Sponsored by EOS
www.eos-aus.com
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29 Jan 26. Teledyne Marine Expands UK Infrastructure to Support Royal Navy Unmanned Systems & Autonomy. New service agreements for Slocum gliders and Gavia AUVs trigger investment in dedicated maintenance facilities and specialized field support staff across the South Coast. Teledyne Marine has secured In Service Support agreements from the Royal Navy to provide localized maintenance and operational assistance for its fleet of Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs). The agreements focus on enhancing the service and repair pipeline for Slocum gliders, Gavia Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), and APEX floats currently deployed by the Royal Navy. By establishing a domestic support framework, the initiative aims to reduce maintenance turnaround times and maximize the operational availability of these critical systems. The scope of the In Service Support (ISS) covers multiple specialized units within the Royal Navy. This includes the Plymouth-based METOC Information Warfare Group (MIWG), which utilizes Slocum gliders and APEX floats, and the Hydrographic Exploitation Group (HXG) and Portsmouth-based Mine Threat Exploitation Group (MTXG), both of which operate Gavia AUV systems. To meet the requirements of these agreements, Teledyne Marine has increased its UK-based workforce, hiring additional maintenance and field support staff in Fareham and Plymouth. The company has also opened a dedicated repair and support facility in Fareham, co-located with Raymarine. A second facility in Plymouth is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2026. This new site is designed to provide direct support to users at His Majesty’s Naval Base (HMNB) Devonport and facilitate deeper engagement with the National Centre for Marine Autonomy. (Source: https://www.defenseadvancement.com/)
28 Jan 26. Teledyne Gavia, a division of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE:TDY) and a leader in modular autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), announced the successful delivery of the first four GAVIA AUV systems to the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV). The newly delivered GAVIA AUV systems form part of a multi-year framework agreement between Teledyne Marine and FMV, under which GAVIA AUVs will support fleet modernization initiatives for the Swedish Armed Forces by enhancing underwater surveillance capabilities and improving operational efficiency. The vehicles delivered under this agreement incorporate Teledyne’s modular architecture, enabling rapid reconfiguration for missions including mine countermeasures, hydrography, intelligence collection, seabed mapping, and surveillance.
“As the maritime battlespace evolves, including risks to critical subsea infrastructure, Teledyne’s autonomous underwater systems provide low-cost and long duration subsea surveillance,” said George Bobb, President and Chief Executive Officer. “In addition to complete air, land and subsea unmanned systems, Teledyne provides a wide range of imaging subsystems and software for our customers’ unmanned aerial vehicles, counter-unmanned aircraft systems and maritime autonomous surface vessels.”
Teledyne Marine is a leader in autonomous underwater vehicles, and as of January 2026, has delivered over 12,000 APEX floats, 1,275 Slocum gliders (with over 600 to NATO naval users), and GAVIA AUV systems have been purchased by 18 navies. Teledyne unmanned subsea systems are operational with numerous NATO and AUKUS navies. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
28 Jan 26. Rheinmetall drone LUNA NG demonstrates its capabilities in the Bundeswehr’s new reconnaissance and operational network. Rheinmetall successfully participated in a visionary test conducted by the Bundeswehr at the Army Combat Training Centre in Saxony-Anhalt, using its LUNA NG unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system. The test focused on the reconnaissance and operational network. From target detection to counter-measures, only unmanned systems were used, including drones and loitering munitions. Drone swarms are worldwide considered a novelty, and as yet an untested technology in terms of future combat methods of modern armed forces worldwide. Within the Bundeswehr, the LUNA NG reconnaissance drone is known as the HUSAR (Highly Efficient Unmanned System for Medium-Range Reconnaissance) project. During the test period at the Combat Training Centre, Rheinmetall successfully integrated the system with the Bundeswehr’s Command & Control Unmanned Management System (C2-UMS Bw). This allows LUNA NG to operate within reconnaissance and operational networks alongside other drones or loitering munitions. Notable features of the system include a flight time of over 12 hours and a maximum altitude of 5,000 metres. Overall, the test at the Combat Training Centre was characterised by a high level of digitalisation and networking. It showed that the interaction of reconnaissance and operational networks reduces the required time to detect, mark and counter-attack a target significantly.
During testing, LUNA NG reliably processed short-term assignments, showcasing its exceptional reconnaissance capabilities. The system also boasts great endurance and operates quietly at high altitudes.
The other participants connected to the C2-UMS Bw receive a status information of a large operational area, as well as high-resolution target information, via LUNA NG. Additionally, sensor information is available in real time, giving ground units a complete picture of the situation.
29 Jan 26. Anduril Launches Global Autonomous Drone Race. Anduril has announced the AI Grand Prix, a global autonomous drone racing competition challenging the world’s best engineers to prove their autonomy software under real-world flight conditions. Teams will compete for a $500,000 prize pool and the opportunity to interview for a role at Anduril. Conceived by Anduril founder Palmer Luckey, the AI Grand Prix is an open challenge to university teams and independent engineers from the United States and around the world. Competitors will race fully autonomous drones built by Neros Technologies, a leading American manufacturer of small unmanned aerial systems. No human pilots and no hardware modifications are permitted, ensuring competitive advantage is driven entirely by software performance. The race series is operated by the Drone Champions League (DCL), the world’s leading professional drone racing organization, with its AI vector module integrated into the competition platform.
“This is an open challenge,” said Luckey. “If you think you can build an autonomy stack that can out-fly the world’s best, show us.”
The competition begins with a remote qualification phase in spring 2026, during which teams will submit autonomy software to race in a virtual environment. Top performers will advance to in-person training and qualification, adapting their systems from simulation to real-world flight. The series will culminate in a live, head-to-head autonomous drone race in November 2026, hosted by Anduril in Columbus, Ohio, in partnership with JobsOhio. The event builds on Anduril’s Arsenal-1 hyperscale manufacturing facility and reinforces Ohio’s role as a growing hub for advanced industrial and autonomy talent. Future seasons will expand globally across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. (Source: UAS VISION)
27 Jan 26. UK picks seven suppliers to design Apache ‘loyal wingman.’
Project NYX, as it is known, is the search for an autonomous collaborative platform to support the Army’s Apache attack helicopters.
- Anduril, BAE Systems, Leonardo, Lockheed Martin UK, Syos, Tekever, and Thales have been selected to put forward a design for a loyal wingman to support the Apache helicopter
- The drones will operate on a “command rather than control” principle
- In March 2026 the shortlist will be down selected to four suppliers, when they will be offered contracts to participate in producing a concept demonstrator
Seven suppliers will put forward a design for an uncrewed air system (UAS) that will support the British Army’s Apache AH-64E attack helicopters.
After a “rigorous” pre-qualification phase, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has called on Anduril, BAE Systems, Leonardo, Lockheed Martin UK, Syos, Tekever, and Thales to present a viable UAS design under Project NYX, which first launched in November 2025, titled the Land Autonomous Collaborative Platform (ACP) project.
In March 2026 the shortlist will be down selected to four suppliers, when they will be offered contracts to participate in research and development to produce a concept demonstrator, with initial operational capability for 2030. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
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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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