At this morning’s keynote roundtable at XPONENTIAL 2026, government and industry leaders outlined a new phase in the effort to scale the U.S. drone industry: moving from innovation and prototype development to industrial production, supply chain scrutiny, and rapid military acquisition. Moderated by Michael Robbins of AUVSI, the panel focused on the Department of Defense’s … [Read more...] about Drone Dominance: The Defense Department’s Push to Build a Scalable U.S. Drone Supply Chain
defense technology
Military Selects First Bases for Directed-Energy Counter-Drone Program
Five military installations selected to support development of advanced drone defense systems The U.S. Department of Defense has announced the first sites selected for a directed-energy counter-drone program designed to strengthen defenses against unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). According to the Department’s announcement, Joint Interagency Task Force 401 selected five … [Read more...] about Military Selects First Bases for Directed-Energy Counter-Drone Program
U.S. Navy Awards Packet Digital $9.8 Million to Scale Drone Battery Production in North Dakota
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 UAS Family … [Read more...] about U.S. Navy Awards Packet Digital $9.8 Million to Scale Drone Battery Production in North Dakota
Teledyne FLIR OEM Launches Prism Software to Detect Small Drones at Longer Range
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...] about Teledyne FLIR OEM Launches Prism Software to Detect Small Drones at Longer Range
When Commercial Drone Technology Meets Defense: A Closer Look at Civil–Military Integration
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, … [Read more...] about When Commercial Drone Technology Meets Defense: A Closer Look at Civil–Military Integration
