Uncrewed Systems

Ukrainian-Lithuanian defense technology company Valkyrie Dynamics raised €1 million in pre-seed funding to manufacture and further develop Heimdall, a lightweight radar guidance system for interceptor drones. No government award or solicitation is reported; planned European integration centers could signal future NATO-related testing and integration opportunities.

After the FCAS partnership faltered, Europe’s next-generation airpower plans are diverging: GCAP targets service entry in 2035, while Germany aims for a collaborative combat aircraft capability in 2029. No solicitation or contract value is identified, but prospective demand may center on uncrewed systems, local integration, software and sensor sovereignty, and domestic sustainment.

The U.S. Army’s PEO IEW&S issued a request for information on a next-generation Mounted Assured Positioning, Navigation and Timing system, seeking resilient positioning for Army units and operational domains. The RFI is market research—not an award or selection—and SPARC AI’s promotion of Overwatch does not establish Army participation or endorsement.

Lockheed Martin is positioning its Skunk Works Vectis uncrewed aircraft for a potential future U.S. Air Force Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) increment. No solicitation, schedule, or award decision exists yet, making this an early market indicator rather than an active procurement opportunity for contractors to pursue.

At Milipol 2026 in Doha, Barzan Holdings displayed uncrewed systems, electronic-warfare platforms, and secure communications products while announcing an air-defense joint venture with Ukraine’s Carmine Sky. The move signals Qatar’s defense-industry development, but no solicitation, award, funding, contract value, or procurement timeline has been reported.

Ukraine reported that its DELTA command-and-control system integrated aerial, surface, and underwater uncrewed systems with radar data during the REPMUS 2026 exercise in Portugal, including telemetry transmitted using NATO STANAG 4817. The demonstration highlights interoperability capabilities relevant to future maritime defense procurements, but announced no contract, funding, solicitation, or NATO-wide adoption.

The **Department of Defense** is pursuing higher production of established interceptors and missiles alongside faster procurement of lower-cost drones and weapons. Programs include a **$1.1 billion** drone initiative and large Air Force, Army, and Navy production goals, but delivery depends on appropriations, contracts, industrial capacity, supply chains, and testing.

The U.S. Army is exploring vehicle-agnostic high-energy laser systems to enhance air defense capabilities. This initiative signals an emerging opportunity for laser technology suppliers and integrators to align their solutions with government-controlled interfaces for integration across various ground vehicles.

New Zealand is set to invest up to **$450 million** in drone technologies, enhancing national defense capabilities. This initiative will support local vendors like **Syos Aerospace** and **Obsidian Systems**, while opening avenues for international collaborations, such as the **$229 million** UK defense contract.

The New Zealand Government is set to procure long-range strike drones and uncrewed aircraft systems, each with a budget of up to **$300 million**. This initiative promotes local industry engagement to enhance national defense capabilities, catalyzing economic growth and innovation within the sector.

Teledyne FLIR OEM has launched the Boson SX8, the first NDAA-compliant thermal imaging module manufactured in the U.S. This advanced solution enhances situational awareness for defense and industrial applications, presenting contractors with a low-risk procurement option for compliant technology.