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.
Chinese WIG craft 'Bohai Sea Monster' seen with apparent weapons hardpoints
New imagery of China’s wing-in-ground effect craft shows what appear to be underwing hardpoints with release shackles, suggesting a potential armed or multi-role combat mission (e.g., weapons, drones, or sensor/pod carriage) rather than pur…
Navantia UK unveils LASV75 75m large autonomous surface vessel concept
Navantia UK revealed the LASV75 concept, a 75m, 1,000+ tonne uncrewed surface vessel designed from the outset for autonomous operations with modular, containerised payloads for missions including surveillance, escort, EW and strike support.…
IAI 'Diamond' concept: disaggregated drones/missiles across small vessels
Israel Aerospace Industries unveiled a 'Diamond' naval concept that distributes defensive systems (including drones and missiles) across multiple small satellite ships networked to a mother ship. The novelty is a disaggregated, modular flot…
Japan commissions Mogami-class frigate Natori with Mk 41 VLS and high automation
The ninth Mogami-class frigate JS Natori enters service as one of the first in class fitted with Mk 41 VLS from the outset and featuring a highly automated, network-centric CIC designed to run with ~90 crew versus ~200 on older destroyers. …
Turkey to procure 100 expendable explosive USVs with swarm doctrine
Turkey plans to buy 100 one-way explosive unmanned surface vessels (USVs) from three vendors (Aselsan/Ares “Tufan”, STM/Yonca “Yaktu”, Havelsan/Sefine) intended for coordinated swarm attacks against maritime and coastal targets. The novelty…
US Navy plans high-energy laser weapons integrated into future surface combatants
The article describes the US Navy’s push to field high-energy laser weapons for ship self-defense to reduce reliance on VLS-loaded kinetic interceptors and free magazine space for offensive missiles. The novelty is the explicit linkage of f…
US Navy fields ODIN/HELIOS laser weapons on nine Arleigh Burke destroyers
The post details operational deployment of shipboard solid-state laser systems (ODIN dazzler and HELIOS ~60kW) across nine US guided-missile destroyers, including units on CENTCOM deployments. This reflects directed-energy weapons moving fr…
US Navy tests crewed-uncrewed teaming of SEAL SDVs with UUVs
The US Navy is testing concepts where SEAL Delivery Vehicles (wet SWCS Mk 11 and larger Dry Combat Submersibles) operate alongside uncrewed underwater vehicles to extend reach and reduce risk (e.g., sending UUVs through defended harbor chok…
Spanish Navy BHC vessels to use ABB DC-grid electric propulsion with batteries
ABB will supply Navantia with a DC-based onboard power distribution and propulsion suite (Onboard DC Grid + PEMS, thruster motors, and batteries) for two new Spanish Navy coastal hydrographic vessels. While not a frontline combat tactic, it…
Sweden selects Naval Group FDI design for Luleå-class frigates
Sweden will procure a foreign frigate design (Naval Group’s FDI) for its future Luleå-class, integrating Swedish weapons/sensors (RBS 15, Torped 47, Giraffe 1X, Bofors guns) while likely retaining the French SETIS CMS. The ships are planned…