Today’s defense news features progress in military technology and infrastructure. Here’s a brief look at the latest developments:
US Air Force Evaluates Portable Control System for Drones
The US Air Force has completed prototype evaluations for a portable command-and-control system, known as C2E, designed to operate Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCAs), Defence Blog reports. The system aims to provide operators with a mobile way to command semi-autonomous CCA drones from austere or forward locations. The evaluation included ground operations demonstrations from multiple industry vendors, hosted by the Ohio Air National Guard’s 178th Wing, to inform the Air Force’s C2E acquisition strategy.
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Snowbird Technologies Manufactures Parts Aboard USS Essex
Snowbird Technologies successfully produced and machined a 316L stainless steel component aboard the USS Essex during Rim of the Pacific Exercise 2026, Naval News reports. This demonstration highlighted expeditionary manufacturing capabilities in an operational maritime environment using Snowbird’s SAMM Tech system. The system performed additive manufacturing and precision machining within a single ruggedized, containerized platform, marking the first phase of Snowbird Technologies’ participation in RIMPAC 2026.
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US Army Constructs New Apache Helicopter Facility
The US Army Corps of Engineers is constructing a new 119,000 square-foot Attack Aviation Battalion Complex at Marshall Army Airfield in Fort Riley, Kansas, with an estimated price tag of $83 million, Defence Blog reports. This facility will expand maintenance and storage capacity for Fort Riley’s Apache helicopter squadron, accommodating six additional aircraft under normal conditions. The project, scheduled for completion in August 2027, also includes administrative facilities, parking, and specialized storage vaults.
Sources for this story (1)
- U.S. Army builds new Apache facility at Fort Riley (Defence Blog)
US Army Tests Counter-UAS Systems at Fort Bragg
More than 50 companies gathered at Fort Bragg’s Lt. Gen. James M. Gavin Joint Innovation Outpost from August 11 to 13 to test counter-drone systems, Defence Blog reports. This event, ahead of the XVIII Airborne Corps’ Scarlet Dragon exercise, evaluated how various sensor manufacturers, command-and-control developers, and communications providers performed individually and in combination. The goal is to understand how different capabilities work together to create a more complete counter-UAS architecture, with findings to be integrated into the Scarlet Dragon exercise.
Sources for this story (1)
- U.S. Army gathers 50 firms to test counter-UAS systems (Defence Blog)
UK’s New Autonomous Vessel to Join NATO Exercise
ZeroUSV has named its first Oceanus17-class unmanned surface vessel, “The Lady of the Lake,” which is set to deploy to Portugal for NATO’s Exercise REPMUS, Defence Blog reports. The vessel, built by Manor Marine, has a payload capacity of 4,000 kilograms, mission endurance exceeding 50 days, and a top speed approaching 15 knots. It uses MarineAI’s GuardianAI autonomy software for level-four autonomous navigation, and its participation in Exercise REPMUS will demonstrate its potential for defense and commercial maritime operations.
Sources for this story (1)
- New UK autonomous vessel to join NATO exercise (Defence Blog)
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