Dual Use

North Dakota facility will manufacture NDAA-compliant battery cells for drones and defense systems Packet Digital and its subsidiary Badland Batteries announced that the company has received $9.8 million as part of Phase 3 of a U.S. Navy contract focused on advanced batteries for logistics drones and unmanned systems. The funding comes through the Navy’s Logistics… Read more: U.S. Navy Awards Packet Digital $9.8 Million to Scale Drone Battery Production in North Dakota

New AI-enabled software aims to identify small drone threats earlier and support faster response Teledyne FLIR OEM, part of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, has announced the launch of Prism C-UAS, a new software solution designed to improve the detection and tracking of small, hard-to-detect drones. The company positions Prism as a software layer that enhances existing… Read more: Teledyne FLIR OEM Launches Prism Software to Detect Small Drones at Longer Range

New analysis highlights how shared innovation pipelines are shaping both commercial drone markets and military capabilities A recent report from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) is drawing attention to a familiar but increasingly important theme in the drone industry: the growing overlap between commercial technology and defense applications. The report, “China’s War Wolves:… Read more: When Commercial Drone Technology Meets Defense: A Closer Look at Civil–Military Integration

New hub aims to speed deployment and improve interoperability across European defense systems A European defense technology company has introduced a new platform designed to help governments find and deploy unmanned systems more quickly. Amsterdam-based Intelic announced the launch of Intelic BASE on May 4, 2026. The platform serves as a procurement hub for Ministries… Read more: New Intelic Platform Lets European Militaries Find and Deploy Drones Faster

Michael Robbins, CEO and President of AUVSI, talks with host Randy Goers about the real forces shaping the uncrewed systems industry, from supply chain security and regulatory bottlenecks to the growing influence of defense priorities, and what it all means for the future of autonomy. We’ll also take a closer look at XPONENTIAL 2026 and… Read more: Inside the Future of Drones: Policy, Security with Michael Robbins, CEO and President of AUVSI on the Drone Radio Show

CEO Adam Bry highlights reduced capital needs as company expands production and commits billions to domestic manufacturing Skydio has raised $110 million in Series F financing, led by existing investors, bringing the company’s valuation to $4.4 billion. In a LinkedIn post from co-founder and CEO Adam Bry, the leader emphasized a notable shift in the… Read more: Skydio Raises $110M Series F, Signals Strong Revenue and U.S. Manufacturing Push

New integration brings LiDAR mapping and radiation detection together across air and ground platforms Teledyne FLIR Defense has expanded its Third-Party Payload Integration Program with the addition of Emesent’s Hovermap LiDAR payload. Announced at Modern Day Marine 2026, the certification allows the Hovermap system to operate across Teledyne FLIR’s unmanned aerial systems (UAS), ground robots,… Read more: Teledyne FLIR Defense Expands Payload Program with Emesent Hovermap for GPS-Denied Operations

Largest-ever MOD initiative supports Kyiv while strengthening UK drone manufacturing base As the global race to build sovereign drone capability accelerates, the United Kingdom is pairing defense support with industrial strategy. A new announcement from the UK Ministry of Defence marks the country’s largest-ever drone package for Ukraine, while directing funding and contracts to domestic… Read more: UK Drone Package for Ukraine Signals Push to Scale Domestic Industry

Partnership with ThirdEye Systems aims to localize production and accelerate advanced counter-UAS deployment EagleNXT has announced a $10 million strategic investment in Israel-based ThirdEye Systems Ltd. and the formation of a new U.S. joint venture, ThirdEye USA. The move reflects continued growth in counter-drone technology and increased demand for domestically produced solutions in defense and… Read more: EagleNXT Expands Counter-Drone Capabilities with Strategic Investment and U.S. Joint Venture

Maritime risk, insurance pressure, and degraded navigation signals point to new use cases for commercial UAV systems Ongoing tension in the Strait of Hormuz continues to shape how commercial vessels manage risk. The region remains one of the world’s most important shipping corridors, handling a significant share of global oil transit. Amid ongoing hostilities between… Read more: Strait of Hormuz Tensions Highlight a Growing Role for Small Drone Surveillance

Public notice outlines questions about regulatory reforms, spectrum access, and innovation zones The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has opened a new proceeding aimed at strengthening the U.S. drone industry. The effort supports a broader federal strategy focused on domestic production, secure supply chains, and expanded deployment of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The agency’s Wireless Telecommunications… Read more: FCC Seeks Input to Advance U.S. Drone Industry

EU to earmark €115 million for AI, drone innovation By DRONELIFE Features Editor Jim Magill The governing body of the European Union plans to launch a €115 million funding program, aimed at speeding the development of “disruptive defense” technologies, such as artificial-intelligence tools, quantum systems and drones. On March 24, the European Commission announced the… Read more: EU Fast-Tracks €115M Defense Innovation Fund to Accelerate Drone and AI Deployment

Canada to establish Drone Innovation Hub By DRONELIFE Features Editor Jim Magill Canada, which has become a world leader in the development of autonomous aviation, aims to expand its domestic capacity in the production of drone and aerospace technologies with the creation of a new Drone Innovation Hub. The National Research Council of Canada (NRC)… Read more: Canada Bets Big on Sovereign Drone Power with New National Innovation Hub

New data highlights rising investment in jamming, laser, and microwave systems as governments and industry seek scalable drone defense solutions Global investment in counter-drone technology is accelerating, as new data shows a sharp increase in patent activity tied to the growing use of small unmanned aircraft. According to research from intellectual property law firm Mathys… Read more: China Leads Global Surge in Counter-Drone Patents as Security Concerns Grow

New curriculum will train students and professionals to identify and respond to drone threats Warren County Community College (WCCC) in New Jersey is expanding its drone education program with a new curriculum focused on counter-drone security. The program will train students and working professionals to identify, assess, and respond to potential threats posed by unmanned… Read more: Warren County Community College Launches Counter-Drone Security Training Program

A review of today’s international news reveals a growing market for drone warfare knowledge and counter-UAS technology A review of today’s top international defense news reveals a clear trend. Drone warfare expertise is becoming a global export industry. Countries with real battlefield experience using small drones are now sharing that knowledge abroad. Governments and defense… Read more: Drone Warfare Expertise Is Becoming a Global Export Industry

At DRONERESPONDERS conference, FDNY’s Mike Leo discusses integrating drones, ground robots, and other robotic systems to improve situational awareness Public safety agencies are increasingly exploring how multiple robotic systems can work together during emergency response. At the DRONERESPONDERS National Public Safety UAS Conference in Williamsburg, Virginia on March 10, 2026, Mike Leo of the Fire… Read more: FDNY Explores Convergence of Robotics for Public Safety Operations

New deployments, interceptor drones, and layered defense strategies show how counter-UAS technology is evolving into a structured global security architecture. A review of the top international news stories around counter UAS technology reveals some key trends in the industry.  Around the world, governments and defense organizations are moving beyond experimental counter-drone tools toward integrated defensive… Read more: Counter-Drone Systems Are Moving From Experiments to Real Infrastructure

Lawmakers and defense officials debate whether the U.S. is ready for large-scale drone warfare as the Pentagon launches a major procurement effort. Pentagon Signals New Demand for Low-Cost Attack Drones The Pentagon has launched a major effort to rapidly scale the production of small attack drones, signaling a shift toward mass deployment of low-cost systems… Read more: 30,000 Attack Drones: Inside the Pentagon’s New Drone Dominance Strategy

Strategic investment expands autonomous defense capabilities and opens path for potential U.S. collaboration EagleNXT has announced a strategic investment in Aerodrome Group Ltd., an Israel-based developer of precision loitering munitions. The investment expands EagleNXT’s capabilities in autonomy and precision strike technology. EagleNXT, formerly known as AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc., provides drones, sensors, and software for… Read more: EagleNXT Expands Defense Technology Portfolio with Investment in Autonomous Loitering Munition Developer