Breaking Defense
• Carley Welch
At DroneX 2026, Ukraine’s Phantom Defense presented a counter-UAV system combining detection, electronic warfare and fixed-wing interception. Separately, the U.S. 7th Air Force sought new capabilities to modernize point defense in South Korea, while the Pentagon selected AeroVironment, Epirus, Kord and Boeing for a directed-energy counter-drone pilot.
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At DroneX 2026, Ukraine’s Phantom Defense presented a counter-UAV system combining detection, electronic warfare and fixed-wing interception. Separately, the U.S. 7th Air Force sought new capabilities to modernize point defense in South Korea, while the Pentagon selected AeroVironment, Epirus, Kord and Boeing for a directed-energy counter-drone pilot.
Lockheed Martin is incorporating artificial intelligence into Skunk Works, its advanced development unit, as it seeks to modernize defense programs. The unit is described as central to the contractor’s future success, but the available report provides no details on specific AI applications, programs or timelines.
Ukraine’s effort to counter Russian drones is drawing on established weapons and expanding domestic technology: automatic gun turrets have downed jet-powered drones, while Northrop Grumman’s 30mm Chain Gun is being used against uncrewed aircraft. Ukrainian firms are also raising capital for reconnaissance drones and AI tools as the country advances other arms projects.
Northrop Grumman’s YFQ-48A Talon Blue has flown autonomously for the first time at Mojave Air and Space Port, completing taxi, takeoff, in-flight maneuvers and landing. The milestone advances the company’s effort to secure a position in the U.S. Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft portfolio.
Satellite software company Satlyt secured $8 million in seed financing led by non sibi ventures to develop virtual AI data centers in space. The funding will support engineering and customer-delivery hiring while scaling software deployments across spacecraft operated by other companies.
The Pentagon is formally coordinating with In-Q-Tel, the CIA-funded investment firm that has backed startups including Anduril and Palantir, to identify and support emerging technologies. The partnership expands the defense establishment’s connection to a venture-investment network focused on technology with national-security applications.
Shield AI has announced new test-flight and production sites for its X-Bat jet, including Forge 3, the program’s main production site. Forge 3 is scheduled to open in spring 2027, establishing a defined milestone for the aircraft’s manufacturing infrastructure.
France plans to demonstrate crewed fighter jets operating alongside AI-powered combat drones in 2028 through Project Hypairion. The effort reflects the French Air Force’s push to develop sovereign artificial-intelligence capabilities for coordinated crewed-uncrewed combat operations.
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