suitable for real-time detection and tracking of multiple air threats. The Tracer Air II can simultaneously monitor at least six targets. Mounted on an SOA200 UAV platform, the Tracer Air II extends detection range for DJI RC Pro controller signals to 3 km, and up to 10 km for higher-power FPV links under optimal conditions. Deploying both platforms together, SKYFEND aims to offer an integrated solution for detection, tracking, and interception of small unmanned threats in contested airspace. (Source: UAS VISION/MILITARNYI)
17 Feb 26. Indian firm Jugapro develops lower airspace C-UAS. Haryana-based Jugapro India has developed a multilayered counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) named Skynerad², a company spokesperson told Janes on 12 February. According to the spokesperson, Skynerad² is a part of the company’s modular lower-airspace awareness and C-UAS architecture. “[Skynerad² is] packaged for field deployment in multiple form factors such as containerised and mobile monitoring configurations,” the spokesperson added. Jugapro India’s spokesperson said the system enables configurable multisensor integration including radar, radio frequency (RF) direction-finding/spectrum monitoring, and electro-optical (EO)/infrared (IR)/pan, tilt, zoom (PTZ) payloads.
“Detection-to-verification workflow correlates sensor inputs into tracks and supports operator verification including slew-to-cue to EO/IR/PTZ where configured,” the spokesperson said.
“[The] modular architecture… allow[s] integration of third-party sensors and, where permitted and customer-specified, third-party mitigation systems without locking the customer into a single original equipment manufacturer (OEM).
“Command-and-control and reporting [functions include] alerting, track history, operator annotations, and incident reporting outputs suitable for operational review and audit.”
According to the spokesperson, Skynerad² can be deployed from monitoring cabin/stations “designed for remote and harsh environments” featuring onboard power and communication options. The system is capable of countering smaller aerial threats including Chinese DJI Phantom-class unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which are designed for aerial photography and videography.
“Each Skynerad² suite covers over 5–7 km in radius for Phantom-class drones, tracks hundreds of flying objects, and emits only qualified drone tracks with minimal latency,” the spokesperson added.
The spokesperson said the system is in “pilot deployments after several rounds of customer demonstrations”. The company declined to provide details about the customers. (Source: Janes)
13 Feb 26. Pentagon wants counter-drone sensors to protect US infrastructure — and fast. The Pentagon wants sensors that can detect small drones threatening military installations across the United States.
And it wants them fast.
“Due to the urgency of the threat and the need to assess capability readiness,” the Defense Innovation Unit needs products in time for a spring 2026 demonstration a Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona, according to a DIU solicitation.
“Invited companies may have 30 days or less between notification and execution of the demonstration,” the solicitation adds.
The project, titled “Counter UAS Sensing for Homeland and Mobile Defense,” seems aimed at both civil defense and battlefield protection.
The first track is protection of installations in the U.S. In this case, the sensors must detect Group 1 UAVs — the smallest category, weighing less than 20 pounds — at a minimum range of 2 kilometers.
A secondary attribute is the ability to spot Group 2 and 3 drones, or those weighing less than 1,320 pounds.
Sensors should also be able to screen out ground clutter and birds, according to the request.
“Solutions may employ single or multimodal sensing to enhance the radar solution, however the solution must include a radar sensor as part of the total proposal,” the DIU solicitation states.
The goal appears to be deploying sensors that can be used for both detection and destruction of drones, including “rapid integration capability with government designated CUAS fire control systems.” The solicitation did not specify whether this would involve protecting military or civilian sites. However, it did state that systems must “operate safely near populated areas, within congested airspace, and across complex electromagnetic environments dominated by lawful emitters.” The DIU project’s second track aims to provide mobile counter-drone sensors for small military units that are on the move. Equally important, these sensors themselves have to avoid being detected and targeted by enemy fire, which has been a problem for electronic warfare emitters in the Ukraine war.
“The solution’s ability to deliver early warning, allowing units to take protective action, is critical and depends upon a low physical and spectral signature to prevent targeting by enemy forces,” said DIU. “All sensing modalities are welcome, with preference for passive approaches.”
Sensors must detect Group 1 and 2 drones flying below 50 meters. Other desired attributes include multiple and redundant sensors, minimal setup time and “broadspectrum RF [radio frequency] sensing (e.g., approximately 400 MHz–8 GHz) for passive solutions, including adaptability to evolving UAS data links.”
DIU is also looking for robust systems that troops can maintain themselves.
“The system must reduce operator burden with intuitive controls for detection, tracking, and alert management,” the solicitation said. “It must be configurable and adaptable by tactical operators to the dynamic front-line RF environment without requiring support from engineering personnel.”
Interestingly, these C-UAS sensors seem aimed more at trucks and light vehicles than armored vehicles. The system, the solicitation states, must be capable of being mounted on the Infantry Squad Vehicle, Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles and the Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck. (Source: Defense News)
13 Feb 26. Cuashub.com said today that EU unveils action plan on drone and counter‑drone security. The European Commission has published an Action Plan on Drone and Counter‑Drone Security designed to foster a coordinated European response to threats from malicious drones. The initiative targets prevention, detection, response and broader defense readiness, while also supporting the growth of a competitive EU drone market. The plan, announced by the Commission, aims to provide practical solutions that improve the prevention of incidents, UAS detection capabilities and the response to malicious drone activity. It emphasizes a united approach across member states, echoing calls from both the European Parliament and national governments for stronger EU‑level cooperation in this area. A key feature of the Action Plan is its focus on the civilian internal security dimension. It is intended to complement work already carried out in the defense domain and reinforce civil‑military synergies, underlining the need for aligned efforts across all security sectors. The Commission also indicates that the plan supports the development of a competitive European drone market, aiming to unlock innovation, growth and job creation across the sector. Outside the Commission’s formal announcement, media reporting has outlined additional measures associated with the new strategy. Reuters reported that the plan envisages steps to improve Europe’s drone detection capabilities and proposes broader measures such as a label for secure equipment, as well as calls for cooperative public procurement of counter‑drone systems among interested countries. These types of measures signal an intent to strengthen both regulatory and practical tools to manage drone risks. The Action Plan follows earlier EU efforts to address civilian drone threats. In 2023, the Commission highlighted approaches for countering potential threats from civilian drones, emphasizing risk‑based strategies, protection of critical infrastructure and public spaces, and guidance materials for stakeholders. That context suggests the latest plan builds on a developing policy framework rather than introducing an entirely new direction. In April, the Counter-UAS Technology Europe conference will convene in London, featuring speakers from key military government institutions including UK MoD, Royal Navy, Royal Airforce, U.S. CENTCOM and NATO. Leaders from across industry, military and government will gather to discuss the latest technologies and strategies shaping counter-drone defense in Europe. https://cuashub.com/en/content/eu-unveils-action-plan-on-drone-and-counter-drone-security/ (Source: https://cuashub.com/
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