California Startup Tests Caravel Unmanned Landing Craft
Bulwark Dynamics, a California startup, completed the maiden unmanned resupply demonstration of its 15‑foot Caravel autonomous landing craft, moving from concept to open‑water operation in just 43 days. The vessel is engineered to deliver payloads from sea to austere coastlines without ports, handling equipment, or on‑site personnel, thereby reducing operator exposure in high‑threat littoral environments. Caravel’s design reflects feedback from Indo‑Pacific operators and supports dispersed‑force logistics. The company also opened a prototype facility and signed an MoU with a Japanese shipbuilder after a pre‑seed funding round.
Russian Forces Lose An-26 Carrying Troops over Crimea
Russian Ministry of Defence reported loss of contact with an Antonov An‑26 transport aircraft over occupied Crimea on March 31, 2026. Military‑linked sources later confirmed the aircraft likely crashed while carrying roughly 30 personnel. Preliminary assessments point to technical failure...
Lebanon Receives 39 Armored Personnel Carriers From France
France delivered 39 VAB armored personnel carriers to the Lebanese Armed Forces at Beirut port on March 31, 2026. The grant aims to boost Lebanon’s protected mobility and operational capacity amid regional security pressures. French officials highlighted the long‑standing defense...
Mali Rebels Destroy Russian Mercenary Camp in Drone Attack
Azawad rebels announced a coordinated strike on a Malian army and Russia‑linked Africa Corps base in Anéfis, using first‑person‑view (FPV) drones and missiles that ignited secondary explosions at an ammunition depot. The attack underscores the growing reliance on low‑cost FPV...
Northrop Grumman Tests Lumberjack Strike Drone
Northrop Grumman showcased its Lumberjack Group 3 uncrewed aircraft system at the U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division’s Operation Lethal Eagle exercise. The drone executed fully autonomous missions through the Army’s Maven Smart System, launched the six‑pound Hatchet precision‑strike munition, and then transitioned to...
U.S. Army Evaluates Low-Cost Hornet Kamikaze Drone in Germany
The U.S. Army conducted its first evaluation of the Hornet DE‑2, a low‑cost, AI‑enabled one‑way attack drone, at the Grafenwoehr Training Area in Germany. The loitering munition can travel roughly eight miles and is designed to operate in contested electronic‑warfare...
Expert Links Private Nuclear Sector to U.S. Defense Resilience
U.S. private‑sector firms, led by LIS Technologies, are rebuilding domestic uranium enrichment capacity to bolster national security and defense energy resilience. The move aims to reduce dependence on Russian and Chinese enrichment services while accelerating fuel‑cycle innovation for advanced reactors,...
U.S. Army Upgrades M1 Abrams Engine Systems
Honeywell International secured a $45 million contract modification to develop and qualify the J8 digital electronic control unit for the M1 Abrams' AGT1500 gas‑turbine engine. The upgrade, part of the Total Integrated Engine Revitalization (TIGER) program, extends the 1,500‑horsepower propulsion system’s...
RTX Secures $3.8 Billion Engine Contract for F-35 Production
RTX announced a $3.81 billion contract modification to produce F135 engines for Lot 18 and Lot 19 of the F‑35 program, extending production through March 2028. The award funds propulsion systems for U.S. Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, partner nations, and foreign‑military‑sales customers, with...
Norway Delivers XR Training Systems to Ukraine
Norway’s Nansen Programme has delivered 39 secure extended‑reality training systems to Ukraine, valued at roughly $8.3 million. The Varjo XR‑4 headsets combined with Fynd Reality’s CORE XR software provide immersive, multi‑user instruction for Leopard 2A4 tanks and other combat vehicles. By enabling...
U.S. and Ukraine Firms Launch Drone Joint Venture
Ukrainian drone maker General Chereshnya and U.S. firm Wilcox Industries have announced a joint venture to produce first‑person‑view (FPV) and interceptor drones on U.S. soil. The partnership will localize component manufacturing and seek Blue UAS certification to satisfy Pentagon and...
Japan Scrambles Fighters to Intercept New Chinese Submarine Hunter
Japan’s Air Self‑Defense Force scrambled fighter jets on March 28 after detecting a Chinese Y‑9 patrol aircraft over the East China Sea. The aircraft featured a distinct nose shape, marking the first public identification of a new Y‑9 variant, likely an...
Taiwan Army Replaces OH-58D Helicopters with Drones
Taiwan’s Army is set to retire its aging OH‑58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters within two years, replacing their target‑designation role with the new JUMP 20 vertical‑take‑off‑and‑landing UAVs. Each of the 601st, 602nd and 603rd Aviation Brigades will field a dedicated JUMP 20 unit...
Japan Upgrades Naval Destroyer for Long-Range Strikes
Japan’s Maritime Self‑Defense Force has upgraded the Kongo‑class destroyer JS Chokai to launch Tomahawk cruise missiles after a year of U.S.‑led modifications and crew training. The ship will conduct live‑fire trials by summer 2026, marking the first sea‑based long‑range strike capability...
Ecuador Forces Field AMX-13 Tanks in Anti-Mining Raid
Ecuador’s army launched a four‑day assault near the Colombian border, deploying three AMX‑13 light tanks, mortars and H125M Fennec helicopters to dismantle an illegal gold‑mining complex linked to the Los Lobos cartel. The operation, dubbed “Impacto Total,” destroyed 15 mine entrances and...
Ukraine Blows up Russian Heavy Rocket Systems in Crimea
Ukrainian forces used a long‑range one‑way drone developed by Fire Point to destroy three Russian Tornado‑S multiple‑launch rocket systems and a support vehicle near Karakul in occupied Crimea. The strike, coordinated with Ukraine’s Security Service intelligence, eliminated artillery capable of...
U.S. Army Boosts Ammo Production Support Efforts
The U.S. Army has issued a $44.6 million solicitation for engineering support to modernize its ammunition industrial base over the next five years. The multi‑award IDIQ contract will allow several firms to provide services such as production program management, performance analysis,...
U.S. Navy Restores USS Albany Submarine Readiness
The U.S. Navy undocked the Los Angeles‑class attack submarine USS Albany (SSN 753) on March 26 after a major maintenance and modernization effort at Naval Submarine Base New London. The project, led by Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, deployed more than 400 personnel and was completed ahead...
Russian Lawmaker Mocks U.S. Military Capabilities in Remarks
Russian State Duma Defense Committee chair Andrey Kartapolov claimed the United States lacks the operational planning experience of Russia’s armed forces, citing Russian‑reported battlefield successes in Ukraine. He asserted that Russia has destroyed hundreds of aircraft, thousands of tanks and...
Israeli Kamikaze Drone Maker Expands Europe Presence
Israeli loitering‑munition specialist Uvision has launched a European subsidiary, Uvision Europe GmbH, in Munich to deliver local engineering, training, production and logistics support. The move builds on its partnership with Rheinmetall and targets the accelerating demand for kamikaze drones among...
Sweden Expands Defense Investment Presence in Ukraine
Swedish investment firm Front Ventures has established a local presence in Ukraine, appointing an investment manager and partnering with a Lviv law firm to facilitate defense-sector projects. The move targets joint development of drone systems, including payload design, and deepens...
Ukrainian Forces Hit Gerbera Drone Operators at Launch Point
Ukrainian Unmanned Systems Forces struck Russian Gerbera drone launch crews near the former Donetsk airport, preventing the UAVs from taking off. Gerbera, a low‑cost variant of the Shahed‑136 loitering munition, has been a staple of Russia’s strike campaign against Ukrainian...
Ukrainian Cruise Missiles Hit Russian Explosives Plant
Ukrainian forces used a domestically‑developed FP‑5 “Flamingo” cruise missile to strike the PromSintez explosives plant in Chapayevsk on March 28, 2026. The facility produces high‑explosive compounds for artillery shells, bombs and missile warheads, making it a critical node in Russia’s defence‑industrial...
Ukraine Receives RapidRanger Air Defense Systems
Ukraine has taken delivery of RapidRanger short‑range air‑defence systems supplied under a £1.7 billion ($2.27 billion) UK aid package and has already fielded them with mobile fire groups. The lightweight launcher, under 500 kg, mounts laser‑guided Starstreak 2 and Lightweight Multirole Missiles, detecting threats...
Mexico Selects Canadian-Made Senator Armored Vehicles
Mexico’s armed forces and federal police completed trials of the Roshel Senator MRAP and selected the Canadian‑made vehicle for its protected mobility needs. The Senator, built on a Ford F‑550 chassis, offers modular armor and rapid production, addressing the country’s...
Idaho-Based Gun Maker Wins Rifle Contract in Belize
Caracal USA, an Idaho‑based firearms manufacturer, has secured a government contract to supply its CAR814 A2 patrol rifles to several Belizean agencies. The rifles are 5.56×45 mm NATO‑compatible, direct‑impingement weapons designed for both military and law‑enforcement use. While the contract’s quantity and...
Türkiye Expands Serial Production of Long-Range Missiles
Turkey's state‑owned defence firm ROKETSAN confirmed that serial production and deliveries of its domestically developed TAYFUN long‑range ballistic missile and SOM air‑launched cruise missile are proceeding as scheduled. The TAYFUN missile boasts hypersonic speed and resistance to GPS jamming, while...
FPV Drone Hits U.S. Black Hawk Helicopter in Iraq
An Iranian‑backed militia used a first‑person‑view (FPV) drone to strike a UH‑60 Black Hawk helicopter parked at Camp Victory, Iraq. Open‑source video shows the drone making direct contact with the aircraft, which may have been a medical‑evacuation HH‑60M variant. The...
Russia Showcases Lys-2 Counter-Drone Interceptor
Russia unveiled the Lys‑2 (Fox‑2) counter‑drone interceptor, a fixed‑wing UAV launched by catapult and capable of autonomous target acquisition in the terminal phase. Open‑source footage shows the system engaging aerial threats without continuous operator input. Reported specifications suggest a 15 km...
South Korea Launches KF-21 Fighter Mass Production
South Korea has rolled out the first KF‑21 Boramae fighter, officially beginning serial production after a 25‑year development effort. Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) plans to scale capacity to over 50 jets annually, supporting both domestic needs and export orders. President...
Latvia Sends CVR(T) Reconnaissance Vehicles to Ukraine
Latvia has begun delivering its surplus CVR(T) reconnaissance vehicles to Ukraine, reinforcing battalion‑level units with tracked mobility. The transfers are part of a broader aid package valued at €40 million (about $44 million) that also includes drones and individual equipment. Latvia’s move...
Latvia, Estonia Detect Foreign Drones Crossing Borders
Latvia’s air force detected a Russian‑origin drone that entered its airspace and detonated in the Krāslava region early on March 25, causing no injuries or infrastructure damage. Estonia reported a similar intrusion that struck a power‑plant chimney, also without casualties or...
MSI Defense Integrates Korean Interceptor Into EAGLS System
MSI Defense Solutions and South Korea’s Nearthlab have signed an MOU to embed the KAiDEN autonomous interceptor drone into MSI’s EAGLS counter‑UAS platform. The integration adds a kinetic, hard‑kill layer to an otherwise detection‑and‑tracking focused system, expanding its ability to...
L3Harris Ramps VAMPIRE Drone-Killer System Production
L3Harris has launched high‑volume production of its VAMPIRE counter‑UAS system at a new Huntsville, Alabama facility to satisfy growing demand from the United States and allied forces. The system, combat‑proven since 2023 in European conflicts including Ukraine, detects, tracks and...
Ukraine Destroys Bastion Launcher with Zircon Missiles in Crimea
Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Directorate reported that on March 24 its forces struck a moving column of Russian Bastion coastal‑missile launchers in occupied Crimea, destroying one launcher, damaging another, and eliminating two Zircon hypersonic missiles. The operation also killed or wounded seven...
Spain Signs Indra–Hanwha Deal for K9-Based Artillery Systems
Indra Group and South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace signed a binding agreement to develop a K9‑based family of self‑propelled artillery for the Spanish Armed Forces, delivering 128 tracked guns plus 120 ammunition‑resupply, 11 command‑and‑control and 21 recovery vehicles. The program includes...
Lockheed Fires HELLFIRE From GRIZZLY Containerized Launcher
Lockheed Martin successfully completed the first live‑fire and vertical‑launch test of a Hellfire missile from its new GRIZZLY containerized launcher. The system fits inside a standard 10‑foot Tricon container and was developed in just six months using existing M299 launcher...
Czech Firm TRL Drones Introduces GCS Counter-Drone System
Czech firm TRL Drones has launched a Ground Control Station (GCS) that fuses sensor data, AI analysis and autonomous interceptor drones to provide a kinetic, hard‑kill layer against unmanned aerial threats. The system can shift from electronic jamming to physical...
Leonardo DRS Joins ATSP5 Emerging Systems Program
Leonardo DRS was selected as one of 13 firms for the U.S. Department of Defense’s Advanced Technology Support Program V (ATSP5), a 10‑year indefinite‑delivery, indefinite‑quantity contract with a ceiling exceeding $25 billion. The award gives DRS a new vehicle to compete for...
Epirus, GDLS and Kodiak Develop New Counter-Drone System
Epirus, General Dynamics Land Systems and Kodiak AI unveiled the Leonidas Autonomous Ground Vehicle, a mobile counter‑UAS platform that pairs Epirus’ high‑power microwave weapon with Kodiak’s autonomous driving system on a commercial‑grade truck. The system can operate fully autonomously or...
Ukraine Intercepts Rare Russian Reconnaissance Drone
Ukrainian forces from the “STRIX” unit destroyed a rare Russian Skat‑450M reconnaissance drone, a platform used for deep surveillance and guiding Iskander ballistic‑missile strikes. The drone, equipped with optical and thermal imaging, is among a limited fleet, with only 10‑20...
Germany Finances New STRILA Interceptor Drones for Ukraine
Germany announced a new aid package that finances 15,000 STRILA interceptor drones for Ukraine’s National Guard, accompanied by training, logistics and further development support. The missile‑type UAV is engineered to engage high‑speed threats such as Shahed‑136 and Shahed‑131 drones, extending...
Poland Signs Apache Support Deal with Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin has signed $81 million agreements with Poland’s WZL‑1 facility to maintain and test fire‑control radars and optoelectronic systems on the AH‑64E Apache helicopters. The support contracts are part of Poland’s $10.8 billion Apache acquisition program, which includes 96 helicopters and...
Japan to Build Drone-Based Coastal Defense System
Japan’s Defense Ministry has earmarked roughly ¥100 billion ($629 million) to launch the SHIELD program, a drone‑centric coastal defense network slated for deployment by fiscal 2027. The system will field thousands of autonomous drones across more than ten variants for surveillance, strike...
U.S. Army Buys 2,500 Reconnaissance Drones From Skydio
The U.S. Army awarded Skydio a contract exceeding $52 million for more than 2,500 X10D reconnaissance drones, the service’s largest single‑vendor small‑UAS purchase. The award, processed in under 72 hours through Atlantic Diving Supply, reflects a new rapid‑acquisition model for critical tech....
Poland Marks First Flights of ZEUS Unmanned Aircraft
Poland’s Ekolot Aerospace & Defense completed the inaugural test flights of its ZEUS unmanned aircraft, demonstrating stable, autonomous operation in conventional take‑off and landing (CTOL) mode. The modular platform, developed with Spain’s UAV Navigation‑Grupo Oesía, can be reconfigured for VTOL...
Photos Show Destroyed Iranian Missile Craft at Caspian Port
Israel’s air force struck Iranian naval assets at the Caspian port of Bandar Anzali on March 19, 2026, destroying at least two Sina‑class missile boats and the larger command vessel Hamzeh. The operation, part of the IDF’s “Roar of the Lion” campaign,...
U.S. Disables Iranian Missile Assembly Facility Near Tehran
U.S. Central Command released satellite imagery confirming that a precision strike between March 1 and March 7, 2026 rendered the Kuh‑E Barjamali ballistic missile assembly facility near Tehran inoperable. The plant was identified as a production hub for close, short and medium‑range missiles, and...
Turkish Firm Develops New-Gen Kamikaze Drone Boat
Turkey’s state‑owned defense firm MKE unveiled the PİRANA kamikaze unmanned surface vessel, a low‑cost, high‑speed USV designed for naval strike missions. The craft can travel over 40 knots, carry a 100‑kilogram warhead and operate up to 200 nautical miles, either solo or...
Aeon Tests Low-Cost Alternative to Javelin Missile
Aeon successfully test‑fired its Zeus shoulder‑launched missile in East Texas, positioning it as a low‑cost, modular alternative to the U.S. FGM‑148 Javelin. The company claims the system delivers over 90% cost savings while weighing just 20 lb and measuring 30 inches. Zeus...