Fresh from Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works, the Vectis stealth combat drone is poised to reshape the U.S. air-power playbook. The program targets a two-year development window to field a high-end platform capable of operating solo or alongside the F-35 Lightning, Lockheed’s premier stealth fighter. Officials describe Vectis as a modular, highly adaptable drone designed for...

In a move that reframes air warfare, Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works unveiled a stealth combat drone named Vectis, designed to extend the reach of American air power without the footprint of a full-size fighter. The platform is pitched as interoperable with existing manned systems, able to conduct precision strikes, ISR missions, electronic warfare, and both...

Auterion Raises $130M to Expand Defense Drone Software Auterion, an eight-year-old software specialist known for fleet management that works across drone brands, has secured $130 million in a Series B round aimed at expanding defense-focused capabilities. The Arlington, Virginia–based company builds software that lets a single operator oversee multiple autonomous unmanned systems at once, regardless...

Kratos Expands With Autonomous Combat Drones and Hypersonics Kratos Defense & Security Solutions is moving from demonstration to industrial-scale output, unveiling a production path for 24 XQ-58A Valkyrie drones. The San Diego company has carved out a dedicated manufacturing line and supply chain to deliver ready-for-service autonomous combat drones, signaling a deeper push into next-generation...

As Russian incursions sharpen security concerns, NATO launches a high-stakes drone tech exercise across allied airspaces, testing autonomy, survivability, and interoperability. The effort underscores NATO drone technology as a framework for modern defense alongside allied sensors and data links. For defense planners, the message is clear: drone systems must operate as a cohesive network, even...

Sesimbra, Portugal, on a clear September morning, Europe’s attention is trained on the sea floor as a fleet of unmanned systems demonstrates its evolving mine countermeasures capability. A six-and-a-half meter autonomous underwater vehicle, nicknamed Greyshark, glides just beneath the surface near a Portuguese Navy vessel, its silhouette softened by the Atlantic light. The drill, part...