Unmanned
Germany to set up first drone regiment next year, modeled after Ukraine war lessons
Germany plans to stand up its first dedicated drone regiment next year, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has announced.
By Linus Höller
French Air Force plans loyal wingman flight in 2028 in sovereign AI push
The French Air Force plans to fly crewed fighter jets in collaboration with AI-powered combat drones in 2028, under project Hypairion.
Neros, Perennial Autonomy lead in Pentagon’s drone competition
Two companies scored highest during the second phase of a Pentagon competition to find companies that can produce high-quality, low-cost commercial drones.
Ukraine’s former defense minister launches ‘Manhattan Project’ for killer robots
Mykhailo Fedorov told Defense News he wants humanoid-like robots on the battlefield within six months and an assault without infantry within a year.
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2026 Tech Disruptors
The Defense News 2026 Tech Disruptors is an annual list of top tech leaders shaping defense technology.
Autonomous Data Fusion on the Modern Battlefield
A look at how data fusion is critical to maintaining information dominance, how the new prime contractors can offer agility, speed, innovation, and more.
DOD’s Cyber Workforce Challenges
This whitepaper explores how the DoD can close the cyber workforce skills gap, how ‘upskilling’ protects national security in the digital age, and more.
Whitepaper: How Modular Systems Help Ensure Defense Readiness
Learn how a Modular Open Systems Approach avoids proprietary lock-in, how ease of sourcing replacement parts helps ensure readiness, and more.
Space
Europe’s push to reduce US reliance is reshaping the defense space market
Spooked by U.S. restrictions on satellite data access during recent crises, European countries are scrambling to catch up on sovereign capabilities.
Artificial Intelligence
VA inventory report reveals 367 AI systems operating in healthcare, benefits and services
A recently released report catalogs AI uses across the VA, from clinical tools used during patient care to systems that help process benefits.
Unmanned
Germany to set up first drone regiment next year, modeled after Ukraine war lessons
Germany plans to stand up its first dedicated drone regiment next year, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has announced.
French Air Force plans loyal wingman flight in 2028 in sovereign AI push
The French Air Force plans to fly crewed fighter jets in collaboration with AI-powered combat drones in 2028, under project Hypairion.
Ukraine’s former defense minister launches ‘Manhattan Project’ for killer robots
Mykhailo Fedorov told Defense News he wants humanoid-like robots on the battlefield within six months and an assault without infantry within a year.
Unmanned
Report: CIA warned Europe of Russian drone attack from vessels in the Mediterranean
The CIA reportedly warned European nations of a suspected Russian plot to launch explosive drones from aboard commercial vessels in the Mediterranean.
Japanese Global Hawk drone splashes down in crash
A Japanese Global Hawk drone nosedived into the Sea of Japan this week, instantly slashing the country’s fleet of these drones by a third.
Italian NATO jet downs drone in Lithuania, minister says it probably came from Russia
An Italian NATO fighter jet shot down a drone in Lithuanian airspace on Tuesday that “most probably” came from Russia, Italy's defense minister said.
Cyber
French Army wants to keep adversaries guessing on see-through battlefield
The French Future Combat Command is looking at what Baratz called “frugal artificial intelligence,” designed to consume as little energy as possible.
Electronic Warfare
Pentagon’s realistic electronic warfare system to move to Navy lab
DARPA says it has built the world’s largest, most realistic electronic warfare test capability.
VIDEOS
Ukraine’s ‘Army of Robots’ idea presents fearsome future | Defense News Weekly Full Episode 10.6.26
A former Ukrainian defense official launches a futuristic robotic army initiative. Plus — a retired Green Beret turns to mine clearing as a new mission.
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US must learn lessons from Ukraine, innovate faster and cheaper: Anduril president
Anduril President Christian Brose discussed the need to develop cheaper weapons systems at scale to avoid quick depletion of exquisite munitions.
Polish-Ukrainian startup develops radar to track elusive, low-flying drones
The technology aims to find small, low-flying drones, including those connected to operators via long, fiber-optic command wires.
France to test its own AI-powered battlefield command in June NATO exercise
The French Army has developed its own large-language model for staff officers, called Berthier, named after Napoleon’s chief of staff.
AI companies have a responsibility to safeguard models against exploitation, Pentagon chief technology officer says
After Trump's recent executive order on AI, Emil Michael said that the weaponization of models is concerning.
Dutch plant for combat-zone robots offers fresh supply pipeline for Ukraine
The facility has already produced its first THeMIS vehicle for the Dutch government, part of a run of more than 100 such robots pledged by the Netherlands.
Creating a separate Cyber Force would require $10 billion and a minimum of 1 year, report says
Two D.C. think tanks examined a proposed implementation plan for an independent U.S. Cyber Force as some lawmakers push for its creation.
US tells Europe, Canada to boost NATO air and naval forces
“Nations just need to assign the capabilities they have to NATO,” a spokesman for the alliance's military headquarters said.
By Sabine Siebold, Reuters
SOCOM wants to revive legacy M4 carbine with ‘hypervelocity’ cartridge
The elite command asked vendors to double the effective range of the M4 platform with the Hypervelocity Improved Carbine program.
At a NATO range in Latvia, hits and misses mark Europe’s counter-drone journey
Drone technology is “a couple of steps ahead” of countermeasures, one officer said, with interceptors having to work every time to prevent losses.
The US military wants to showcase battle-ready laser weapons by 2028
A directed energy demonstration is expected to occur during the summer of 2028, as part of a series of planned Golden Dome-related events.
By Jared Keller