The War Zone
• Thomas Newdick
The low-cost interceptor drone, rushed to NATO partners after incursions by other drones, has become a case study in the Army’s effort to field emerging capabilities quickly. The Army says Merops moved to program-of-record status in just 142 days, signaling a fast-track approach to acquiring counter-drone systems.
UAV Development & Drone Programs
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The low-cost interceptor drone, rushed to NATO partners after incursions by other drones, has become a case study in the Army’s effort to field emerging capabilities quickly. The Army says Merops moved to program-of-record status in just 142 days, signaling a fast-track approach to acquiring counter-drone systems.
High activity
The Army is expanding its new Space Operations Branch as it develops capabilities to counter adversaries’ use of satellites to track and target ground forces. It plans tests of high-altitude balloons and stratospheric payloads next year, and has already rushed balloons to support operations in the Middle East.
Ukrainian officials say restrictions on Starlink are disrupting drone attacks and air defense, renewing scrutiny of the satellite network’s role in the war. Related reports describe possible throttling, attacks on Starlink-related infrastructure and the importance of conventional data links as alternatives.
Airbus Helicopters says its HTeaming technology is ready for service introduction by year-end. The system lets helicopter crews task activities involving drones and is pitched as an agnostic capability, allowing rotorcraft operators to work alongside uncrewed aerial systems.
Col. Dustin Thomas of the Defense Contract Management Agency argues the US military should push industry to deliver 100,000 drones for use next year. The goal, he writes, is to balance inventory against training consumption so forces gain the greatest combat value for the money.
Parallel Flight Technologies has named Drone Forge a distribution partner for its Firefly uncrewed aircraft system, aiming to expand the platform’s reach across the Asia-Pacific region. The announcement signals a regional channel push, but the available report does not specify markets, contract terms or expected sales.
High activity
Deadly Houthi missile and drone attacks targeted airports in Riyadh and Abha, killing people and damaging Saudi Arabia’s aviation security posture. Airlines moved to evacuate aircraft worth as much as $4 billion from Riyadh, while Saudi authorities opened an investigation into how air defenses failed to intercept the barrage.
High activity
Kyiv says SpaceX has imposed unannounced restrictions on military-grade Starlink terminals, disrupting longer-range drone strikes and efforts to intercept Russian jet-powered drones. The reports come as Russia intensifies attacks on Ukraine’s energy grid, including a strike that left 600,000 people in Kyiv without power.
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