As Europe rearms, ‘wingman’ aircraft take center stage
European and U.S. defense forces are rapidly developing their own AI-powered drones to complement their fighter jets and carry extra battlefield tech.
MilTech
General Atomics awarded US Army contract for extended-range artillery round
During a test last year, the company's projectile hit targets more than 74 miles away after being fired from an M777 howitzer.
Only 1 in 4 F-35s is fully mission capable, GAO finds
The F-35’s readiness rates continued to decline through fiscal 2025, with the fleet’s full mission capable rate falling to 25%, according to a GAO report.
US Army commissions second cohort of tech executives into innovation unit
This week, the Army added three more technology executives to Detachment 201, a unit intended to bridge the gap between the commercial sector and military.
‘They got very lucky,’ Trump says of downed Apache helicopter’s crew
After a U.S. Army Apache helicopter was downed by an Iranian drone, President Donald Trump said the rescued aviators “got very lucky.”
Pentagon reveals preferred munitions for one-way attack drones
The list includes Northrop Grumman and several startups competing to supply low-cost payloads compatible with any drone design.
Airbus-led alliance lobbies Germany on fighter jet project
Industry sources said the move did not amount to an attempt to launch a new fighter project following the collapse of the Franco-German FCAS program.
US approves Kuwait request to buy nearly $2 billion of counter-drone platforms
Following recent Iranian strikes on Kuwait, the U.S. approved a potential foreign military sale of counter-UAS platforms made by Anduril.
US must learn lessons from Ukraine, innovate faster and cheaper: Anduril president
Anduril President Christian Brose discussed the need to develop cheaper weapons systems at scale to avoid quick depletion of exquisite munitions.
The US Army wants thousands of air defense missiles to replace the Stinger
A new Army Request for Information seeks to identify companies that can deliver 11,000 next-gen, short range interceptors beginning in Fiscal Year 2028.
Dutch plant for combat-zone robots offers fresh supply pipeline for Ukraine
The facility has already produced its first THeMIS vehicle for the Dutch government, part of a run of more than 100 such robots pledged by the Netherlands.
Rheinmetall sells struggling auto division to focus on defense
The unit will be sold to Aequita for a provisional €350 million, subject to potential adjustment when the deal closes, expected in the fourth quarter.
Lockheed’s GRIZZLY C-UAS system downs attack drone in live-fire demo
The live-fire demonstration paired the radars, Sanctum software and launcher to destroy the target at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona.
The US military wants to showcase battle-ready laser weapons by 2028
A directed energy demonstration is expected to occur during the summer of 2028, as part of a series of planned Golden Dome-related events.
France restricts Israeli presence at Europe’s biggest defense show
The restrictions come amid strained relations between Paris and Jerusalem over Israel’s military operations in Lebanon.
US Navy selects companies for at-sea MUSV prototype testing
The U.S. Navy announced on Friday that it had selected seven companies to compete to secure the service’s Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel contract.
How Russia is turning Ukraine’s drones against NATO
A Russian drone wounded two civilians in Romania on Friday, days after Lithuania detailed how Moscow is also steering Ukraine's drones onto allied soil.
