defense
XTEND’s SCORPIO 1000 clears UK paratrooper live-kinetic validation in EW-denied trials
XTEND says UK paratroopers independently validated SCORPIO 1000 live-kinetic strikes in EW/GNSS-denied trials, as its NYSE-bound merger terms loosen.
eu
defense
MQ-28 Ghost Bat flies Valiant Shield, sharpening CCA prospects for Europe
Boeing’s MQ-28 Ghost Bat flew in Valiant Shield with US and allied aircraft, boosting its coalition CCA credentials as Germany eyes operational wingmen by 2029.
defense
EU funds PEGASUS to build public trust in urban air mobility
The EU is investing €4.83m in PEGASUS to improve public acceptance of drones and low-emission aircraft for urban air mobility across seven European countries.
defense
Lockheed pitches PAC-3 “ACE” as cheaper ballistic-missile interceptor
Lockheed’s PAC-3 ACE concept would trade some high-end capability for lower cost and higher volumes, leveraging existing Patriot launchers to bolster SRBM defence amid PAC-3 shortages—an immediate relevance for European Patriot operators and Ukraine support.
defense
Anduril’s ‘Thunder’ tiltrotor targets Army helicopter teaming
Anduril unveiled “Thunder”, an autonomous hybrid-electric armed tiltrotor pitched as a low-cost wingman to team with Army helicopters, with export intent signalled at Farnborough.
defense
DARPA bets on nuclear-waste microgenerators to break drone power limits
DARPA’s Rads to Watts is funding Sr-90 nuclear-waste power cells targeting >10 W/kg and multi-year shelf life, with a prototype planned for early 2027—raising future endurance gains and regulatory burdens for European users.
defense
EASA updates Easy Access Rules, adds SORA 2.5 to UAS compliance baseline
EASA’s June 2026 Easy Access Rules update adds SORA 2.5 and a redesigned platform, tightening Europe’s shared baseline for higher-risk UAS authorisations.
defense
Ukraine’s refinery strikes turn Russia’s energy shield into a liability
Ukrainian drone and missile strikes on refineries are now driving fuel shortages across Russia, exposing repair bottlenecks and tightening the economic screws behind the front.
defense
Kallas signals fresh EU sanctions after Kyiv missile-drone barrage
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said she will propose new sanctions on Russian military producers after a major missile-and-drone strike wave hit Kyiv.
defense
Echodyne ramps radar output as counter-UAS demand spikes globally
Echodyne is accelerating a $40m production buildout to reach 30,000 radars/year by early 2028, signalling counter-UAS demand at scale—already including substantial shipments to Europe.
defense
Spain greenlights first SAIL III BVLOS drone cargo over populated areas
Spain’s AESA has issued its first SAIL III authorisation, allowing CATUAV to fly BVLOS cargo missions over populated areas with the RigiTech Eiger 3—an important EU regulatory precedent for scaled unmanned logistics.
defense
Dutch prisons get legal authority to disrupt hostile drones from July 2026
From 1 July 2026, Dutch prison staff will be legally empowered to disrupt or disable drones threatening high-security facilities, aiming to curb drone-enabled contraband smuggling and related security risks.