The Defense Department has chosen five military bases across the U.S. to support testing and development of directed-energy systems aimed at countering drone threats, as part of a broader effort to strengthen defenses against unmanned aircraft.
Birdstop has launched AI-powered drone monitoring at Detroit trucking sites in partnership with TSPS, aiming to improve truck parking visibility, safety and efficiency as part of a broader push to modernize U.S. freight infrastructure.
Produced by UAS Magazine, the UAS Summit will provide a comprehensive overview of the unmanned aircraft systems industry while celebrating two decades of leadership in UAS development, deployment and technology.
Two North Dakota companies received a combined $500,000 through the Angel Match Program in the first quarter of 2026, supporting growth in unmanned aircraft systems and agricultural biotechnology.
XPONENTIAL 2026 will bring global leaders in uncrewed systems and autonomy to Detroit this May, highlighting how the industry is moving from innovation to real-world deployment through new programming, expanded policy engagement and a growing exhibit floor.
Texas A&M University–Texarkana is collaborating with Texarkana College and Red River Army Depot on a military drone technology project funded by a $5 million state defense grant. The initiative will support drone production, battery research, and workforce training while strengthening the region’s military and economic base.
Karman Space & Defense plans to open a new manufacturing facility in Utah to expand production of missile launch systems, counter-drone technology, and solid rocket motor components. The facility is expected to significantly increase capacity for Pentagon-designated critical munitions and begin operations in late 2026.
ZenaTech plans to open a drone testing facility in Ukraine to validate its interceptor and counter-drone systems in real-world combat conditions. The initiative builds on the company’s previously announced manufacturing plans in the country and is aimed at supporting future defense contracts with U.S.-allied nations.
Heven AeroTech has secured a U.S. Army Basic Ordering Agreement that allows military units to procure its hydrogen-powered Z1 drone through a streamlined process. The agreement supports Army modernization efforts and expands access to long-endurance unmanned aircraft systems approved under the Blue UAS Select program.
BAE Systems has successfully test‑fired a low‑cost, precision‑guided weapon from a Eurofighter Typhoon, demonstrating a new option to counter uncrewed aircraft systems. The trial supports future upgrades aimed at expanding the Typhoon’s combat capabilities with affordable interception solutions.
Ondas Inc. said its Sentrycs subsidiary has been selected to provide counter‑drone security at multiple FIFA World Cup venues across North America in 2026. The contracts will deploy non‑disruptive systems to detect and neutralize unauthorized drones during the tournament.
The U-C8600 and U-C8601 mission computers are built on Intel’s 14th generation Core Ultra architecture and are designed to deliver faster processing, improved graphics performance, and integrated AI acceleration for edge computing applications operating in harsh conditions.
Vigilant Aerospace has deployed a FlightHorizon TEMPO airspace management system with multiple long-range radars at the Oklahoma Air and Space Port in Burns Flat, advancing the state's push to develop a national testing site for autonomous aircraft and spacecraft.
The Army's UAS Project Office has awarded AeroVironment a production contract for AV P550 Long Range Reconnaissance systems, procured through the UAS Marketplace Basic Ordering Agreement. The systems give battalion commanders enhanced reconnaissance and targeting capability, with the marketplace mechanism compressing procurement timelines from months to days.
Alpine Eagle is scaling production of its Sentinel counter-drone system following accelerating demand across Europe, with new customers in multiple countries and trials conducted in Ukraine and with U.S. and U.K. forces. The Munich-based company, which has grown from 12 to 50 employees since 2024, is partnering with Dutch manufacturer DeltaQuad and planning a new production facility to meet growing allied defense requirements.
AeroVironment has introduced LOCUST X3, a third-generation modular directed energy weapon system featuring a scalable 20-35+ kilowatt laser and AI-enabled targeting designed to counter mass drone attacks. The system, which delivers engagements at under $5 per shot, is platform-agnostic and built for rapid production scale, drawing on lessons from prior deployments through U.S. Army programs.
L3Harris Technologies has opened a high-volume production line for its VAMPIRE counter-drone systems in Huntsville, Alabama, as the company moves to meet growing allied demand. The combat-proven system has been operational in European theaters since 2023, and the new facility is designed to scale output as the threat environment evolves.
The FCC has updated its Covered List to exempt four uncrewed aircraft systems — from SiFly Aviation, Mobilicom, ScoutDI and Verge — after the Department of War determined they pose no national security risk. The move marks the first batch of Conditional Approvals under a January determination that established three pathways for foreign-produced drone systems to operate outside the Covered List's restrictions through Jan. 1, 2027.
Pendleton UAS Range and Gambit have partnered to offer Red Force as a Service, a counter-drone testing and training environment that pits UAS defense systems against coordinated, adaptive threat scenarios. The service targets military, federal and critical infrastructure clients ahead of a live demonstration set for April 23 at the Southern California range.
Electric propulsion company ePropelled opened a new global innovation centre in Coventry, United Kingdom, on March 20, as part of a push to scale production from roughly 150,000 propulsion systems per year to more than one million annually by 2027. The facility will consolidate propulsion design, software development and systems testing, and is central to the company's strategy to meet growing demand across the global unmanned systems market.
The Defense Innovation Unit and U.S. Navy have selected Anduril Industries to develop extra-large autonomous underwater vehicles under a rapid prototyping effort aimed at closing a persistent operational gap in long-range undersea capability.
AeroVironment has acquired a California-based unmanned aircraft and advanced air mobility manufacturer for roughly $200 million, marking the defense technology company's second major acquisition in less than a year.
A Defense Department task force focused on counter-drone coordination has awarded Anduril Industries an $87 million contract to deploy its Lattice software as the government's common tactical command and control platform for countering unmanned aerial threats.
An Indian drone company's U.S. subsidiary has contracted with Airbus Helicopters for up to 18 Flexrotor unmanned aerial systems, adding long-endurance drone services to its global leasing portfolio for civil and parapublic missions.
A Belgian defense firm, a U.S. autonomous systems company and a Finnish telecommunications giant have joined forces to develop a sovereign counter-drone capability aimed at protecting Belgian military sites and critical infrastructure.
Croatian drone manufacturer Orqa has closed a €12.7 million Series A round led by Expeditions to fund its Global Manufacturing Partnership Program, which aims to scale production to more than one million NDAA-compliant drones annually through a network of international manufacturing partners.
GA-ASI and the U.S. Air Force used an MQ-20 Avenger uncrewed jet in a February demonstration to validate passive infrared targeting and autonomous coordination capabilities, advancing the development of Collaborative Combat Aircraft operations in contested electromagnetic environments.
Northrop Grumman's MQ-4C Triton unmanned surveillance aircraft, operational with the U.S. Navy since 2023 and expanding in the Royal Australian Air Force, provides high-altitude maritime ISR and targeting capabilities across the Indo-Pacific, with the U.S. and Australia sharing collected intelligence data.
DroneShield establishes European manufacturing footprint to advance sovereign counter-UAS capability
DroneShield announced the launch of counter-drone manufacturing operations in the EU, citing growing demand driven by the ReArm Europe Plan/Readiness 2030 initiative, with deliveries expected by mid-2026 and plans to nearly quintuple global production capacity by year's end.
The U.S. Department of Defense has shifted management of the Blue UAS Cleared List from the Defense Innovation Unit to the Defense Contract Management Agency, marking a major step toward scaling secure, NDAA‑compliant drone procurement. As the list evolves, NW Blue is solidifying its role as a leading supplier of trusted U.S.-authorized UAS components.
Advertisement
@ Copyright 2026 - BBI International - All rights reserved.