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    U.S. Accelerates Drone and eVTOL Integration: What the New Executive Order Means for America

    Toward a future of BVLOS, crewed and uncrewed drones. (AI Illustration)

    On June 6, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order that marks a decisive shift in the United States’ approach to unmanned aircraft systems (UAS)—commonly known as drones—and the emerging field of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The order, titled “Unleashing American Drone Dominance,” is designed to accelerate the safe commercialization and integration of these technologies into the national airspace, while strengthening the domestic industrial base and expanding the export of trusted, American-made drone technologies.

    The executive order begins by recognizing the transformative potential of drones across a wide range of industries, including logistics, infrastructure inspection, precision agriculture, emergency response, and public safety. The document highlights that emerging technologies such as electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft are poised to modernize cargo delivery, passenger transport, and advanced air mobility. To maintain global leadership, the order calls for accelerated testing, routine drone operations, and the scaling up of domestic production—all aimed at reducing reliance on foreign sources and ensuring the benefits of this technology reach the American people.

    New Ruling on BVLOS Drones Operations

    For federal agencies, the order sets forth a clear and ambitious policy framework. It directs the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to issue a proposed rule within 30 days enabling routine Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations for commercial and public safety drones, with a final rule to follow within 240 days. This rapid timeline is intended to address longstanding regulatory bottlenecks and unlock new opportunities for drone applications. The FAA is also required to establish clear metrics for assessing the performance and safety of Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations and to identify any additional regulatory barriers, providing recommendations for legislative or rulemaking action. Within 120 days, the FAA must deploy artificial intelligence tools to expedite the review of UAS waiver applications, streamlining the approval process and reducing administrative burdens for operators.

    Pilot Program for eVTOL Operations

    The order further mandates the establishment of an eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP), an extension of the BEYOND program, to accelerate the deployment of safe and lawful eVTOL operations. State, local, tribal, and territorial governments are invited to submit proposals within 90 days, with private sector partners required for each project. At least five pilot projects will be selected within 180 days, focusing on advanced air mobility, medical response, cargo transport, and rural access. These projects are expected to begin operations quickly after selection, and the program will run for three years, with regular reports to inform future regulatory and legislative actions.

    Establishing a US-Based Supply Chain

    For industry players, the order represents a significant opportunity to expand commercial operations and innovate in both drone and eVTOL technologies. The emphasis on safe and secure manufacturing, production, and integration—along with reduced regulatory uncertainty and streamlined approvals—is expected to foster industry-led innovation and accelerate the commercialization of new applications. The order also prioritizes the integration of U.S.-manufactured drones and components over foreign alternatives, supporting the growth of a robust domestic industrial base. Export promotion is another key focus, with the Secretary of Commerce tasked with reviewing and, if necessary, amending export control regulations to facilitate the expedited export of American-made civil unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to global markets.

    Defense & Security Implications

    From a defense and national security perspective, the order is equally consequential. The Department of Defense is directed to ensure that all platforms on the Defense Innovation Unit’s Blue UAS List can operate on military installations without requiring exceptions and to expand the list to include all compliant drones and critical components. Procurement of U.S.-made drones is prioritized, with exemptions granted only when absolutely necessary. The order also streamlines airspace access for UAS training and directs the military to identify programs that could be made more cost-efficient or lethal through the use of drones.

    The public stands to benefit from these changes in several ways. The accelerated integration of drones and eVTOL aircraft into the national airspace will enable new services such as rapid medical response, efficient cargo delivery, and improved access to remote areas. The focus on domestic manufacturing and supply chain security will help ensure that the technology is safe, reliable, and free from foreign interference. Moreover, the order’s emphasis on routine advanced operations and public-private partnerships will create high-skilled jobs and stimulate economic growth nationwide.

    By accelerating regulatory reform, fostering industry innovation, and strengthening national security, the order positions the United States to reap the full benefits of drone and eVTOL technologies—for agencies, industry, defense, and the public alike. The implications are far-reaching, setting the stage for a new era of advanced air mobility and technological sovereignty.

    DefenseTech Weekly Brief

    This week in the defense technology sector is marked by significant international partnerships, advancements in unmanned systems, and substantial investments in next-generation capabilities. From major naval contracts in the Middle East to the expansion of fifth-generation fighter jet fleets in Asia, these developments underscore key trends for industry stakeholders, highlighting the growing importance of interoperability and strategic industrial partnerships.

    Revamping UAS & eVTOL Market Dominance?

    On June 6, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order that marks a decisive shift in the United States’ approach to unmanned aircraft systems (UAS)—commonly known as drones—and the emerging field of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The order, titled “Unleashing American Drone Dominance,” is designed to accelerate the safe commercialization and integration of these technologies into the national airspace while strengthening the domestic industrial base and expanding the export of trusted, American-made drone technologies. In our coverage, we discuss the goals, timeline, and implications of this action. (Read our analysis)

    Aerospace & Counter-UAS

    In the air domain, several procurements and upgrades reflect the growing emphasis on fifth-generation platforms, tanker capacity, and counter-UAS munitions.

    China offers Pakistan the Shenyang FC-31 (J-35A) 5Gen fighters.

    FC-31/J-35A Fifth-Gen Fighters for Pakistan
    China is reportedly finalizing delivery of its Shenyang FC-31 (J-35A) fifth-generation fighter jets to Pakistan within months, marking Islamabad’s first operational stealth-capable platform. According to some sources, these aircraft will carry PL-17 air-to-air missiles with a maximum range of 400 km, exceeding the PL-15 that successfully debuted in recent engagements with Indian fighters. The J-35A reportedly features an internal weapons bay, active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, and low-observable coatings, making it the most modern combat jet in Pakistan’s inventory. Pakistan is also seeking to acquire long-range air defense systems from Turkey and China to improve its air defense by adding a higher tier against Indian missile attacks.

    Indonesia Considers Used Chinese J-10 Fighters
    Indonesia is evaluating the procurement of Used Chengdu J-10 multi-role fighters from China. If acquired, it will be its first major Chinese platform. The J-10 fleet aims to replace aging F-5 and F-16A/B models, filling capability gaps in air sovereignty and tactical strikes. For Beijing, these sales reinforce its role as a major exporter in Southeast Asia, even as Jakarta’s defense strategy balances U.S. and Russian legacy systems.

    Turkey’s KC-46 Tanker Acquisition
    Turkey is considering acquiring new aerial tankers, evaluating both Boeing KC-46A Pegasus and Airbus A330 MRTT. These tankers, will supplement and eventually replace its existing aerial refueling fleet (KC-135R).

    Missiles for German F-35s
    Germany will purchase Kongsberg Joint Strike Missiles (JSM) to equip its upcoming F-35A fleet, adding long-range, low-observable maritime strike capability to its missions. JSM integration underscores Berlin’s focus on deep-strike deterrence and interoperability with U.S. and NATO partners. The missile’s two-way datalink and sea-skimming profile will enhance Germany’s maritime interdiction and anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) operations in Northern Europe.

    Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) Revival
    The U.S. Air Force is planning to resume the development and testing of the AGM-183A ARRW hypersonic missile program in its Fiscal Year 2026 budget request—reviving a capability shelved in March 2023. ARRW utilizes boost-glide technology to achieve speeds exceeding Mach 5 and is slated for integration with the B-52H. This decision reflects a strategic pivot to diversify the U.S. hypersonic portfolio alongside the smaller Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM).

    DIRCM for Airbus A400M
    Airbus contracted Elbit Systems to equip German A400M transport aircraft with Directional Infrared Countermeasure (DIRCM) systems. This deal leverages the J MUSIC DIRCM developed by the Israeli company, systems that have already been implemented in other NATO aircraft, including A400M, A330MRTT, and KC-390.

    Alpha-Airbus Manned-Unmanned Teaming
    The Alpha (Airborne) and Airbus are launching a joint initiative for a manned-unmanned teaming concept that integrates crewed helicopters with autonomous aerial platforms. The collaboration builds on recent joint exercises with the Spanish Army, including live demonstrations where Alpha’s A900 UAVs flew alongside Airbus H135 helicopters from the Spanish Air Force, with crews directly piloting the drones from the helicopter cockpits.

    Deepsea Detection Escalates: China’s Submarine Tracking
    According to open-source reporting, Chinese research facilities have developed undersea sensors capable of tracking submarine movements near Alaska—prompting a U.S. Navy “national alert” for improved counter-surveillance measures. This technology signals Beijing’s push to close the undersea detection gap in strategic waterways, heightening the urgency for U.S. and allied navies to invest in acoustic masking, unmanned sensor deployment, and enhanced antisubmarine warfare (ASW) tactics.

    UUV Integration Milestone: USS Delaware
    The U.S. Navy’s Virginia-class submarine USS Delaware successfully launched and recovered an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) through its torpedo tube—a first for any U.S. nuclear-powered submarine. This proof-of-concept signifies the deepening integration of UUVs into undersea warfare, enabling clandestine surveillance, mine countermeasures, and payload delivery without compromising the host submarine’s stealth. Observers expect this capability to accelerate the development of larger, fleet-wide UUV programs and shift undersea tactics toward networked, manned-unmanned task forces.

    Danish Frigate Modernization Cancelled
    Denmark’s Chief of Defence has recommended scrapping the planned upgrade to its Iver Huitfeldt-class frigates, citing escalating costs and uncertain capability benefits. The frigate encountered critical weapon and mission systems malfunctions during the ship’s deployment to the Red Sea in 2024. The cancellation of this mid-life modernization could leave the Royal Danish Navy reliant on older sensor and weapon systems, potentially affecting NATO’s Baltic maritime balance.

    Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB), EDGE Group’s naval arm and the UAE’s leading shipbuilder, has been selected as the build subcontractor for the Falaj3 program for Kuwait. (Illustration: ADSB)

    ADSB to Build Falaj3-Class Missile Boats for Kuwait for $2.4 Bn.
    In a landmark export, UAE-based EDGE Group won an AED 9 Billion ($2.4 billion) contract to supply Falaj3-class missile boats and Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) to the Kuwaiti Navy. Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB), EDGE Group’s naval arm and the UAE’s leading shipbuilder, has been selected as the build subcontractor for the program. FALAJ3 is a 62-meter vessel designed for operation in littoral and blue waters. This deal—one of the largest ever for a Middle Eastern shipbuilder—underscores the region’s growing ambition to develop indigenous naval platforms and expand its influence in Gulf security architectures.

    Defense Investment & Industrial Cooperation

    Joint programs and industrial partnerships are driving scale and interoperability across multiple domains.

    Latvia and Estonia Acquire Advanced Anti-Tank Missiles
    Latvia finalized the procurement of Israeli Spike anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs), with German forces to coordinate logistical transit. Spike’s tandem warhead and fire-and-update features enhance Latvia’s deterrent against armored threats on NATO’s eastern front. The Latvian decision comes in contrast to Spain’s announcement to suspend an order worth €285 million for 168 Spike LR2 missile systems motivated by political anti-Israeli pressure. The Spanish Army already uses thousands of Spike missiles, and replacing them would negatively impact combat readiness and capabilities, as such missiles are not readily available for procurement in the short term. The U.S. State Department authorized the sale of FGM-148 Javelin ATGMs to Estonia, continuing a program to bolster Baltic defense against potential aggression. Leveraging fire-and-forget technology, Javelin complements Spike in strengthening anti-tank defenses across the Baltic nations bordering Russia.

    EU SAFE Defense Investment Program
    The European Union unveiled a €150 billion joint defense program—dubbed the “Strategic Autonomy Framework for Europe” (SAFE)—designed to accelerate research, procurement, and cross-border collaboration among member states. SAFE allocates funding for dual-use technology, next-generation combat systems, and cybersecurity resilience. By pooling national budgets, the initiative aims to narrow capability gaps and reduce fragmentation in defense research and development.

    Dassault Assigns Rafale Fuselage Production to TATA in India
    Dassault Aviation partnered with Tata Advanced Systems to establish a Rafale fuselage production facility in Hyderabad; Tata will set up a production facility in the southern city of Hyderabad to manufacture key structural sections of the Rafale. The joint venture leverages India’s offset obligations and advances Modi’s “Make in India” initiative, with first deliveries slated for 2028. Apparently, in joining TATA, Dassault relinquished its plans to expand cooperation with India’s Reliance group, which was established in 2017 to support offsets for the first acquisition of 36 Rafale aircraft.

    Vantage ATS undergoing firing tests in Australia. (Photo: BAE Systems)

    Research & Development

    ATLAS CCV: Live-Fire Validation
    BAE Systems Australia validated its ATLAS Collaborative Combat Vehicle (CCV) by live-firing the Vantage unmanned turret. The Vantage turret—equipped with a stabilized 25 mm M242 Bushmaster cannon and modular mission payloads—leverages an existing medium‐caliber weapon while leveraging robotics to enable teleoperated or autonomous operation and increase battlefield persistence.

    MAXAR-SAAB Space-Based Imagery Collaboration
    MAXAR Intelligence and Saab collaborate in the development of image-based positioning and navigation capability, utilizing MAXAR’s geospatial intelligence to develop GPS-resilient navigation and targeting capabilities. The initiative aims to develop robust and intelligent systems that can operate effectively even in GPS-denied environments, thereby enhancing operational capabilities on the modern battlefield.

    Warfighter Cognition Monitor
    The Department of Defense is advancing a “Warfighter Cognitive Health” program, deploying wearable sensors and AI analytics to track cognitive load, stress, and fatigue in high‐intensity training and deployment settings. By correlating biometrics (EEG, heart rate variability) with performance metrics, the program aims to identify cognitive degradation and recommend tailored interventions pre-emptively. Eventually, this data could be integrated into mission-planning suites to balance task assignments and mitigate human error.

    DefenseTech Business

    Anduril Raises $2.5 Billion to Scale Defense Manufacturing.
    CNBC reported that Anduril Industries has secured $2.5 billion in a late-stage funding round that boosts its valuation to $30.5 billion—double its August 2024 valuation—underscoring investor confidence in the company’s aggressive growth strategy. Led by Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund, which contributed $1 billion (its largest single investment to date), the rise coincides with Anduril’s recent takeover of Microsoft’s multibillion-dollar augmented reality headset program with the U.S. Army and a new partnership with Meta to develop AR/VR devices for the Army. By introducing an agile Silicon Valley approach to the defense business, Anduril is positioned to challenge defense incumbents such as Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and General Atomics. The company is preparing for a public listing in the medium term, though no IPO timetable has been set.

    Rafael Unveils New Laser Beam Director for Iron Beam HELWS

    With the upgraded director, IRON BEAM 450 now delivers longer range, higher accuracy, and faster engagement—all while maintaining its operational edge.Photo: Rafael.

    Rafael will display the new system and its complete High-Energy Laser Weapon Systems (HELWS) family at the Paris Air Show taking place at Paris’ Le Bourget airport on June 16, 2025.

    Following the announcement of successful intercepts using Rafael’s laser systems during the current conflict, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. has announced the release of the IRON BEAM 450 HELWS fitted with a laser beam director designed specifically for the maximum power ratings provided by Iron Beam.

    Rafael will officially unveil its breakthrough HELWS family—developed in collaboration with the Directorate of Defense R&D (MAFAT) at the Israeli Ministry of Defense. At the airshow, Rafael will present the export-configured HELWS family, composed of three systems: the light beam mobile variant designed for light vehicles, the truck-mounted mid-range Iron Beam M fitted with a beam director with a 250mm aperture, and the full-scale relocatable (containerized) Iron Beam, now equipped with a larger 450mm aperture. The system is equipped with Rafael’s unique Coherent Beam Combining and Reverse Adaptive Optics technologies, enabling it to track and lock on coin-sized targets beyond 10 km continuously. The system is designed with open architecture enabling flexible integration with land, naval, and other air defense systems.

    The IRON BEAM system currently under development is slated for delivery to the IDF this year. These systems are built on decades of technological innovation within Rafael and MAFAT, adding a critical layer to Israel’s air defense architecture.

    After demonstrating live intercepts in 2022, IRON BEAM is now on track for operational delivery to the Israeli defense establishment by the end of 2025. The system development is led by Rafael and developed in cooperation with MAFAT and additional Israeli defense industries including Shafir, SCD, and Elbit Systems.

    “Rafael has long been the home of Israel’s most advanced air defense systems and is now a global leader in high-energy laser technology,” said Yoav Tourgeman, President and CEO of Rafael. “Our HELWS systems are based on a scientific breakthrough in adaptive optics and represent the result of years of intense development by Rafael’s scientists and engineers, in close partnership with the Ministry of Defense’s R&D Directorate. These systems combine high precision and rapid response with exceptionally low interception costs. Rafael remains committed to innovation in the service of Israel’s security.”

    Rafael’s Iron Beam family. Right: Lite Beam. Center – Iron Beam M. Left: Iron Beam 450. Photo: Rafael

    The new laser beam director enhances IRON BEAM’s operational range, accuracy, and efficiency, significantly advancing the system’s performance. These upgrades enable longer-range interceptions, faster engagement cycles, and more precise targeting—while maintaining its unique advantages: threat neutralization at the speed of light, negligible per-intercept cost, and wide-area defense against rapid and complex aerial threats.

    Rafael’s HELWS platforms incorporate advanced detection systems (radars) with inherent classification and tracking algorithms, supporting ultra-short engagement cycles and prioritization. The fact that the targeting cycle follows a detailed visual analysis of the target reduces the probability of friendly fire by the laser. Proprietary adaptive optics enable ultra-precise long-range beam focusing.

    With the distinctive advantages of unlimited magazine depth (eliminating ammunition constraints) and near-zero cost per interception compared to kinetic or missile-based systems, Rafael’s HELWS family offers an additional layer of air and force protection, providing scalable, effective laser-based solutions for a wide array of airborne threats.

    With the upgraded director, IRON BEAM 450 now delivers longer range, higher accuracy, and faster engagement—all while maintaining its operational edge. Photo: Rafael

    DefenseTech Weekly Brief

    Hermeus Corporation successfully achieved the first flight of its Quarterhorse Mk 1 hypersonic demonstrator on May 27, 2025, moving from a clean sheet to flight-ready status in just over a year. Photo: Hermeus

    The defense technology landscape continued its rapid evolution during the first week of June 2025, marked by significant operational milestones, technological breakthroughs, and strategic business developments. This week’s developments underscore several critical trends reshaping modern defense capabilities: the maturation of unmanned systems from tactical tools to strategic weapons platforms, the operational deployment of directed energy weapons, and the accelerating integration of artificial intelligence across defense applications.

    The period was punctuated by Ukraine’s demonstration of long-range precision strike capabilities using commercial drone technology, Israel’s confirmation of operational laser weapon deployments, and substantial capital market activity reflecting investor confidence in next-generation defense technologies.

    Unmanned Systems

    Long-Range Precision Strike Capabilities

    Ukraine’s “Operation Web” represents a watershed moment in unmanned aerial warfare, demonstrating how First-Person-View drones can execute precision strikes at unprecedented distances of 4,300 kilometers. The operation targeted Russian strategic bomber fleets across four airbases, resulting in damage or destruction of at least 41 bombers, transport aircraft, and one Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft. The estimated $2 billion in asset destruction achieved through relatively low-cost unmanned aerial systems illustrates the asymmetric potential of commercially derived drone technology. (Read the article)

    A screenshot from the drone’s view (FPV) during the attack on the Russian Olenya air base shows a line of Tu-95 “Bear” bombers, some already burned by previous drone attacks.

    Next-Generation Unmanned Platforms

    The U.S. Air Force’s $100 million contract with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems for the “GHOST” drone development program marks the integration of hybrid-electric propulsion with stealth capabilities. The system’s electric propulsion design eliminates contrails and audible signatures, allowing undetected operation in contested environments. Development is expected to be completed by mid-2028, with capabilities including intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and strike missions.

    AI-Enhanced Swarm Technologies

    Lockheed Martin’s collaboration with Red Hat enhances autonomous swarm operations through containerization capabilities and lightweight, modular architecture. This system facilitates real-time threat detection and response while ensuring open architecture compatibility for blending commercial and defense technologies. The tactical quadcopter platform provides 360-degree reconnaissance capabilities, enhanced by artificial intelligence and machine learning for multi-step tasking in complex environments.

    By incorporating new AI and machine learning capabilities, customers can now deploy smarter swarms that are capable of multi-step tasking and mission re-tasking in complex environments. Photo: Lockheed Martin

    Directed Energy Weapons: From Prototype to Operational Deployment

    Israel’s Ministry of Defense confirmed the operational use of high-energy laser weapons in combat operations since 2024 during the Swords of Iron War. Rafael Advanced Defense Systems’ high-energy laser weapon prototypes have successfully destroyed dozens of loitering weapons and One-Way Attack drones across multiple fronts, demonstrating large-scale operational laser interception capabilities.

    Rafael’s Iron Beam systems are scheduled for production delivery by the end of 2025, with integration planned for Iron Dome Counter-Rocket, Artillery, and Missile batteries. The systems will provide close-range defense against unmanned aerial vehicles, loitering weapons, and similar threats. Elbit Systems, as the supplier of laser systems, has received a preliminary order from the Ministry of Defense worth $200 million. (Read the article)

    Since late 2024 Israel’s high power laser weapon prototype, likely of the Iron Beam M class, has been used in combat and successfully engaged multiple enemy suicide drones. Photo: IMOD

    Defense Manufacturing

    European Production Capabilities

    European defense manufacturers are accelerating domestic production of Armored Fighting Vehicles amid regional security tensions. Patria and General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) initiated ASCOD Infantry Fighting Vehicle assembly of 42 vehicles in Latvia under a €373 million contract. At the same time, Tatra Defence Vehicle unveiled its PANDUR II EVO 8×8 at IDET 2025 in the Czech Republic. Czechia plans to buy 68 new Pandur II EVOs and upgrade 107 of its existing Pandur II CZ 8×8 APCs. Both platforms will use a common turret system based on Elbit Systems’ UT30MMK2 system.

    Patria and General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) initiated ASCOD Infantry Fighting Vehicle assembly of 42 vehicles in Latvia under a €373 million contract. Photo: Patria

    These developments reflect technology transfer models and geographic diversification of armored vehicle production, addressing supply chain resilience and domestic job creation requirements.

    Morocco’s decision to locally produce the Indian WhAP 8×8 Infantry Fighting Vehicle, developed by Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) and featuring Elbit Systems turrets, including the UT30MK2 30mm and possibly the Crossbow 120mm mortar, demonstrates the expanding defense relationship between Israel and Arab states following the Abraham Accords framework. The contract covers approximately 150 Wheeled Armoured Platform vehicles and builds upon Elbit’s previous ATMOS howitzer deal with Morocco. (Read the article)

    Barrett Firearms to Produce Advanced Grenade Launcher

    Barrett Firearms Manufacturing won the U.S. Army’s xTech Soldier Lethality competition, securing a contract for an advanced 30mm precision grenade rifle system featuring programmable air-bursting capabilities and specialized ammunition designed for modern battlefield applications. (Read the article)

    Barrett Firearms successfully designed and demonstrated the Precision Grenadier System (PGS) in just six months. The shoulder-fired, semi-automatic weapon system is designed to engage personnel targets behind cover and counter unmanned aerial systems at close range. Photo: Barrett Firearms.

    Aerospace Systems Development

    India’s Fifth-Generation Fighter Program

    India formally approved its Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft program, joining the fifth-generation stealth fighter market with a twin-engine advanced fighter jet. The program departs from mandatory development by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, introducing competitive bidding opportunities for private sector companies.

    The AMCA roadmap targets the completion of the first of five prototypes by 2027 at ₹1,000 crore ($115 million), the first flight in 2028, and serial production to begin in 2034 at a unit cost of below $100 million. The program supports India’s Atmanirbharta self-reliance objectives while building domestic technological capabilities for future aerospace projects. (Read the article)

    F-35 Program Update

    The F-35 program continues to evolve with proposed “F-35+” enhancements, including improvements in low-observable characteristics (coatings, surfaces, intake and nozzle, sensors, electronic warfare, and weapon integration) beyond the current Block 4 phase. One capability Lockheed Martin is exploring is the optionally unmanned operation of the aircraft. Improvements are also suggested to the helmet-mounted display to address emerging neck injury concerns. The study published by the Aerospace Medical Association represents the first investigation into neck and back pain among F-35 pilots. It shows a higher rate of both back and neck pain compared to F-16 pilots. The study indicates equipment and seat angle appear to be the main contributing factors. Targeted interventions are needed to prevent structural injuries, improve performance, and increase deployability.

    Hypersonic Technology Advancement

    Hermeus Corporation successfully achieved the first flight of its Quarterhorse Mk 1 hypersonic demonstrator on May 27, 2025, moving from a clean sheet to flight-ready status in just over a year. The test campaign validated the high-speed takeoff and landing capabilities of large uncrewed aircraft, with data confirming the design and performance models, including aerodynamics, stability, and control systems.

    Quarterhorse Mk 2, which is currently being manufactured in Atlanta and scaled to F-16 dimensions, is designed to reduce risks associated with uncrewed supersonic flight and is scheduled for flight testing later this year. The iterative development approach emphasizes hardware richness through the rapid succession of multiple prototypes. (Read the article)

    Midnight eVTOL Transition from Autonomous to Piloted Flight

    Archer Aviation has begun the next phase of Midnight’s flight test program showcasing piloted flight. This phase builds on years of safe, autonomous flight testing across its various aircraft platforms, which have validated its proprietary 12-tilt-6 vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) configuration. Midnight cruised at speeds up to 125 mph and reached a maximum altitude of over 1,500 feet above ground level during the flight.

    Archer Aviation Midnight eVTOL aircraft. Photo: Archer Aviation
    Vertical Aerospace VX4 eVTOL. Photo: Vertical Aerospace

    VX4 eVTOL Progress

    Vertical Aerospace successfully conducted the first piloted electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing flight in uncontrolled open airspace over the UK, with the VX4 prototype completing takeoff, flight, and landing operations using wing-generated lift. The aircraft is scheduled for piloted transition flight testing in the second half of 2025.

    AI and Software Integration

    Strategic Technology Partnerships

    Anduril Industries and Meta Platforms have announced a joint venture to develop extended reality (XR) military training systems, building on over a decade of investment in advanced hardware, software, and artificial intelligence. This privately funded initiative aims to equip warfighters with improved perception and intuitive control of autonomous battlefield platforms.

    Microsoft’s integration with Figure Eight Federal combines data labeling technology capabilities with Azure Platform-as-a-Service for data governance, data pipelining, MLOps, generative AI, and analytics. The collaboration integrates Azure OpenAI services to enhance data operations and drive innovation across mission-critical data environments for the Department of Defense and the intelligence community.

    Capital Markets and Business Development

    Major Acquisitions and Investments

    Significant capital market activity reflected investor confidence in defense technology sectors.

    Elbit Systems raised $512 million on Nasdaq to expand European production capacity and invest in High Energy Laser research and development.

    Motorola Solutions acquired mesh network radio specialist Silvus Technologies for $4.4 billion, strengthening its position in tactical communications and unmanned aerial systems solutions.

    Rocket Lab entered the payload market through its $275 million acquisition of Geost, positioning the company as a growing force in the national security space. The acquisition adds electro-optical and infrared payload capabilities with over 20 years of classified and unclassified mission heritage.

    Trident Solutions After the sale of Geost to Rocket Lab, ATL launched a new subsidiary—Trident Solutions. The new company combines ATL’s two remaining divisions, LightRidge, Trident Systems, and Ophir Corporation, into a newly integrated platform.

    Northrop Grumman invested $50 million in Firefly Aerospace to advance production of their co-developed Eclipse medium launch vehicle. The system offers significant improvements in power, performance, production cadence, and payload capacity, with first launch from Wallops Island, Virginia, scheduled for 2026.

    TAT Technologies raised $124 million last week through a public offering, which is expected to generate approximately $42.3 million to support continued expansion and strategic growth initiatives. TAT provides products and services to the commercial, military aerospace, and ground defense industries.

    Market Outlook and Investment Themes

    Growth Sectors

    Counter-unmanned aerial systems and air defense technologies represent rapidly expanding segments, driven by operational lessons from the Ukraine-Russia conflict and rising global demand for rear-area protection systems. Hypersonic technologies encompass both offensive and defensive applications, with companies demonstrating commercial viability while established contractors invest in the development of countermeasures.

    Geographic Opportunities

    Eastern European markets prioritize localized production and NATO standardization as regional security imperatives drive substantial increases in defense budgets and technology transfer partnerships. Countries in this region invest in defense capabilities above the NATO member averages due to the acute threats they face and the realization that they must maintain a defensive posture until broader alliance support arrives. As for ground combat systems opportunities, Elbit Systems paces well, offering modular, integrated turret systems for combat vehicles produced in Europe and abroad.

    Indo-Pacific regional tensions drive investments in credible deterrent capabilities, with nations seeking naval capabilities, combat aircraft, missiles, and drone systems. Abraham Accords countries continue to integrate Israeli defense technologies despite ongoing regional conflicts, creating new opportunities for export and cooperation in system development and procurement that were previously unavailable to Arab militaries.

    Summary

    The first week of June 2025 demonstrated the accelerating convergence of commercial technology with military applications, particularly in unmanned systems and artificial intelligence. Ukraine’s long-range drone operations and Israel’s operational laser weapon deployments confirm the transition of emerging technologies from experimental to battlefield-proven capabilities.

    The substantial capital market activity, including over $6 billion in defense-related acquisitions and investments, reflects strong confidence in the defensetech sector. The emphasis on localized production capabilities across European, Middle Eastern, and Asian markets indicates a fundamental shift toward supply chain resilience and technological sovereignty.

    As artificial intelligence integration advances through strategic partnerships between traditional defense contractors and technology companies, the defense industry continues its digital transformation. The combination of operational validation, financial investment, and technological advancement positions the sector for continued growth and innovation in addressing evolving security challenges.

    Barrett Develops a New Precision Grenade Rifle System (PGS)

    Barrett Firearms Manufacturing has been selected as the winner of the U.S. Army’s xTech Soldier Lethality competition, securing a contract to develop an advanced 30mm precision grenade rifle system. The new system features programmable air-bursting capabilities and specialized ammunition designed to provide tactical advantages on modern battlefields.

    The Tennessee-based firearms manufacturer, working alongside partners MARS Inc, AMTEC Corp, and Precision Targeting, successfully designed and demonstrated the Precision Grenadier System (PGS) in just six months. The shoulder-fired, semi-automatic weapon system is designed to engage personnel targets behind cover and counter unmanned aerial systems at close range.

    The PGS represents a significant advancement in soldier-portable weaponry, combining a magazine-fed launcher with integrated fire control systems and a new family of 30mm ammunition types, including high-explosive rounds and close-quarter battle variants.

    Hermeus Quarterhorse Mk 1 hypersonic demonstrator Achieves First Flight at Edwards AFB

    Hermeus Quarterhorse Mk 1 at Edwards AFB (Photo: Hermeus)

    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 primary focus of the test campaign was to validate the high-speed takeoff and landing of a large uncrewed aircraft. The first flight was short but proved the aircraft behavior in transition and the short flight modes.

    The aircraft’s unique configuration — driven by high-speed flight — makes basic operations of takeoff and landing distinctly challenging. Data from the campaign has validated design and performance models, including aerodynamics, stability, and control. Testing also validated the performance of vehicle subsystems, including propulsion, fuel systems, hydraulics, power, thermal management, avionics, flight software, telemetry, flight termination, and command and control.

    Hermeus Corporation successfully achieved the first flight of its Quarterhorse Mk 1 hypersonic demonstrator on May 27, 2025, moving from a clean sheet to flight-ready status in just over a year. Photo: Hermeus

    Quarterhorse Mk 1 is the first in a series of uncrewed aircraft on Hermeus’ iterative development roadmap. The approach emphasizes ‘hardware richness’ – building multiple prototypes in quick succession, allowing the team to take well-managed technical risk.

    The team is actively reviewing data and integrating lessons learned into Hermeus’ next iteration, Quarterhorse Mk 2, currently being manufactured at Hermeus’ headquarters in Atlanta. The scale of an F-16, Quarterhorse Mk 2 is a high-Mach aircraft designed to de-risk uncrewed supersonic flight. It is on-track to fly late this year.

    Hermeus is a venture capital-backed aerospace and defense technology company founded to radically accelerate aviation. In the near-term, the business is focused on building high-speed products that sustainably deliver asymmetric advantage to the Department of Defense and allied partners. Utilizing an iterative development approach to aircraft, Hermeus’ high-Mach and hypersonic aircraft aim to deliver capabilities at a pace not seen in the U.S. since the 1950s.

    India Embarks on Ambitious 5th GEN Fighter

    A model of India's future AMCA - 5th Gen fighter aircraft

    India formally approved its Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program, officially joining the fifth-generation stealth fighter market with a stealth, twin-engine advanced fighter jet.

    The new development, approved by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, will follow a new path, departing from the mandatory development of the aircraft by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and opening the bid to private sector companies, introducing competitive bidding opportunities to the development process.

    The timing of the decision is critical, following the recent conflict with Pakistan that resulted in losses of advanced fighter aircraft in long-range aerial engagements with Pakistani fighters. Without 5Gen fighters, India could find itself severely inferior to Pakistani and Chinese 5Gen fighters, like the J-20, J-35A, and J36. Relying on Western 5th-generation aircraft, such as the US F-35, the British-Italian-Japanese Tempest, Russian Su-57, or the Korean KF-21, will leave India dependent on foreign support, which Delhi is determined to end in the foreseeable future.

    The roadmap for AMCA is ambitious – the first of five prototypes is expected to be completed in 2027 at a target cost of ₹1,000 crore ($115 million). The first flight is scheduled for 2028, and serial production is anticipated to begin in 2034 at a unit cost below $100 million. This seems an ambitious plan that couldn’t be realized with public sector companies. Whether the private sector can achieve it remains an open question. The program’s emphasis on indigenous development supports India’s objectives of self-reliance while building domestic technological capabilities that can be leveraged for future aerospace projects.

    The successful implementation of the AMCA program will establish India as a significant player in the global fifth-generation fighter market while reducing dependence on foreign military aircraft imports. However, dragging it for decades, as previous programs did, could expose the country to serious challenges.

    Modular Turrets for Localized AFV Manufacturing

    Patria and General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) initiated ASCOD Infantry Fighting Vehicle assembly of 42 vehicles in Latvia under a €373 million contract. Photo: Patria

    European defense manufacturers are accelerating domestic production capabilities of Armored Fighting Vehicles (AFV) amid ongoing regional security tensions. Patria and General Dynamics European Land Systems initiated 42 ASCOD Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) assembly in Latvia under a €373 million contract, while Tatra Defence Vehicle unveiled its PANDUR II 8×8 EVO at IDET 2025 in the Czech Republic, anticipating domestic procurement plans. Both utilize Elbit Systems’ UT30MK2 turrets, integrating a 30mm canon, countermeasures including Iron Fist active protection systems, optronic systems, and missile launchers on board.

    These developments reflect a broader trend toward technology transfer models and geographic diversification of armored vehicle production, even in small-scale procurement plans. The emphasis on NATO-standard systems with local assembly capabilities addresses both supply chain resilience and domestic job creation imperatives.

    European defense Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) benefit from government policies favoring domestic production. Revenue projections for 2026-2027 should reflect higher-margin local assembly operations and sustained government support. While most nations insist on local production of the vehicles, the mission systems of AFVs, and the most complex part is centered at the turret, often delivered by specialist manufacturers such as Israeli companies Rafael and Elbit Systems, German Rheinmetall, Italian Leonardo, and Turkish Aselsan.

    Such a move has been recently taken by Morocco, which opted to locally produce The Indian WhAP 8×8 IFVs developed by Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) and match Elbit Systems’ Elbit turrets, including the UT30MK2 30mm and possibly the Crossbow 120mm mortar.

    This choice reflects the expanding defense relationship between Israel and Arab states following the Abraham Accords framework. The contract, covering approximately 150 Wheeled Armoured Platform vehicles manufactured by India’s Tata Advanced Systems, builds upon Elbit’s previous $370 million ATMOS howitzer deal with Morocco. This trend highlights how Israeli defense firms are successfully competing against traditional European suppliers such as Nexter and Thales in North African markets.

    Operation “Web”: Ukraine’s FPV Drone Strike on Russian Strategic Airbases

    A screenshot from the drone's vew (FPV) during the attack on Russian Olenya air base, showing a line of Tu-95 "Bear" bombers, some already burning by previous drone attacks.

    On June 1, 2025, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) executed Operation “Web,” the largest long-range drone strike of the Russo-Ukraine War to date. For more than a year, Ukrainian planners discreetly prepared first-person-view (FPV) unmanned aerial systems (UAS) armed with explosive warheads, concealing them inside modified containerized launch modules loaded on trucks. When these mobile cabins reached positions near Russian airfields, remote-controlled hatches opened to release the drones toward parked strategic bombers and airborne early warning aircraft located in those bases, effectively bypassing standard defense measures.

    Operational Overview and Planning

    Under tight secrecy, the SBU repurposed standard cargo containers by installing wooden stowage cells for drones, photovoltaic arrays to maintain battery charging, and satellite communications uplinks. Ukrainian sources confirm that these containers were likely assembled and loaded on Russian soil, masking their true purpose until launch day. The entire operation resembles, in some form, Israel’s “supply chain operations” that provided Hezbollah with explosive personal radios and pagers.

    The drones were also smuggled from Ukraine and most likely assembled in safe warehouses in Russia. Russian sources claim that geolocation indicates the Ukrainian drone assembly facility depicted in these photos was a rented warehouse in Chelyabinsk, a village near the Kazakhstan border.

    Once assembly and setup were completed, the containers were loaded onto flatbed trucks (possibly rented in Russia) and transported across thousands of kilometers, capitalizing on the vastness of Russian territory.

    Once in proximity to the target airbases, remote signals triggered roof-hatch removal, allowing FPV drones to launch in rapid succession toward high-value aircraft parked on the aprons.

    Containers loaded and sealed for shipment, with drones inside. Each module was then assembled into a larger, ISO-sized standard container to camouflage its origin.

    Scope of the Strike

    Simultaneous strikes targeted four major Russian airbases:

    Belaya Air Base (Irkutsk Oblast, Siberia): Approximately 4,300 km from Ukraine, Belaya hosts Tu-95MS “Bear” and Tu-22M3 “Backfire” bombers, alongside A-50 “Mainstay” AEW&C aircraft, critical for Russia’s strategic aviation.

    Olenya Air Base (Murmansk Oblast): Roughly 2,000 km from Ukraine, Olenya supports Arctic-region bomber sorties.

    Dyagilevo Air Base (Ryazan Oblast): Home to Tu-22M3 and Tu-160 “Blackjack” platforms used for long-range missile strikes.

    Ivanovo Air Base (Ivanovo Oblast): A key node in Russia’s power projection network for strategic aviation assets.

    Drone imagery and video shared by Ukrainian authorities show large bombers engulfed in flames and plumes of smoke rising from multiple aprons. Although Russian officials have provided limited confirmation, Ukrainian statements claim that 41 aircraft were neutralized, with estimated losses exceeding $2 billion.

    An FPV attack drone takes off from a container module.

    Execution and Methodology

    Each containerized launch module was camouflaged to resemble a standard freight container. Inside, FPV drones were pre-assembled and pre-programmed with automatic target recognition (ATR) algorithms trained on characteristic signatures of Russian bombers. At launch time, remote commands opened the hatches and released the drones. Under real-time control via video links—augmented by satellite relays or utilizing local Russian cellular networks—the operators guided the drones to lock on specifically vulnerable areas of the parked aircraft. Some sources indicate the use of fiber-optical drones, but this is not evident from the available videos and images. The combination of ATR and FPV control enabled precise kinetic strikes before Russian air defenses could react, demonstrating Ukraine’s ability to project unmanned systems deep into Russian territory.

    Local authorities in Irkutsk and Murmansk acknowledged drone incursions but downplayed their impact. Russian air defense batteries reportedly engaged the swarms, yet eyewitness accounts suggest that the systems were overwhelmed by the speed and number of attacking UAS. Russian media outlets minimized reported losses, while independent analysts noted significant vulnerabilities in Russian rear-area air defenses. Notably, the “Web” operation coincided with a massive Russian drone and missile salvo—over 470 UAS and multiple cruise missiles—launched at Ukrainian targets the same night, indicating reciprocal escalation in multi-domain drone warfare.

    After all the drones cleared the launch pad, the container exploded. According to Ukraine sources, some modules operated fixed-wing drones, but these configurations could not be confirmed.

    After launching all its drones, the container was set to explode, destroying the evidence of the attack.

    Strategic and Operational Implications

    Neutralizing more than 40 Tu-95MS, Tu-22M3, and Tu-160 bombers—as well as at least one A-50 AEW&C platform—strikes at the core of Russia’s long-range strike capability. The A-50 fleet numbers fewer than ten worldwide; losing a third of these assets further degrades Russia’s aerial situational awareness. In the short term, Russia will face reduced sortie rates and limited cruise missile deployments against Ukrainian targets. For Ukraine, Operation “Web” exemplifies an evolved drone warfare doctrine: blending extended operational planning with technical innovation in containerized UAS teams. The success of this mission will likely prompt Russia to redeploy scarce S-400 and S-350 batteries, reinforce base perimeters with additional short-range air defenses, and harden satellite communications links against jamming.

    Operation “Web” occurred just weeks before scheduled peace talks in Istanbul, potentially aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s negotiating position. The reciprocal drone barrages underscore a shifting paradigm in which unmanned systems play a decisive role in strategic leverage. Moving forward, both sides are expected to invest heavily in electronic warfare countermeasures, aerial perimeter defenses, and counter-UAS strategies. The “Web” operation also signals to other actors—state and non-state—that even rear areas once deemed secure are now vulnerable to deep-strike drone tactics.

    As drone technology becomes more accessible, defense planners worldwide must reassess conventional assumptions about rear-area sanctuaries. Operation “Web” stands as a testament to the changing nature of aerial warfare: where a relatively small fleet of FPV drones can inflict outsized damage on critical strategic assets and redefine force-protection priorities across vast distances.

    Israel Achieves World’s First Operational Combat Interceptions with Iron Beam Laser Prototypes

    Since late 2024 Israel's high power laser weapon prototype, likely of the Iron Beam M class, has been used in combat and successfully engaged multiple enemy suicide drones. Photo: IMOD

    Israel’s Ministry of Defense (IMOD) announced today that its high-energy laser weapons have been used successfully in combat operations since 2024. During the ongoing Swords of Iron War, Israel’s Air Force Air Defense units have been operating several types of high-energy laser weapon system (HELWS) prototypes developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. These HELWS have destroyed dozens of loitering weapons and One-Way Attack (OWA) drones of different types on multiple fronts, demonstrating what Brigadier General (Ret.) Dr. Daniel Gold, Head of the Defense Research & Development Directorate, called “large-scale operational laser interception capabilities.”

    The Technology Behind the Breakthrough

    To understand the magnitude of this achievement, we must examine the sophisticated technology that enables these laser weapons. The systems deployed by Israel employ an innovative approach to HELW, known as inverse adaptive optics, a technique originally developed for astronomical instruments and adapted specifically for military applications.

    The fundamental challenge in developing effective laser weapons has always been atmospheric distortion. When a high-energy laser beam travels through the atmosphere toward a target, it encounters varying air densities, temperature gradients, humidity levels, turbulences, and particulate matter that scatter and weaken the beam. Traditional approaches struggled to maintain beam coherence over meaningful distances.

    Israel’s solution, developed in 2019, represents a paradigm shift in how laser weapons engage targets. Rather than fighting atmospheric distortion, the system uses it as a targeting mechanism. The laser source splits its energy into hundreds of individual probe beams, each with unique parameters, including frequency, phase, and polarization. As these beams propagate through the atmosphere toward the target, they experience different levels of distortion based on the specific atmospheric conditions they encounter.

    Here’s where the inverse adaptive optics technique becomes crucial: some of these probe beams will successfully reach the target and reflect to the laser source. These returning echoes carry vital information about which beam parameters successfully navigated the atmospheric conditions. The laser systems analyze these return signals in a split second, identifying the optimal parameters for maximum energy delivery.

    The system then rapidly adjusts all subsequent laser emissions to match these successful parameters, effectively programming the entire laser array to follow the atmospheric “path of least resistance” to the target. This process occurs continuously, with the system constantly adapting to changing atmospheric conditions to ensure maximum energy delivery throughout the engagement.

    The Rafael Laser Family: From Lite Beam to Iron Beam

    Rafael’s approach to laser weapon development follows a systematic progression of increasing power and capability, with each system designed for specific threat scenarios and operational requirements.

    The compact Lite Beam is a 10 kW laser designed to support tactical deployments. Photo: Defense-Update

    Lite Beam: The 10kW Tactical Solution

    The Lite Beam system represents Rafael’s entry-level laser weapon, designed as a 10kW class high-energy laser optimized for countering low-altitude aerial threats. This system can neutralize up to ten targets simultaneously at ranges up to three kilometers, making it particularly effective against drone swarms and small unmanned aerial vehicles.

    The system’s design philosophy emphasizes tactical flexibility and cost-effectiveness. Lite Beam can be mounted on various platforms, from 4×4 wheeled vehicles to tracked armored fighting vehicles, providing both mobile and stationary protection capabilities. Its relatively compact size and power requirements make it suitable for forward deployment with ground forces, offering point defense for military units and critical infrastructure.

    During recent combat operations, Lite Beam system prototypes have proven particularly effective against loitering weapons launched by Hezbollah. These weapons, designed to hover over target areas before attacking, present unique challenges for traditional air defense systems due to their small size and unpredictable flight patterns. The laser’s ability to engage multiple targets simultaneously while maintaining precision makes it ideally suited for this category of threats.

    Lite Beam is a 10kW tactical system, mountable on vehicles or pedestals to provide rapid, close-range intercept of aerial targets, including suicide drones and quadcopters. Photo: IMOD
    A model of the Iron-Beam high-power laser weapon, 100kW level HELWS. Its advanced beam director incorporates Rafael’s proprietary coherent beam combination technology, enabling multiple laser sources to function as a single, more powerful system while compensating for atmospheric distortion, allowing for engagement with targets up to 10 km away. Photo: Defense-Update.

    Iron Beam: The 100kW Strategic System

    Iron Beam represents the pinnacle of Rafael’s current laser weapon technology, boasting a 100kW class power output that allows for engagement with significantly more challenging targets. This system can neutralize rockets, artillery shells, mortars, cruise missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles at ranges of up to ten kilometers. (Read about the system’s new beam director Iron Beam 450)

    The system’s enhanced power level allows it to engage harder targets more rapidly while maintaining the fundamental advantages of laser weapons: speed-of-light engagement, unlimited magazine capacity, and near-zero cost per interception. Iron Beam’s advanced beam director incorporates Rafael’s proprietary coherent beam combination technology, enabling multiple laser sources to function as a single, more powerful system.

    The Iron Beam’s adaptive optics system represents a significant advancement over earlier designs, providing extended tracking and stabilization capabilities essential for engaging fast-moving targets at longer ranges. The system can rapidly retarget between multiple threats, making it particularly effective against coordinated attacks or swarm scenarios.

    A model of the Iron-Beam M was displayed at the recent IDEX 2025 exhibition in the UAE. Photo: Defense-Update

    Iron Beam-M: Mobile Battlefield Integration

    The Iron Beam-M system represents Rafael’s solution for tactical mobility requirements, packaging the essential capabilities of the full Iron Beam system into a mobile configuration. Operating as a 50kW class system with a 250mm aperture beam director, Iron Beam-M provides battlefield commanders with deployable laser defense capabilities.

    The mobile system addresses one of the key operational challenges in modern warfare: the need for close-range air defense systems that can keep pace with maneuvering forces. Traditional missile-based air defense systems require significant logistical support for ammunition resupply and can be overwhelmed by sustained attacks. Iron Beam-M’s unlimited magazine and rapid retargeting capabilities make it particularly valuable for protecting advancing forces and forward operating bases.

    Operational Advantages and Strategic Implications

    The successful combat deployment of these laser systems demonstrates several critical advantages that could reshape military planning and defense strategies.

    Economic Warfare Dynamics

    Perhaps the most strategically significant advantage of laser weapons is their economic impact on asymmetric warfare. Traditional interceptor missiles can cost tens of thousands to millions of dollars each. In contrast, the targets they engage—such as improvised rockets or commercial drones—may cost only hundreds or thousands of dollars. This economic imbalance has long favored attackers who could potentially overwhelm expensive defense systems through sheer volume.

    Laser weapons fundamentally alter this equation. With operational costs measured in dollars per engagement rather than thousands, defensive systems can now economically engage even the cheapest improvised threats. This capability is particularly important in extended conflicts where ammunition stockpiles become critical factors in strategic planning.

    Engagement Speed and Precision

    The speed-of-light engagement capability of laser weapons provides tactical advantages that extend beyond simple reaction time improvements. Traditional kinetic interceptors require time to accelerate to intercept velocities and follow ballistic trajectories that can be calculated and potentially evaded. Laser weapons eliminate flight time entirely, providing commanders with the ability to engage threats at the moment of detection.

    This instantaneous engagement capability becomes particularly valuable when defending against surprise attacks or fast-moving targets that provide minimal warning time. The precision of laser engagement also reduces concerns about collateral damage, allowing defensive systems to operate in environments where traditional explosive interceptors might pose unacceptable risks to nearby friendly forces or civilian populations.

    Magazine Depth and Sustained Operations

    The unlimited magazine capacity of laser weapons addresses one of the fundamental limitations of traditional air defense systems. During sustained attacks, conventional systems can exhaust their ammunition supplies, necessitating either hazardous resupply operations or accepting reduced defensive capabilities.

    Laser systems, constrained only by power generation and cooling capabilities, can maintain defensive coverage indefinitely as long as their supporting infrastructure remains operational. This capability is particularly valuable in siege scenarios or extended conflicts where logistical lines may be compromised.

    Technical Challenges and Solutions

    Despite these advantages, the development and deployment of operational laser weapons required overcoming significant technical challenges that have stymied researchers for decades.

    Power Generation and Management

    High-energy laser systems require substantial electrical power, creating challenges for mobile deployment and sustained operations. Rafael’s solutions demonstrate sophisticated approaches to power management, including battery storage systems recharged by compact generators and power-efficient beam combination technologies that maximize output while minimizing energy consumption.

    Thermal Management

    High-power laser operations generate substantial heat that must be dissipated to maintain system performance and prevent damage. Rafael’s thermal management solutions enable sustained operations while maintaining the mobility and deployment flexibility required for battlefield effectiveness.

    The thermal challenge becomes particularly acute in mobile systems where cooling capacity is constrained by size and weight limitations.

    Atmospheric Compensation

    As discussed earlier, atmospheric interference represents one of the most significant technical challenges in laser weapon development. Rafael’s inverse adaptive optics solution represents a breakthrough that enables effective engagement across operationally relevant ranges under real-world atmospheric conditions.

    The importance of this technology extends beyond simple range extension. By maintaining beam quality and energy density at the target, these systems can achieve rapid target neutralization, reducing the exposure time required for each engagement and enabling rapid retargeting for multiple threat scenarios.

    System Integration

    The successful combat deployment of these systems demonstrates the potential for the integration of laser weapons into existing defense architectures.

    Rather than replacing existing air defense systems, laser weapons augment them by providing additional defensive layers tailored to specific threat categories and operational conditions. This layered approach enables commanders to allocate different defensive systems to their most suitable targets, thereby optimizing overall defensive effectiveness while managing costs and ammunition consumption.

    Laser systems excel against smaller, numerous targets that might overwhelm traditional systems, while conventional interceptors remain optimal for larger, more heavily defended threats. This complementary relationship maximizes the strengths of each system type while compensating for their respective limitations.

    The successful operational deployment required sophisticated integration with existing command and control systems. Rafael’s laser systems can receive targeting information from various detection systems and operate remotely, allowing for seamless integration with broader battlefield management systems.

    This integration capability allows laser weapons to function as part of coordinated defensive responses, sharing target information and coordinating engagements with other defensive systems to prevent redundant targeting and ensure optimal resource allocation.

    Future Implications and Development Trends

    Israel’s successful combat deployment of laser weapons represents the beginning of a new era in military technology rather than its culmination. The operational data gathered during these engagements will inform the next generation of development efforts and likely accelerate adoption by other military forces worldwide.

    The experience gained from actual combat operations will drive improvements. Future systems will likely demonstrate increased power levels, extended range capabilities, and enhanced ability to engage more challenging target sets.

    As with all significant military technologies, the successful demonstration of operational laser weapons will likely accelerate both adoption and countermeasure development. This technological competition will drive continued innovation in both laser weapon technologies and defensive measures, potentially leading to advances in materials science, atmospheric manipulation, and electronic warfare techniques.

    A New Chapter in Warfare?

    As Rafael prepares to deliver the first production of Iron Beam systems later this year, the military community worldwide will be watching closely to understand how these capabilities can be integrated into their defensive architectures.

    The age of science fiction laser weapons has come to an end; the era of operational directed energy warfare has begun.

    Roshel Unveils Canadian-Made Counter-UAS Vehicle at CANSEC 2025

    Roshel's Senator MRAP equipped with the Falcon Shield C-UAS system from Leonardo. Photo: Roshel

    Roshel has introduced a new mobile counter-uncrewed aerial system (C-UAS) platform at CANSEC 2025 in Ottawa, marking its first demonstration of an integrated battlefield-proven solution for detecting, tracking, and neutralizing drone threats. Developed in partnership with Leonardo, the Senator Counter-UAS Vehicle combines Roshel’s Senator Pickup MRAP chassis with Leonardo’s Falcon Shield system, offering both Canadian and allied forces a ready-to-deploy capability against a spectrum of uncrewed aerial systems. Roshel plans to begin production later this year, with initial deliveries to Canadian and select allied customers scheduled for 2026.

    The Senator family has seen extensive operational use in Ukraine, where more than 1,800 vehicles have been supplied to Ukrainian forces since 2022. Roshel’s Ontario facility, which conducts design, engineering, and final assembly, adapted the Senator MRAP to host Leonardo’s Falcon Shield Mobile configuration, enabling on-the-move protection against reconnaissance drones, swarming threats, and weaponized UAS. The platform retains its baseline protection levels—STANAG 4569 Level 2 against ballistic threats and Level 3 blast resistance—while adding a bolted, maintainable armor capsule and mine-protected seating.

    Leonardo’s Falcon Shield C-UAS system. Photo: Roshel

    Falcon Shield Mobile integrates a multi-spectrum radar array with electro-optical sensors, AI-based classification algorithms, and electronic-attack capabilities. The system’s automated command-and-control suite supports both kinetic defeat options and non-kinetic techniques such as protocol manipulation. Leonardo reports that Falcon Shield has already been proven under operational conditions with the Royal Air Force and Canadian Armed Forces in static and convoy-protection roles; its adaptation to a wheeled platform allows for rapid redeployment and remote emplacement when necessary.

    “By integrating Leonardo’s Falcon Shield into the Senator chassis, we can offer a mobile C-UAS capability that meets evolving threat profiles without extensive additional training or infrastructure,” said Roman Shimonov, CEO of Roshel. He emphasized that the vehicle is fully interoperable with NATO command-and-control systems and supports sensor fusion and autonomous meshing with other assets.

    Chris Axcell, Senior Vice President of Leonardo UK’s Integrated Sensing and Protection business, highlighted the collaborative nature of the project: “Falcon Shield has demonstrated its effectiveness in multiple environments. Onboard Roshel’s Senator platform, Falcon Shield Mobile extends that protection to move at convoy pace, detecting and defeating UAS before they can deliver their payloads or gather tactical intelligence.”

    The Roshel-Leonardo partnership underscores a growing trend toward multinational industrial cooperation in the C-UAS domain. The Senator Counter-UAS Vehicle features an open-architecture design that facilitates the integration of future sensors or countermeasures and can function as part of a wider C-UAS network, linking fixed installations, manned units, and autonomous nodes. This flexibility aims to accommodate shifting operational requirements and rapid technological advances in aerial threats.

    DefenseTech Weekly Brief Week of May 26, 2025

    This week’s defense technology landscape is characterized by accelerating unmanned systems development, expanding seabed warfare capabilities, and advancing interceptor technologies. The United States continues to lead in collaborative combat aircraft development while China demonstrates ambitious drone mothership concepts. Meanwhile, the undersea domain emerges as a critical new frontier for strategic competition, and air-to-air missile technology reaches new performance thresholds.

    The Ascent of Autonomous Combat Systems

    The United States Department of the Air Force has achieved a significant milestone in its Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, officially commencing ground testing for Increment 1 prototypes. This phase validates critical systems including propulsion, avionics, autonomy algorithms, and ground control interfaces, with flight testing anticipated later in 2025. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and Anduril Industries serve as the two prime contractors, developing the YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A respectively.

    The CCA program represents a fundamental shift toward scalable force packages and human-machine teaming, designed specifically around Agile Combat Employment principles. A key strategic driver remains affordability, with the program aiming to deliver combat power at a fraction of traditional crewed fighter costs. The rapid progression timeline, including an anticipated competitive production decision in fiscal year 2026, reflects strategic urgency likely driven by adversary advancements.

    The dual-vendor approach serves as a critical risk mitigation strategy, allowing the evaluation of different technological paths while fostering healthy competition. Notably, the operational paradigm for these platforms suggests that an Aircraft Readiness Unit planned for Beale Air Force Base will not require significant daily flight operations to maintain readiness, indicating that software updates, simulations, and ground checks will form the backbone of readiness protocols for these semi-autonomous platforms. (Read the article)

    Parallel to the CCA program, the Defense Innovation Unit, partnered with the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, is driving rapid prototyping for long-range, oneway unmanned aerial systems under Project Artemis. These platforms, designed for operation in challenging electronic warfare and GPS-denied environments, represent a direct response to observations from current real-world combat conditions, particularly the conflict in Ukraine.

    Four companies have been selected for Project Artemis: Swan with a Ukrainian partner, Dragoon, AeroVironment, and Auterion with another Ukrainian partner. The program emphasizes ground-launched, affordable, and adaptable systems with operational ranges from 50 kilometers to over 300 kilometers and payload capacities from 10 kilograms to over 25 kilograms. The rapid acquisition process, moving from problem definition to contract awards in just over four months, demonstrates the program’s strategic urgency.

    Project Artemis aligns with the Pentagon’s broader Replicator initiative, aiming to field thousands of autonomous systems for mass deployment to counter massed adversary forces. The involvement of Ukrainian firms provides direct access to recent combat experience and rapidly iterated designs, while the specified payload capacities indicate a strategic shift toward delivering more substantial effects beyond simple intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities. (Read the article)

    China is developing its own ambitious approach through the Jiu Tian unmanned aerial vehicle, a high-altitude, long-endurance platform envisioned as an airborne mothership. Developed by AVIC, this jet-powered aircraft features a 25-meter wingspan, 16-tonne maximum takeoff weight, operates up to 15,000 meters altitude, and boasts a 7,000-kilometer range with 12 hours of endurance. Most significantly, it carries a payload capacity of up to six tonnes, designed to deploy up to 100 smaller kamikaze drones or loitering munitions from internal bays.

    Unveiled at the Zhuhai Air Show in late 2024, Jiu Tian’s maiden flight is anticipated before the end of June 2025, followed by operational testing. While Western analysts express skepticism regarding its size and potential vulnerabilities, the core concept of dynamically deploying large swarms of one-way attack drones provides a strategic strike capability by extending range and offering flexible deployment beyond surface launchers. (Read the article)

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    Seabed Warfare: The New Strategic Frontier

    The undersea domain, particularly the seabed, is emerging as a critical new frontier for strategic competition and potential conflict. Seabed warfare, defined as operations to, from, and across the ocean floor often targeting critical infrastructure, is gaining prominence due to the vulnerability of vital assets like pipelines and telecommunication cables. Recent events, including the Nord Stream pipeline explosions and Red Sea cable damage, highlight this growing vulnerability.

    Unmanned Underwater Vehicles have evolved from their initial role in mine countermeasures to become versatile platforms for protecting critical undersea infrastructure. Recent investments in UUV-based mine countermeasures include acquisitions by the Republic of Singapore Navy, the joint Belgian-Dutch program deploying systems like Exail’s UMIS toolbox, and the UK Royal Navy utilizing specialized vessels for unmanned mine warfare systems.

    Beyond mine countermeasures, protecting critical undersea infrastructure has become a growing concern, with UUVs used for inspection, maintenance, repair, and defense. The UK’s RFA Proteus Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance Ship exemplifies this capability, equipped with various UUVs and remotely operated vehicles for seabed operations and critical undersea infrastructure work.

    International initiatives like the European Union’s Action Plan on Cable Security and NATO’s Baltic Sentry mission are leveraging UUVs to patrol cable routes and enhance maritime domain awareness.

    Several nations are developing offensive seabed warfare capabilities. The United States Navy views

    UUVs as crucial for undersea superiority, pursuing offensive capabilities through platforms like Anduril’s Dive-LD AUV, engineered for long-duration, deep-sea intelligence gathering, mine countermeasures, anti-submarine warfare, and seafloor mapping as part of the Replicator initiative. Boeing’s Orca Extra-Large UUV is designed for clandestine mine-laying operations, while upcoming Block VI Virginia-class submarines will have organic ability to employ seabed warfare equipment.

    The United Kingdom is advancing its extra-large UUV capabilities through Project CETUS, resulting in the XV Excalibur testbed for intelligence gathering, sensor deployment, and seabed warfare trials. The Royal Navy seeks autonomous UUVs with over three months of endurance for surveillance, payload delivery, and anti-submarine warfare barrier operations.

    France formalized its seabed warfare strategy in 2022, explicitly including offensive means down to 6,000 meters depth, testing off-the-shelf equipment, and cooperating with the U.S. Navy. Russia maintains significant capabilities through its specialized nuclear submarines and motherships to install sensors, monitor assets, and potentially sabotage infrastructure. Russia’s Poseidon UUV represents a nuclear-powered, nuclear-armed platform of particular concern.

    China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy considers undersea warfare, including seabed operations, essential, leveraging military-civil fusion to develop deep-sea technologies. Notable platforms include the HSU-001 AUV and various surveying platforms, with concepts for heavily armed extra-large UUVs and flying submarine drones.

    The effectiveness of these UUVs relies on technological advancements in sensors, including high-resolution sonar, cameras, and magnetic anomaly detectors, navigation and autonomy incorporating artificial intelligence and machine learning, enhanced endurance through advanced batteries, and communication systems, including acoustic modems and optical links.

    Advanced Interceptor Technologies

    As offensive capabilities evolve, defensive systems are advancing to counter emerging threats. Qatar has become the first international customer for the U.S.-developed Fixed Site Low, Slow, Small Unmanned Aircraft System Integrated Defeat System, finalizing a $1 billion agreement. Developed by Raytheon in partnership with SRC Inc. and Northrop Grumman, this system is designed to detect, track, and neutralize small, low-flying drones, including swarms.

    The system integrates multiple defensive layers, including radar systems and electro-optical/infrared cameras for detection and tracking, electronic warfare tools for disruption, the Raytheon Coyote Block 2 kinetic interceptor, and the Forward Area Air Defense Command and Control system that integrates sensor data and enables countermeasure selection. The $1 billion deal includes ten systems, 200 Coyote Block 2 interceptors, launchers, and support services. (Read the article)

    In the air-to-air missile domain, the landscape is undergoing intense development driven by new, highly capable systems from China and Russia, with Western powers responding through advanced beyond-visual-range engagement capabilities.

    China’s PL-15 is considered one of the most formidable beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles globally. The domestic variant reportedly achieves ranges up to 300 kilometers, while the export version reaches approximately 145 kilometers. Key features include an Active Electronically Scanned Array radar seeker resilient to jamming, a two-way datalink for mid-course updates, and a dual-pulse solid rocket motor enabling sustained high speeds exceeding Mach 4.

    The PL-15E saw combat deployment by the Pakistan Air Force in aerial engagements with India in May 2025, reportedly downing at least one Indian Air Force Rafale. Debris recovery by India presents a significant intelligence opportunity for analysis by India and Western nations to understand the technology and develop appropriate countermeasures.

    Russia is advancing its long-range capabilities with the KS-172, developed by Novator Design Bureau and currently in evaluation stage for integration with the MiG-31 interceptor. Russian experts claim the KS-172 can engage targets at over 400 kilometers, significantly exceeding the range of existing systems. The missile travels at speeds exceeding Mach 5 and is intended to intercept high-value aerial assets from standoff distances.

    In response to these developments, NATO nations and the United States are developing next-generation long-range missiles. Europe’s MBDA Meteor, operational since 2016, features throttleable ramjet propulsion that maintains high speed into the terminal phase, providing a significantly larger no-escape zone with reported ranges of up to 200 kilometers.

    The United States is developing the highly classified AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile, initiated specifically in 2017 to address threats posed by new long-range missiles like the PL-15. Considered the number one air-delivered weapon priority for both the Air Force and Navy, the system is expected to achieve ranges of at least 200 kilometers and reach speeds of Mach 5. A key design goal was maintaining dimensions similar to the AIM-120 AMRAAM for compatibility with stealth aircraft internal weapons bays.

    These developments occur within the broader context of evolving NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defence, adapting to heightened threat environments with Russia cited as the most significant challenge. However, concerns exist about capability gaps, with reports suggesting NATO possesses less than 5% of needed air defense capabilities in Central and Eastern Europe. (Read the article)

    The ambitious Golden Dome missile defense initiative, spearheaded by the White House, envisions a comprehensive, multi-layered system against long-range ballistic and hypersonic missiles using technologies across terrestrial, maritime, and aerospace domains, with significant emphasis on spacebased sensors and interceptors. President Trump aims for operational status by 2029, though funding remains unclear as of May 2025.

    International reactions vary significantly. China expresses grave concern, arguing the system is destabilizing and risks space militarization, issuing a joint statement with Russia calling it deeply destabilizing. Russia’s response has evolved from initial condemnation to a more measured approach, though officials maintain their strategic systems can penetrate any defense. Canada remains in active talks but has not made formal commitments, while Japan views it as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation with the United States.

    Investor Insights

    Publicly Traded Companies to Watch:

    • General Atomics (Private) – Leading CCA development with YFQ-42A prototype
    • Anduril Industries (Private) – Developing YFQ-44A CCA and Dive-LD AUV platforms
    • AeroVironment (AVAV) – Selected for Project Artemis long-range UAS development
    • Raytheon Technologies (RTX) – FS-LIDS system and Coyote interceptors
    • Lockheed Martin (LMT) – AIM-260 JATM development and various defense systems
    • Boeing (BA) – Orca Extra-Large UUV for seabed warfare applications
    • Northrop Grumman (NOC) – Partnership in FS-LIDS and broader defense systems
    • MBDA (Private) / BAE Systems – BA.L, Airbus – AIR.PA, Leonardo – LDO.MI) – Meteor missile system
    • Teledyne Technologies (TDY) – FLIR systems for autonomous platforms
    • L3Harris Technologies (LHX) – Maritime and defense electronics systems

    Notable Private Companies:

    • Swan – Project Artemis participant with Ukrainian partnerships
    • Dragoon – Project Artemis selected contractor
    • Auterion – Project Artemis participant with Ukrainian collaborations
    • Exail – European UUV systems and maritime technology
    • Kongsberg – Norwegian defense and maritime systems
    • SRC Inc. – Radar and electronic warfare systems

    US Air Force CCA Program Moves into Critical Ground-Test Phase

    The U.S. Air Force has entered a pivotal chapter in its Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program with the commencement of comprehensive ground testing for Increment 1 prototypes. This milestone marks the transition from design to validation, providing crucial data on propulsion systems, avionics integration, autonomy algorithms and ground-control interfaces ahead of first flight trials slated for later in 2025.

    Two industry teams are leading the effort. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems is evaluating its YFQ-42A production-representative test vehicle, while Anduril Industries is advancing the YFQ-44A design. Both platforms will undergo exhaustive evaluations to ensure they meet stringent performance and reliability benchmarks before entering the flight-test phase. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin emphasized the importance of this stage, noting that these tests “bridge the gap between design and flight, reducing integration risks, boosting confidence and laying the groundwork for a successful first flight and eventual fielding to the warfighter.”

    At its core, the CCA initiative embodies a broader Air Force strategy to build more agile, scalable force packages underpinned by human-machine teaming and Agile Combat Employment (ACE) concepts. Increment 1 CCAs are the first aircraft conceived from the outset to operate within ACE-basing schemes, serving as force multipliers that extend reach, augment survivability, and enhance lethality in contested airspace—all at a fraction of the cost of traditional crewed fighters. As Gen. Allvin remarked, “We’re moving fast because the warfighter needs this capability. CCA is about delivering decisive advantage in highly contested environments.”

    The decision to pursue a dual-vendor approach also reflects a deliberate risk-mitigation strategy. By advancing two distinct designs in parallel, the Air Force hedges against development delays or technical hurdles at either contractor. This competitive framework not only incentivizes peak performance from both teams but also provides the opportunity to evaluate divergent technological solutions—potentially combining the best attributes of each platform in subsequent program increments. Work is already underway to define the requirements for Increment 2, which promise to diverge substantially from those of Increment 1, signaling a continuous evolution of CCA roles and capabilities.

    In tandem with prototype testing, the Air Force has chosen Beale Air Force Base, California, as the preferred site for its CCA Aircraft Readiness Unit (ARU). Unlike traditional fighter squadrons, the semi-autonomous nature of CCA platforms will allow readiness to be maintained largely through software updates, simulations, and ground-based checks rather than extensive flight hours. This new paradigm could significantly reduce logistical burdens, airframe wear, and overall operational costs while reshaping personnel training and deployment models for autonomous combat aircraft.

    Initially, CCAs stationed at Beale would be able to join human-piloted aircraft on flight tests off the California coast over the Pacific Ocean and participate in air exercises over Nevada. While CCA assets will be stationed and maintained at Beale AFB, they are expected to be disassembled and deployed, possibly transported by C-17s, to join human-piloted air assets at other bases. These operational concepts are likely to evolve before such aircraft become operational.

    With flight testing on the horizon and a production decision for Increment 1 anticipated in Fiscal Year 2026, the accelerated timeline of the CCA program underscores the Air Force’s urgency in countering emerging near-peer threats. If successful, CCAs will represent a transformative leap in how air power is conceived, procured and employed—paving the way for a future force architecture that seamlessly integrates crewed and uncrewed combat systems.

    China’s “Jiu Tian” HALE UAV Seeks to Redefine Swarm Deployment

    China has developed the Jiu Tian (“High Sky”), a high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) conceived as an airborne “mothership” capable of carrying and releasing swarms of smaller drones, loitering munitions and one-way attack (OWA) systems. Designed and developed by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) and built by Xi’an Chida Aircraft Parts Manufacturing under Guangzhou Haige Communications, the Jiu Tian represents a significant extension of the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) unmanned combat reach.

    With a 25 m wingspan and a maximum takeoff weight of 16 t, the jet-powered Jiu Tian is claimed to be able to operate at altitudes up to 15,000 m (≈50,000 ft) and fly missions as long as 12 hours over ranges of roughly 7,000 km. Its dual sideways-opening bays can deploy up to 100 kamikaze drones or loitering munitions. At the same time, eight external hardpoints allow carriage of air-to-air, air-to-ground, and anti-ship missiles, as well as electronic-warfare payloads—all within a six-tonne maximum internal payload.

    Unveiled at the Zhuhai Air Show in November 2024, the Jiu Tian is slated for its maiden flight by the end of June 2025. Following this first sortie, a flight and mission test program will evaluate its systems before formal PLA induction.

    Western analysts have raised concerns over the platform’s large radar and infrared signature, speed limitations, and the effective range of drones launched at high altitudes. They also question trade-offs between carrying a full complement of swarm munitions versus range and endurance. The altitude and speed of this platform make it unlikely to deploy swarms of small multirotor drones over contested areas, given its vulnerability to long-range enemy air defenses. However, deployment of smaller swarms of OWA drones (winged loitering weapons) capable of flights of hundreds or thousands of kilometers is a realistic possibility, as drone swarms will be able to gain additional range and unexpected flight paths during their attacks. Employing such a strategy, Jiu Tian offers the PLA an asymmetric strike option capable of saturating or bypassing advanced air-defense networks.

    The U.S. Air Force’s Rapid Dragon concept—deploying cruise missiles or drones from transport aircraft—demonstrates a parallel approach to airborne mass delivery, while other concepts explore fighter-launched swarms or MBDA’s Multi-Domain Orchestrated Swarm (MBDA’s ORCHESTRATOR) via sea- and ground-based launchers. Compared to these, Jiu Tian’s dedicated design for large-scale, in-flight swarm release is a novel commitment to airborne swarm doctrine.

    As drone warfare rapidly evolves, the Jiu Tian could emerge as a disruptive enabler of massed, networked swarm attacks—overwhelming point defenses through sheer volume and flexibility. Even if early prototypes reveal vulnerabilities in signature management or payload endurance, Jiu Tian’s development path underscores China’s strategic focus on swarm tactics. The West must, therefore, assess this capability on its merits—and accelerate corresponding innovations in counter-swarm defenses should the Jiu Tian enter operational service.

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