• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Northrop Grumman Completes Structural Assembly of the First Euro Hawk for Germany

  3rd August 2009

  Northrop Grumman Corporation has finished assembling the first Euro Hawk unmanned aircraft system (UAS) for the German Ministry of Defence (MoD). With a wing span …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  US GAO report calls for greater UAS efficiencies

  31st July 2009

  The US Government Accountability Office (GAO), self-described as "the investigative arm of Congress" has released a new report calling for greater commonalities and efficiencies among …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  ViaSat Enerdyne Division Delivers EnerLinks Autotracking Antenna System

  29th July 2009

  The Enerdyne division of ViaSat is now shipping the EnerLinks III Autotracking Antenna System (ETAS), a complete, high-performance ground station for video and ISR data …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Weaponising UAS Gathers Pace

  29th July 2009

  Combat operations from Kosovo to Afghanistan over the past decade have convinced the US military and many allied armed forces that the era of ‘weaponised …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Academy officials add unmanned aircraft system into curriculum

  28th July 2009

  US Air Force Academy officials here integrated unmanned aircraft systems into the school's curriculum. "The Air Force has made unmanned aircraft systems a priority for …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Unmanned aircraft take on increased importance

  27th July 2009

  The US military's expanded overseas use of unmanned aircraft highlights the increased importance of such aerial platforms to current and future military operations, senior Air …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  GA highlights UAS advanced cockpit applications for manned aircraft

  27th July 2009

  Characterized as “the premier U.S. Department of Defense live joint and coalition intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) interoperability demonstration,” the ongoing “Empire Challenge ‘09” (6-31 …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  French students behind the world's first solar-powered blimp

  24th July 2009

  More than 30 French university students have collaborated to design the world’s first solar-powered blimp, Nephelios, unveiled at the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  EC '09 ROVER 5 demonstrations highlight encrypted full motion video downlink

  24th July 2009

  “Empire Challenge,” the premier US Department of Defense live joint and coalition intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) interoperability demonstration, began in 2004 under the leadership …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Heriot-Watt University triumphs at SAUC-E 2009

  23rd July 2009

  Heriot-Watt University triumphed over international competitors at the fourth Student Autonomous Underwater Competition - Europe (SAUC-E 2009), held at the Qinetiq Ocean Basin, in Gosport, …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Empire Challenge spotlights Scan Eagle with NanoSAR imaging radar

  23rd July 2009

  As the premier U.S. Department of Defense live joint and coalition intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) interoperability demonstration, "Empire Challenge '09" (EC 09) is providing …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Aurora Excalibur UAS Makes First Flight

  21st July 2009

  Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation (Aurora) announced today that it has successfully completed the first flight of the Excalibur Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS). The vertical takeoff …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Northrop Grumman Highlights Unmanned Systems Capabilities at UV Europe 2009

  21st July 2009

  Northrop Grumman Corporation will be participating in the UV Europe conference and exhibition where it will highlight its industry leading capabilities in unmanned aircraft systems …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  French unmanned aircraft protect Bagram Airmen, coalition forces

  14th July 2009

  Airmen of the French unmanned aircraft system operational squadron here are active on patrols in the sky over Afghanistan looking for any movement that could …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Officials announce Predator, Reaper additional formal training location

  14th July 2009

  Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico will be the new location for an additional MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper formal training unit, announced the …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Directed energy weapons

  Project Dragonfire [UK]

  Background The UK Government's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) has been working with MBDA, Leonardo and QinetiQ to develop a LASER Directed Energy Weapon (LDEW) called ...

• Directed energy weapons

  Indirect Fire Protection Capability - Generation II – High-Power Microwave [US]

  Background In July 2025 Epirus received a US$43,551,060 contract from the US Army for two Generation II systems developed from the HPM (Leonidas). Previously, in ...

• Directed energy weapons

  Indirect Fire Protection Capability – High-Power Microwave [US]

  Background In May 2024, the US Army took delivery of four High-Powered Microwave (HPM) Directed-Energy Weapons (DEW) to fulfil its Indirect Fire Protection Capability – High-Power ...

• Military UAS - small

  Medium Range Reconnaissance (MRR) / Rucksack Portable UAS (RPUAS) [USA]

  Background The Rucksack Portable UAS (RPUAS) programme The RPUAS programme will provide the battalion and below-ground manoeuvre elements within the US Army with an organic, ...

• Military UAS - mini

  U&C reconnaissance drones [US Army]

  Methodology PGO The programme has been assigned a PGO of 100%, as a contract has been awarded. Unit cost It has not been clarified what ...

• CUAS - hybrid effector systems

  C-UAS [Portugal]

  Background Portugal's Military Programming Law 2023–2034 includes $8.8724 million (€8.2 million) to acquire counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) by 2034. It is assumed that this acquisition requires ...

• Transport

  C-27J [Azerbaijan]

  Programme Background The Azerbaijani Air Force signed a contract with Leonardo in June 2023 to procure the C-27J Spartan tactical transport aircraft. This move is ...

• Hybrid effector systems

  Border C-UAS Defence [Latvia]

  Background Latvia's long-term blueprint for its armed forces lists a comprehensive C-UAS element with an approximate range of three to four km. This programme is ...

• CUAS - jammers

  NEROD RF [France]

  Background France has procured an unconfirmed number of MC2's NEROD RF C-UAS rifles ("fusils brouilleurs") for short-range counter-drone use. In a 2024 Senate report, it ...

• CUAS - jammers

  C-UAS [Taiwan]

  Background Taiwan announced a requirement for portable C-UAS systems with capabilities that include passive detection, takeover, spoofing and jamming. The systems are planned to strengthen ...

• CUAS - hybrid effector systems

  Finnish Border Guard C-UAS Capability

  Background In response to the growing UAS threat, the Finnish Border Guard was given €44 million for procurements to strengthen drone detection, identification, and countering capabilities. ...

• CUAS - jammers

  C-UAS [Australia]

  Background The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is accelerating the acquisition of state-of-the-art counter-drone technologies through Project LAND 156. The ADF signed a contract with HighCom ...

• CUAS - hybrid effector systems

  SAN C-UAS [Poland]

  Background In January 2026, Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace and its Polish partner Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ) signed a contract with the Polish Armaments Agency for the delivery ...

• CUAS - hybrid effector systems

  US SOF CUxS (Static) [US]

  Background The US Special Operations Command (SOCOM) is procuring a Family of Systems (FoS) design to defeat drones. The programme includes development, integration, prototyping, and test of ...

• CUAS - hybrid effector systems

  US SOF CUxS (Mounted) [US]

  Background The US Special Operations Command (SOCOM) is procuring a Family of Systems (FoS) design to defeat drones. The programme includes development, integration, prototyping, and test of ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• CUAS - hybrid effector systems

  MEHEL 2.0

  The Mobile Expeditionary High-Energy Laser (MEHEL) is a C-UAS-capable vehicle that employs directed energy to neutralise targets. MEHEL 2.0 was first seen at AUSA 2016, ...

• Directed energy weapons

  Fractl:2

  Fractl:2, developed and manufactured by AIM Defence, is an Australian laser directed energy weapon (LDEW). The high-powered portable system is Australia's first acquisition of a directed ...

• CUAS - jammers

  DroneDefender

  DroneDefender is a directed-energy UAS countermeasure that disrupts the adversary's control of the aircraft, neutralising it so that no remote action (including detonation) can occur, ...

• CUAS - jammers

  EJDERHA HPEM System

  The EJDERHA is a high power electromagnetic system manufactured by Aselsan. It generates high-amplitude electromagnetic fields and directs them to potential targets such as IEDs ...

• Directed energy weapons

  Apollo

  Apollo is a High-Energy Laser Weapon System manufactured by Electro Optic Systems (EOS). Apollo's laser utilises directed energy to disable or destroy aerial targets without ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  SCATA Mk1

  The SCATA Mk1 is the first military vehicle developed by Finland's SCATA.

• Directed energy weapons

  Leonidas High-Powered Microwave DEW

  Leonardo's US-based subsidiary Epirus has received funding from both the US and Singapore to develop its Leonidas High-Powered Microwave (HPM) directed-energy weapon (DEW).

• Directed energy weapons

  GÖKBERK 10 Laser DEW

  Turkish company ASELSAN's GÖKBERK 10 laser directed-energy weapon (DEW) is designed to destroy cheap, class-I drones. The system is designed to work with other components ...

• Directed energy weapons

  Locust

  BlueHalo's Locust is a laser weapon system. The system delivers a complete kill chain, providing a layered and broadband detection capability that is coupled with electronic ...

• Directed energy weapons

  Minotaur

  Minotaur, developed by Soukos Robots, is a Greek laser directed energy weapon (LDEW). Minotaur is an anti-drone platform with the ability to shoot down unmanned ...

• Hybrid effector systems

  SkyRanger 30

  SkyRanger 30 is a mobile ground-based air defence (GBAD) laser directed energy weapon (LDEW) system designed by Rheinmetall. The system comprises automatic cannons, guided missiles, and a ...

• OPVs

  PPA/MultiPurpose Combat Ship (MPCS) EVO

  The PPA/MultiPurpose Combat Ship (MPCS) EVO is an enhanced version of the Thaon di Revel-class PPAs unveiled at Euronaval 2024. The PPA/MPCS EVO retains the core platform ...

• Directed energy weapons

  Royal Thai Army Laser DEW

  Under Government instructions, the Royal Thai Army is developing a Laser-based Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) to counter drones in its border regions. The unit cost ...

• Directed energy weapons

  CROSSBOW MINI

  CROSSBOW MINI, developed by IPG Photonics, is a laser-directed energy weapon (LDEW). The LDEW has multiple deployable configurations and is a part of the manufacturers ...

• Directed energy weapons

  DIAL

  The Laser Weapon Instrumental Demonstrator (DIAL), in joint development with Indra and Escribano Mechanical Engineering, is a Spanish laser directed energy weapon (LDEW). The system ...