Innovations
Tactical and technological innovations in drone warfare — what showed up first, where, and what it changes. Each entry is sourced, dated, and linked to the drones involved.
Mark 58 CRAW next-gen compact torpedo enters Increment 2 testing
Raytheon and the U.S. Navy are advancing the Mark 58 Compact Rapid Attack Weapon (CRAW), a new compact submarine-launched torpedo family with planned anti-submarine and hard-kill anti-torpedo variants. Novel elements highlighted include exp…
US Navy receives first ICS-enabled Aegis baseline BL9.C3.0
Lockheed Martin delivered the first Integrated Combat System (ICS)-enabled Aegis baseline (BL9.C3.0), introducing a re-architected display component and Tactical PaaS to support containerized software. The key innovation is a shift to a sta…
RNZN plans expanded unmanned surface vessels for long-duration ISR
New Zealand’s FY2026/27 defence budget and Maritime Fleet Renewal planning explicitly emphasize introducing more uncrewed systems and simulation technologies, including long-endurance unmanned surface vessels for ISR in the southwest Pacifi…
SOCOM to launch Flyweight 5.56mm belt-fed machine gun program to replace Mk 46
U.S. SOCOM is initiating a new requirement for a 5.56x45mm belt-fed “Flyweight Assault Machine Gun” (FAMG) intended to replace the Mk 46. While not yet fielded, the program signals a push for a lighter belt-fed weapon optimized for close-qu…
Ukraine to receive Gripen C/D with Meteor BVR missiles (planned 2027 delivery)
The post describes a planned transfer of Swedish Gripen C/D fighters to Ukraine with advanced air-to-air armament, notably the long-range ramjet-powered Meteor missile. If delivered, Meteor would materially expand Ukraine’s beyond-visual-ra…
US Army seeks high-altitude ISR balloons with Starlink/MPU5 networking in Pacific
The US Army is pursuing COTS/mod-COTS high-altitude balloons (up to ~90k–120k ft class) with modular EO/IR and electronic sensing/SIGINT payloads, plus payload buses integrating Starlink and MPU5 radios. The novelty is the push to operation…
Pantsir-SMD-E counter-drone system helicopter-lifted onto Moscow skyscraper
Russia is deploying the counter-drone-optimized Pantsir-SMD-E variant on top of Moscow skyscrapers, delivered by Mi-26 heavy-lift helicopter. The SMD-E is tailored for static infrastructure defense and can carry up to 48 small TKB-1055 anti…
MQ-28 Ghost Bat conducts test flights from US Navy base Point Mugu
Boeing is flying the MQ-28 Ghost Bat from NAS Point Mugu, described as its first operation in allied (non-Australian) airspace, validating autonomous systems and allied-base operations. The test aircraft shown also appears fitted with a nos…
Drones: Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat · Kazhan heavy FPV bomber
Russia places Pantsir air-defense systems on Moscow rooftops
Russia is deploying Pantsir short-range air-defense systems on building rooftops in Moscow to counter an increased Ukrainian drone threat. The novelty is the urban, rooftop-based air-defense posture to improve line-of-sight and coverage aga…
Epic Fury drives Space Force shift to distributed ops and EW sites
The post highlights a doctrinal/operational shift: Space Force planning for distributed operations and dedicated EW sites after space capabilities were reportedly targeted and destroyed during Operation Epic Fury. This reflects adaptation t…