Tag

Defense Technology

All articles tagged with #defense technology

business1 month ago•5 min saved

Thunder rises: Anduril and Archer unveil dual-use autonomous drone for battle and city skies

Anduril Industries and Archer Aviation unveiled Thunder, a hybrid-electric, dual-use autonomous rotorcraft designed for both defense and civilian air-taxi applications. The defense variant can carry missiles or rockets, patrol airspace, and operate with Archer’s VTOL tech, while Archer plans a commercial version for passengers. First flight for Thunder is targeted for 2027 after extensive testing, with Archer planning to announce initial customers for the commercial variant soon. The collaboration blends military-grade autonomy with urban-air mobility ambitions, drawing scrutiny over safety and weaponization risks amid fierce competition in both defense tech and the air-taxi space.

via Los Angeles Times|

#anduril #archer-aviation #autonomous-aircraft

technology1 month ago•2 min saved

Lockheed Martin’s Morfius X-Rotor: reusable microwave system targets 50 drones per flight

Lockheed Martin unveiled the Morfius X-Rotor, a ground-launched, reusable high-power microwave counter-UAS system at Farnborough 2026 that claims to neutralize more than 50 enemy drones per flight without relying on unique sensors, with production accelerated to field readiness and ongoing tests in multiple states as the U.S. pursues cheaper, scalable defense against drone swarms alongside a cheaper Patriot interceptor.

via Defense News|

#counter-drone #defense-technology #high-power-microwave

politics1 month ago•116 min saved

Trump to address defense tech gathering at Army War College

Former President Donald Trump is slated to speak at a defense-technology gathering at the U.S. Army War College, a moment shaped by Iran-related tensions that have affected U.S. weapon stocks and spotlighted major defense contractors.

via AP News|

#defense-technology #donald-trump #iran

world1 month ago•6 min saved

Patriot license could shift Ukraine's air-defense push

Trump reportedly offered Kyiv a license to domestically produce Patriot missile interceptors, potentially speeding Ukraine's access to Western air-defense tech while Washington keeps its own stock; Ukraine plans to pursue domestic production, but experts warn gains may be modest in the near term. The report also highlights broader war dynamics—network-centric warfare, AI-enabled drones, and heavy strikes—amid discussions of peace talks as both sides weigh the impact of offensive and defensive capabilities.

via Al Jazeera|

#defense-technology #patriot-missiles #russia-ukraine-war

defense1 month ago•6 min saved

South Korea Plans a Drone-Ready Army: Every Soldier as a Drone Operator

South Korea aims to train its roughly 500,000-strong military to operate drones as a universal combat tool, starting with 11,000 training drones this year and targeting 60,000 drones by 2029, while pursuing 100% domestically produced components and reorganizing a drone command to work with industry. The plan faces hurdles like a shrinking conscript pool and women’s exclusion, plus the challenge of sourcing non-Chinese drones, but it follows Ukraine’s drone-centric approach and expands counter-drone capabilities.

via Ars Technica|

#defense #defense-technology #drones

world2 months ago•3 min saved

Russia Signs Military Pact With Taliban, Seen as a Symbolic Step

Russia and the Taliban formalized a military cooperation agreement at a Moscow security forum, though the terms were not disclosed. Analysts say the move is likely symbolic and paper-based rather than signaling a full alliance, reflecting Moscow's recent recognition of the Taliban and ongoing engagement with Kabul.

via The Moscow Times|

#afghanistan #defense-technology #military-cooperation

technology4 months ago•16 min saved

Pentagon Goes VC: Silicon Valley Speed for Defense Tech

Emil Michael, Uber’s former No. 2, now leads the Pentagon’s push to run defense tech like a venture-capital firm—funding startups, expediting contracts, and even taking equity in companies through programs backed by federal loans up to $200 billion. While officials argue this speeds innovation and broadens the industrial base, critics warn of opaque decision‑making, potential conflicts of interest, and diminished traditional oversight as the private sector gains influence over taxpayer money.

via The Washington Post|

#defense-technology #ethics #pentagon

war4 months ago•190 min saved

Ukraine deploys remotely operated interceptor drones at scale, redefining air defense

Ukraine has become the first country to scale remotely operated interceptor drones capable of long‑distance strikes, with operators able to control them from protected locations in cities or even from abroad. The Brave1 platform coordinates defense tech development across manufacturers, and a recent demonstration included a record flight of over 1,240 miles. Ukrainian officials say remote control increases interception effectiveness, reduces operator risk, and supports scaling to meet goals of 100% detection and at least 95% neutralization of enemy air targets, as more than a dozen defense producers integrate the capability into their interceptor drones.

via The Kyiv Independent|

#air-defense #brave1 #defense-technology

defense4 months ago•2 min saved

Saildrone unveils Spectre: a 170-foot unmanned surface ship for ASW and long-range missions

Saildrone unveiled Spectre, a 170-foot aluminum unmanned surface vessel engineered for anti-submarine warfare, long-range surveillance and missile launches, with a 3,280 nautical mile range at 25 knots and payload capacity up to about 70 metric tons across 20- or 40-foot containers; built by Fincantieri in Wisconsin (plus an optional 140-foot wing by American Magic), sea trials planned for early 2027, 100% NAVY-compliant per Saildrone, and compatible with Lockheed Martin and Thales systems, with internal funding and plans for Europe due to closer submarine threats.

via Axios|

#anti-submarine-warfare #defense #defense-technology

war6 months ago•192 min saved

Ukraine to open 10 European arms hubs in 2026 as wartime production goes global

Ukraine will open 10 weapon export centers across Europe in 2026 as part of a broader push to internationalize its arms production, with Zelensky announcing Ukrainian drone production lines in Germany (and the UK already operating similar lines). The program, tied to a “controlled export” policy, aims to export surplus defense equipment to fund urgent military needs, reflecting Ukraine’s rapid expansion of its drone and defense industries.

via The Kyiv Independent|

#defense-technology #drones #ukraine

defense6 months ago•18 min saved

Tiny, Low-Profile Jets Train U.S. Forces to Counter Long-Range Drones

In Sentry South 26.1 off Savannah, two KestrelX aircraft (KX-2/JSX-2) simulated Shahed-136 drones to train U.S. fighter pilots against long-range, low-signature UAV threats and cruise-missile–like attacks, backed by AFWERX and capable of emitting representative signals with modular pods, providing flexible, repeatable training to improve detection, identification, and engagement against drone threats in contested airspace.

via The War Zone|

#adversary-simulation #defense #defense-technology

war7 months ago•222 min saved

UK launches Nightfall program to field 500-km missiles for Ukraine

The United Kingdom announced Project Nightfall to rapidly develop ground-launched long-range ballistic missiles for Ukraine, capable of traveling over 500 kilometers with a 200‑kilogram warhead. Production plans call for up to 10 missiles per month at a maximum cost of about $1.07 million each, with three industry teams awarded a total of $12 million in development contracts to deliver the first test missiles within a year, as Kyiv seeks to increase pressure on Russian targets behind the front lines.

via The Kyiv Independent|

#ballistic-missile #defense-technology #long-range-missiles

defense8 months ago•2 min saved

Israel Deploys First Nationwide Iron Beam Laser Defense System

Laser weapons offer benefits like low cost and rapid engagement but cannot replace missiles due to limitations in range, atmospheric interference, line-of-sight constraints, and platform integration. Instead, they are seen as complementary tools within layered defense systems for specific roles.

via WION|

#defense #defense-technology #laser-weapons

world8 months ago•5 min saved

Germany boosts military spending amid geopolitical tensions and modernization efforts

Germany is significantly increasing its military capabilities and investment in defense technology, including drones and innovative reconnaissance methods, in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and concerns over Putin's ambitions, aiming for readiness by 2029 despite historical pacifism and current manpower challenges.

via CBS News|

#defense-technology #germany #military-rearmament

world11 months ago•2 min saved

NATO Faces Growing Drone Threats and Airspace Challenges in Europe

NATO's current response to low-cost Russian drones crossing into Polish airspace is effective but extremely costly, highlighting outdated procurement processes and the need for more cost-effective layered detection systems like drone walls. Experts suggest modernizing NATO's approach with AI-enabled interceptors and collaborative defense strategies, but scale and procurement reforms remain challenges.

via UNITED24 Media|

#defense-technology #drones #military-strategy