Defense Technology

Navy Doubles MQ-25A Stingray Carrier Fleet in Five Months

Palmdale, Calif. – October 01, 2026 -- The U.S. Navy has doubled its fleet capacity to operate the MQ-25A Stingray unmanned aircraft system over a five-month period, standing up a second operational MD-5C Ground Control Station powered by Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works MDCX autonomy platform.

USS Ronald Reagan joins USS Theodore Roosevelt as second carrier ready to fly the Stingray

USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) received the first operational MD-5C in March 2026, followed by USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) in August 2026. The MD-5C, installed in the Unmanned Air Warfare Center aboard each carrier, functions as the dedicated onboard command center for unmanned carrier aviation, combining a government Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence network with Lockheed Martin's MDCX software and hardware and additional government-produced ancillary equipment.

Smart Shooter Wins JIATF-401 Contract Worth Up to $150M for Counter-Drone Systems

United States – – September 30, 2026 -- Smart Shooter has secured a new contract from the U.S. Joint Interagency Task Force 401 (JIATF-401) under a framework valued at up to $150 million for future delivery orders, expanding the company's footprint in the U.S. counter-drone market.

Contract Supports Domestic Shield Program Against Drone Threats

The award backs JIATF-401's Domestic Shield Program and related global missions, covering force protection, base defense, and counter-UAS requirements both domestically and overseas. Scope includes hardware, software updates, training, and support services, with the volume and timing of future orders set through individual delivery orders.

Inturai's DomeCommand Wins Twice at Singapore Defense Tech Hackathon

Vancouver – September 29, 2026 -- Inturai Ventures Corp. (CSE: URAI) (OTC: URAIF) (FSE: 3QG0) said its recently acquired drone command-and-control platform, DomeCommand, took first and third place in the two-day team integration category at the Singapore Defense Tech Hackathon 2026, held September 25-27 and co-organised by NUS Enterprise, TUM Venture Labs and the European Defense Tech Hub.

DomeCommand pairs with two partner teams to win top category

In the winning entry, Team Echelon connected its acoustic localisation system and Team Aegis integrated its interceptor drone with DomeCommand, producing an end-to-end demonstration of detection, localisation and coordinated interception run at the edge within the two-day window. DomeCommand also placed third alongside Team Phylax, which used the platform's simulation capabilities to build a civilian defence application modelling drone attacks and generating guidance for the public during an incident.

Praeses Wins $79M Air Force SBIR Phase III IDIQ Contract

Shreveport, La. – September 29, 2026 -- Praeses has secured a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase III Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity contract with Air Force Global Strike Command carrying an initial ceiling value of $79 million over a five-year term.

Single-award vehicle opens federal-wide access to Praeses technology

The contract, issued by the General Services Administration's Federal Acquisition Service Assisted Acquisition Services Innovation Office, is structured as a single-award vehicle. It gives AFGSC and eligible customers across the U.S. government a direct procurement path to Praeses' data fusion, management and AI-powered analytics products and services.

BAE Systems' New IFF System Wins AIMS Certification for F-16 Fleet

Greenlawn, N.Y. – September 29, 2026 -- BAE Systems has secured AIMS certification from the Department of War for its new AN/APX-127(V)1 Combined Interrogator Transponder (CIT), clearing the Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) system for use on the U.S. Air Force's F-16 Fighting Falcon fleet.

Certification confirms interoperability across U.S. and NATO forces

The AIMS standard verifies the system meets joint U.S. and NATO requirements, allowing pilots to distinguish allied aircraft from potential threats in contested airspace. The AN/APX-127(V)1 is AIMS Mark XIIB IFF certified with Mode S and Mode 5 capability for encrypted data exchange, and adds receive channels for passive acquisition of Mode 5 Level 2 and Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast In signals.

Nel ASA Wins $12M Collins Aerospace Order for US Navy Submarine Oxygen Systems

Oslo, Norway – September 29, 2026 -- Nel ASA has secured a purchase order worth approximately USD 12 million from Collins Aerospace for PEM electrolyser stacks destined for US Navy submarine life-support systems. The order was placed through Nel Hydrogen US, a subsidiary of the Oslo-listed hydrogen technology company (OSE: NEL).

Collins Aerospace extends long-running defence procurement with Nel

The stacks will generate oxygen for submarine crews, an application where equipment failure carries direct safety consequences. Nel's Chief Commercial Officer, Todd Cartwright, said the order extends a long-standing cooperation with Collins Aerospace built around reliable oxygen generation for demanding submarine applications, and confirms the continued relevance of the company's PEM technology and manufacturing capabilities.

Zulu Pods' ZPOD Lubrication System Passes AFRL Altitude Tests

Coral Springs, Fla. – September 28, 2026 -- Zulu Pods, Inc. (ZPI) has completed altitude testing of its patented ZPOD lubrication system at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), recording bearing temperatures comparable to or lower than legacy systems on a 200 lbf class turbojet engine.

AFRL testing confirms no bearing degradation across mission-relevant flight conditions

ZPI's engineering team ran multiple test cycles on an engine OEM's turbojet, with post-test inspections by the OEM confirming no signs of bearing wear or concern. The milestone marks the first time the ZPOD has been validated under representative altitude conditions at a government facility, and the second OEM engine platform to successfully integrate the system following earlier ground testing.

MagLev Aero Wins Dual DARPA Awards to Fast-Track Drone Propulsion

Boston – – September 26, 2026 -- MagLev Aero has secured concurrent contracts from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency under its Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and Embedded Entrepreneur Initiative (EEI) programs, providing non-dilutive funding to push its propulsion platform to Technology Readiness Level 6 (TRL-6).

DARPA funding targets flight-tested production for defense drones

The MVP award funds a full-scale, flight-relevant propulsion demonstration culminating in a TRL-6 test in an operational environment, aimed at de-risking adoption for airframers and OEMs building autonomous drones and crewed aircraft.

Rafael US Unit Wins AMTC Deal to Qualify SPIKE SR Missile for US Military

Reston, Va. – September 23, 2026 -- Rafael Systems Global Sustainment, LLC (RSGS), a U.S.-based subsidiary of Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, has secured an agreement through the Aviation & Missile Technology Consortium (AMTC) to advance U.S. qualification of the SPIKE SR shoulder-launched, EO-guided missile system.

RSGS to lead U.S. qualification and adaptation of SPIKE SR for American forces

Under the agreement, RSGS and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems will handle adaptation, integration, and testing of the SPIKE SR to align the system with U.S. military requirements. The work targets a lightweight, man-portable precision missile capability for dismounted forces operating in contested environments.

BAE Systems Clears Design Review for $1.2B Missile Warning Satellites

Broomfield, Colo. – September 21, 2026 -- BAE Systems has completed the Critical Design Review (CDR) for the $1.2 billion U.S. Space Force Resilient Missile Warning & Tracking (RMWT) Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) Epoch 2 program, clearing the way for full-scale production.

Review clears satellite constellation for hypersonic and ballistic missile tracking

The MEO Epoch 2 program will deliver resilient, space-based missile warning and tracking against ballistic missiles and advanced threats including hypersonic glide vehicles, supporting U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command operations. The CDR confirms the design meets operational, performance and safety requirements, allowing the program to proceed to the next production phase.