Innovations
Technological and operational innovations in the UAS and counter-UAS space — what emerged first, where, and what it changes. Each entry is sourced, dated, and linked to the drones involved.
Ukraine declares first domestically made satellite-guided glide bomb combat-ready
Ukraine says it has completed trials and is ready to field its first homegrown guided aerial (glide) bomb: a purpose-built, winged, unpowered munition with satellite guidance and a 250 kg warhead, intended to strike targets dozens of kilome…
First public photo of AIM-260 JATM carried on US Navy F/A-18F test jet
Photos show the previously unseen AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile on a VX-31 F/A-18F at Eglin, confirming external configuration and ongoing flight-test integration. The AIM-260 is intended to replace/augment AIM-120 AMRAAM with gre…
US Army to field containerized Barracuda-500M low-cost cruise missiles
Anduril’s Barracuda-500M is a containerized, surface-launched cruise missile concept aimed at mass, low-cost long-range precision fires (500+ nm, ~100 lb payload). The novelty is the scalable production approach (rapid assembly with common …
US Army fires ground-launched Tomahawk (Typhon/MRC) in Balikatan 2026
Balikatan 2026 featured a notable live-fire debut of the US Army’s Mid-Range Capability (Typhon), launching a Tomahawk cruise missile from a ground-based Mk 41 VLS within the first island chain. The exercise also emphasized rapid HIMARS ins…
CBO estimates 7,800 space-based interceptors for US Golden Dome concept
The post describes a proposed national missile-defense architecture centered on a very large constellation of space-based anti-missile interceptors (7,800) plus expanded ground/sea-based layers. While not battlefield-deployed yet, it repres…
Pentagon plans mass procurement of low-cost containerized cruise missiles (LCCM)
The Pentagon announced framework agreements to procure 10,000+ low-cost cruise missiles and scale low-cost hypersonic missiles, emphasizing containerized/ground- and ship-launchable designs for flexible standoff strike. The novelty is the p…
Pentagon starts Low Cost Containerization Munitions Program for 10,000 missiles
The US DoD is launching the Low Cost Containerization Munitions Program (LCCMP) via framework agreements with multiple vendors to pursue large quantities of low-cost, containerized cruise-missile-like munitions. The novelty is the emphasis …
US LCCM program for low-cost containerized missiles and Blackbeard hypersonic buys
The Pentagon is launching the Low-Cost Containerized Munitions (LCCM) program to procure large numbers of low-cost missiles deployable from standard shipping containers, enabling dispersed, mobile launch capacity. It also outlines a plan to…
Putin claims test launch of new 'world’s most powerful' missile
The post reports Russia test-firing a new missile that Putin claims is the world’s most powerful. If accurate, this indicates a newly introduced strategic missile capability, though details on type, range, and deployment status are not prov…
U.S. Navy starts LRAW long-range vertical-launch ASW weapon development
The U.S. Navy is initiating funded design work for LRAW, a new vertical-launch stand-off anti-submarine weapon intended to replace/supplement VL-ASROC with significantly greater range. The program also includes an AUKUS requirements review,…