Battlefield Tech
US military uses laser to down 3 Mexican cartel drones near border
The U.S. military used a laser in southern Texas’ Rio Grande Valley to shoot down three Mexican drug cartel drones this week near the U.S.-Mexico border.
By Mike Stone, Reuters
Japan approves mass production of 3D-printed interceptor drones
Japan’s defense-procurement agency has signed a mass production procurement agreement for interceptor drones made using 3D printers.
Dutch Navy to equip fleet with Destinus C-UAS interceptor drones
The Royal Netherlands Navy plans to equip its fleet with a new counter-UAS capability from defense firm Destinus.
Patria to join with Ukraine’s General Cherry to make drones in Finland
Finnish defense company Patria is teaming up with Ukrainian drone maker General Cherry to jointly develop drones and start production in Finland.
SPECIAL FEATURES
2026 Tech Disruptors
The Defense News 2026 Tech Disruptors is an annual list of top tech leaders shaping defense technology.
Autonomous Data Fusion on the Modern Battlefield
A look at how data fusion is critical to maintaining information dominance, how the new prime contractors can offer agility, speed, innovation, and more.
DOD’s Cyber Workforce Challenges
This whitepaper explores how the DoD can close the cyber workforce skills gap, how ‘upskilling’ protects national security in the digital age, and more.
Whitepaper: How Modular Systems Help Ensure Defense Readiness
Learn how a Modular Open Systems Approach avoids proprietary lock-in, how ease of sourcing replacement parts helps ensure readiness, and more.
Space
Eight NATO allies launch HALO satellite constellation initiative
The project aims to stitch together spacecraft managed by individual member countries into one mega-constellation, alliance officials said.
Artificial Intelligence
VA inventory report reveals 367 AI systems operating in healthcare, benefits and services
A recently released report catalogs AI uses across the VA, from clinical tools used during patient care to systems that help process benefits.
Unmanned
Japan approves mass production of 3D-printed interceptor drones
Japan’s defense-procurement agency has signed a mass production procurement agreement for interceptor drones made using 3D printers.
Dutch Navy to equip fleet with Destinus C-UAS interceptor drones
The Royal Netherlands Navy plans to equip its fleet with a new counter-UAS capability from defense firm Destinus.
Patria to join with Ukraine’s General Cherry to make drones in Finland
Finnish defense company Patria is teaming up with Ukrainian drone maker General Cherry to jointly develop drones and start production in Finland.
Unmanned
US Army to end experimental drone battalion in Europe
After Exercise Saber Junction in August and September, the battalion will return to its airborne infantry mission.
US Marine Corps turns to AI-powered Bullfrog as drone threats expand
Allen Control Systems announced Monday that the Marine Corps has chosen the Bullfrog autonomous weapon system to integrate into its airborne defenses.
X-Bow out to tackle cost quandary with sub-$100,000 drone interceptor
X-Bow Systems is launching what it hopes will be a remedy to the ongoing conundrum of combating cheap drones with multimillion dollar interceptors.
Cyber
The US military is not organized for cyber war
Too much of this debate treats a new service as a judgment on Cyber Command’s performance. It is not.
Electronic Warfare
Pentagon’s realistic electronic warfare system to move to Navy lab
DARPA says it has built the world’s largest, most realistic electronic warfare test capability.
VIDEOS
Monument in DC honors 41 million service members | Defense News Weekly Full Episode 9.1.26
For the nation’s 250th birthday, USAA erected a monument that displays the name of every service member in the military — ever.
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US Army to end experimental drone battalion in Europe
After Exercise Saber Junction in August and September, the battalion will return to its airborne infantry mission.
By Eve Sampson
Lockheed Martin launches modular missile tech with dedicated ‘storefront’
Lockheed Martin on Monday announced the launch of Strigo, a new line of modular missile and sensor hardware.
Chinese military researchers tap US AI models to train defense systems
Chinese researchers have reportedly used leading U.S. AI models developed by OpenAI and Anthropic to train AI systems to advance defense capabilities.
By Eduardo Baptista, Reuters
US Marine Corps turns to AI-powered Bullfrog as drone threats expand
Allen Control Systems announced Monday that the Marine Corps has chosen the Bullfrog autonomous weapon system to integrate into its airborne defenses.
By Eve Sampson
Doodle Labs eyes US, European production sites as demand soars for jam-resistant drones
Doodle Labs hopes to turn its success in equipping jam-hardened drones in Ukraine into additional production sites in Europe and he United States.
Lockheed Martin’s Morfius X-Rotor built to fry 50 enemy drones in one flight
Lockheed Martin is rolling out the Morfius X-Rotor, a recoverable counter-drone system the company says can kill 50 enemy drones in one flight.
By J.D. Simkins
Israel’s IAI unveils ‘Hypnosis’ system for confusing enemy drone swarms
The system, called Hypnosis, consists of an array of mobile “stations” around a defended area that send out jamming signals against drone swarms.
Israeli firm wants to convert commercial ships into floating drone bases
Elbit Systems detailed a new maritime concept centered on its Hermes 650 Spark unmanned aircraft, envisioning the conversion of commercial surface ships.
The US Navy is eyeing next-gen carrier-based drones. Here’s what they might do.
The Navy wants its next-gen carrier-based drones to handle a wide range of missions, from strikes and anti-submarine warfare to aerial refueling and more.
By Michael Peck
Canada to plug surveillance gaps with Aussie over-the-horizon radar
The system is called the Arctic Over-The-Horizon Radar (A-OTHR), and the deal is worth some US$1.75 billion to Australia.
Rheinmetall, MBDA to develop laser weapon for German Navy
Rheinmetall and MBDA aim to field an operational laser weapon for the German Navy in 2029.
Ukrainian ground robot maker doubles production, eyes ventures with foreign partners
“The most important mission that we have now is the robotization of the battlefield, because only this will allow our country to win the war.”
Pentagon to explore cheaper replacements for the MQ-9 Reaper
The Massed Modular Aircraft project aims to develop a drone that can operate in such large numbers that it can absorb losses and still overwhelm defenses.
By Michael Peck