24 Jul 25. REMUS 620 Validated for Torpedo Tube Deployment. A joint team from HII (NYSE: HII), Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), and U.S. Navy’s Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport (NUWCDIVNPT) recently completed a major milestone in advancing the U.S. Navy Submarine Force’s initiative to launch and recover autonomous undersea vehicles from submarine torpedo tubes. A test by the joint team confirmed the compatibility of the REMUS 620 with the SAFECAP, Virginia-class submarine weapons handling and torpedo tube systems, and other critical interfaces.
“This clears the way for continued testing in advance of an in-water end-to-end launch and recovery at a U.S. Navy test fixture facility later this summer,” said Adrian Gonsalves, HII’s REMUS 620 product lead.
Rick Thornton, NUWCDIVNPT Code 459, stated, “Our team appreciated the early coordination with HII and WHOI. The REMUS 620 team arrived ready to go, and all events were executed safely and efficiently with good information exchange throughout. Much appreciate the full test team for its efforts.”
HII’s next-generation medium uncrewed underwater vehicle (MUUV) fitted with WHOI’s Yellow Moray docking technology, successfully completed a full end-to-end dry checkout of the Autonomous Underwater Vehicle/Shock and Fire Enclosure Capsule (AUV/SAFECAP) “All-Up Round” (AUR) in the Virginia-class Cradle Payload Integration Facility (VCCPIF) and its Mk71 torpedo tube. This follows USS Delaware (SSN 791), built by HII, successfully completing the first-ever forward-deployed launch and recovery of a UUV via submarine torpedo tube with the Yellow Moray equipped REMUS 600 UUV.
HII is expanding the U.S. Navy’s undersea dominance and range with state-of-the-art REMUS technology and delivery.
About the REMUS UUV
The REMUS UUV family delivers critical advantages across modern naval operations and the autonomous systems have been proven to operate independently or in conjunction with crewed platforms — such as Virginia-class nuclear submarines — to extend mission range, reduce detection risk, and limit personnel exposure. The REMUS open-architecture design allows rapid payload integration, enabling mission-specific configurations and future tech insertions — key factors in maintaining operational relevance and cost efficiency over time. To date, HII has sold more than 700 REMUS vehicles to over 30 countries, including 14 NATO members. Notably, over 90% of REMUS units delivered in the past 23 years remain in service, demonstrating platform durability and lifecycle value — both critical in defense acquisition decision-making. (Source: ASD Network)
24 Jul 25. Volatus Aerospace Launches Condor XL Heavy-Lift Drone Program. Volatus Aerospace Inc. (TSXV:FLT) (OTCQX:TAKOF) (Frankfurt: ABB), a Canadian leader in aerial intelligence and cargo solutions, is pleased to announce the launch of its Condor XL heavy-lift drone program . Drawing on decades of helicopter operations experience, in-house avionics capabilities, and a renewed focus on rotorcraft-specific training, the company is introducing a next-generation platform designed to meet global demand for autonomous, heavy-lift drone solutions. The timing of this program aligns closely with recent public addresses by Prime Minister Mark Carney, speaking on behalf of the Canadian government, outlining a national commitment to increased defense spending and the development of sovereign manufacturing capabilities. Volatus believes the Condor XL program directly supports these ambitions, representing a strategic investment in domestic aerospace innovation, dual-use technologies, and critical infrastructure resilience. Originally developed by Drone Delivery Canada (DDC), the Condor platform showed strong potential for remote logistics and long-range operations. The Volatus Condor XL will carry up to 180kg and travel up to 200 km. As per Lucintel market report, the global heavy lift drone market is expected to reach an estimated $1.4 bn by 2030 with a CAGR of 13.4% from 2024 to 2030. The major drivers for this market are increasing demand for aerial logistics, growing adoption of this drone in industries such as construction and infrastructure, and rising use of this technology in search and rescue operations.
“We are proud to launch the Condor XL program as a uniquely Canadian solution to a global logistics challenge,” said Glen Lynch, CEO of Volatus Aerospace. “With our in-house team of experienced helicopter pilots, avionics engineers, and flight safety experts, we are well positioned to bring this platform to market. By merging traditional aviation expertise with advanced unmanned systems, we are driving the next wave of innovation in aerospace.”
The Condor XL initiative further cements Volatus Aerospace’s leadership in next-generation drone logistics, contributing to Canada’s defence readiness and industrial self-reliance. Flight testing is set to begin this fall, with operational deployments planned for 2026. The Condor XL program is a cornerstone of Volatus’ broader strategy to deliver autonomous heavy lift drone solutions that enhance national resilience, support Arctic sovereignty, and modernize Canadian supply chains. (Source: ASD Network)
23 Jul 25. MGI Engineering Launches Next-Gen UK-Powered Military Drone. British defence firm MGI Engineering, a company forged in the fast-paced world of Formula 1, officially unveiled SkyShark, a next-generation military drone platform designed to transform battlefield operations with speed, precision, and UK-built sovereignty. At a live showcase event hosted at Enstone Airfield in Oxfordshire on the 11 July, MGI demonstrated its SkyShark one-way effector (OWE) platform that places the company at the vanguard of tactical unmanned systems innovation.
Two variants of the Skyshark OWE platform were revealed:
- SkyShark with Argive A300 Gas Turbine Engines – Developed in collaboration with Oxford-based Argive Ltd, this version brings entirely sovereign propulsion to the forefront of UK defence, offering rapid deployment and strike capability without reliance on overseas manufacturers.
- SkyShark with Greenjets HS125 Electric Ducted Fan Engines – A quiet, fully electric powertrain designed for low-signature missions, highlighting the potential for efficient, cost-effective and scalable drone operations in high-risk theatres.
Compact, cost-effective and rapidly manufactured at scale, SkyShark is engineered to conduct ISR, strike, and decoy operations in GPS-denied or highly contested environments, making it a strategic asset in an era of asymmetric warfare.
Mike Gascoyne, founder and CEO at MGI Engineering, said:
“In an era of strategic instability, we believe the UK must move fast, think independently, and build smart. SkyShark is our contribution to the UK overcoming the challenge of long-range, low-cost and scalable OWEs.
“This platform is the result of British innovation firing on all cylinders, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in autonomous, operational strike capability. From propulsion to payload, everything we’ve launched today was designed, built, and tested on home soil.”
Argive, a UK microturbine and propulsion company owned by Alloyed Ltd, specialising in microturbines and other propulsion technologies, developed the high-performance gas turbine engine that powers the turbine variant of SkyShark. Their work enabled a compact, efficient, and sovereign propulsion system that delivers exceptional thrust-to-weight performance for tactical strike missions.
Rob Joles, Commercial Director at Argive, said:
“Collaborating with MGI on the SkyShark project is a clear demonstration of what can happen when two high-performance engineering cultures converge. Our advanced metal manufacturing and design technologies enabled a new generation of lightweight, efficient, and fully sovereign gas turbines that give SkyShark an unmatched tactical edge at range.”
– Greenjets, leaders in electric high-speed propulsion, partnered with MGI to create the fully electric variant of SkyShark. Designed for low-signature missions, this version combines efficient energy with military-grade performance, offering a quiet, low-signature platform ideal for ISR and strike missions in high-risk theatres.
Dr Guido Monterzino, CTO at Greenjets, said: “Our mission at Greenjets is to bring high-performance electric propulsion to the aviation world. This collaboration with MGI Engineering is a celebration of UK innovation and shows what’s possible when bold ideas meet precision execution. The electric powered SkyShark proves that tactical capability doesn’t mean compromising on cost or operational effectiveness. It’s a scalable platform for modern operations, and a glimpse of where defence aviation could be heading.” (Source: UAS VISION)
23 Jul 25. Oceanus12 sets sail for Canada as ASV Viper, marking major milestone in autonomous maritime operations. One of Zero USV’s Oceanus12 uncrewed surface vessel has officially left UK waters following successful trials in Plymouth, bound for Canada where it will join Leeway Marine’s operational fleet under its new name: ASV Viper. Renamed and readied for service, Viper marks a significant moment for ZeroUSV as the first vessel to be deployed internationally under its franchise model, and the first step in bringing high-endurance, over-the-horizon uncrewed capability to North America. The partnership sees Leeway Marine appointed as ZeroUSV’s first international franchisee, with exclusive rights to operate the Oceanus12 in Canada and the wider region on a charter basis. Designed from the keel up for extended autonomous missions, the Oceanus12 features a hybrid-electric twin propulsion system, advanced autonomy from AI software leaders, Marine AI, and a mission-flexible platform suitable for defence, survey, and border security operations.
Matthew Ratsey, founder of ZeroUSV, said: “We’re proud to see ASV Viper heading into service, particularly with Leeway Marine, who have deep operational experience and knowledge, making them the ideal partner to take Zero USV to North America. This is a meaningful step in our global expansion, and one that shows the increasing demand for high-performance, uncrewed platforms that don’t rely on costly ownership models.”
Based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Leeway Marine is one of Canada’s largest offshore charter operators, with a strong presence in defence and survey markets. ASV Viper will be the first autonomous vessel of its kind in the region, opening new possibilities for persistent maritime operations without crew onboard. ZeroUSV’s model enables customers to access turnkey autonomous capability through charter, supported by its own Remote Observation Centre (ROC) – reducing complexity, time to deployment, and risk. Viper is expected to enter operational trials in Canadian waters later this summer.
17 Jul 25. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) and General Atomics Integrated Intelligence, Inc. (GA-Intelligence) successfully completed a groundbreaking demonstration on July 8, integrating technologies across multiple affiliates to showcase long-range kill chain effects, including an autonomous air-to-air engagement. The flight integrated local and global sensor fusion to deliver real-time situational awareness and autonomous tasking to an airborne MQ-20 Avenger® through the Tactical Autonomy Core Ecosystem (TacACE) to close the kill chain and showcase the system’s maturity and operational readiness for the warfighter. The event featured the integration of a Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), a fully compliant government owned autonomy implementation, and beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) Command and Control (C2). The MQ-20 unmanned jet, furnished by GA-ASI, acted as a CCA surrogate in a sensor Emission Control (EMCON) environment. It was operated autonomously and controlled using distributed-edge C2 nodes powered by Optix.C2 and Omniview software. Optix.C2, a product from General Atomics-Intelligence, provided low-latency, localized C2 functionality while remaining networked to the broader operational picture, enabling real-time coordination across multiple domains.
Dr. Brian Ralston, President of GA-Intelligence, applauded the joint effort. “This demonstration illustrates the value of integrating cutting-edge and proven technologies across the GA enterprise. The Optix data platform and C2 capability enable rapid integration and experimentation to address critical DoD and IC needs.”
General Atomics successfully fused space-based sensing and tactical sensing with the C2 node during the flight, giving the aircraft access to a complete real-time threat picture for enhanced onboard autonomous decision-making. The demonstration also included live coordination of Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) and kinetic tasking through a unified operator interface capable of deployment in virtually any cloud environment. During the exercise, the live MQ-20 aircraft autonomously patrolled a designated Combat Air Patrol (CAP) zone, leveraging off-board sensors to demonstrate how passive collection techniques can inform autonomous platforms in real time. Four CCA surrogates — one live and three virtual — were directed by an operator to investigate multiple targets of interest. Upon identifying them as threats, the operator issued a command to initiate the BLOS engagement. The autonomous systems maneuvered into position, simulated missile launches, assessed battle damage, and returned to CAP without additional operator input.
“This demonstration represents a substantial leap in autonomy and human-machine interfaces that are critical to the warfighter in the near-peer fight,” said Michael Atwood, Vice President of Advanced Programs at GA-ASI. “By integrating Optix.C2 with TacACE, we’re delivering a system that not only operates at the tactical edge but also enables rapid decision-making and execution across the battlespace. This is the future of warfare — scalable, autonomous systems that empower the warfighter to dominate at range.”
GA-ASI continues to develop and validate autonomy products that deliver scalable, collaborative aircraft behavior with minimal operator input. GA-Intelligence provided muti-sensor global fusion and engagement orchestration algorithms and interfaces. This latest milestone expands the company’s autonomy portfolio with access to a complete threat picture while advancing critical-edge C2 capabilities and intuitive operator interfaces.
14 Jul 25. Thai Air Force demonstrates home-grown “Kamikaze Drone”. On 5 July, the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) announced it had successfully conducted a live flight and target engagement activity using a new type of locally developed unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). This indigenous UAV is designed to conduct precise strikes on medium-range targets whilst under the control of a remote operator. Often referred to as “kamikaze drones”, this type of weapon has seen wide-scale use in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The Thai UAV was developed through collaboration between the RTAF’s Navaminda Kasatriyadhiraj Air Force Academy, the Air Force Armaments Department and the Directorate of Aeronautical Engineering. In the demonstration, the UAV was able to demonstrate a hit accuracy of better than 5m. Details on the range and endurance of the RTAF aircraft have not yet been revealed, and nor has it been given a name. However, a spokesperson stated, “National security cannot be bought with money – it must be created with your own hands. The successful test results will allow plans for the system’s local production and fielding to move forward the strengthening of Thailand’s defence and indigenous defence industry capabilities.” Launched by catapult, it is a delta-style wing design propelled by a combustion engine that drives a rear-mounted propeller. Using cameras aboard the UAV, an operator on the ground controls the aircraft using a radio link. The loitering munition is able to stay aloft searching for an appropriate target, and when one is located, the operator then flies the UAV into the target and destroys it with its high-explosive warhead. This Thai design is intended for one-way missions. UAVs form an important plan in the RTAF’s desire to modernise. Indeed, its 74-page “Thai Air Force White Paper 2024”, published on 29 February 2024, emphasised unmanned technologies. One effort under way is the RTAF-developed M Solar X solar-powered drone. Elsewhere, it stated loitering munitions would be acquired by 2026, the fruit of which is described above. Also mentioned in the white paper were medium-range unmanned combat aerial vehicles (for the FY2026-29 period), high-altitude pseudo satellites (FY2024-35), micro-/nano-UAV swarms from 2026, and weaponised tactical UAVs from 2029. (Source: AMR)
21 Jul 25. Terma Group, Denmark’s largest defense technology company, announces a new partnership with Ukrainian drone and camera manufacturer Odd Systems to co-develop a low-cost, AI-powered autonomous drone interceptor. Terma will supply its high-end sensor and situational awareness technologies to Odd Systems’ combat-proven drone platforms. The collaboration brings together the best of Western defense engineering with Ukrainian battlefield innovation. As Denmark’s largest defense company operating across air, sea, land, and space, Terma brings decades of expertise in mission-critical technologies. Terma is known for its strength in systems integration, advanced sensors, electronic warfare, and surveillance solutions. Odd Systems contributes deep experience from the frontlines of modern warfare, particularly in FPV drones and thermal camera systems. By merging these competencies, the two companies will develop a robust suite of drone interceptors capable of identifying, tracking, and autonomously neutralizing diverse aerial threats – from FPV and ISR copters (e.g., Mavic) to fixed-wing reconnaissance and long-range strike drones like the Shahed.
“We are proud to partner with Odd Systems, whose innovation and battlefield-proven platforms are a testament to the strength of Ukrainian engineering. They have demonstrated extraordinary capabilities under extreme conditions and at a pace and cost unmatched by Western manufacturers. Together, we can integrate best-in-class technology with agile, combat-adapted drone platforms to accelerate the evolution of future air combat capabilities. Collaborating with them is the smartest and most effective way forward,” said Filip Rensch-Jacobsen, Vice President at Terma.
Also at Odd Systems, the team is enthusiastic about the collaboration and the strategic value it brings.
“It is our pleasure to work with Terma, a team so professional and so dedicated to making the sky above Europe safe from any intruding drones. We look forward to developing a robust autonomous interceptor platform. Such cooperation between the teams from Ukraine and the EU are crucial for the future of European security,” said Yaroslav Azhnyuk, co-founder of Odd Systems.
As the nature of warfare changes, so too does the architecture of defense. Terma’s approach views drones not merely as weapons, but as modular platforms – similar to fighter aircraft—where mission effectiveness depends entirely on the integrated capabilities. With decades of experience delivering sensor and mission system solutions for platforms such as the F-16 and F-35, Terma now brings these same advanced technologies to drone warfare. This collaboration also underscores the importance of European defense cooperation and technological resilience. It is a step towards a more agile, secure, and interconnected defense landscape for Europe.
Terma is Hiring Drone Experts
To support this new partnership, Terma is actively expanding its workforce and seeking Europe’s leading drone technologists. Engineers and specialists who want to apply their skills in support of a free Ukraine – and contribute to the future of European and Danish security – are encouraged to join the mission.