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25 Feb 26. Germany to slash long-term strike drone purchasing plan, document shows.
- Summary
- Lawmakers demand parliamentary control over future drone contracts
- Rollback comes even after parliament loosened borrowing constraints
- Thiel’s stake in Stark not a concern, says Defence Minister Pistorius
Germany’s ruling coalition will slash the size of a longer-term framework deal to purchase strike drones to 2bn euros ($2.4bn) from 4.3bn euros previously envisioned as lawmakers seek tighter control over future budgets.
A proposal written by lawmakers with budget responsibility from the governing parties, which was made available to Reuters, confirmed an order for strike drones worth 536 m euros from German startups Helsing and Stark Defence, but stressed that follow-up contracts surpassing 2 bn in total will require fresh parliamentary clearance.
“Without parliamentary control, there would be a risk of bns in de facto budget commitments over a long period of time,” the document said.
The contracts for loitering munitions – drones loaded with explosives that hover over a potential strike area before swooping – are part of a rearmament push after Russia’s attack on Ukraine. Reuters this month reported that the contracts and the longer-term procurement framework were outlined in finance ministry documents. The drones are initially intended to support Germany’s Lithuania-based 45th Tank Brigade. The rollback comes after Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government pushed through sweeping reforms to loosen fiscal rules in March last year. While lawmakers at the time earmarked 500 bn euros in multi-year infrastructure spending to revive the economy, they also boosted defence funding to support Ukraine and meet higher contribution targets for NATO members. In the document, the lawmakers made no reference to a recent debate in German media whether the government should rely on Stark as it counts Peter Thiel among its investors. The German-American entrepreneur was an early backer of U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
Germany’s Defence Minister Boris Pistorius reiterated on Wednesday that Thiel’s association with Stark was no grounds for concern.
“We’re talking about a single-digit percentage stake without access to or insight into operational matters,” he told journalists on the sidelines of a defence committee meeting in Berlin on Wednesday. ($1 = 0.8487 euros) (Source: Reuters)
25 Feb 26. Soldiers Experiment With First-Person-View Unmanned Aircraft Systems. The Army’s 3rd Infantry Division is revolutionizing how ground forces employ unmanned aircraft systems through specialized UAS operators assigned to the 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, which officials say is critical to winning on the modern battlefield. Combat team soldiers have fundamentally changed how drones are used at the brigade level by spreading the technology across the entire force and establishing a hub for testing innovative capabilities, said Army Capt. William Langley, brigade collection manager.
“UAS is important on the modern battlefield today because it is a very fast-paced battlefield,” Langley said. “The faster you can receive information and sense the enemy, the faster you can react, and whoever reacts first wins.”
The unit combines electronic warfare, UAS and launch effects platoons — a reorganization that provides tactical advantages on the battlefield. Soldiers are experimenting with various payloads on drones, including electronic warfare sensors and advanced capabilities for operational missions.
Army 1st Lt. Declan McKeown, UAS platoon leader, said the combat team aims to improve operational effectiveness by using its platoons to gather intelligence and respond to threats faster than traditional methods allow.
“The enemy wants to find us first, so it’s a competition between the enemy and us to utilize our systems to be able to sense, track and maintain tactical advantage,” McKeown said.
The innovation comes as the 3rd ID participates in the Army’s Transforming in Contact 2.0 initiative, which accelerates how combat formations test and adopt new technologies. The division has been designated as an initiative unit, positioning it at the forefront of procurement and experimentation with different platforms.
“Innovation is necessary for the 3rd ID to be successful because, as we have seen in recent conflicts in Ukraine, Israel and other places around the world, the way we fight battles is changing at a rapid pace, and we must continue to modernize to maintain our readiness for future operations,” Langley said.
A recent training exercise at Fort Stewart, Georgia, during Spartan Focus 26, featured 6th Squadron soldiers conducting UAS training with C100 medium-range reconnaissance systems configured with 3D-printed training rounds. The exercise incorporated lessons learned from Ukraine, where low-cost quadcopter drones have been widely used in recent conflicts.
The division’s approach has significantly improved the decision-making cycle, allowing forces to gather and process intelligence much faster than previous methods, McKeown said, emphasizing the importance of soldiers maintaining situational awareness.
“Whoever sees the enemy first can react first, and can respond more effectively, which leads to operational success,” he said.
Soldiers continue to experiment with electronic warfare payloads on medium-range reconnaissance systems and test various configurations on first-person-view drones to determine system limitations and capabilities. The ongoing innovation includes stressing equipment through rigorous training to understand what works best for operational units.
The division’s 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade has also integrated unmanned systems manufacturing capabilities, training soldiers on expeditionary manufacturing cells that enable rapid 3D printing of drone components in the field. Soldiers printed more than 90 unique components in hours rather than waiting weeks for ordered parts.
Langley said being a part of the 3rd ID during this transformative period presents unique opportunities.
“This is an exciting time to be part of this unit, and it’s a great time to test our new capabilities and to really release the creativity of soldiers at every level,” he said. (Source: U.S. DoD)
23 Feb 26. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) is giving its U.S. Air Force Collaborative Combat Aircraft a new name: YFQ-42A Dark Merlin. Dark merlins, deadly falcons known for their black feathers and devouring of other falcons as prey, often collaborate in groups for maximum effect against their targets. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology describes the merlin as a “small, fierce falcon that uses surprise attacks” to bring down its prey in flight. The dark merlin is native to the Pacific Northwest of the United States, often migrating into southern California, where bird spotters routinely report seeing them near the YFQ-42A’s manufacturing home in San Diego.
The 1962 book “Profiles of the Future” imagined global technological marvels yet to change the world, offering that “any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” It’s no coincidence that the Dark Merlin name also reflects the wizardry of Merlin from Arthurian legend, paying homage to the somewhat supernatural new era of semi-autonomous air combat.
“Dark merlins are hunting machines, built for speed and aerodynamics,” said GA-ASI President David R. Alexander. “They harass other falcons for fun, and they eat what they kill. The name sums up our new uncrewed fighter perfectly.”
The U.S. Air Force official prefix “Y” denotes that the initial few aircraft are early, production-representative test models, while “F” denotes fighter and “Q” denotes uncrewed aircraft. When aircraft enter production, they drop the “Y” – for example, the YF-16 became the F-16 with the nickname “Fighting Falcon” – and GA-ASI expects its new CCA to become the FQ-42A with the nickname “Dark Merlin.”
The Dark Merlin has been stacking up milestones and achievements since GA-ASI was selected by the U.S. Air Force in April 2024 to build production-representative flight test articles for the CCA program. In August 2025, YFQ-42A delivered the U.S. Air Force its first successful CCA flight and followed that this month with the service’s first CCA flight using mission autonomy software. Between those milestones, GA-ASI has built and flown multiple Dark Merlins, conducting push-button autonomous takeoffs and landings and other accomplishments as the test program continues.
YFQ-42A Dark Merlin is a purpose-built CCA platform developed as part of GA-ASI’s ongoing investment in next-generation autonomous combat aircraft. The aircraft’s modular design enables rapid integration of mission systems. GA-ASI’s autonomy architecture, demonstrated through multiple live flight tests, provides the foundation for human-machine teaming in complex combat scenarios.
GA-ASI has been building and flying uncrewed jets for nearly two decades, beginning with the company-funded, weaponized MQ-20 Avenger® in 2008. Ongoing company investment in Avenger continues to yield results, as the aircraft routinely serves as a CCA surrogate for advanced autonomy development and testing in both government programs and company-funded research and development. The company’s XQ-67A Off-Board Sensing Station jet, developed in collaboration with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, offers a cutting-edge model for autonomous collaborative platforms with advanced airborne sensing and served as a flying prototype for YFQ-42A Dark Merlin.
23 Feb 26. In collaboration with the U.S. Air Force, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) conducted its latest demonstration performing an autonomous mission out of Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California using its MQ-20 Avenger® unmanned jet and an F-22 Raptor equipped with the latest government reference autonomy software. The test, which showcased Manned-Unmanned Teaming between the F-22 and MQ-20, leveraged autonomy and the tactical data link to enable coordination between the platforms.
The mission included a live engagement between the MQ-20 and the F-22 as the command aircraft flown by an onboard human pilot, highlighting the ability to receive and execute teaming commands.
“We appreciate the flawless execution of this mission using the government’s advanced autonomous systems,” said GA-ASI President David R. Alexander. “This demo featured the integration of mission elements and the ability of autonomy to utilize onboard sensors to make independent decisions and execute commands from the F-22.”
The demonstration showcased Manned-Unmanned Teaming and rapid software integration between the MQ-20 and the F-22, and a tactical data link used for communication and coordination between military platforms. The MQ-20 successfully exchanged messages with the F-22, and the F-22 was able to send autonomy commands to the MQ-20 via the Autonodyne Bashi Pilot Vehicle Interface (PVI), directing the MQ-20 to execute tactical maneuvers and adjust waypoints, and perform Combat Air Patrol (CAP) and airborne threat engagement tasks.
This demonstration highlighted the potential of CCAs to act as force multipliers for manned platforms, enabling collaboration between autonomous systems and human pilots. GA-ASI’s MQ-20 Avenger unmanned jet has served as a surrogate CCA for more than five years, both before and since the arrival of GA-ASI’s purpose-built XQ-67A and YFQ-42A aircraft.
20 Feb 26. AVIC Displays V-BAT Knock-Off at Festival in China. China’s AVIC Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group has unveiled a new vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle called the Yunying-25V (“Cloud Shadow”), a tail-sitter drone with a ducted-fan design that closely resembles the V-BAT developed by Shield AI. The Yunying-25V made one of its first large-scale public appearances during the 2026 CCTV Spring Festival Gala in Yibin, where ten drones performed a coordinated flight demonstration. The display highlighted the platform’s ability to operate in formation and underscored its readiness for broader introduction. Designed for convenient vertical takeoff and landing, the Yunying uses a specialized airframe layout and flight-control algorithms to enhance adaptability across diverse environments. According to the manufacturer, the aircraft requires only a 3-by-3-meter area for launch and recovery, enabling operations from confined terrain or moving platforms. Promotional materials emphasize rapid deployment and flexible basing, describing launch “within a small space — directly into the sky.” Two variants are offered: an electric model with a maximum takeoff weight of 25 kilograms and a gasoline-powered version weighing up to 31 kilograms. Both can operate at altitudes of up to 4,000 meters. Maximum speeds are listed at 190 km/h for the electric configuration and 210 km/h for the fuel-powered model. Payload capacity reaches 3 kilograms for the electric version and 4 kilograms for the gasoline variant. The drone measures 2.6 meters in wingspan and 1.96 meters in length. Featuring a modular, disassemblable structure, the Yunying can be transported in a pickup truck and deployed in under five minutes. Its tail-sitter configuration enables vertical launch, transition to forward flight, and more efficient cruising than traditional multirotor drones, supporting missions ranging from urban monitoring to emergency response. The drone first appeared in August 2025 when it was showcased during a mountainous plateau disaster relief drill in Sichuan Province. (Source: UAS VISION/Defence Blog)
25 Feb 26. Sea Archer USV prototype begins trials as Leidos Australia advances ambitious manufacturing plan. Next-generation Sea Archer small uncrewed surface vessels surge across the ocean, several close in on adversary targets to engage with loitering munitions or Naval Strike Missiles while others carry out electronic warfare missions alongside Royal Australian Navy warships or transfer crucial supplies to front-line Australian Defence Force littoral troops. That’s the ambitious vision proposed by Leidos Australia; cheap and attritable Sea Archers produced en masse using Australia’s existing recreational aluminium boat builder network.It’s a plan that the Victorian-headquartered company is funding themselves with self-confidence, as the first Sea Archer prototype prepares to begin harbour acceptance trials in Townsville next month, and if successful, undertakes sea acceptance trials in Darwin during April and May this year.
Initial production is expected later this year, despite no current Defence contract for the vessel, with a targeted construction time of less than three months and cost of US$1 m per vessel. More than 16 shipyards have reportedly been approached to confirm their interest in the build.
Leidos chief of maritime engineering and technology and Royal Australian Navy Captain (Ret’d) Zoe Chadwick said the next-generation dazzle-camouflaged craft is designed with multi-mission capability and rapid manufacturing capacity in mind.
“Sea Archer was designed from the outset to support a distributed sovereign build capability. When we first looked to build Sea Archer in-country we approached 16 different boat builders, mostly in local and regional sort of areas, the smaller type shipyards and boat yards. That is so that we can support surge capability or parallel builds if it was required,” she said.
“This vessel was built in Toronto, just north of Sydney and it demonstrates that we are able to build a Sea Archer in-country, utilising our local workforce and our local supply chains.
“Sea Archer fits inside a standard 40 foot ISO high cube container, making it ideal for covert transport around Australia and, of course, globally … We can launch it from any boat ramp and recover it from any boat ramp around Australia. A very versatile piece of equipment.
(Source: Defence Connect)
26 Feb 26. New drone factory opens in Suffolk to boost Ukraine’s Armed Forces against Russia’s war
Ukraine’s Armed Forces will be able to better defend itself against Russia’s brutal attacks.
- Ukraine’s largest drone manufacturers open new factory in Suffolk, creating up to 500 jobs and boosting economic growth.
- Factory to produce cutting-edge drones, providing critical support in Ukraine’s fight for freedom, four years on from Putin’s illegal invasion.
- The UK stands with Ukraine, with over £1 bn committed for the country’s air defences since July 2024.
Ukraine’s Armed Forces will be able to better defend itself against Russia’s brutal attacks after one of Ukraine’s largest drone manufacturers opens a new factory in Suffolk.
Four years on from Putin’s illegal invasion, the UK is backing Ukraine by hosting a new Ukrspecsystems production facility in East Anglia. The UK has previously ordered over 80 SHARK and Mini-SHARK drones from Ukrspecystems’ factories in Ukraine, which help save Ukrainian lives by combatting Russia’s war effort.
In a vote of confidence for the UK, Ukrspecsystems chose sites in Mildenhall and Elmsett in Suffolk for their new drone factory and testing and training facility. The company’s £200 m investment will create up to 500 British jobs at the sites and broader UK supply chain.
Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard MP said:
Our resolve to support Ukraine is stronger than ever, and we are backing Ukraine’s defiant Armed Forces as they fight for peace.
Ukrspecsystems’ new factory is a vote of confidence in UK support and underlines the deepening cooperation between our nations’ defence industries. This investment will create up to 500 new jobs in the East of England, drive defence as an engine for growth, and help Ukraine defend itself against Putin’s aggression.
The facility was opened by Defence Minister Luke Pollard yesterday, reaffirming the UK’s continued support for Ukraine. This follows more than £1 bn committed to support Ukraine’s air defences since July 2024, helping Ukraine defend itself against Russian drone attacks on civilians and critical infrastructure.
Ukrspecsystems is a Ukrainian drone company, founded in 2014, which produces a wide variety of drones, including the PD-2 and SHARK-M surveillance drones which communicate autonomously with strike drones to identify, track and destroy Russian targets. Ukrspecsystems’ drones have contributed to almost $3 bn of damage to Putin’s war machine since the onset of the full-scale invasion.
The UK has separately started producing Octopus interceptor drones, aiming to ramp up to thousands per month, designed to take out Russian Shaheeds and other weapons at a fraction of the cost, part of the Ministry of Defence’s £4.5bn military support package.
Today’s news is a clear demonstration of the 100 Year Partnership in action – establishing stronger and closer defence cooperation and industrial bases between the UK and Ukraine.
It also follows the announcement of a new business centre in Kyiv which will enable Britain’s cutting-edge defence industry and innovators to step up their work to equip Ukraine’s Armed Forces.
Ukrainian Ambassador to the UK General Valerii Zaluzhnyi said:
This factory represents more than industrial cooperation – it is part of a new European security architecture built on shared responsibility and shared production. Ukraine brings battlefield experience and innovation, and together with the United Kingdom we are strengthening the capabilities needed to deter aggression.
The UK’s Defence Industrial Strategy is making it easier for defence business to operate in the UK, driving economic growth and supporting the government’s support for Ukraine, in line with the Strategic Defence Review.
Director of Ukrspecsystems UK Rory Chamberlain said: “Four years on from Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, this factory delivers what matters: secure supply, secure resource, and sustained support for Ukraine. By establishing production in the UK, Ukrspecsystems are increasing the resilience of the UK’s defence industrial base, and providing a trusted supply chain that ensures that the drones relied upon by the Ukrainian Armed Forces can be built and scaled without interruption. ”
Delivered with UK and Ukrainian Government support and in partnership with British SMEs, this is ‘Made with Ukraine’ in action – embodying the UK-Ukraine 100-Year Partnership through real industrial capability, happening now in East Anglia.
(Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
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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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