Germany to acquire MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones through NATO

Source: Military World 🌎 🇹🇷Turkey's UNIROBOTICS Unveils Short-Range Anti-UAV Air Defense System With the rapidly growing role of drones—especially FPV drones—in modern conflicts, states and defense companies are actively seeking effective ways to counter this new threat. Turkish company UNIROBOTICS, part of the defense holding company Samsun Yurt Savunma (SYS Group), unveiled the TRAKON LITE 134 counter-UAV system. System is designed as a remotely controlled weapon station (RCWS), equipped with artificial intelligence elements and a high-precision guidance system. The system is designed to engage unmanned targets at close range and is primarily aimed at countering kamikaze drones and FPV drones. TRAKON LITE 134 is positioned as a solution for protecting military installations, equipment, and forward positions in modern asymmetric warfare.

NATO just put another marker down. Turkey’s drone‑capable amphibious group is underway for STEADFAST DART—focused on real readiness, real interoperability, and real deterrence. Base, one thing stands out: the fleet is shifting from “more steel” to “more sensing, autonomy, and distributed options.” It’s like watching a battle group evolve from a single loudspeaker to a network of radios—harder to target, easier to adapt, faster to act. My insight: Unmanned systems at sea don’t replace manned platforms—they expand the commander’s decision space. More eyes. More reach. More resilience for the warfighter on station. My takeaway for anyone building in the DIB: Design for the operator. Reduce cognitive load. Deliver capability that survives the first hour—not just the first demo. https://lnkd.in/gA5pbwUA #warfighterfirst #DoW #NATO #maritimesecurity #unmanned #veteranvoices #DIB #missiondriven

Russian military receive first Zubr anti-drone systems — Rostec The Zubr airspace monitoring and control system is designed to provide close-in coverage for critical infrastructure MOSCOW, January 28/ Russia’s High Precision Systems Holding Company (part of the state tech corporation Rostec) has delivered state-of-the-art Zubr anti-drone systems to the Russian Armed Forces for the first time for the protection of infrastructure, Rostec reported. "Rostec’s High-Precision Systems Holding Company has delivered the latest Zubr systems to the Russian Defense Ministry for the first time. These systems are designed to protect infrastructure from drones. Their radars detect both large and small aerial targets," the holding company said. The Zubr airspace monitoring and control system is designed to provide close-in coverage for critical infrastructure. It detects airborne targets, including small unmanned aerial vehicles and loitering munitions, at any time of day or night. #business #finance #financialservices

It is clear that drone warfare dominates Ukraine's military structure more than ever before, with the nation having produced between four to five million drones in 2025 alone. In a new piece in Army Technology, I spoke with John Patrick Hill about the gamification of the e-points system, where tactical units get points for confirmed drone kills, with values assigned according to the level of threat perceived. While this system favours the ‘hard kill’, it overlooks the ‘soft kill’- silent successes of lives saved by passive sensors and #EW. John also spoke with Yaroslav Filimonov, CEO of UK-Ukraine TechExchange cohort member Kvertus, who noted that while EW successes are much harder to visualise, the initiative isn’t holding back the sector. It can be refined over time to improve how they confirm these silent lifesaving suppressions, ensuring EW units remain as well-equipped as their drone-striking counterparts. Read the full piece in Army Technology here: https://lnkd.in/dGc-qaNK

Drones has created a buzz in the defense industry community, the level of competition to be named as the expert is growing every day. However, Ukraine is the only place where it is truly possible to understand whether an autonomous system can survive in a modern warfare environment. In 2022, drones became platforms that filled the gap left by missing aviation and naval assets. Ukraine proved that creativity and adaptability can outperform larger, more established capabilities. In some cases, drones were not only used to strike targets but even to pressure and guide russian soldiers into surrendering. So where are we today? Since mid-2022, the legacy of rapid battlefield adaptation has collided with the reality of slow, heavy processes needed for interoperability and large-scale integration. Too often, businesses and governments forget that a drone is only a platform—just one part of a broader military capability. This forced the Ukrainian army to stay extremely creative, constantly inventing new tactics, training courses, and ways to combine drones with other systems that were purchased or donated. The obvious reality is that today’s real, up-to-date knowledge exists only inside the Ukrainian armed forces and their enemy’s armed forces. No matter how much you hear about the knowledge held outside this community, it is already outdated—because every single day brings new tactics, new adaptations, and new products. Expertise exists, it is on the battlefield. Photo: Chris Occhicone

Seven companies to compete to equip the British Army’s AH-64E Apaches with new collaborative combat drones With the release of an official statement on January 24, the UK Ministry of Defence confirmed that seven companies will compete to develop and produce new collaborative combat drones, which are intended to operate alongside the British Army’s AH-64E Apache helicopters. The initiative, referred to as Project NYX by the ministry, aims to advance the acquisition of an unmanned platform capable of complementing attack helicopters in reconnaissance and surveillance missions, target acquisition, and electronic warfare....

The Marine Nationale (French Navy) will acquire six Airbus VSR700 uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) and will use them for ISR missions from 2028. French procurement agency the DGA - Direction générale de l'armement has agreed a deal with Airbus Helicopters and NAVAL GROUP for the production of six UAS. The drones will be delivered in an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) configuration, with Naval Group responsible for integration of the UAS into the fleet’s combat systems. The diesel-powered dual-use VTOL rotary-wing drones can also be used for logistics and armed scout missions, and have an eight-hour flight endurance when deployed with ISR sensors. Measuring just over 6m with a 7.2m main rotor diameter, they have a maximum speed of about 100 knots (115mph) and an operational ceiling of almost 20,000 feet. #defence #Airbus #VSR700 #UAS #drones #uncrewed #autonomy #VTOL #rotarywing #FrenchNavy #MarineNationale #NavyLeaders Read more here: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eT836fhD

Greece is advancing the development of a fleet of unmanned surface vessels designed for operations in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean. These vessels, developed by SAS Technology and Sigmund Naval & Marine, range from 7 to 26 meters in length and feature modular payloads, swarm capabilities, and speeds exceeding 70 knots. Their primary purposes include long-range intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), maritime security, and strike operations. They will be equipped with electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensors, satellite communications, and NATO-standard weapon integration. Production of these vessels will take place locally, and their guidance and autonomy will be based on proven unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems already in use. https://lnkd.in/gHmxF98t

EDGE has won a landmark order from the UAE Ministry of Defence for 168 autonomous unmanned helicopters, among the largest such procurements globally. The deal highlights the accelerating adoption of rotary-wing unmanned systems in modern defence planning. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/dhcWYV87 #Aviation #Defence #MiddleEast #Helicopters #Unmanned