DARPA offers US$6.5m prize to mega-payload UAS designers
The Pentagon’s Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency, DARPA, has issued a Lift Challenge to designers and manufacturers of Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) who can design a UAS that lift up to four times its own weight. Registration is tentatively scheduled to open in January 2026, and close May 2026. Find additional details on the Lift…
UK to field DragonFire HELW in 2027
European missile house MBDA has been awarded a £316 million ($641 million) contract to deliver new DragonFire High Energy Laser Weapon (HELW) systems to the Royal Navy from 2027. The system achieved a UK first in its latest test by shooting down high-speed drones. The UK Ministry of Defence (UK MoD) says this pioneering program…
Defence signs $180 million deal with Intelsat
The Australian Department of Defence has signed a $180 million contract to continue provision of secure Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) satellite communications for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and coalition partners for at least eight more years. The contract with Intelsat (now a subsidiary of SES) will extend the operational life of the company’s IS-22 satellite…
Anduril wins Pentagon contract for ALTIUS-600
Californian company Anduril Industries has been awarded up to US$50 million ($77.6 million) in contracts under the Pentagon’s Small Business Innovation Research (SIBR) program for the ALTIUS-600 Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS). The ALTIUS-600 can be both a loitering munition and an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform. The ALTIUS-600, which weighs up to 27lb (12.25kg)…
Flinders Uni partners with Blueforge Alliance Australia on maritime defence research and education
BlueForge Alliance Australia (BFAA) and Adelaide-based Flinders University have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on maritime research and education programs in support of AUKUS, the trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. The Memorandum of Understanding opens partnership opportunities on the development and delivery of collaborative research, education,…
EOS acquires interceptor drone business from MARSS
Canberra-based Electro Optic Systems Holdings Limited (EOS) will acquire the UK-based Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) interceptor business from London-based MARSS Group for €5.5 million ($10 million). The Counter UAS interceptor is expected to take 12-24 months of further development at a cost of around $10 million before it is launched commercially; there is also potential…
