⚔️ Switchblade-600 Makes First-Ever Air-Launch From MQ-9A Reaper

📬 In Today’s Defense Brief

🇬🇧 UK To Mass-Produce Ukrainian Interceptor Drones Under ‘Project Octopus’ Read More

🤖 HII & Shield AI Partner On Drone Autonomy Software Read More

🛥️ HII ‘Romulus’ USV Family Detailed Read More

🛰️ Australia Signs A$1.7B Contract With Anduril For ‘Ghost Shark’ XL-AUV Read More

⚔️ Switchblade-600 Makes First-Ever Air-Launch From MQ-9A Reaper Read More

🎱 Plus 13 other news stories you may like

📰 Full Breakdown

🇬🇧 UK To Mass-Produce Ukrainian Interceptor Drones Under ‘Project Octopus’ Read More

• The UK launched Project Octopus at DSEI to mass-produce Ukrainian-designed interceptor drones, aiming for “thousands per month.” The systems are designed to defeat Shahed-type attack drones at under 10% of the cost of the targets they neutralize. Neither the model nor production site was disclosed.

• The announcement came amid fresh Russian strikes and drone incursions into Poland, which temporarily shut airports. Officials stressed the need to strengthen Ukraine’s layered air defenses and boost NATO resilience.

• The MoD previously partnered with Ukraine on long-range drone projects. Ukrainian reports had highlighted interceptor designs credited with multiple kills; Octopus production is expected to accelerate frontline deliveries at scale.

🤖 HII & Shield AI Partner On Drone Autonomy Software Read More

• HII announced a new partnership with Shield AI to accelerate development of autonomy software for uncrewed systems, integrating Shield’s AI pilot tech with HII platforms. The companies framed the effort as critical for operating in GPS-denied and electronically contested environments.

• The agreement aims to apply Shield’s Hivemind AI across HII’s naval and air unmanned vehicles, supporting missions from ISR to electronic warfare. Executives said combining advanced autonomy with shipbuilding expertise will reduce operational risk and increase mission effectiveness.

• Officials emphasized aligning the partnership with DoD goals for resilient autonomy and scalable AI integration, with the collaboration presented at DSEI as part of a wider push to field trusted, combat-ready unmanned solutions.

🛥️ HII ‘Romulus’ USV Family Detailed Read More

• HII unveiled details of its Romulus unmanned surface vessel family at DSEI, introducing modular platforms intended for multi-mission flexibility. Romulus can be configured for ISR, mine countermeasures, anti-submarine warfare, or logistics roles.

• The family leverages scalable hulls with open-architecture design to enable rapid payload swaps and upgrades. HII emphasized the use of AI-enabled autonomy to reduce crew demands and extend operational reach.

• Company officials pitched Romulus as complementary to larger surface combatants, offering cost-effective distributed capability while addressing increasing demand for unmanned systems in both U.S. and allied navies.

🛰️ Australia Signs A$1.7B Contract With Anduril For ‘Ghost Shark’ XL-AUV Read More

• Canberra signed a A$1.7B (≈$1.13B USD) five-year deal with Anduril for production, sustainment, and continued development of the Ghost Shark extra-large autonomous undersea vehicle. Officials said the buy cements a sovereign capability while accelerating delivery timelines.

• Ghost Shark will extend Australia’s undersea surveillance and strike options, complementing crewed submarines and surface combatants, and supporting distributed maritime ops.

• Leaders described the program as a rapid capability path, building industrial capacity while longer-term AUKUS submarine plans remain in progress.

⚔️ Switchblade-600 Makes First-Ever Air-Launch From MQ-9A Reaper Read More

• AeroVironment and GA-ASI achieved the first air-launch of the Switchblade-600 loitering munition from a Block 5 MQ-9A at Yuma Proving Ground in July. The test validated carriage, release, and employment of the weapon from a Reaper.

• Officials said the milestone expands mission flexibility by pairing large UAS endurance with air-launched effects, extending strike envelopes and timelines.

• The integration is seen as a step toward scaling loitering munitions on unmanned aircraft in contested environments, with future work to refine operational concepts, datalinks, and payload deconfliction.

🌏 Other Important News

✈️ Air

• Boeing ‘Ghost Bat’ Carrier Trials Advance Read More

• SR-72 ‘Darkstar’ Could Fly With 6th-Gen F-47 (Report) Read More

• Minuteman Could Operate Until 2050, GAO Says Read More

• Turkey’s Aselsan Inks $1.9B Air-Defense Deal Read More

• Australia Debuts New Laser Weapon Read More

🛡️ Land

• JLTV vs. Humvee: Tactical Vehicles In Focus Read More

🚢 Sea

• USNI: Anduril Pitches ‘Ghost Shark’ XLUUV To U.S. Navy Read More

• UK BMT Unveils New Ship Concept Read More

🛰️ Space

• SDA Launches First Operational Tranche-1 Satellites For DoD Transport Layer Read More

• Northern Luzon–Based Philippine Marines Flex Defense Capabilities Read More

🏭 Industry & Policy

• AP Probe: U.S. Tech Enabled China’s Mass Surveillance & Detentions Read More

• Ukraine’s ‘Barracuda’ Armed Drone Boat Showcased Read More

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