US Southern Command Stands up Autonomous Unit
U.S. Southern Command announced the creation of the Autonomous Warfare Command (SAWC), a new element designed to integrate autonomous, semi‑autonomous and unmanned platforms across land, sea, air, cyber and space domains. The initiative, mandated by Gen. Francis L. Donovan, seeks to link tactical missions to long‑term strategic outcomes, focusing on degrading narcoterrorist and cartel networks and supporting disaster response. SAWC will collaborate with the Defense Autonomous Warfare Group, Space Force’s southern component, and regional partners, though an operational date was not disclosed. The move reflects a broader U.S. push for AI‑driven capabilities in the Western Hemisphere.
AeroVironment Launches New Multifunctional Drone Variant
AeroVironment unveiled MAYHEM 10, a new multi‑role loitering munition that adds reconnaissance and electronic‑warfare functions to its strike capability. The system can carry a 10‑pound payload, travel over 62 miles, and stay aloft for 50 minutes, with launch times under five minutes from...
Ukrainian Drone Makers Visit Paris Looking for Co-Production Deals
More than two dozen Ukrainian defense firms, primarily drone manufacturers, convened in Paris with around 60 French companies to explore co‑production partnerships. Ukraine, having scaled drone output to millions annually, seeks to blend its battlefield‑tested UAV expertise with France’s deep‑tech...
Outpaced by the US, China’s Military Places Selective Bets on Artificial Intelligence
China’s navy has equipped the guided‑missile frigate Qinzhou with an artificial‑intelligence algorithm that highlights blind spots during air‑defense engagements, marking a notable step toward integrated combat capability. The People’s Liberation Army is rolling AI across drones, space and cyber operations,...
US and UK Teaming up to Destroy Underwater Drones
The U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Innovation Unit has issued the Robotic Exclusion and Engagement Framework (REEF) solicitation, inviting commercial solutions to detect and neutralize underwater drones threatening ports and critical waterways. The program seeks AI‑driven sensor suites, sensor fusion,...
US-Made Naval Drone with Active Warhead Washes up in Northern Turkey, Gets Blown Up
A U.S.-manufactured AEGIR‑W unmanned surface vessel washed ashore on Turkey's Black Sea coast on March 20, 2026, and was found fully operational with an active warhead. Turkish Navy explosive ordnance disposal teams towed the 10‑meter drone offshore and detonated it...
Apache Helicopter Shoots Down Drones in Europe for First Time in Combat Exercise
The U.S. Army’s 2-159th Attack Battalion employed AH‑64E Apache helicopters to shoot down unmanned aircraft during Operation Skyfall at Germany’s Grafenwoehr Training Area, marking the first European air‑to‑air drone engagement. The Apaches used 30mm APEX proximity rounds, a capability previously demonstrated...
After Ukraine, FPV Drones Could Take on Arctic Warfare
First‑person‑view (FPV) drones that proved decisive in Ukraine are now being field‑tested in the Arctic by Norway and the United States during NATO’s Cold Response 2026 exercise. Norway awarded a $9.4 million contract for the American‑made Skydio X10D, equipping its long‑range...
US Confirms First Combat Use of LUCAS One-Way Attack Drone in Iran Strikes
U.S. Central Command confirmed that the LUCAS one‑way attack drone was employed for the first time in combat during Saturday’s airstrikes on Iran under Operation Epic Fury. The low‑cost autonomous kamikaze, reverse‑engineered from the Iranian Shahed‑136, struck IRGC command and...
Army Orders $186 Million in Switchblade Kamikaze Drones, Tank Killers
The U.S. Army has placed a $186 million delivery order with AeroVironment for its Switchblade loitering‑munition family, covering the 600 Block 2 and 300 Block 2 variants. The Switchblade 600 Block 2, co‑developed with SOCOM, features AI‑driven target detection and can operate from sea‑based platforms....
National Guard Team Clinches Award for Clawed Drone at Army Competition
The Pennsylvania National Guard’s 28th Infantry Division won the Best Innovation award at the Army’s inaugural Best Drone Warfighter Competition for Project RED, a system that locates, identifies, and retrieves downed drones using AI and a robotic claw. The solution employs...
US Army Lets Soldiers Flaunt Their Drone Skills in First-Ever Competition
The U.S. Army launched its inaugural Best Drone Warfighter Competition in Huntsville, drawing more than 800 participants from every Army unit. Competitors tackled three distinct lanes—drone racing, a hunter‑killer field exercise, and an innovation showcase—to earn titles such as Best...
Australia Prepares for Next Batch of ‘Ghost Bat’ Warplane Buddy Drones
Australia is expanding its collaborative combat aircraft program by adding seven more Boeing MQ‑28A Ghost Bat drones, a AUS $754 million investment that brings the fleet toward ten operational units by 2028. The RAAF already operates eight Block 1 aircraft and is testing...
US Army to Debut FPV Bumblebee V2 Drone Interceptor Next Month
The U.S. Army’s Global Response Force will start evaluating the Bumblebee V2 drone interceptor in March after a $5.2 million contract with Perennial Autonomy. The FPV quadcopter uses AI to autonomously detect and physically collide with hostile UAVs, delivering a kinetic...
China’s New Maritime Combat Drone Poised for Global Success: Analysts
China unveiled the Wing‑Loong X maritime combat drone at the Singapore Airshow, marking its first regional display. The UAV, designed for surveillance and strike missions, builds on the proven Wing Loong family and targets buyers unable to afford Western systems....