MILTECHBRIEF
Briefing No. 001 Compiled by the MILTECH BRIEF desk

Microwave C-UAS for the Marines, AI sonar at RIMPAC, and Boeing sells Insitu

Top story

Marine Corps puts ~$11M behind Epirus HAVOC microwave C-UAS. The service awarded Epirus a vehicle-mounted high-power microwave kit meant to knock down drone swarms in a single engagement. Reporting describes a production-ready path and a universal sled mount for manned and unmanned vehicles after Marine Corps testing. Why it matters: directed-energy counter-UAS is leaving the demo circuit and showing up as funded, mountable kit. (Single source) Defense News →

The rundown

NAVAL / AI — The U.S. Navy tested AI-powered sonar for submarine targeting during RIMPAC. If it holds beyond the exercise, ASW cueing gets faster without waiting on a full sensor redesign. (Single source) Defense News →

DRONES — The Pentagon opened an online marketplace for counter-UAS equipment — an agency-facing catalog for defeating commercial drones, not a consumer storefront. (Single source) Defense News →

MUNITIONS — Australia is set to become the first export customer for the U.S. AIM-260A Joint Advanced Tactical Missile. (Single source) Defense News →

INDUSTRY — Boeing plans to sell Insitu, SkyGrid, and Wisk Aero to eVTOL firm Archer, pending regulatory approval and expected to close by year-end. Insitu is the piece that matters for the military UAS base. (Single source) Breaking Defense →

INDUSTRY — Germany and the Netherlands ordered 69 more Boxer RCT30 infantry fighting vehicles; KNDS calls the type the backbone of Germany’s Medium Forces. (Single source) Breaking Defense →

AI — The Air Force wants an AI tool to cut manual work across ~60 data sources tied to Minuteman III sustainment. (Single source) Breaking Defense →

Signals

PROCUREMENT — Japan’s 2026 Defense White Paper calls China the world’s “greatest strategic challenge” and frames a “new era of crisis” in the Indo-Pacific — the political cover for the next wave of buy-and-build. (Single source) Defense News →

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Records in this issue structured · source-graded
Single source test

US Navy tests AI-powered sonar for submarine hunting at RIMPAC

The U.S. Navy tested artificial intelligence-powered sonar intended to help target submarines during the multinational Rim of the Pacific exercise. Defense News reported the trial as part of ongoing work to apply AI to undersea sensing and anti-submarine warfare.

Why it matters: If the approach holds up beyond an exercise, it points to faster ASW cueing without waiting for a larger manned-sensor redesign.

US NavyUnited States Defense News →

Single source procurement notice

Pentagon launches online marketplace for counter-UAS gear

The Pentagon opened an online marketplace meant to help defense agencies buy equipment for defeating commercial drones. Defense News compared the storefront to a restricted, agency-facing catalog for counter-UAS kit rather than a general commercial marketplace.

Why it matters: A shared buy path can shorten the lag between field demand for C-UAS and getting approved systems onto units.

US Department of DefenseUnited States Defense News →

Single source contract

Marine Corps awards Epirus ~$11M for HAVOC microwave C-UAS

The U.S. Marine Corps awarded Epirus a contract worth about $11 million for a vehicle-mounted high-power microwave system intended to defeat drone swarms. Reporting describes HAVOC as moving toward a production-ready configuration, including a universal sled mount for manned and unmanned vehicles, after Marine Corps testing.

Why it matters: Directed-energy C-UAS is shifting from demos to funded, mountable kits that services can actually field with ground vehicles.

EpirusUS Marine CorpsUnited States Defense News →

Single source procurement notice

Australia set to become first AIM-260A JATM export customer

Australia is positioned to become the first export customer for the U.S. AIM-260A Joint Advanced Tactical Missile, according to Defense News. The report frames the prospective buy as access to a highly classified U.S. air-to-air missile program.

Why it matters: First export of JATM would deepen AUKUS-era air combat integration and signal how far Washington will share next-gen AAM tech.

AustraliaUnited States Defense News →

Single source doctrine

Japan’s 2026 defense white paper flags China as greatest strategic challenge

Japan’s 2026 Defense White Paper describes a “new era of crisis” in the Indo-Pacific and labels China the world’s greatest strategic challenge. The document cites expanded cooperation between Beijing and Moscow among the drivers of that assessment.

Why it matters: White papers set the political cover for Japan’s rearmament spend and for deeper co-development with U.S. and European suppliers.

JapanChina Defense News →

Single source product

Boeing to sell Insitu, SkyGrid and Wisk Aero to Archer

Boeing plans to sell three subsidiaries — drone maker Insitu, air-traffic management firm SkyGrid, and electric aircraft maker Wisk Aero — to eVTOL company Archer. The deals are expected to close by year-end pending regulatory approval, Breaking Defense reported.

Why it matters: Insitu is a major military UAS supplier; the sale reshapes who owns a key piece of the U.S. drone industrial base.

BoeingArcherInsituWisk AeroSkyGrid Breaking Defense →

Single source procurement notice

Air Force seeks AI tool for Minuteman III sustainment data

The U.S. Air Force is seeking an AI tool to help manage Minuteman III ICBM sustainment by reducing manual work across roughly 60 data sources. Breaking Defense reported the effort as a way to cut cumbersome labor in nuclear sustainment workflows.

Why it matters: Even legacy nuclear sustainment is being framed as an AI data-integration problem, not just a parts and depot problem.

US Air ForceUnited States Breaking Defense →

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