Robotics

A key component in training, simulation, modeling and performing dangerous operations, robotics are playing a growing role in how the military does its job.

South Korea to deploy laser weapons to intercept North Korean drones

The Defense Acquisition Program Administration said it will deploy at least one anti-air laser weapons system — called “Block-I” — this year.

12 days ago

A West Coast-based naval special warfare operator fires a Switchblade 300 Lethal Miniature Aerial Munition System during a training exercise.

Australia takes aim with US-made loitering munitions

AeroVironment's Switchblade 300 has a 3.69-pound (1.68 kg) warhead and 19-mile (30 km) range in its latest Block 20 variant.

13 days ago

Robotics

Germany to help procure drones for Ukraine, Pistorius says

The country will present a plan for NATO to buy drones “from German industry” on behalf of the Ukrainian armed forces, Pistorius said.

Ukraine industry chief sees bumper year for land-based drones

Kyiv's head of strategic industries said that the push for ground robotics was part of a bigger bet on "defense tech."

14 days ago

Zelenskyy seeks relaxed target limits within Russia amid bombardment

Glide bombs are heavy Soviet-era bombs fitted with precision guidance systems and launched from aircraft flying out of range of air defenses.

3 weeks ago

Dronemaker Skydio hiring team in Ukraine amid strategy shift

The war in Ukraine is the first to feature widespread use of small, commercial style drones.

4 weeks ago

Pentagon tech hub to launch dozens of new projects with FY24 funding

DIU offered details on how it will spend nearly $1 billion FY24 funding, most of which will go toward speeding up existing projects and starting new ones.

5 weeks ago

Lawmakers urge Defense Innovation Unit to partner with Israel, Taiwan

The provisions call for DIU to establish a “strategic partnership” with each country to coordinate on industrial priorities and dual-use tech development.

5 weeks ago

US approves loitering munitions sale for Taiwan’s ‘porcupine strategy’

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency approvals include 291 Altius 600M-V loitering munitions from Anduril, plus 720 Switchblade 300s from AeroVironment.

5 weeks ago

Chinese military’s rifle-toting robot dogs raise concerns in Congress

Lawmakers want U.S. military officials to examine the threat posed by new Chinese robot dogs armed with rifles.

5 weeks ago

Ground robots hauling drones into battle is a trend at Paris arms fair

Teledyne Flir and Rheinmetall have proposed combos of robots on land and in the air.

5 weeks ago

Robot craze in Russia-Ukraine war shines light on their drawbacks

Experts say the deployment of unmanned ground vehicles in combat remains a costly affair in terms of labor and their vulnerabilities.

5 weeks ago

Anduril to build factory to increase Dive-LD unmanned systems capacity

The facility will eventually be able to make up to 200 Dive-LD autonomous underwater vehicles a year.

5 weeks ago

Romania’s second Patriot system operational after drone-destroying drill

Certifying the Patriot was a national objective identified by Romania’s Defence Ministry as part of the NATO-led Ramstein Legacy exercise.

6 weeks ago

A Robotic Combat Vehicle Light prototype is seen at the National Training Center in California in 2023.

Robotic vehicles to fight with enemy forces in Army training event

McQ, Textron Systems, General Dynamics Land Systems and Oshkosh Defense will build the light RCV prototypes.

6 weeks ago

Estonian-made combat robots in Ukraine now come with Starlink

The new satellite connectivity feature allows the vehicles to be operated from thousands of miles away, according to the manufacturer.

6 weeks ago

White House takes aim at shipbuilding, other measures in defense bill

The White House noted its concerns with the FY25 defense policy bill's shipbuilding plans, an east coast missile defense site and contractor pricing data.

6 weeks ago

Ukraine says it struck SU-57 stealth fighter deep inside Russia

The airstrip’s distance from Ukraine, as well as unofficial comments from Russia, point to the likely use of Ukrainian-made drones in the attack.

6 weeks ago

DIU, Air Force pick four firms to prototype modular testing drone

DIU and the Air Force want to use ETV in large numbers to “create an overwhelming dilemma" for an enemy, perhaps making it a candidate for Replicator.

7 weeks ago