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04 Sep 25. Leidos (NYSE:LDOS) is unveiling Sea Dagger, a next-generation Commando Insertion Craft (CIC) concept developed for the Royal Navy. The first craft of its size to combine speed, range, vehicle delivery and modular mission systems into a single platform, Sea Dagger sets a new standard in maritime autonomy and operational agility. Developed under the UK Commando Force (UKCF) programme, the initiative’s goal is to deliver 24 medium surface insertion craft capable of deploying Commando Strike teams, light tactical mobility platforms, offboard systems, and medium combat loads from long range, enabled by training and in-service support. Capable of exceeding 40 knots, Sea Dagger is the result of a collaborative development effort between Leidos Naval Architects and military subject matter experts, the Royal Navy, and UKCF. The design builds on more than 30 years of fast-craft expertise and incorporates Leidos technology, including Trusted Mission AI, autonomous systems and integrated weaponry. Operational resilience is central to the concept, with a focus on readiness, availability, maintainability and repairability. The platform is designed to continue delivering its mission under stress, disruption or attack for an enduring presence in contested environments. Aligned with AUKUS Pillar 2 maritime autonomy objectives and the UK Strategic Defence Review’s vision to move to warfighting readiness and increasing lethality, Sea Dagger helps ensure the UKCF can respond quickly with the tools, training and systems needed to face the evolving threats and demands of modern conflict. Sea Dagger addresses the most pressing challenge faced by specialised units operating in coastal and shallow-water environments around the world. Unlike historical near-shore landing craft, Sea Dagger delivers a unique combination of naval architecture and high-technology sensors, weapons and C2 (command-and-control) capabilities shaped by the realities of warfare in modern conflicts. Adam Clarke, senior vice president and chief executive at Leidos UK & Europe said, “Sea Dagger represents a pivotal step in equipping the UK Commando Force with the capability to operate with greater agility, survivability and intent in a complex and congested maritime environment. The Leidos design reflects our commitment to delivering resilient, future-ready platforms that can adapt to the complexities of modern warfare, ensuring capability, availability and operational advantage from day one. I am delighted that Leidos is at the forefront of shaping the maritime marketplace, domestically and internationally.” For more information about Leidos’ autonomous maritime systems, visit leidos.com/autonomy.
04 Sep 25. FLANQ and CIS Form Strategic Partnership Following Successful USV-launched UAV Capability. FLANQ, a German maritime defence solutions provider, and CiS, a leading developer of autonomous aerial systems, today announced a strategic partnership to jointly develop and deploy an integrated capability enabling the launch and recovery of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) from Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USVs). The announcement follows successful trials of a CiS Orka tactical air surveillance and reconnaissance drone being hosted, deployed and recovered aboard a 12-foot FLANQ USV operating autonomously in open water at an undisclosed test site. By merging FLANQ’s proven USV platforms and mission payloads with CiS’s expertise in long-endurance UAV systems, the partnership will deliver a modular, scalable system-of-systems designed to provide rapid-response surveillance, reconnaissance, and intelligence-gathering capabilities, critical to strengthening Europe’s autonomous defence capabilities.
Key objectives of the partnership Include:
- Development of a fully integrated UAV launch-and-recovery systems from medium to large USV platforms
- Persistent over-the-horizon ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance) enabled by AI-based mission autonomy
- Seamless interoperability with NATO maritime command-and-control frameworks
- Deployment-readiness for dynamic threat environments, including hybrid and grey-zone conflict scenarios
“This partnership with CiS reinforces our commitment to delivering maritime domain advantage to Europe and its allies,” said Daniel Esser, Co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer of FLANQ. “Together, we are enabling a new level of operational flexibility and responsiveness through intelligent, aerial and uncrewed surface systems.”
Tom Kaufmann, Managing Partner and CEO at CiS, added: “Europe’s maritime borders face increasing threats – from illicit trafficking to shadow fleet sabotage. Through our collaboration with FLANQ, we will deliver an agile, intelligent system that enhances situational awareness and supports decision-makers across the maritime security domain.”
The joint system’s capabilities will be showcased this month at REMPUS 2025 in Portugal, the annual NATO-led military exercise where both companies are participating. (Source: ASD Network)
03 Sep 25. Red Cat Expands into Maritime Defense with New Modular USV Development. Red Cat Holdings has established Blue Ops to develop and deploy U.S.-built, battle-tested USV weapons systems, supporting multi-domain defense missions through autonomous technologies and veteran maritime leadership. Red Cat Holdings, a developer of drone technologies for advanced aerial ISR and situational awareness, has launched its latest division, Blue Ops, Inc., to develop and deploy modular battle-tested USV weapons systems for multi-domain defense and security missions. The Blue Ops division formalizes Red Cat’s position in the maritime autonomy market. It also highlights the company’s strategy to evolve into an all-domain defense company, expanding its Family of Systems to include these advanced maritime capabilities. As part of its all-domain, multi-mission strategy, including ISR and tactical strike, Red Cat will integrate various sensors, kinetic systems, and other capabilities into the new USV weapons platform, enabling functions such as transporting and deploying its existing aerial UAS systems. Barry Hinckley, a third-generation marine industry veteran, entrepreneur, technology executive, and former U.S. Senate candidate, has been appointed President of Blue Ops. He brings experience as a Coast Guard-certified Merchant Mariner, along with a background in aviation, offshore sailing, and enterprise software. Alexander ‘Sandy’ Spaulding will also lead this new division, utilizing his previous leadership roles across the maritime industry and former position as the President of Hinckley Yachts, to expand the team’s practical experience and strategic partnerships. Together Hinckley and Spaulding bring over 70 years of combined experience in maritime leadership.
Barry Hinckley, President of Blue Ops, stated, “At Blue Ops, we’re combining nearly a century of American boatbuilding experience with modern autonomy and mission-ready design. This new division is a critical extension of Red Cat’s all-domain strategy, supporting today’s warfighters across air, land, and sea. We’re not replacing large naval vessels – we’re building smaller, smarter, uncrewed platforms that extend their reach, provide forward protection, and can operate in places traditional ships can’t. The future of maritime defense depends on a fast, modular weapons system built in the U.S. That’s exactly what we’re delivering.”
Blue Ops itself will sit alongside Red Cat’s existing divisions, Teal Drones and FlightWave Aerospace. As part of the launch, Red Cat plans to finalize its multi-state manufacturing operations. This aligns with national efforts to strengthen domestic defense manufacturing and field autonomous capabilities for U.S. and allied forces. The new division builds on Red Cat’s earlier support for executive orders from the White House to restore American maritime dominance and accelerate deployment of autonomous systems across all domains. Blue Ops also aligns with the Navy’s plan to scale robotic and autonomous systems, integrating more platforms quickly. This forms part of its Navigation Plan to raise the readiness across the force by 2027 for a crisis or conflict, enhancing the Navy’s long-term advantage.
Jeff Thompson, Red Cat CEO, stated, “Blue Ops is honored to bring proven technology, already validated in modern combat, into U.S. production for the next generation of maritime defense. The United States Navy has made it clear that fleet modernization and combat readiness are critical ahead of a possible conflict in the South China Sea that would involve American and allied forces. A big part of this strategy includes integrating autonomous vehicles into fleet operations and tapping into the vast potential of America’s shipbuilding industry. Our proven technology platform, combined with the deep domain expertise of veteran boat builders, will provide the U.S. with a rapidly scalable solution that is ready for battle. Appointing Barry to oversee Blue Ops and lead an all-star team aligns perfectly with our mission.” (Source: https://www.defenseadvancement.com/)
03 Sep 25. Volatus Aerospace Inc. (TSXV: FLT, OTCQB: TAKOF, FSE: ABB.F) (“ Volatus ” or “ the Company ”), a leader in aerial solutions, today announced that Transport Canada has issued a Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC) authorizing Volatus to conduct more complex Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations by authorizing the use of MatrixSpace’s next-generation radar, integrated through Kongsberg Geospatial’s IRIS Terminal platform. Unlike traditional ground-based radar systems, MatrixSpace’s technology is compact, low-power, and able to detect smaller non-cooperative traffic such as other drones. When integrated with Kongsberg’s proven airspace awareness and traffic management software, and supported by Volatus’ remote Operations Control Center, these capabilities make it practical to scale BVLOS operations into applications such as automated drone-in-a-box networks, distributed wide-area monitoring, and autonomous services where continuous, reliable detect-and-avoid is critical. The global drone-in-a-box market was valued at just over US$1 bn in 2024 and is forecast to grow to between US$5 and US$9bn by the early 2030s, reflecting annual growth rates of ~20–23%. 1 This rapid expansion underscores the commercial potential for scalable, subscription-based drone services such as those enabled by this new approval. Volatus already holds nationwide SFOCs permitting BVLOS operations in low-risk airspace, atypical airspace, high altitude, and nighttime missions at an advanced regulatory risk level recognized by Transport Canada. Building on this foundation, the integration will expand automated drone-in-a-box services for infrastructure security, utilities, and industrial monitoring, as well as wide-area inspection and surveillance at higher altitudes, such as forestry, wildfire monitoring, and environmental oversight.
“This SFOC builds upon milestones such as Volatus’ approved BVLOS medical delivery operations at Halton Healthcare,” began Glen Lynch, CEO of Volatus Aerospace. “With our partners, we are expanding these capabilities by integrating a lightweight and scalable detect and avoid system. This combination makes it practical to move from specialized projects into wide-scale deployments like drone-in-a-box networks, giving customers safe, reliable, and scalable autonomous services.”
“We’re pleased to support Volatus with our IRIS Terminal platform as they expand advanced BVLOS operations,” said Jordan Freed, President and Managing Director, Kongsberg Geospatial. “By integrating real-time airspace awareness into their Operations Control Center, Volatus is demonstrating how safe and scalable drone services can be delivered for commercial customers.”
“This approval represents a major step toward scalable autonomous drone operations,” said Greg Waters, Co-founder & CEO, MatrixSpace. “Our compact radar technology is designed for exactly these kinds of applications, and Volatus is leading the way in bringing drone-in-a-box and automated services to the Canadian market.”
About Volatus’ Strategic Partnerships
Kongsberg Geospatial and MatrixSpace are two industry leaders whose technologies are helping to transform advanced BVLOS capability into scalable, commercially viable services. By combining Volatus’ operational expertise with Kongsberg’s airspace management software and MatrixSpace’s next-generation radar, the partnership creates a deployable ecosystem designed for safe and repeatable drone-in-a-box and autonomous operations. Kongsberg Geospatial provides the IRIS Terminal platform, which integrates radar, telemetry, and other sensor feeds into a single real-time airspace awareness display for safe BVLOS operations. Beyond the technology, Kongsberg brings decades of defense and aerospace experience, opening access to global security and government markets where regulatory trust and mission assurance are critical.
MatrixSpace delivers the next step forward in detect-and-avoid: a compact, low-power radar system that is smaller, more flexible, and lower cost than traditional installations. It can also detect smaller, non-cooperative traffic such as other drones — making it ideally suited for scalable, autonomous deployments like drone-in-a-box networks. MatrixSpace’s growing presence in homeland security and critical infrastructure monitoring creates new opportunities for Volatus to expand into high-value markets.
Together, these partnerships enable Volatus to act as the integrator of a proven ecosystem combining operational expertise with advanced airspace awareness and next-generation radar to deliver safe, scalable, and commercially viable drone services.
About Volatus Aerospace
With 100+ years of combined aviation expertise, Volatus Aerospace delivers innovative global aerial solutions for intelligence and cargo, utilizing both piloted and remotely piloted aircraft (RPAS/drones). Committed to efficiency, safety, and sustainability, Volatus offers a complete ecosystem of aerial solutions including remote operations, enterprise equipment sales, training, and aerial services to enhance real-world applications across industries.
03 Sep 25. Marine AI, backed by the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA), has launched a world-first project that gives uncrewed vessels the ability to communicate naturally with other ships — just like a human operator. Trials now underway in Plymouth and Portsmouth will test a large language model designed for ship-to-ship dialogue, marking a breakthrough in human–machine interaction at sea. The goal is to solve one of the biggest barriers to autonomy: safe, trusted communication between crewed and uncrewed vessels in real-world maritime conditions. Testing will use Marine AI’s Oceanus12 alongside Royal Navy platforms including Patrick Blackett and Excalibur, with responses judged by master mariners. If successful, this will be the first demonstration of natural language interoperability between autonomous and conventional platforms, advancing the UK’s leadership in maritime autonomy.
- Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) funds world-first project with Marine AI to enable natural language communication between uncrewed and crewed vessels
- Trials planned in Plymouth and Portsmouth will test a large language model for autonomous ship-to-ship dialogue
- Breakthrough aims to build capability in human–machine interaction at sea and improve safe interoperability
The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) and Plymouth-based Marine AI have launched a world-first research project to give uncrewed vessels the ability to communicate naturally with other ships. The programme, which began last week, will see trials take place in the Plymouth and Portsmouth trial areas. The project builds on Marine AI’s earlier proof-of-concept work with large language models (LLMs) to create an autonomy system capable of understanding and generating natural language. Backed by DASA funding, the new phase will develop and test the technology in real-world maritime environments, enabling uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) to talk to both crewed and uncrewed platforms in the same way a human operator would. With autonomous platforms becoming increasingly common, the lack of seamless communication between them and conventional shipping is a growing operational challenge. At present, USVs depend on structured protocols or human oversight, limiting their ability to respond in complex, fast-moving situations. This project seeks to close that gap by proving that an uncrewed vessel can hold a natural language exchange that is context-aware, situationally appropriate and trusted by mariners. Testing will use Marine AI’s Oceanus12 vessel and supporting craft, alongside high-profile platforms including the Patrick Blackett and XV Excalibur. Responses generated by the system will be assessed by master mariners, with findings captured in a formal evaluation report.
Oliver Thompson, technical director at Marine AI, said: “Uncrewed platforms can only operate safely alongside conventional vessels if they can be understood. This project is about proving that an autonomous system can use natural language in a way that makes sense to mariners in real-world conditions.”
If successful, the research will deliver the first demonstration of natural language interoperability between uncrewed and conventional platforms, setting the stage for safer mixed-traffic operations at sea and advancing the UK’s leadership in maritime autonomy.
03 Sep 25. Joby Aviation, Inc. (NYSE:JOBY) today announced a first-of-its-kind demonstration of its autonomous flight technology. As part of the Resolute Force Pacific (REFORPAC), a Department-Level Exercise led by Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), Joby conducted a successful demonstration and validation of its SuperpilotTM autonomous flight technology over the Pacific Ocean and Hawaii, logging more than 7,000 miles of autonomous operations across more than 40 flight hours. The autonomous flights were managed from ground control stations at various locations throughout the exercise, primarily from more than 3,000 miles away at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam. A safety pilot was also onboard the aircraft to monitor the system’s performance. As part of Joby’s long-term strategy to develop dual-use technologies, Superpilot showcased its ability to provide an autonomous solution for the U.S. government’s urgent need for light intra-theater airlift. The Department of Defense has requested $9.4 bn in its FY26 budget to advance autonomous and hybrid aircraft. The successful REFORPAC exercise positions Joby to compete for upcoming Department of Defense programs. In addition, the work with defense partners can inform integration of autonomous capabilities into Joby’s commercial air taxi platform.
“The exercise demonstrated Superpilot’s ability to operate in complex, real-world scenarios with the precision and reliability demanded by the U.S. government,” said Greg Bowles, Chief Policy Officer at Joby. “This is a testament to our decade-long collaboration with the Department of Defense and a significant step toward deploying our dual-use technologies in the field.”
“AFWERX has partnered with Joby’s team for several years with increasingly complex development and demonstration efforts of autonomy to support contested logistics missions,” said Lt. Col. Jonathan Gilbert, AFWERX Prime division chief. “REFORPAC was an opportunity to demonstrate the technology in a realistic environment and highlight the potential impact of these autonomous systems. The lessons learned from this exercise participation are vital to guiding our focus as we continue development of affordable technologies that support the needs of our Airmen.”
The U.S. Air Force currently faces a challenge in efficiently supporting low-volume, high-urgency and high-risk deliveries in large operational theaters. The REFORPAC exercise validated that a light cargo aircraft, equipped with Superpilot, can meet this demand, while freeing up larger, more costly aircraft for other missions.
Joby’s Superpilot, integrated into a Cessna Caravan 208 platform, was tasked with a variety of missions. Highlights include:
- Mission Readiness: Superpilot demonstrated the capability to execute rapid cargo deliveries, hub-and-spoke logistics, inter-island transport, dynamic retasking, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) profiles.
- Operational Versatility: Flights were successfully conducted in all classes of airspace (B, C, D and uncontrolled) and under both visual and instrument flight rules.
- Airlift Capabilities: Superpilot piloted a total of 7,342 miles over 43.7 hours. Within the exercise, the aircraft completed six sorties, flying for 14 hours covering 2,416 miles. The campaign also included a roundtrip ferry flight of 4,925 miles, with Superpilot successfully handling a Pacific Ocean crossing, landing and taxi at destination airports.
In June 2024, Joby acquired the autonomy division of Xwing, Inc., including Superpilot, with the goal of accelerating development of autonomous flight technology in defense and commercial applications. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
03 Sep 25. US Army Tests Claymore Mine-Armed Drone. The US Army’s 173rd Airborne Brigade, known as the “Sky Soldiers,” has conducted what officials say is the first test in the United States of a first-person-view (FPV) drone shooting down another unmanned aerial vehicle. Over the skies of Fort Rucker, history was made as the 173rd Airborne Brigade, Pennsylvania Army National Guard, and the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Armaments Center (DEVCOM AC) Project Shank executed the Army’s first-ever air-to-air kill with an armed first-person view (FPV) drone. Chief Warrant Officer 2 Nate Shea piloted the Skyraider, armed with a claymore mine, while Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Topits maneuvered the opposing unmanned aircraft system (UAS) during a dogfight above Tabernacle Field. First developed in the 1950s, the M18 Claymore is a directional landmine designed to be emplaced on the ground and triggered by a tripwire or manual detonator. Its curved plastic casing contains C-4 explosive and about 700 steel ball bearings, which are propelled in a 60-degree cone-shaped blast to an effective range of about 820 feet (250 meters). Military analysts say the Claymore’s wide blast pattern makes it well-suited to engaging small, agile aerial targets. (Source: UAS VISION/DIVDS;Interesting Engineering)
03 Sep 25. Skyeton Partners with Allies to Distribute Raybird UAS in Poland. Ukrainian aviation production holding Skyeton and Polish defence solutions distributor Allies have entered into a partnership to deliver Skyeton’s battle-proven Raybird unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to Poland. This collaboration underscores a shared commitment to strengthening European defense capabilities with state-of-the-art technologies designed to meet today’s most demanding operational environments. Through this agreement, Allies will serve as the official distributor of the Raybird UAS in Poland. The partnership combines Skyeton’s nearly two decades of engineering excellence in unmanned aviation with Allies’ extensive expertise in delivering mission-ready solutions to defense, intelligence, and law enforcement professionals. Together, the two companies aim to ensure that European partners are equipped with reliable and effective systems that bolster operational readiness and resilience.
Pavlo Shevchuk, International CEO of Skyeton: “This partnership with Allies represents more than distribution – it reflects a shared commitment to technological excellence and the security of our region. By combining Skyeton’s nearly two decades of UAS development with Allies’ trusted network and expertise, we are ensuring that our partners receive solutions that are both mission-ready and future-focused. It also highlights how the Polish and Ukrainian defense industries are working together to help protect NATO’s Eastern Flank from eastern threats.”
Katarzyna Niebrzydowska, Commercial Director at Allies: “This partnership marks an important step in strengthening our portfolio of innovative UAV solutions and delivering state-of-the-art capabilities to our customers. Together, we aim to drive technological excellence and provide reliable, mission-ready solutions that meet the highest operational demands. We look forward to the opportunities this collaboration will bring and to shaping the future of unmanned aviation together with Skyeton.”
With over 350,000 hours of combat-proven operations, the Raybird UAS – adopted by the Armed Forces of Ukraine under the name ACS-3 – has established itself as one of the most effective platforms on the market. Known for its 28+ hours endurance, long-range reconnaissance capabilities, and versatility in both defense and civilian missions, Raybird supports applications ranging from deep reconnaissance and border surveillance to disaster response and humanitarian operations. (Source: UAS VISION)
01 Sep 25. Taiwan developing long-range attack drone with US firm Kratos. NCSIST to unveil Chien Feng IV at Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition. The National Chung-Shan Institute of Science & Technology confirmed Monday it is co-developing a long-range attack drone with US defense contractor Kratos.Kratos has previously worked with Shield AI to adapt its MQM-178 Firejet subsonic aerial target drone, integrating an AI system for autonomous formation flying and tactical maneuvering, per UDN. The new drone, dubbed the Chien Feng IV, is based on the MQM-178 platform and has a range of 1,000 kilometers. Analysts suggest the Chien Feng IV could be deployed alongside the Hsiung Feng IIE cruise missile, which has a range of 500–700 km. The system is expected to debut publicly at the biennial Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition in September. NCSIST emphasized the project is a joint research effort with Kratos, not a military-commissioned program. Due to a confidentiality agreement, it declined to provide performance details ahead of the unveiling. Although Taiwan’s armed forces have not formally requested the weapon, NCSIST reportedly sees it as a “low-cost cruise missile” alternative and believes it has strong export potential. Steve Fendley, president of Kratos’ Unmanned Systems Division, confirmed to TWZ that the company is collaborating with NCSIST. “Development started early this year and is progressing rapidly,” Fendley said. (Source: News Now/https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/)
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EOS
Electro Optic Systems (EOS) is an Australian technology company with a global presence, delivering advanced solutions across defence and space. With operations in Australia, the United States, Europe, Singapore, the Middle East and New Zealand, EOS has been designing and manufacturing precision technologies for more than four decades.
In defence, EOS is a leader in remote weapon systems, with more than 2,500 delivered and proven in operational service with allied forces. The company designs, develops and manufactures highly accurate counter-drone solutions for force and asset protection. These include both kinetic and high energy laser options that defeat drone threats effectively and at a comparatively low cost per shot. In August 2025, EOS secured the world’s first export contract for a 100 kW-class high energy laser weapon, with delivery scheduled between 2025 and 2028.
In the space domain, EOS is internationally recognised for its expertise in space domain awareness and space control. Its ground-based optical systems track and characterise satellites and debris to support both defence and commercial operations worldwide. Through its New Zealand subsidiary, EOS also designs and manufactures precision optics for space and astronomy applications.
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