U.S. Accelerates Drone and eVTOL Integration: What the New Executive Order Means for America
President Trump’s June 6, 2025 executive order “Unleashing American Drone Dominance” sets an aggressive timeline for FAA BVLOS rulemaking, launches an eVTOL Integration Pilot Program, and prioritizes domestic manufacturing and export of U.S. drone technologies—aiming to modernize logistics, public safety, and defense while securing global leadership in advanced air mobility.
DefenseTech Weekly Brief
The first week of June 2025 marked significant defense technology milestones, including Ukraine's 4,300km drone strikes, Israel's operational laser weapon deployments, and major AI partnerships. Capital markets showed strong confidence with over $6 billion in investments and acquisitions, while localized manufacturing accelerated across European and Middle Eastern markets.
Hermeus Quarterhorse Mk 1 hypersonic demonstrator Achieves First Flight at Edwards AFB
Hermeus Corporation achieved the first flight of its Quarterhorse Mk 1 hypersonic demonstrator on May 27, 2025. Quarterhorse Mk 1 went from a clean sheet to flight-ready in a little over a year. The...
Operation “Web”: Ukraine’s FPV Drone Strike on Russian Strategic Airbases
On June 1, 2025, Ukraine’s Security Service launched “Web,” a covert FPV drone operation targeting four Russian airbases. Containerized launch modules smuggled drones deep into Russia, striking more than 40 bombers and AEW&C platforms. This unprecedented long-range attack signals a shift in drone warfare and compels Russia to rethink rear-area air defenses.
Israel Achieves World’s First Operational Combat Interceptions with Iron Beam Laser Prototypes
Israel has crossed a historic threshold by becoming the first nation to successfully deploy laser weapons in actual combat. During the Swords of Iron War, Israeli forces used Rafael's high-energy laser systems to intercept enemy threats, marking the transition from experimental technology to operational directed energy warfare.
