UAV Development & Drone Programs News

AeroTime • Clement Charpentreau

US awards span LAIRCM sensor upgrade and new laser counter-UAS/anti-missile weapon development

The U.S. Air Force awarded Northrop Grumman a $60.44 million, sole-source contract to develop an enhanced sensor for the LAIRCM system through April 30, 2029. Separately, the Department of War awarded nLIGHT and Lockheed Martin Aculight $86 million for containerized laser weapons against drones and cruise missiles, while nLIGHT/partners reported successful early results from a laser-dazzler counter-UAS test campaign.

5 Sources

2026-07-10T01:58:52.441351-07:00

Payload

NATO expands multinational air and space enablers: Finland joins MRTT fleet, MQ-4C Triton ISR deal, A400M high-visibility projec

4 Sources

2026-07-09T22:15:38.150336-07:00

Aviation Today

UK canvasses industry for counter-drone electronic warfare systems as Ukraine pursues European drone deals

3 Sources

2026-07-09T08:32:27.455388-07:00

Aviation Today

Pentagon Drone Dominance Program invites 19 companies for second challenge-round competition worth up to $300M in production ord

1 Source

2026-07-09T08:45:24.889088-07:00

UAV Development & Drone Programs News Timeline

AeroTime

5 sources

US awards span LAIRCM sensor upgrade and new laser counter-UAS/anti-missile weapon development The U.S. Air Force awarded Northrop Grumman a $60.44 million, sole-source contract to develop an enhanced sensor for the LAIRCM system through April 30, 2029. Separately, the Department of War awarded nLIGHT and Lockheed Martin Aculight $86 million for containerized laser weapons against drones and cruise missiles, while nLIGHT/partners reported successful early results from a laser-dazzler counter-UAS test campaign.

2026-07-10T01:58:52.441351-07:00

US awards span LAIRCM sensor upgrade and new laser counter-UAS/anti-missile weapon development

Payload

4 sources

NATO expands multinational air and space enablers: Finland joins MRTT fleet, MQ-4C Triton ISR deal, A400M high-visibility projec NATO announced Finland’s incorporation into its Multinational MRTT Fleet, while an LOI seeks Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton assets to expand the alliance’s ISR Force. At the NATO Summit Defence Forum, Belgium, Croatia, France, Poland, Spain, Türkiye, the UK and others launched a high-visibility Airbus A400M project. Separately, eight allies plan to stitch national defense satellite fleets into a single network.

2026-07-09T22:15:38.150336-07:00

NATO expands multinational air and space enablers: Finland joins MRTT fleet, MQ-4C Triton ISR deal, A400M high-visibility projec

Aviation Today

1 source

Pentagon Drone Dominance Program invites 19 companies for second challenge-round competition worth up to $300M in production ord The Pentagon’s Drone Dominance Program (DDP) has invited 19 companies to compete in the final stage of its second challenge round, scheduled for an August competition. Winners will be positioned to secure production orders totaling up to $300 million.

2026-07-09T08:45:24.889088-07:00

Pentagon Drone Dominance Program invites 19 companies for second challenge-round competition worth up to $300M in production ord

Aviation Today

3 sources

UK canvasses industry for counter-drone electronic warfare systems as Ukraine pursues European drone deals The UK Ministry of Defense is soliciting industry input on potential counter-drone electronic warfare (EW) systems it could supply to Ukraine. The move comes as Ukraine discusses drone-related arrangements with European partners, alongside intensifying strikes using long-range kamikaze “one-way attack” drones against Russian infrastructure.

2026-07-09T08:32:27.455388-07:00

UK canvasses industry for counter-drone electronic warfare systems as Ukraine pursues European drone deals

Aviation Today

None source

Ukraine And European Union Discussing Drone Deal, As Kamikaze Drones Hit Russian Supply Lines

2026-07-09T08:32:27.455388-07:00

Ukraine And European Union Dis

AeroTime

6 sources

Ukraine claims Su-35S kill using modernized air defense assets; Firebolt Engineering reports first Griffen jet-powered drone int Ukrainian pilots and multiple outlets report the downing of a Russian Sukhoi Su-35S, with Russian sources not denying the incident. Separately, British-Ukrainian Firebolt Engineering says its Griffen jet-powered interceptor drone has shot down a Shahed (Geran-2) kamikaze drone for the first time.

2026-07-09T04:17:26.080439-07:00

Ukraine claims Su-35S kill using modernized air defense assets; Firebolt Engineering reports first Griffen jet-powered drone int

SpaceWatch Global

7 sources

❗️

NATO launches talks to buy up to 10 Saab GlobalEye AEW&C aircraft as it also pushes secure comms and air-defense data modernizat NATO says it will begin formal negotiations with Saab to acquire up to 10 GlobalEye airborne early warning and control aircraft based on the Global 6500. Separate reporting highlights NATO’s continued appetite for high-altitude surveillance platforms, plus NCIA selection of Thales/Leonardo for secure deployable comms for Allied Special Operations Forces Command and NATO’s plan to modernize air-defense data via contracts awarded to Anduril, Palantir and Athea SAS.

2026-07-08T22:53:31.675054-07:00

NATO launches talks to buy up to 10 Saab GlobalEye AEW&C aircraft as it also pushes secure comms and air-defense data modernizat

Reuters

10 sources

Russia escalates electronic warfare against Ukraine’s Starlink-linked drone operations Reuters reports that Russian forces are deploying powerful jamming systems aimed at disrupting Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet, in an effort to blunt Ukraine’s “mid-strike” drone attacks. Ukraine’s use of fixed-wing midrange drones with Starlink satellite communications is described as driving Russia to “play catch-up.” Separate coverage notes Brazil’s regulator approval for satellite direct-to-cell rules, enabling Starlink phone connectivity to ordinary handsets.

2026-07-07T23:59:44.316342-07:00

Russia escalates electronic warfare against Ukraine’s Starlink-linked drone operations

Create a free account to see more recent UAV Development & Drone Programs clusters.

About

The drones section on Hype offers a comprehensive look at the rapidly evolving world of unmanned aerial vehicles. Our expert analysis covers the latest advancements in drone technology, regulatory changes, and the expanding use of drones across industries, from commercial delivery to environmental monitoring.