Sponsored by EOS
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25 Sep 25. Turkey’s Havelsan to produce UAVs in Egypt. Havelsan on 27 August said the agreement covers the assembly and joint production of UAVs to meet the needs of Egypt and the African market by offering price-performance solutions suitable for the region.
“We are delighted to be working with a strong partner like AOI. This partnership will bring autonomous UAV technologies to the region, increase domestic production capacity, and enable us to enter the African market strongly,” said Havelsan General Manager Dr Mehmet Akif Nacar. “As a brand and strong player that offers reliable, effective, and innovative solutions on a global scale, we will continue to develop advanced technologies and add value to regional markets.”
Major General Engineer Mukhtar Abdullatif, President of the Arab Industrialisation Authority, stated that Havelsan’s experience in technology, combined with AOI’s production capabilities, will support Egypt’s defence and technology vision.
“This collaboration is a big step not only for production but also for technological independence and sustainable exports,” Abdullatif said.
Havelsan offers field-proven solutions with the Baha, Bulut and Bozbey unmanned aerial vehicles it has developed.
In its initial announcement, Havelsan included a video of its Baha fixed-wing vertical take-off and landing UAV, which entered service with the Turkish Armed Forces earlier this year. The electrically powered UAV has a maximum take-off weight of 28 kg with a 2 kg payload, a communications range of 50 km, and an endurance of up to 2 hours. Established in 1982, Havelsan operates primarily active in the defence and IT sectors. Key areas of activity include Command, Control, Communication, Computer, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance systems (C4ISR); naval combat and combat management systems; simulation and training systems, including simulators for land, naval, and air platforms; homeland security and cyber security systems; e-government applications such as election systems, land registry, cadastral systems, and judiciary networks; management information systems; reconnaissance, surveillance, and intelligence systems; and logistics support and energy management systems. Havelsan has developed a number of unmanned air, land, and sea systems, including the tracked Barkan unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) series and wheeled Kapgan UGV. Its Baha, Bozbey, and Bulut are fixed wing vertical takeoff and landing UAVs, while the Poyraz is a quadcopter. Unmanned surface vessels include the Sancar armed unmanned vessel and Caka submersible kamikaze vessel. Havelsan exports its defence and simulation products internationally and is one of Turkey’s leading companies in both national and international defence markets. It provides services to armed forces, public and private sectors at home and abroad, and continues to expand its business globally, including in Africa. (Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)
24 Sep 25. FlySight Joins MANGROVE Consortium to Support NATO Underwater Security Project. FlySight has joined the Saab-led MANGROVE consortium, supporting NATO’s new Allied Underwater Battlespace Mission Network project to enhance interoperability and strengthen maritime security among allied militaries. FlySight, a developer of geospatial software solutions for mission-critical military, security, and defense applications, has joined the Saab Kockums-led multinational MANGROVE consortium. The MANGROVE consortium, unveiled at DSEI 2025, was selected by NATO to lead the Allied Underwater Battlespace Mission Network project (AUWB-MN), commencing on September 1, 2025 to provide underwater interoperability between allied militaries. The project aims to develop a reference architecture for a mission network integrating both manned and unmanned systems operating above and below the water. The mission network will enable the fast and secure exchange of information, supporting coordinated operations across all military branches to set a new standard for NATO.
Mats Wicksell, head of Saab’s business area Kockums, stated, “Saab is delighted to lead this pivotal project for NATO. All of the MANGROVE consortium’s expertise and collaborative focus for the next 12 months will be on the successful development of a mission network for NATO’s operations in the underwater battlespace. As all aspects of the underwater domain grow in their strategic significance, this will be a critical contribution to our collective maritime security and defence.”
David Burton, Project Director of NATO’s Antisubmarine Warfare Barrier Smart Defence Initiative, added, “The AUWB-MN project is a significant step forward in the modernisation of our warfighting capabilities and the ability for NATO allies to operate effectively together in the underwater domain of the future. We are confident that Saab and the Mangrove consortium will deliver a robust and effective mission network that strengthens NATO’s maritime defence.”
MANGROVE, consisting of CETENA, FlySight, GraalTech, IDS, Miraya, Saab UK and BlueBear, S2IX, SubSeaPulse, and the University of Plymouth, was selected on July 16, 2025. The project is part of NATO’s Digital Ocean and Antisubmarine Warfare Barrier Smart Defence Initiative. The project is sponsored by twelve nations, led by the UK and including Sweden, the US, Australia, Spain, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Canada, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Norway, all committed to adopting the standard developed through this initiative. (Source: https://www.defenseadvancement.com/)
24 Sep 25. Element U.S. Space & Defense, a leader in naval and defense testing, announced the successful test of Advanced Acoustic Concepts, LLC’s Angler 2.0 Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV). The test was conducted at Element U.S. Space & Defense’s testing facility in Rustburg, Virginia, which features a deep freshwater quarry that is uniquely equipped to support the rigorous testing of complex underwater systems, advanced sensor arrays, and explosive systems for U.S. defense and national security missions.
The facility recently demonstrated its technical expertise by conducting a comprehensive evaluation of the Angler 2’s core functions. Being strategically located by a quarry lake allowed for heavyweight metal fabrication, crane lifting for targets and mooring, energetics storage, and climate-controlled rooms for assembly, meetings, and remote-control operations.
“Testing weaponized UUV’s in our quarry is a great demonstration of the unique capabilities of the Rustburg laboratory and a testament to the versatility of our team. We are excited to see how Element U.S. Space & Defense will continue to be a dedicated testing partner to the U.S. government and industrial base,” said John Granier, PhD., Chief Engineer of Munitions & Energetics at Element U.S. Space & Defense.
As a Naval Sea Systems Command Shock Certified test center, Element U.S. Space & Defense’s Rustburg laboratory is set up to provide a secure, controlled, and realistic environment for testing and evaluating critical technologies. Key capabilities include a deep-water quarry for comprehensive mobility and systems testing, heavyweight and lightweight shock testing, a Medium Weight Deck Simulation Shock Machine (DSSM), and on-site engineering support that ensures that customers can conduct testing with precision, safety, and efficiency. This allows industry partners to move seamlessly from prototype assembly to full-scale systems evaluation in a single, secure location.
To learn more about Element U.S. Space & Defense’s award-winning test and engineering services, please visit www.elementdefense.com.
About Element U.S. Space & Defense: Element U.S. Space & Defense, (formerly NTS Technical Systems) stands at the forefront of testing innovation, as a trusted government testing partner to NASA, the U.S. Department of Defense, government agencies and prominent industry leaders across the space and defense sectors. Today, Element U.S. Space & Defense brings more than 60 years of experience and expertise in navigating the most complex projects and programs in the world. From centrifuge testing for the latest Mars rover, vibration testing for the Space Launch System (SLS), or environmental simulations for next-generation missiles, Element U.S. Space & Defense is the pioneering partner for highly custom, end-to-end testing design and implementation. Visit www.elementdefense.com or call 833-673-8773 to learn more. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
25 Sep 25. Germany’s Helsing unveils ‘Europa’ combat drone.
- Summary
- Companies
- Helsing unveils plans for autonomous UCAV military drone
- Defence AI startup aims for first flight in 2027
- Planning investments of hundreds of ms of euros
German defence startup Helsing unveiled a new autonomous combat drone on Thursday, joining a race to build remote-piloted systems that can swarm into battle with fellow robots or team up with crewed fighters to help reshape the future of air warfare. Unveiling a full-size model of the angular, V-tailed drone at a factory outside Munich, Helsing said the “CA-1 Europa” would stage a first flight in 2027 and become available for military operations within the following four years. (Source: Reuters)
25 Sep 25. During the Estonian Defence Week, Defsecintel Solutions (Estonia) and Origin Robotics (Latvia) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) confirming the launch of a partnership that will offer a significant contribution to the Drone Wall—Europe’s first operational, cross-border system purpose-built to detect and defeat hostile drones. The rapidly growing threat of hostile drones requires mobile and cost-effective C-UAS systems capable of detecting and neutralizing different types of UAVs with a wide range of countermeasures and various effectors. Defsecintel Solutions, drawing on operational insights from Ukraine, has developed and manufactures the EIRSHIELD system – a modular, turn-key C-UAS platform that integrates advanced technologies from leading European companies with combat-proven performance.
“Politicians have called for a Drone Wall. We are ready to build it,” said Jaanus Tamm, CEO of Defsecintel Solutions. “This is not a concept. This is a live, integrated system that’s ready today and already protecting Europe’s eastern flank. This is not a roadmap or a PowerPoint. We offer European end-users a turnkey C-UAS solution with the best available combat-proven effectors in the Baltic region against low-flying hostile drones.”
Together, the companies offer a system providing long-range radar and signal disruption with autonomous aerial interceptors to deliver a fast, modular, and scalable defence against unmanned threats. The system is specifically designed to counter:
- Loitering munitions
- Fixed-wing reconnaissance UAVs
- Swarming drone tactics
It is fully operational, built on combat-proven platforms, and designed to adapt to fast-changing threat environments. Defsecintel Solutions, the developer of the EIRSHIELD system, brings advanced long-range detection, electronic warfare (EW) capabilities, and multi-layer sensor fusion—refined through active deployments in Ukraine. Origin Robotics contributes its autonomous drone interceptor, BLAZE, a man-portable, operator-supervised platform that can track, identify, and destroy high-speed aerial targets using onboard AI and computer vision. BLAZE has been engineered to counter drones that evade conventional air defense systems. Equipped with an HE fragmentation warhead, it ensures precise and effective threat elimination, even in contested environments.
“The need for a system like BLAZE is immediate; it’s driven by real-world operational demands that are unfolding right now,” said Agris Kipurs, CEO of Origin Robotics. “It delivers fast-launch interception at a fraction of the cost. No theory—this is already in the hands of real users.”
This cooperation is a direct response to the increasing scale and complexity of aerial threats in the region, especially along Europe’s eastern border. With UAV attacks now a daily feature of modern warfare, nations cannot afford to wait for traditional procurement timelines. The Baltic Drone Wall concept is launched by Defsecintel Solutions and Defence Estonia Cluster with partners from other Baltic States.
23 Sep 25. SANCAR AUSV Completes Acceptance Tests and Is Ready for Delivery to Security Forces. SANCAR, the Armed Unmanned Surface Vehicle (AUSV) developed by HAVELSAN—one of Türkiye’s leading defense technology companies—has successfully completed acceptance processes following its firing tests. Now ready to serve the nation’s security forces, SANCAR will be delivered to its designated unit.
Acceptance Tests Successfully Completed
Providing details on the test campaign, HAVELSAN General Manager Dr. Mehmet Akif Nacar said the acceptance tests were successfully concluded last week:
“We are developing our SANCAR AUSV in cooperation with Yonca Shipyard. We successfully conducted its firing tests. The platform hosts five of HAVELSAN’s indigenous solutions. The most important is ADVENT Rota, a command-and-control mission management software that integrates the Turkish Navy’s ADVENT combat management system into autonomous platforms. In addition, our SUBSTAR Ship Data Distribution System (GVDS), NAUTIS, the BLUEVISION autonomous navigation system, and the GNSS-KASK precision satellite positioning solution are all deployed on SANCAR.”
HAVELSAN’s Robust Architecture
Dr. Nacar underlined that SANCAR is not only integrated with ADVENT, but can also be operated as a standalone platform:
“We have a mature command, control and mission management capability. Moreover, we can integrate these five indigenous products into other platforms to make them autonomous. In other words, it doesn’t have to be this platform—we’re ready today to autonomize any suitable platform.”
Referring to the recent live-fire activities, Dr. Nacar noted that the 12.7 mm remote-controlled weapon system successfully engaged targets and confirmed that, with acceptance completed, series production will enable more SANCAR units to be delivered to the security forces.
Broad Potential for Military and Civil Missions
Dr. Nacar also emphasized SANCAR’s civil potential in addition to military use, noting that logistics and other non-combat roles can be supported by such vehicles.
Technical Features of SANCAR
SANCAR stands out with its advanced technical suite. Measuring 12.7 meters in length and 3.3 meters in beam with a displacement of 9 tons, the platform uses twin diesel engines with twin waterjets to achieve speeds above 40 knots. It offers a range of 400 nautical miles at 10 knots and is capable of operating in Sea State 4. Onboard systems include radar, sonar, electro-optical cameras, Automatic Identification System (AIS), 360-degree surveillance cameras, depth sounder, GPS compass, and GNSS-assisted navigation. COLREG-compliant autonomous navigation enables safe maneuvering in complex maritime environments. SANCAR supports modular payloads, including a 12.7 mm Remote-Controlled Weapon Station (RCWS), tactical missile systems, and mine countermeasure (MCM) payloads. A mobile ground control station provides rapid deployment and portability, while redundant RF, satellite, and LTE communications ensure continuous, resilient command-and-control—positioning SANCAR as a strong asset within the inventory.
Next-Generation Capabilities and NATO Standards
With its engagement capability, mine detection proficiency, and autonomous mission functions, SANCAR is the first and only AUSV fully integrated with HAVELSAN’s ADVENT Combat Management System. Distinguished by its role in mine countermeasure operations, SANCAR can deploy from next-generation mine countermeasure vessels and conduct independent missions—offering an important operational advantage. Ongoing software developments in line with NATO Interoperability Standards will further expand the platform’s potential user base internationally.
New Products on the Way from HAVELSAN
As the first member of HAVELSAN’s unmanned surface vehicle family, SANCAR will be joined by new products addressing both military and civil domains, broadening the company’s portfolio of autonomous maritime solutions. (Source: ASD Network)
23 Sep 25. GE Aerospace and Merlin, a leading developer of assured, autonomous flight technology for defense customers, today announced a new effort to pursue autonomy core development. This next-generation autonomy and pilot-assist platform will be designed to bring AI-enabled capabilities to existing and future military and civil aircraft and meet the growing demand for crew reduction and uncrewed flight capabilities. GE Aerospace’s current Flight Management System footprint includes more than 14,000 aircraft globally, creating an opportunity to introduce Merlin’s advanced capabilities to legacy military platforms, which will define state of the art technology for next generation aircraft. The autonomy core aims to become the system of record for high assurance aerial systems to satisfy customer needs for reduced crew workload and enable single pilot operations (SPO).
“At GE Aerospace we’re constantly working to find innovative solutions to meet the evolving needs of our customers. Working with Merlin, we’re able to combine our proven Flight Management System expertise and Modular Open System Architectures with Merlin’s autonomy software to unlock new capabilities that will redefine what’s possible for next-generation autonomous flight. This represents an important step forward in aviation autonomy,” said Matt Burns, general manager, Avionics Systems with GE Aerospace.
The autonomy core initiative represents a strategic fit between the companies’ capabilities and technologies. GE Aerospace’s proven expertise in flight management systems and open system architecture coupled with Merlin’s autonomy software suite, avionics packages, and Datalink solutions, provides operators with a scalable, certifiable, and future-ready solution to meet the growing demand for crew reduction, SPO, and uncrewed flight capabilities.
“Our national security relies heavily on our continued air power dominance, and integrated systems that allow for the use of autonomy-focused solutions are essential to that ongoing strength. GE Aerospace’s legacy of providing systems of record to commercial and government customers enables us to rapidly bring complementary capabilities to market,” said Matt George, CEO of Merlin. “By teaming with GE Aerospace, we are able to pair their open system architecture with Merlin’s autonomy capabilities to create and deliver the next generation of avionics systems, extending our work with existing customers, expanding the volume and types of platforms we support, and accelerating our revenue growth.”
The KC-135 Center Console Refresh (CCR) program, a critical modernization effort to replace aging and out-of-production cockpit components is targeted as the first teaming opportunity to introduce the autonomy core. CCR addresses Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages (DMSMS) challenges, ensuring sustainment and mission readiness for the Air Force’s refueling fleet. This builds upon Merlin’s existing agreement with the Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) to integrate autonomy onto the KC-135 as a first step toward uncrewed flight capabilities. Expansion of the teaming is expected across transport, refueling, and civil aviation applications.
23 Sep 25. Kratos to be Exclusive U.S. Manufacturer for the Elroy Air Chaparral VTOL Cargo Drone. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq: KTOS), a Technology Company in the Defense, National Security and Global Markets, today announced that Elroy Air, a leading developer of autonomous aerial cargo systems for middle-mile logistics and military resupply, has selected Kratos as Elroy Air’s exclusive U.S. manufacturing partner for the Chaparral in a new five-year strategic manufacturing agreement to accelerate expected high-volume production of the Chaparral hybrid-electric autonomous vertical takeoff-and-landing (VTOL) cargo drone.
“Kratos is an established and trusted producer of military UAS and is unique in their manufacturing focus on affordability. Kratos has produced and delivered thousands of uncrewed aircraft, with a well-established and reliable supply chain for these systems. Their expanded production capabilities make them the ideal partner to bring Chaparral to market at scale,” said Elroy Air CEO Andrew Clare. “This partnership accelerates our ability to deliver Chaparral systems to the many customers waiting for them, across both defense and commercial markets.”
Kratos, a proven leader in the development and production of affordable, jet-powered composite unmanned aircraft for the U.S. Department of Defense, recently expanded its manufacturing capacity to support next-generation drone production. This new partnership leverages Kratos’ deep expertise and scaled infrastructure to put the Chaparral into high-volume production.
Eric DeMarco, President and CEO of Kratos, said, “Kratos is the recognized industry leader for rapid development, production, and delivery of affordable, leading technology unmanned aerial drone systems, which is a perfect fit with Elroy Air’s UAV roadmap, incredibly large forecasted addressable market and related future high volume production plans, including for the U.S. military. Kratos provides Elroy an immediate and unique competitive, customer differentiating, value-multiplier advantage, with Kratos’ up and running manufacturing facilities, qualified and executing supply chain and relevant past performance qualifications. Kratos’ partnership with Elroy Air is a recent example of Kratos delivering relevant products, not promises, power points and renditions, with expected tangible value creation for our stakeholders.”
“We are thrilled to partner with Elroy Air to produce their industry-leading drone for the dual-use market,” said Steve Fendley, President of Kratos Unmanned Systems Division. “Elroy Air’s market opportunity for Chaparral is already large and continuing to grow. With this growth, Kratos is ideally suited to transition the system to production. The Kratos team is the best in the world at establishing UAS production lines and optimizing affordability.”
Chaparral is designed to autonomously transport up to 300 pounds of cargo over 300 miles, affordably bridging critical logistics gaps for military resupply, disaster relief, and commercial express delivery. The vehicle’s unique hybrid-electric powertrain enables rapid refueling, extra power for recharging batteries and powering payloads in cruise flight, and longer-range cargo transport than similar-sized battery-electric aircraft. Kratos will perform initial production of Chaparral at their Sacramento, California aircraft production facility and over time, transition to high-rate production at Kratos’ facilities in Oklahoma City. These efforts are expected to bring aerospace jobs to both regions and expand the current supply chain infrastructure that includes many other states across our nation. The first production Chaparral aircraft are planned to be built in 2026.
“Kratos’ proven ability to produce large, composite drones in high volumes makes them the perfect partner to help us scale production of the Chaparral,” said Dave Merrill, Elroy Air’s Founder and Executive Chairman. “Our customers are eager to expand their operations with our systems, and Kratos’ deep production expertise and track record will enable us to deliver robust, world-class Chaparral vehicles in high volumes.”
Kratos and Elroy Air will have their unmanned aircraft systems on display together at the upcoming Miramar Air Show held September 26-28 at the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, California. (Source: ASD Network)
23 Sep 25. Gabler, a leading provider of submarine technologies, today unveiled concepts for their highly anticipated uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) designed for torpedo tube launch (TTL). The reveal took place on the opening day of 27th DWT Naval Workshop meeting being held in Dobbin-Linstow, Germany where Gabler also debuted its new corporate identity. Gabler, known globally for its submarine masts, vessel components and tactical gateway products, announced earlier this summer its decision to enter the USV market with sub-surface deployed platforms configured for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations, as well as single-use tactical missions. Today’s announcement marks the next milestone in the company’s high tempo USV development programme, alongside its strategic technology partner, FLANQ, to deliver cutting-edge, autonomous systems for NATO and European naval forces. The two USV variants will be known as Ranger for ISR, and Raider for strike. Both are fully compatible with standard submarine torpedo tubes, and feature a common 4.5- metre long, 300 metre depth rated hull, folding mast and keel, electric drivetrain, and multiple payload bays. Ranger is reusable and equipped with a sensor suite providing real-time surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, crucial for naval forces operating in contested waters. Ranger will allow submarines to discreetly deploy and recover the USV without exposing themselves to risk, thus ensuring mission success while maintaining stealth and operational advantage. Raider, designed for single-use tactical missions can carry a user-supplied effector payload in its forward payload compartment, empowering naval forces to neutralise high-value targets without exposing themselves to direct threats. The partnership has accelerated its development timeline to bring these USVs to technology readiness level as swiftly as possible. Gabler and FLANQ are working closely with sovereign partners and European defence suppliers to ensure interoperability and seamless integration into existing naval systems.
“As we unveil these USVs at DWT 2025 – less than two months since our original announcement – our focus is clear: deliver uncrewed-first operational capabilities for European and NATO naval forces that are fast, flexible, and cost-effective,” said Lars Wischnewski, Director of Sales and Products at Gabler. “These platforms will shape the future of naval operations, providing unmatched versatility in complex and contested environments. Ranger and Raider also mark a new chapter for Gabler – reflected in our exciting and modern brand identity and new tagline: We Dive Deeper.”
22 Sep 25. Honeywell (NASDAQ: HON) unveiled a new small-thrust-class engine, the HON1600, for the collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) and unmanned aircraft system (UAS) market during the annual Air, Space & Cyber Conference organized by the Air & Space Forces Association in Washington, D.C. The CCA engine, HON1600, meets all mission-critical performance parameters, including high-altitude capabilities up to 40,000 feet, rigorous G-level performance and ability to reach maneuvering targets. The CCA program proposed by USAF is a multi-pronged initiative to test, develop and implement new autonomous and manned-unmanned aircraft teaming concepts. The HON1600 propulsion system is designed to go “from model to metal” quickly. A significant percentage of the materials in the engine are capable of being additively manufactured or produced with high-volume manufacturing techniques like metal injection molding, enabling both speed and supply chain resilience.
“We’ve designed this engine to meet the new generation of CCA and UAS platforms that require unprecedented performance to keep pace with mission demands,” said Dave Marinick, president, Engines and Power Systems, Honeywell Aerospace Technologies. “Our propulsion system is based on proven and tested technology in use today, plus the latest advancements in digital modeling and manufacturing, to enable a cost-effective and efficient solution for military operators.”
The HON1600 engine’s low-cost, flexible and scalable architecture supports both turbojet or turbofan variants from 800-to-1600 pound-force thrust and scalable for additional thrust as required. The core engine has been demonstrated at rated thrust. Honeywell is leveraging a systems engineering approach with digital modeling, which enables faster design and build, seamless integration and more accurate evaluation at the air vehicle level to assist in development. This engine family also supports long-term storage prior to use.
21 Sep 25. Lockheed Martin Skunk Works® (NYSE: LMT) introduces Vectis, a Group 5 survivable and lethal collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) to advance unparalleled air dominance for American and allied militaries. This system embodies the company’s pedigree in fighter aircraft, autonomous systems and open mission architectures. As the future of air power takes shape, Skunk Works is charting a critical path with Vectis to unlock new, integrated capabilities at an ultra-competitive speed and price point.
“Vectis is the culmination of our expertise in complex systems integration, advanced fighter development and autonomy,” said OJ Sanchez, vice president and general manager, Lockheed Martin Skunk Works. “We’re not simply building a new platform – we’re creating a new paradigm for air power based on a highly capable, customizable and affordable agile drone framework.”
What You Need to Know About Vectis
Integration:
- Seamlessly integrates with 5th and next-gen aircraft to advance the Family of Systems vision for next-gen air dominance.
- Proven Lockheed Martin performance on common control systems like the MDCX™ ensure compatibility across the command and control spectrum.
Mission Flexibility:
- Capable of executing precision strike, ISR targeting, electronic warfare and offensive and defensive counter air missions.
- Provides multi-domain connectivity, whether standalone or as part of integrated teaming missions with crewed aircraft like the F-35.
- Extended Range: Endurance ranges compatible with Indo-Pacific, European and Central Command theaters.
How We’re Making It:
- Stealth: Leverages decades of experience in stealth advancement to deliver best in CCA class survivability.
- Affordable: Applies advanced manufacturing and digital engineering techniques learned from next-gen aircraft development to drive affordability and speed. Vectis will be offered at a CCA price point.
- Open Systems: Built to avoid vendor lock by aligning to Government Reference Architectures.
Vectis’ development is underway. Parts are ordered and a team is executing. Skunk Works is investing the funds and manpower necessary to build and test survivable systems to meet customers’ evolving needs while broadening alignment with new tri-service architectures and global requirements as they are defined. Skunk Works has decades of experience leveraging speed, altitude, shape, advanced materials and more to keep crewed and uncrewed platforms safe in the most challenging environments to solve the warfighter’s hardest problems. All of this pioneering work is reflected in Vectis, which delivers class-leading survivability in an agile, multi-role package. With Vectis, Lockheed Martin Skunk Works is acting on a bold vision to deliver high-end survivability and mission systems capability at aggressive cost targets and design, build and fly within two years.
22 Sep 25. UK maritime USV manufacturer ZeroUSV has achieved a series of world-firsts during the opening week of NATO’s REPMUS Dynamic Messenger 2025, taking place off the coast of Portugal. The Plymouth designed Oceanus12 uncrewed surface vessel (USV), competitively selected by the Royal Navy for this year’s exercise, has become the first USV to autonomously launch and recover a thin-lined towed acoustic array without human involvement. Until now, arrays were typically pre-deployed and clipped on or required manual crew handling during launch and recovery. Oceanus12 has also been deploying on a daily basis 4/day of the G-sized sonobuoys using ZeroUSV’s prototype SOIL (SOnor Integrated Launch) system, with the running total now into the teens, this marks a key milestone in autonomous underwater sensor delivery. Over the course of the week, the vessel has also logged more than 40 operational hours at sea with 100% uptime, reinforcing its reliability in live multi-nation exercises and ability to deliver results at a fraction of the cost of crewed vessels. REPMUS (Robotic Experimentation and Prototyping using Maritime Uncrewed Systems) is NATO’s largest annual exercise for uncrewed naval systems, hosted by the Portuguese Navy off the Tróia Peninsula and Setúbal Bay. The exercise brings together more than 20 allied nations, global defence primes and leading innovators to test how uncrewed and crewed fleets can operate together in live missions. Integrated with NATO’s Dynamic Messenger exercise, REPMUS provides a proving ground where emerging technologies are trialled at scale in complex real-world scenarios.
Matthew Ratsey, founder and managing director at ZeroUSV, said: “Achieving the first fully autonomous launch and recovery of a towed array is a landmark moment, not just for ZeroUSV but for naval operations worldwide. Demonstrating that this can be done entirely uncrewed, safely and reliably, shows how far the technology has come. When combined with extended endurance, reduced fuel costs and seamless sensor deployment, Oceanus12 is proving what uncrewed systems can deliver now, today in real-world NATO missions.”
Upgraded ahead of REPMUS25 with advanced sonar, radar and communications payloads, Oceanus12 is leading the charge, demonstrating extended-duration, over-the-horizon autonomous operations as part of NATO’s live experimentation programme. Zero’s vessels will remain in Portugal throughout September for further integration, live exercises and the closing showcase. The 12-metre vessel’s autonomy software stack has been developed by autonomy software engineers, Marine AI.
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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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