🔊 Sound Becomes a Weapon as US Firm Unleashes Acoustic Counter-Drone Tech

📬 In Today’s Defense Brief

🔊 Sound Becomes a Weapon as US Firm Unleashes Acoustic Counter-Drone Tech — Read More

⚡ Europe’s New Counter-Drone Dome Uses AI Brains and Turbojet Muscle —
Read More

🛩️ Air Force Buying $50M in Small Anduril ALTIUS Drones to Team With AFSOC MQ-9s — Read More

📡 Ukraine Packs Long-Range Anti-Mavic Jamming Into a Telescopic EW System — Read More

🤖 Army Pilots First Autonomous Dining Facility in South Korea —
Read More

🎱 Plus 19 other news stories you may like

📰 Full Breakdown

🔊 Sound Becomes a Weapon as US Firm Unleashes Acoustic Counter-Drone Tech — Read More

• U.S. company Fractal Antenna Systems developed the “JERECHO” platform, a directed-acoustic array that uses precision-steered sound energy to detect, disrupt, and interfere with hostile drones. Its fractal-based design directs acoustic power through air to degrade UAS sensors and stability.

• Demonstrations show the system can disturb drone cameras and weaken smartphone-based navigation tools, offering a low-collateral soft-kill alternative to kinetic interceptors. The array is modular and scalable for fixed sites or mobile security teams.

• Analysts say acoustic effects add a new, underutilized layer to counter-UAS defense as militaries integrate kinetic, laser, RF, and cyber tools. Real-world performance will hinge on terrain, range, weather, and mission rules of engagement.

⚡ Europe’s New Counter-Drone Dome Uses AI Brains and Turbojet Muscle — Read More

• European firm Alta Ares unveiled a “Tactical Protection Dome” combining high-end radars, AI decision-making, and turbojet-powered kinetic interceptors capable of neutralizing drones up to 30 km away. Designed as a standalone, rapidly deployable system, it secures bases, infrastructure, or urban zones.

• The dome autonomously detects, tracks, and engages both small quadcopters and larger unmanned aircraft using its layered sensor suite and AI-enabled targeting logic. Its high-speed interceptors provide a kinetic punch not typically found in compact C-UAS systems.

• The initiative reflects Europe’s broader drive toward sovereign counter-drone ecosystems, emphasizing domestic development, industrial cooperation, and reduced reliance on foreign imports. Scaling production and cost management remain key hurdles.

🛩️ Air Force Buying $50M in Small Anduril ALTIUS Drones to Team With AFSOC MQ-9s — Read More

• The U.S. Air Force awarded Anduril Industries $50 million for ALTIUS 600 drones under AFSOC’s Adaptive Airborne Enterprise, a shift toward “mothership” concepts where MQ-9 Reapers deploy families of smaller drones for sensing and strike missions.

• ALTIUS 600 carries modular payloads—radar, ISR sensors, or small warheads—and can be launched from MQ-9s or other airborne platforms. The pairing extends the Reaper’s reach, enabling distributed sensing, wider-area coverage, and greater survivability in contested airspace.

• The initiative underscores the Air Force’s move toward networked, multi-vehicle drone architectures. Key next steps include scaling procurement, refining command-and-control, and integrating ALTIUS into joint and coalition operations.

📡 Ukraine Packs Long-Range Anti-Mavic Jamming Into a Telescopic EW System — Read More

• Ukraine fielded the “Anti-Mavic” EW module—an elevated, mast-mounted jammer producing 100 watts of output and full 360° coverage, built specifically to disable common Russian-used Mavic drones by severing their control links and navigation.

• The system demonstrates Ukraine’s rapid adaptation to drone warfare: low-cost, battlefield-driven EW tools designed for quick deployment and mass production rather than traditional large-scale platforms. The approach favors agile solutions tailored to frontline needs.

• As drone saturation climbs across the front, such jammers form a crucial layer of defense. Future challenges include scaling output, harmonizing spectrum usage in complex environments, and integrating EW tools into combined arms operations.

🤖 Army Pilots First Autonomous Dining Facility in South Korea — Read More

• The U.S. Army opened “Market 19,” its first autonomous dining facility, at Camp Walker, South Korea. The site uses robotic cooking modules, automated serving systems, and touchscreen ordering to deliver standardized meals with minimal human staffing.

• The effort is part of the Pacific Multi-Domain Training & Experimentation Capability, designed to reduce the logistics burden of feeding troops and maintain resilience in remote or contested environments where traditional dining operations may be difficult.

• Officials emphasize the facility supplements—not replaces—the workforce, freeing soldiers from repetitive food-service tasks and enabling more focus on mission-critical operations. The pilot may inform future automated sustainment concepts in other theaters.

🌏 Other Important News

✈️ Air

• U.K. Carrier Strike Group Reaches Full Operational Capability During NATO Exercise — Read More

• Most Air Force Big Programs Now Managed by 4-Star Under DepSecDef — Read More

• Sweden Pitches Canada on Gripen With New Economic Package — Read More

• UK Expands Drone Manufacturing Through STARK Facility — Read More

• New Navy Unmanned Acquisition Office Could Manage 66 Programs — Read More

• DEVCOM Testing MK19 Grenade Launcher as Counter-sUAS Tool — Read More

• Acoustic Counter-Drone Tech by Fractal Antenna — Read More

• Europe’s AI/Turbojet Counter-Drone Dome — Read More

• USAF Buys ALTIUS Drone Swarms for MQ-9 — Read More

• Ukraine’s Telescopic Anti-Mavic Jammer — Read More

🪖 Land

• Autonomous Dining Facility Pilot — Read More

• South Korean Marines Conduct Amphibious Assault Drills — Read More

🏛️ Policy

• Trump Calls Lawmakers’ Comments “Seditious” Over Military Orders Dispute — Read More

• Hegseth Says Venezuelan Cartel Terrorist Designation Will Open New Options — Read More

• EDGE Secures $7B Indonesian Armaments Deal — Read More

• Israel’s F-35 QME Questioned After Saudi Stealth Deal — Read More

🧪 Industrial Base & Innovation

• DoW Funds $29.9M Gallium/Scandium Domestic Supply Chain — Read More

• Space Force Debates Acceptable Risk in Rapid Acquisition — Read More

• DoD Acquisition Reform Push Embraces 85%-Ready Tech — Read More

Thanks for reading today’s Defense Brief. If you found it useful, consider forwarding it to a friend or colleague who'd appreciate staying sharp on defense tech and military news.