⚔️ Shield AI Unveils X-BAT, a VTOL Stealth Loyal Wingman Drone

📬 In Today’s Defense Brief

💥 AV Awarded U.S. Army RCCTO Contract for Kinesis, Named Lead Software & Systems Integrator for HMIF — Read More

🚁 The Army Wants Drones that Understand ‘Commander’s Intent’ — Read More

🔭 Lasers and AI: Inside Rafael’s Vision of Israel’s Future Air Defense — Read More

⚔️ Shield AI Unveils X-BAT, a VTOL Stealth Loyal Wingman Drone — Read More

📡 KAI Receives First Delivery of PhantomStrike Radar from Raytheon — Read More

🎱 Plus 13 other news stories you may like

📰 Full Breakdown

💥 AV Awarded U.S. Army RCCTO Contract for Kinesis, Named Lead Software & Systems Integrator for HMIF — Read More

• AeroVironment announced an RCCTO award to provide its Kinesis tactical mission-planning and C2 software for the Human-Machine Integrated Formations (HMIF) Increment 1 program. HMIF accelerates fielding of robotic formations to offload risk and give soldiers more decision-quality information across armored and infantry formations. The effort supports current and future programs of record by reducing risk in common architecture, communications, and networking.

• Kinesis will serve as a unified interface for mission planning, tactical awareness, autonomy management, and payload control, aimed at simplifying complex operations and accelerating mission execution at scale. AV executives framed Kinesis as a force multiplier that lets a single operator control a mixed fleet of autonomous systems from multiple OEMs, boosting readiness and operational flexibility.

• The software provides interoperability with tactical C2 platforms, including TAK/ATAK, and includes an SDK to expand modularity and third-party integrations. To meet HMIF needs, AV is partnering with Neya Systems (ARA), Parry Labs, and QinetiQ, combining capabilities to deliver a comprehensive, open, and scalable software ecosystem for multi-domain operations.

🚁 The Army Wants Drones that Understand ‘Commander’s Intent’ — Read More

• A draft UAS strategy emphasizes “universal interoperability and autonomy,” seeking cheap, self-driving drones that don’t require large teams to operate. Leaders described moving from joystick piloting to tasking drones by orders, even via large language models, with algorithms executing missions. Officials cited a cultural shift as soldiers embed UAS skills in maneuver elements with intent-based control as the threshold for useful AI autonomy.

• The plan creates a new MOS, 15X, combining operator and maintainer roles, and introduces a UAS Advanced Lethality Course to standardize training across infantry, artillery, cyber, Special Forces, armor, and more. Brig. Gen. McIntosh highlighted the need for command-driven flight and showcased the low-cost ABE-101 homegrown drone to reduce reliance on pricier commercial systems.

• Program leaders said the Army is laying groundwork for uncrewed vehicle control software that offers a common interface and common control across UAS. As the strategy advances, the service seeks software that can both fly the drone and help it make decisions—such as where to drop grenades—while operating in line with evolving doctrine and training pipelines.

🔭 Lasers and AI: Inside Rafael’s Vision of Israel’s Future Air Defense — Read More

• Rafael expects its laser air-defense systems to be fielded broadly before year’s end, positioning directed energy as a lower-cost supplement to kinetic interceptors like Iron Dome. Iron Beam, a 100-kW-class system, can burn or fry threats at roughly ten kilometers, and the company is already iterating to extend range and speed while demonstrating systems at international venues including AUSA.

• CEO Yoav Tourgeman said integrating AI can shape how a target is taken down, potentially controlling where it falls by selecting which part to strike. With extensive data from real-world interceptions, Rafael sees opportunities for the system to learn and improve, tailoring interception methods for drones, rockets, and missiles to manage effects and debris more precisely.

• Tourgeman expressed confidence in naval applications, calling lasers “optimal for a ship,” and downplayed political headwinds in Europe, asserting demand is driven by performance. He noted reports of potential Spanish cancellations have not been formalized and referenced high-profile trade-show controversies while affirming plans to return to Paris in 2027.

⚔️ Shield AI Unveils X-BAT, a VTOL Stealth Loyal Wingman Drone — Read More

• Shield AI revealed X-BAT, a Group 5 unmanned “drone fighter” designed to take off and land vertically and operate with the firm’s Hivemind autonomy in comms-denied environments. The jet-powered design features sleek, low-observable surfaces; the company displayed a scale model and said industrial partners and a propulsion vendor will be announced in the coming weeks.

• X-BAT targets multi-role missions with a modular design, internal weapons bay, external hardpoints, and payload swaps for ISR or EW. Officials cited a range over 2,000 nautical miles and said initial VTOL demos could come as early as fall 2026, with all-up flight testing and operational validation planned for 2028, aligning with evolving CCA concepts.

• Shield AI positioned price “same as other CCAs,” and hinted at an “F-16 class” engine with thrust vectoring heritage and multiple options. The effort comes as the Air Force refines CCA increments and as other services explore uncrewed concepts; prior reporting noted Shield AI was selected to provide an autonomous pilot for one of two Air Force CCA prototypes.

📡 KAI Receives First Delivery of PhantomStrike Radar from Raytheon — Read More

• Raytheon delivered the first PhantomStrike radar to Korea Aerospace Industries for integration on the FA-50 light combat aircraft, following a 2023 plan to deploy the sensor. PhantomStrike is a fully air-cooled fire-control radar using GaN, designed to detect, track, and target long-range threats while fitting platforms with tight size, weight, and power constraints.

• The system is intended for a wide range of platforms—uncrewed and light-attack aircraft, fighter jets, helicopters, and even ground towers—bringing enhanced target detection and jamming resistance at a fraction of typical fire-control radar cost. A lab unit was delivered in August to continue integration testing after air-to-air and air-to-ground capability demonstrations earlier in 2025.

• Raytheon said PhantomStrike production spans Forest, Mississippi; Tucson, Arizona; and Scotland with Raytheon UK support. The export-eligible, direct-commercial-sale product targets customers seeking robust, affordable AESA-class capability, with KAI’s FA-50 fleet as an early adopter in the radar’s rollout.

🌏 Other Important News

✈️ Air

• Lockheed Martin awarded $233M for full-rate production of IRST Block II systems. Read More

• AeroVironment partners with Korean Air on unmanned aircraft systems. Read More

• Global Thunder 26 nuclear-readiness exercise coverage. Read More

• “Wingman” teaming concepts across U.S. military aircraft. Read More

• IAI debuts “Alpha,” doubling the range of LAHAT. Read More

• Lockheed considers modifying existing missiles into lower-cost designs. Read More

• AV selected for U.S. Army Next-Generation C-UAS Missile program; $95.9M FE-1 for LRKI. Read More

🛡️ Land

• Army may start 3D-printing its own parts, says Materiel Command head. Read More

• Hanwha’s CHUNMOO gets an AI-targeting upgrade. Read More

• GDLS unveils the GSword turreted combat robot. Read More

🧠 C2 & AI

• Sierra Nevada Corp. debuts TRAX edge-connectivity suite. Read More

🛰️ Space

• Vantor wins U.S. Space Force contract for continuous tracking of high-interest space objects. Read More

🏭 Industry & Policy

• Lockheed Martin posts Q3 results and updates guidance. Read More

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