Laser Photonics Advances in US Air Force Evaluation for LSAD Technology

Two cluster members are demonstrating how autonomous technologies become even more powerful when integrated. Congratulations to Ocean Autonomy Cluster member ACUA Ocean and NORDSEC - Nordic Defence and Security Cluster member Teledyne FLIR Defense UGS (formerly Endeavor Robotics) on successfully completing a UK Defence Innovation (UKDI)-funded demonstration of an integrated uncrewed surface vessel (USV) and tethered drone capability. By combining ACUA Ocean's Pioneer USV with Teledyne FLIR Defense's SkyCarrier™ and SkyRanger® R70, the partners have demonstrated a persistent, multi-domain ISR solution capable of delivering long-endurance maritime surveillance for defence and security applications. The integrated system has the potential to support missions including: ✔ Maritime intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) ✔ Critical infrastructure protection ✔ Anti-submarine warfare support ✔ Mine countermeasures This project highlights the value of collaboration across the autonomous systems ecosystem and demonstrates how complementary technologies can create new operational capabilities. Congratulations to the teams at ACUA Ocean and Teledyne FLIR Defense on this important milestone. Read full story https://lnkd.in/eWXq45fu #OceanAutonomy #Defence #MaritimeAutonomy #USV #UAS #ISR #DualUse #Innovation #NORDSEC #OceanAutonomyCluster

Ukraine’s Lima EW system is becoming one of its key non-kinetic air defense tools. If a Russian weapon relies on satellite navigation, Lima can jam or spoof its receiver, feed it false coordinates, push it off course, make it miss, or even crash. Publicly reported specs: – Developer: Cascade Systems – Targets: Shaheds/Gerans, UAVs, cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and guided bombs – Method: GNSS jamming, spoofing and cyber interference – Claimed range: up to 370 km – Setup: claimed under 4 hours – Activation: claimed under 1 minute – Integration: reportedly over 90% of Ukraine’s Pokrova strategic EW system A “Night Watch” commander says Lima accounts for roughly half of Russian aerial targets suppressed by Ukrainian EW. Public reporting has also credited it with disrupting 61 Kinzhal missiles. ☝️ The challenge is that newer Geran/Shahed variants use hardened satellite navigation, including Kometa-M and CRPA-style multi-element antennas designed to resist GNSS jamming and spoofing. Reported antenna setups have evolved from 4 patches to 6/8, 12, and even 16 elements. Ukraine’s answer is Lima Quant, a modernized version built to counter newer CRPA antennas. Quant became necessary in early 2025 after Russia introduced an antenna that could resist more interference sources than it had antenna elements. With the previous Lima version, suppressing a 19-element antenna could require 19 Lima systems. Lima Quant changes this by preventing the CRPA antenna from determining where the EW signal is coming from. Alongside the main suppression signal, it generates additional high-energy signals that disrupt direction finding. Key claim: Lima Quant can suppress CRPA antennas regardless of the number of elements. Ukrainian specialists developed the upgrade in about three months.

Will it fit in the mission module locations previously used for 30 mm chain guns on the Independence-variant LCS? If so, LCS could be used to defend destroyers against drone swarms so that the destroyer can save its missiles for other threats. “We are honored to field this operational‑tactical prototype — the highest‑power laser ever packaged in a transportable container,” said Paul Lemmo, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin Sensors, Effectors, and Mission Systems.” https://lnkd.in/gqMD8bNf

🌊 𝗥𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗲𝗱𝗼 𝗧𝘂𝗯𝗲, 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝗮 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀 German defense firms Gabler and Flanq built the Ranger to fold down small enough to fit any standard 21-inch torpedo tube. Once fired underwater, the 15-foot drone pops to the surface, unfurls its keel and sensor mast, and runs intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions on its quiet electric drivetrain. A configurable payload bay lets operators swap in sensors or other mission gear. The companies already have a one-way attack variant called Strike in development, with the proof-of-concept phase now complete. #AutonomousSystems #NavalDefense #MilitaryTech ─── 🤖 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝗜 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀, 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 "𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗔𝗜𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁" 𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺

📊 The Defense Contractors power map shifted this week. Fast. 1. 📰 BAE Systems: US invests $16M to revive radiation-hardened microelectronics production. → BAE Systems via interestingengineering.com: https://lnkd.in/gZdgnrH2 2. 📰 Northrop Grumman: NATO plans to buy Triton surveillance drones. → Northrop Grumman via seekingalpha.com: https://lnkd.in/gFGBQ9K3 3. 📰 Lockheed Martin: Develops 500 kW laser weapon system for US Department of War. → Lockheed Martin via interestingengineering.com: https://lnkd.in/g4NTF7GJ 4. 🤝 Thales Group: Acquires Exail Technologies for $4.5 billion, boosting underwater drones. → Thales Group via defensenews.com: https://lnkd.in/gNtgp87j 5. 🐦 Raytheon Technologies: Increases AMRAAM production capacity with NATO allies. → Raytheon Technologies on X: https://lnkd.in/g8fX9Zzk 🧠 Wila's take: Defense contractors are rapidly scaling advanced capabilities, with Lockheed Martin pushing next-gen weapons forward. 🔭 Track your industry, competitors and clients with Wila.ai #DefenseIndustry #MilitaryTech #DefenseContractors

AeroVironment wins $500M Pentagon contract for counter-drone tech over three years 🎯 The real story isn't the dollar amount. It's the cost asymmetry they're fixing. Iran showed us the problem: defending against $2,000 Shahed drones with $2M Patriot missiles. AeroVironment's LOCUST directed energy system flips that equation. $3 per shot. Compare that to traditional kinetic intercepts. We're talking six orders of magnitude difference in engagement cost. The Army Contracting Command contract focuses specifically on small UAS defenses. That's where the volume threat lives. Swarms, not single high-value targets. AV's shares jumped 19% after announcing record Q4 revenue alongside this win. The market's pricing in a fundamental shift in how DoD procures counter-UAS. Anduril and others are building similar capabilities, but AV got the nod for scale deployment first. Three-year timeline means iterative improvements. Directed energy systems need field testing to optimize power levels, tracking algorithms, and atmospheric compensation. This contract de-risks their R&D spend and validates the directed energy approach for low-cost aerial threats. What's the realistic engagement rate for laser systems against coordinated swarm attacks in contested environments? #DefenseTech #CounterUAS #DirectedEnergy #DefenseContracts

🔔 M&A ALERT — Lockheed Martin to Acquire Ultra Maritime for $3.45B 💰 Deal Value: €3.17B / $3.45B (cash) 🏢 LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION The world's largest defense contractor, with FY2025 revenue of $75.0B and ~136,700 employees. Lockheed Martin builds aircraft, missiles, space systems and mission solutions for the US and allied governments across four business segments. Ultra Maritime will join its Rotary and Mission Systems business, deepening its undersea warfare portfolio. 🌐 www.lockheedmartin.com 🏢 ULTRA MARITIME Around 2,000 employees across the US, UK, Australia and Canada, with revenue climbing from $494M (2023) toward a projected ~$784M in 2026 — roughly 17% annual growth. The company specializes in anti-submarine warfare: sonobuoys, hull-mounted and towed sonar arrays, and torpedo defense systems, and is the only maker of compact G-size sonobuoys deployable from unmanned aircraft. Its roots go back to a London electronics factory founded in 1920; it is being sold by Advent International's Cobham Ultra after a ~$170M investment program. 🌐 www.umaritime.com 📌 Deal Highlights: • Definitive agreement announced July 6, 2026 — one of the year's largest defense-tech deals • Strengthens Lockheed's position in undersea and anti-submarine warfare as navies boost ASW spending • Advent exits after scaling Ultra Maritime's independent sonobuoy production capability #LockheedMartin #UltraMaritime #Defense #Naval #MergersAndAcquisitions #Investment #GlobalDeals #BusinessNews #Finance #USA #UK #Deal2026

Laser weapons just moved from demo to production line! The Pentagon tapped nLIGHT, Inc. (nLIGHT DEFENSE Systems, Inc.) for the Joint Laser Weapon System, $44M to start, up to $627M as it scales. Containerized high-energy lasers built to drop cruise missiles and drone swarms at the speed of light. First units at 150kW, scaling to 300-500kW. Is the "always ten years away" era of laser weapons finally over? https://lnkd.in/edrRQXzC #DirectedEnergy #Lasers #Defense #Photonics #AerospaceAndDefense

Military Technology 1. Autonomous drones are expanding surveillance, targeting, and logistics roles while reducing direct risk to soldiers in combat. 2. Artificial intelligence is improving threat detection, mission planning, and response speed across land, sea, air, and cyberspace. 3. Hypersonic weapons and advanced missile defenses are driving intense competition over speed, precision, interception, and deterrence. 4. Secure communications, satellite networks, and electronic warfare systems now shape coordination, resilience, and battlefield decision-making. 5. Robotics, sensors, and smart munitions are helping militaries operate with greater accuracy, adaptability, and operational reach.

Military Technology 1. Autonomous drones are expanding surveillance, targeting, and logistics roles while reducing direct risk to soldiers in combat. 2. Artificial intelligence is improving threat detection, mission planning, and response speed across land, sea, air, and cyberspace. 3. Hypersonic weapons and advanced missile defenses are driving intense competition over speed, precision, interception, and deterrence. 4. Secure communications, satellite networks, and electronic warfare systems now shape coordination, resilience, and battlefield decision-making. 5. Robotics, sensors, and smart munitions are helping militaries operate with greater accuracy, adaptability, and operational reach.