Autonomy Expands 🚁, Directed Energy Fires Up ⚡️, Hypersonics Surge 🚀

Shield AI & Airbus U.S. Partner on Autonmous Helicopter 🚁

Shield AI and Airbus announced a partnership on April 30, 2025, to integrate Shield AI's cutting-edge autonomy capabilities onto an Airbus MQ-72C Logistics Connector, an unmanned variant of the UH-72 Lakota. The tests will continue to push the envelope for the autonomous aircraft space.

Epirus Delivers Drone Swarm Defense Prototype to U.S. Navy ⚡️

Epirus announced the delivery of its Expeditionary Directed Energy Counter-Swarm (ExDECS) high-power microwave (HPM) system prototype to the U.S. Navy for the Marine Corps. This mobile, solid-state HPM system is designed to counter drone swarms and will support the Marine Corps' evaluation of HPM technology for Low Altitude Air Defense (LAAD) missions.

Saronic Technologies Unveils 'Mirage' and 'Cipher' ASVs 🚤

Texas-based Saronic Technologies expanded its family of Autonomous Surface Vessels (ASVs) with the announcement of two new models, the 40-foot "Mirage" and the 60-foot "Cipher". These new platforms further Saronic's efforts to deliver scalable and autonomous maritime capabilities for defense applications.

Raytheon Awarded $580M for Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band Production 🛰️

Raytheon secured a $580 million follow-on production contract from the U.S. Navy on May 16, 2025, for the Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band (NGJ-MB) system. This contract will provide additional NGJ-MB pod shipsets for the Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force, enhancing electronic attack capabilities against advanced threats.

U.S. Navy Conducts Successful Sea-Based Hypersonic Launch Test 🚀

The Department of Defense announced on May 2, 2025, a successful flight test of a conventional hypersonic missile, part of the Navy's Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) program. This test marked the first launch using the Navy's cold-gas launch approach from a sea-based platform, a key step towards fielding this offensive hypersonic capability.

U.S. Army Names New Hypersonic Missile "Dark Eagle" 🦅

On April 24, 2025, the U.S. Army announced that its new land-based, truck-launched hypersonic missile has been named the "Dark Eagle." This weapon, with a reported range exceeding 1,700 miles, is being developed in partnership with the Navy and is nearing the end of its testing phase, aiming to provide a maneuverable, hard-to-intercept strike capability.

DIU Expands Reach with New Hubs 🗺️

The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) announced plans to expand its national presence by establishing three new regional innovation hubs in Kentucky, Minnesota, and Montana during 2025. This expansion aims to broaden the Pentagon's access to commercial and dual-use technology developers across the country.

Skydio Delivers First X10D Drones for Army's SRR Program 🚁

Skydio announced on May 5, 2025, that it fulfilled the first order under the U.S. Army's Short Range Reconnaissance (SRR) Tranche 2 program, delivering hundreds of its X10D small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) to a deploying unit within days. The X10D, part of the Blue UAS Cleared List, will provide critical ISR capabilities. The X10D can now be built in only 9 minutes in their Hayward, CA manufacturing facility.

Mach Industries Secures $100M 🔥

Defense technology startup Mach Industries secured $100 million in a new funding round co-led by Khosla Ventures and Bedrock Capital, as reported on May 3, 2025. The funding will accelerate Mach's development of cutting-edge technologies, including vertical liftoff vehicles and weapons operable from the edge of space, and support the scaling of its manufacturing capabilities.

Anduril Unveils Pulsar-L 📡

Anduril Industries announced Pulsar-L (Pulsar-Lite), the newest addition to its Pulsar family of software-defined Electromagnetic Warfare (EW) systems, on April 29, 2025. Pulsar-L offers high-performance EW capabilities for detecting, identifying, tracking, and defeating threats in a compact, portable design for tactical edge deployment.

Apex Space Raises $200M Series C 🛰️

Satellite manufacturer Apex announced on April 29, 2025, that it has raised $200 million in a Series C funding round co-led by 8VC and Point72 Ventures. The funding will accelerate the production of Apex's configurable satellite bus platforms, aiming to meet surging demand from commercial and government customers, including for programs like the "Golden Dome" missile defense initiative.

GOP Funding Bill Proposes Boost for Boeing's F-15EX & NGAD 💸

A Republican funding bill proposal, detailed on April 28, 2025, suggests significant increases for key Boeing fighter programs. The bill includes an additional $3.2 billion to ramp up production of the F-15EX Eagle II and $400 million to accelerate the development and production of the F-47 Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter.

General Dynamics Awarded $12.4B Contract Modification for Virginia-Class Submarines 🌊

General Dynamics Electric Boat announced on April 30, 2025, that it received a $12.4 billion contract modification from the U.S. Navy for the construction of two Virginia-class submarines. The award also includes investments to improve shipyard productivity and workforce support, with options potentially bringing the total value to $17.2 billion.