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02 Apr 26. Joint Interagency Task Force 401 Enhances Counter-UAS Capability to Protect the Southern Border.
Joint Interagency Task Force 401 is rapidly delivering counter-unmanned aircraft systems to protect the southern border with advanced technology, an integrated system architecture and expanded authorities.
JIATF-401, supporting Joint Task Force Southern Border, continues to collaborate closely with interagency partners, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, to integrate critical counter-UAS components.
The interagency task force conducted site surveys at priority sites across the southern border to identify capability gaps and deliver solutions on a rapidly accelerated timeline. With a focus on creating a layered defense, JIATF-401 made targeted investments to integrate advanced sensing, tracking and neutralization systems at key locations along the border.
As a result, in just four months, more than $20 million in counter-UAS technology was deployed to the border. This equipment includes a network of 13 advanced sensors that expand surveillance coverage and provide early warning of drone activity, paired with seven mobile and fixed-site mitigation systems that enable forces to disrupt or neutralize threats before they reach critical areas.
Each system adds a layer of defense and functions as part of integrated command and control, and interagency sensor architecture. By directly engaging with end users, the interagency task force is capturing real-time insights that are delivered directly to federal agencies and industry partners to inform future capability development.
In addition to equipment delivery, JIATF-401 is refining and expanding authorities to more effectively operate and employ counter-small UAS technology along the southern border.
With the assistance of the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, JIATF-401 spearheaded Pentagon efforts to expand protection from unmanned aircraft for the newly established national defense areas along the southern border. This key expansion empowers warfighters to defend the homeland against adversary drones.
Together, these efforts are not only enhancing national defense but also accelerating the adoption of new technologies across the enterprise.
“These efforts reflect our focus on rapidly delivering critical capability to the warfighter,” said Army Brig. Gen. Matthew Ross, JIATF-401 director. “From the southern border to critical infrastructure across the homeland, we are ensuring operators have the tools, training and permissions they need to detect and defeat UAS threats in their area of operations.” (Source: U.S. DoD)
01 Apr 26. C-UAS Hub said today that High Lander and Dronetag partner to improve drone ID in shared airspace. High Lander and Dronetag have announced a partnership to integrate drone traffic management and remote identification technologies, aiming to address persistent challenges in monitoring low-altitude airspace.
The collaboration combines High Lander’s Vega uncrewed traffic management (UTM) platform with Dronetag’s remote ID hardware and software, with the goal of improving real-time identification of drones operating in shared airspace.
Addressing the “blue vs red” drone challenge
A key issue for regulators and security agencies is distinguishing between authorized drones and those operating without approval or identification. The partnership seeks to address this by feeding remote ID data into a centralized UTM system, allowing authorities to identify compliant aircraft and flag potential threats.
The companies describe this as enabling a clearer distinction between “blue drones,” which are authorized and compliant, and “red drones,” which are unidentified or operating in restricted areas.
Low-altitude airspace has become increasingly congested, but gaps remain in visibility. Many drones do not broadcast remote ID data or transmit it incorrectly, limiting the ability of authorities to maintain a complete operational picture.
Integration of management and detection layers
Under the partnership, High Lander’s Vega UTM platform will serve as the core system for managing drone traffic, including flight approvals and deconfliction. Dronetag’s technology adds an identification layer through onboard transmitters and ground-based receivers.
Together, the systems are intended to provide both cooperative identification of compliant drones and detection of those operating outside approved parameters.
“This is a significant milestone in the development of global aviation and we are extremely proud to be at the forefront,” said Alon Abelson, CEO and founder of High Lander. “The integration of Dronetag’s identification capabilities with our UTM infrastructure is the beginning of a new era where regulators can finally maintain safety and security while enabling uncrewed aviation to reach its full potential”.
Lukáš Brchl, CEO of Dronetag, added:
“Regulators and security agencies need to know exactly what is flying in their skies and whether it is authorized to be there. Our partnership with High Lander delivers that clarity. By providing both the management infrastructure and the identification hardware, we are giving authorities the tools they need to transition from theory to practice in large-scale drone operations.”
Early deployments and broader implications
The companies said the integrated solution is already being deployed in parts of the Middle East and Africa, where countries are moving toward operational drone traffic enforcement frameworks.
The combined system is designed to integrate with existing air traffic management infrastructure and third-party sensors, including counter-UAS technologies, to provide a more comprehensive view of aerial activity.
The effectiveness is expected to depend on the level of c
High Lander and Dronetag partner to improve drone ID in shared airspace – cuashub.com
30 Mar 26. Spotter Global’s new radar “detects 50 targets every 56 milliseconds.”
Spotter Global has announced the launch of its GAX500-3D, “built on Compact Holographic 3D (CH3D) radar technology that detects and tracks live drone threats of all varieties, as well as ground threats with unprecedented speed, three-dimensional accuracy, and reliability.”
“Where previous systems have used Electronically Scanned Arrays (ESA) methods similar to a narrow-beam flashlight ranging back and forth to review large areas, the GAX500-3D uses a volumetric exposure, similar to a wide-area floodlight, that spends 100% time on all targets and collects target location data of 50 targets over the full-volume of space every 56 milliseconds,” says the company. “This means the GAX500-3D scans the entire sky thirty-two times faster than legacy ESA competitors; while older technologies might update a single tracked target at 10 Hz, they can only scan the full-volume of space to discover new threats once every 1.8 seconds.”
“Traditional radars act like a flashlight in a dark forest—if you aren’t pointing it at the threat the moment it moves, you miss it. In a drone swarm scenario, you can’t afford to blink,” said Logan Harris, CEO of Spotter Global. “By using CH3D™ technology to provide 100% volumetric coverage 18 times every second, the GAX500-3D ensures that security managers aren’t just reacting to threats, but are maintaining total, uninterrupted ‘stare’ capability over their most critical assets.”
The system has a detection range of 500m on 3 kg drones, the GAX500-3D is built for high-priority and high speed mitigation scenarios. (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
30 Mar 26. India and Kazakhstan “discuss C-UAS cooperation.” India and Kazakhstan have agreed to strengthen cooperation on counter-uncrewed aerial systems (C-UAS) and training, Indian Defence News reports today (March 27).
According to the article, Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, Chief of India’s Integrated Defence Staff (CISC), engaged in high-level discussions in New Delhi on March 25 with Major General Zhazykbayev Shaikh-Khassan, Deputy Minister of Defence of Kazakhstan.
Indian Defence News suggests that exchanges in this domain could involve simulations, live-fire drills and doctrinal alignment, potentially leading to co-developed solutions suited to steppe and mountainous environments.
Cooperation could also lead to formal agreements on C-UAS R&D, joint ventures or technology licensing, bolstering both nations’ defence industrial bases, the article said, noting that C-UAS could serve as a “flagship for innovation” in a new phase of Indo-Kazakh defence relations. (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
30 Mar 26. Ukraine demonstrates battlefield air defence capabilities to Lithuania.
A delegation from the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence, led by Minister Robertas Kaunas, has been briefed on the operation of Ukraine’s air defence system. Ukraine and Lithuania also discussed strengthening cooperation and enhancing support for defence startups.
Ukraine’s Minister of Defence, Mykhailo Fedorov, and Kaunas, visited mobile fire group positions protecting Ukraine’s skies. The parties were briefed on how daily operations are conducted and the technological solutions already deployed in combat conditions. In particular, an autonomous air defence turret equipped with artificial intelligence to counter missiles and strike drones was demonstrated. The delegation was also briefed on interceptor drone operations. In February, interceptor drones shot down a record number (more than 10,000) of enemy fixed-wing drones, including Shahed and Gerbera types.
During a bilateral meeting, Fedorov and Kaunas discussed the development of bilateral security cooperation. The parties discussed launching a joint project within the Brave1 cluster to strengthen support for defence startups from Ukrainian and Lithuanian companies. One of the areas of cooperation is airspace protection. (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
31 Mar 26. Honeywell (NASDAQ: HON) today announced a collaboration with Odys Aviation, a dual-use aerospace company building hybrid-electric vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft, to deliver a persistent airborne defense solution designed to protect critical infrastructure and strategic assets from rapidly evolving drone threats.
The collaboration on this counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) builds on more than a year of joint development and systems integration work to adapt Honeywell Aerospace’s Stationary and Mobile UAS Reveal and Intercept (SAMURAI) Autonomous Airborne platform for deployment on Odys’ long-range Laila UAV. The effort supports the broader United States national strategy to further strengthen domestic leadership in advanced aviation and accelerate the deployment of American-built drone technologies across defense and critical infrastructure protection missions.
Together, the Laila-SAMURAI system introduces a new defensive layer between ground-based sensors and high-end missile defense systems, reducing reliance on costly kinetic defenses while extending protection coverage across vast and remote areas. This capability is particularly relevant for distributed energy infrastructure including refineries, pipelines and offshore production platforms.
“SAMURAI delivers critical counter-UAS capabilities with proven reliability, scalability and seamless integration into existing defense architectures,” said Matt Milas, president, Defense and Space, Honeywell Aerospace. “By leveraging Honeywell’s long history in avionics, sensors and defense systems, we are enabling C-UAS capabilities that protect farther, respond faster and operate with minimal downtime.”
“Drone threats have fundamentally changed the economics and operational requirements of air defense,” said James Dorris, CEO of Odys Aviation. “Critical infrastructure and forward-operating locations require persistent protection across large areas and the ability to engage threats at the horizon long before they’re at the doorstep. By combining Honeywell’s SAMURAI system with the endurance, runway independence and onboard power capability of Laila, we’re introducing a new airborne defense layer designed for today and into the future.”
Laila will serve as the first airborne application of the Honeywell SAMURAI system, and its hybrid propulsion system – compatible with Jet A, Jet A-1, and JP-8 fuels – produces enough power to stay in flight for up to eight hours across a 450-mile range. Laila eliminates the need for dedicated charging infrastructure, enabling rapid deployment in remote, expeditionary and offshore environments.
Built using model-based systems engineering, SAMURAI provides a turnkey, modular solution that incorporates diverse customer-selected sensors and effectors. The system is compliant with Modular Open Systems Approach standards, supporting interoperability, lifecycle visibility and long-term sustainment.
30 Mar 26. Ukraine signs air defence/C-UAS deals with Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE. On March 28 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the Amir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Following the meeting, the Chiefs of the General Staff of Ukraine and the State of Qatar signed a 10-year intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the defence sector. “Key areas of cooperation include the development of the defence industry and technologies, air defence, counter-drone capabilities, military training, exchange of experience, cybersecurity, AI, and command and control systems,” said a statement from the Ukraine president’s office.
“The agreement also provides for joint defence industry projects, the establishment of co-production facilities, and technological partnerships between companies. The document strengthens Ukraine’s presence in the Middle East, significantly deepens bilateral cooperation between the two countries, and lays the foundation for large-scale investment and long-term contracts.”
The follows the signing of a defence agreement with Saudi Arabia on March 27. “The agreement was signed by Assistant Minister of Defense for Executive Affairs Dr. Khaled Al-Biyari on behalf of Saudi Arabia, and Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Lt. Gen. Andriy Hnatov on behalf of Ukraine,” said the Saudi Gazette. A day later Ukraine and the United Arab Emirates announced a further air defence cooperation deal with the United Arab Emirates.
For more information
https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/prezident-ukrayini-ta-emir-derzhavi-katar-domovilisya-pro-pa-103585
https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/660074/saudi-arabia/saudi-arabia-deports-5111-illegal-residents-in-a-week(Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
31 Mar 26. C-UAS Hub said today that US ramps up VAMPIRE production to counter drone swarm threat.
The United States is accelerating production of a key counter-drone system as military planners look to address the growing threat posed by low-cost unmanned aerial systems on the modern battlefield.
L3Harris Technologies has launched high-volume production of its VAMPIRE platform at a facility in Huntsville, Alabama, the company announced on March 24. The move is aimed at increasing the availability of mobile, short-range air defense systems capable of countering drone swarms.
The VAMPIRE system is designed as a modular package that can be mounted on vehicles, vessels, or containerized platforms. It combines electro-optical and infrared sensors with a laser designator and fire control system, allowing operators to detect, track and engage targets from a single platform without relying on larger air defense networks.
At the core of the system is the APKWS, a laser-guided 70 mm rocket adapted from unguided munitions. When paired with a proximity fuze, the system can engage aerial targets at ranges of several kilometers, offering a lower-cost alternative to traditional surface-to-air missiles.
The increase in production draws on lessons from the war in Ukraine, where large volumes of inexpensive drones have strained conventional air defense systems. By contrast, VAMPIRE is designed to improve the cost balance by using relatively affordable interceptors against similarly low-cost threats.
L3Harris said the new production line includes flexible assembly and testing capacity for both vehicle-mounted and containerized configurations, with the ability to scale output as demand increases. The company has positioned the system as suitable for defending forward operating bases, logistics hubs and critical infrastructure.
The platform has already seen operational use, including deployment in Ukraine, where mobile and rapidly deployable counter-drone systems have become a central part of layered air defense strategies.
US ramps up VAMPIRE production to counter drone swarm threat – cuashub.com
30 Mar 26. Poland and Estonia discuss counter-drone cooperation . The Polish Armaments Group, established by the Polish government in 2013, has signed cooperation agreements with Estonian companies regarding the development of drone and counter-drone capabilities. The Polish government announced the news on March 27, but has provided no further details as yet of the counter-drone arrangements.
“Estonia is a leader in new technologies, the IT industry, implementation, and experience in this area, so we want to capitalise on this,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence W. Kosiniak-Kamysz. “We have our own agenda, our own proposals. We are building a fourth layer of air defense. We also want to share our experience. We discussed joint exercises that will take place this year.”
The topics discussed by the Polish and Estonian defence ministers included regional security, particularly in the context of Russia’s actions and the war in Ukraine, cooperation within NATO and the Alliance’s eastern flank, hybrid threats and military cooperation, including joint exercises and training as well as the development of interoperability between the Polish and Estonian armed forces. The ministers also discussed cybersecurity, critical infrastructure protection, military modernisation and new technologies.
Kosiniak-Kamysz said Poland received an invitation to exercises in Estonia, which has been accepted, and added that the countries were looking at signing a security cooperation agreement soon. “The last one was signed a dozen or so years ago. Since then, everything has changed in Europe. We need a new agreement. We assigned our colleagues two months.”
Earlier in March, Poland’s Ministry of Defence announced the launch of the Center for Autonomous Systems (OSA). The centre is tasked with testing all research already underway in institutions, all discoveries made by small companies, scientists and enthusiasts as quickly as possible, submitting them to the military for testing, and implementing them into mass production.
Drones, drones, and more drones – this is a clear signal to all of us today that these capabilities must be intensively developed,” said Poland’s Deputy Minister of National Defence Cezary Tomczyk at OSA’s launch on March 19. “In 2023, the Ministry of National Defence allocated approximately PLN 100 million for unmanned systems. In 2024, the first year of our government, this amounted to PLN 300 million. In 2025 – PLN 700 million. And in 2026, this is the ‘drone highway’. We assume that we will allocate approximately PLN 25 billion for drones, unmanned systems, autonomous systems and counter-drone systems, in terms of contracts signed this year.” (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
01 Apr 26. Palladyne AI Invited to Northern Strike 26-2, a Premier DoW Exercise, to Demonstrate SwarmOS and IntelliSwarm with Multi-OEM UAV Integration.
Palladyne AI (NASDAQ: PDYN), a U.S.-based defense and industrial technology company commercializing embedded AI, collaborative autonomy, and advanced avionics for defense markets, today announced it has been invited to participate in Northern Strike 26-2, a premier U.S. Department of War joint exercise, where the company will execute a high-impact validation exercise of its next-generation swarm autonomy platform, further solidifying its position in the rapidly expanding autonomous defense market.
“This is not a lab demonstration,” said Doug Dynes, President of Palladyne Aerospace and Defense. “This is live, operational validation in one of the most demanding training environments in the world.”
Hosted August 2-14, 2026, at the National All-Domain Warfighting Center (NADWC), Northern Strike is a Joint National Training Capability (JNTC)-accredited exercise involving more than 9,000 participants operating across contested, multi-domain environments. The exercise serves as a critical validation environment for emerging technologies and a gateway for transition into operational programs of record. NADWC Camp Grayling was selected as the Drone Dominance Range in the recently enacted National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
This warfighter validation and exercise will feature Palladyne’s Gremlin-X™ mini bomber UAV operating alongside additional unmanned aerial systems. The exercise will showcase at least three UAV OEM partners, all operating fully autonomous collaboration using SwarmOS within a unified Decentralized Embodied Collaborative Autonomy (DECA) framework. Palladyne AI will conduct the exercise on a single Android Team Awareness Kit (ATAK) managing four UAVs. This multi-platform integration highlights Palladyne’s ability to deliver true cross-OEM interoperability, autonomy, and collaboration without requiring centralized orchestration, one of the most critical and unsolved challenges in modern defense systems.
Key capabilities to be demonstrated include cross-platform swarm collaboration across multiple UAV classes and manufacturers, decentralized decision-making at the edge that is resilient to denied or degraded communications, real-time mission adaptation across dynamic battlefield conditions, and single-interface command and control enabling rapid deployment with reduced operator burden.
“This is not a lab demonstration,” said Doug Dynes, President of Palladyne Aerospace and Defense. “This is live, operational validation in one of the most demanding training environments in the world. We are proving that autonomous systems from different manufacturers can operate as a cohesive, intelligent strike and sensing force without reliance on centralized command and control, which is vulnerable in degraded communications environments. That is the future of warfare, and Palladyne AI intends to lead it.”
The inclusion of Gremlin-X as a lightweight, deployable mini-bomber strike platform with IntelliSwarm underscores Palladyne’s vertically integrated approach, combining proprietary hardware with a scalable autonomy stack capable of transforming compatible systems into part of a coordinated swarm. This demonstration reinforces Palladyne’s strategy of unifying proprietary, cognitive autonomy software with platform-agnostic hardware integration to scale rapidly across defense and allied markets.
For investors, Northern Strike represents a significant inflection point, including operational validation in a DoW sponsored environment, direct engagement with military end-users and acquisition stakeholders, and a clear pathway toward contracts, strategic partnerships, and potential programs of record.
As global defense priorities shift toward autonomous, distributed, and cost-effective force multipliers, Palladyne AI is strategically positioned to capture a meaningful share of a rapidly expanding market opportunity. For more information, please visit https://www.palladyneai.com. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
30 Mar 26. DroneShield (ASX:DRO), a global leader in counter-drone and electronic warfare (EW) solutions, announced the official opening of its new European Headquarters in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
The establishment of the European Headquarters marks a significant step in DroneShield’s long‑term commitment to Europe, one of the Company’s fastest‑growing regions, and provides a strengthened operational presence to support its expanding footprint across EU and NATO-aligned markets.
The new Headquarters will serve as an operational base for DroneShield’s EU Centre of Excellence and aligns with the EU’s ReArm Europe Plan / Readiness 2030 initiative, which seeks to boost military spending, strengthen industrial sovereignty, and accelerate support for Ukraine. It further builds on DroneShield’s newly established European manufacturing footprint to advance sovereign counter-UAS capability, which marks a major expansion of the Company’s European industrial footprint and manufacturing capacity.
The European Headquarters will be led by Louis Gamarra, who was promoted to the position of Chief Commercial Officer earlier this year, and builds on DroneShield’s existing regional presence. Mr Gamarra will oversee the continued growth of DroneShield’s commercial and operational functions across Europe, including the expansion of a dedicated in-region team. The Company’s European footprint now comprises of around a dozen staff, and benefits from a multilingual team proficient in English, German, French, Dutch, Spanish, and Scandinavian languages (Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian).
31 Mar 26. DroneShield (ASX:DRO), a global leader in counter-drone technology solutions, along with Origin Robotics, a defence technology company specialising in advanced autonomous systems, announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), to formally progress joint collaboration across defence and security projects.
Both companies bring battle-proven technologies already deployed in demanding operational environments. DroneShield contributes its advanced detection, electronic warfare and best-in-class sensor fusion and command-and-control capabilities. Meanwhile, Origin Robotics brings interceptor-focused autonomous platforms engineered for rapid launch, with its BLAZE platform, selected by multiple European governments and now entering operational service.
The MOU establishes a structured framework for the two companies to partner on joint projects that address emerging counter-UAS requirements. This collaboration also represents a pathway to providing operators access to a uniquely powerful combination: world-class detection and tracking from DroneShield’s SensorFusionAI and DroneSentry-C2, seamlessly cueing the proven precision of interceptor-drone defeat enabled by Origin Robotics’ autonomous systems.
02 Apr 26. Blighter (www.blighter.com), a pioneering designer and manufacturer of electronic scanning array (ESA) radars, will make its debut at FIDAE 2026 as it seeks to expand its footprint in the Latin American defence and security market.
The company will exhibit in the UK Pavilion (Stand E115), hosted by the British Chamber of Commerce in Chile, at the International Air and Space Fair (FIDAE) in Santiago from 7–11 April. FIDAE is recognised as Latin America’s premier aerospace, defence, and security event, providing a strategic platform for collaboration between regional governments and global industry leaders.
James Long, CEO of Blighter, said: “We continue to secure new international contracts for border surveillance and coastal security, driven by our patented, low‑power micro‑Doppler radars. With our ITAR‑free product range, established export approvals, and a reputation for exceptional reliability, we look forward to building strong partnerships at this important event in Santiago.”
At FIDAE, Blighter will present its portfolio of world‑leading, ITAR‑free radars and its AI‑assisted BlighterNexus software, which significantly reduces training and operational burden for systems integrators incorporating smart radars into command‑and‑control (C2) systems.
Blighter radars use ultra‑reliable, low‑power electronic scanning array antennas and advanced AI‑driven processing to detect, classify, and track people, vehicles, and near‑ground airborne threats at ranges of up to 32 km. The company’s patented technology excels at identifying small and covert targets in complex environments, supporting mission‑critical operations across defence, homeland security, critical national infrastructure, and energy sectors worldwide.
Daniele Di Luna, Blighter’s International Sales Manager, added: “Our radars are now deployed in more than 40 countries. They are trusted by the UK Ministry of Defence, the South Korean Army along the DMZ, the United States Air Force for drone detection, Five Eyes and NATO customers for mobile surveillance platforms, and major international airports for perimeter protection.”
Since launching the world’s first non‑rotating, solid‑state electronic scanning array micro‑Doppler ground radar in 2003, Blighter has remained at the forefront of radar innovation. Its commercial‑off‑the‑shelf (COTS) portfolio includes 2D, 3D, and 4D radars, supported by advanced software for configuration, control, and multi‑sensor visualisation. Featuring Low‑Probability‑of‑Intercept (LPI) waveforms, Blighter radars are inherently covert and engineered for robust fixed or mobile deployment.
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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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