MAS DAILY Industry Talks

Contracts & Agreements

• Germany brings electronic warfare to tactical drones. Quantum Systems and Rohde & Schwarz have signed an agreement to integrate SIGINT technologies into tactical drones and unmanned ground vehicles, bringing advanced signal interception and analysis capabilities directly to the battlefield. Until now, such systems were mainly deployed on large and expensive platforms such as the Boeing RC-135 or the MQ-9 Reaper. The partnership also includes the development of anti-drone solutions and jamming-resistant systems for high-risk missions. (The Defense Post)

• Airbus expands military tanker production in Spain. Airbus Defence and Space will open a new facility in Seville, Spain, dedicated to converting Airbus A330 MRTT aircraft from civilian to military configuration to meet growing international demand. The site, expected to become operational by 2027, will increase the annual conversion rate from five to seven aircraft while also handling maintenance and upgrades for existing fleets. (The Defense Post)

Innovations

• US turns kamikaze drones into AI-powered swarms. The United States has selected Shield AI to integrate its autonomous Hivemind software into the LUCAS loitering munition, a low-cost system developed for the Pentagon based on the Iranian Shahed design. The system enables autonomous coordination, navigation, and swarm operations, even in GPS- or communications-denied environments, under the supervision of a single human operator. (The Drone Front)

• US Marines turn helicopters into FPV drone command centers. The United States Marine Corps tested a new tactic using UH-1Y Venom helicopters as airborne command hubs for FPV kamikaze drones. During exercises, ground-launched drones were handed over mid-flight to helicopter-based operators, extending range and effectiveness while reducing risk—an approach inspired by lessons from the war in Ukraine. (The Defence Blog)

• Ukraine achieves first fully robotic defensive operation. A Ukrainian unmanned ground combat vehicle, the Droid TW 12.7, held a strategic intersection for 45 days in what officials describe as the first fully robotic defensive operation in modern warfare. Controlled from about 10 km away and supported by aerial drones, it repelled repeated attacks without any Ukrainian casualties. (Defense One)

• US unveils secret Disruptor strike drone. The US Army publicly revealed the Disruptor during the Arcane Thunder 26 exercise across Germany, Poland, and the United States. Developed by AEVEX Aerospace, the drone is linked to the previously classified Phoenix Ghost program and reflects NATO’s growing interest in advanced autonomous strike systems. (The Defence Blog)

• US and Norway test combat drones in the Arctic. The United States Navy and Norway are conducting Arctic drone exercises in Ramsund to test autonomous surface and underwater systems in extreme conditions. The drills focus on mine countermeasures, underwater infrastructure protection, and intelligence gathering amid rising concerns over Russia-China cooperation in the Arctic. (Stars and Stripes)

• Apache helicopter fleet faces serious transmission issues. The United States Army is investigating a transmission defect affecting AH-64E Apache helicopters, with potential failures that could impact critical flight systems. Some aircraft have been grounded while the Army works with Boeing to identify the root cause, amid broader budget constraints and modernization efforts. (Defense One)

Events & Debates

• CENTCOM calls for major investment in counter-drone and deep-strike capabilities. United States Central Command has urged increased funding for electronic warfare, counter-UAS systems, and weapons capable of striking deeply buried targets. Commander Adm. Brad Cooper emphasized that modern warfare is rapidly evolving, with growing reliance on systems like LUCAS drones, while political debates continue in Congress over ongoing military operations and strategy. (Defense One)