Washington is buying hypersonics and autonomy like it's wartime. Europe is still testing doctrines.
Top story
U.S. Navy awards Boeing $562 million for first three production MQ-25A Stingray carrier tankers. The U.S. Navy awarded Boeing a $562 million fixed-price incentive contract on 14 September for Lot 1 Low Rate Initial Production of the MQ-25A Stingray unmanned aerial refuelling aircraft. The contract covers three aircraft. The Stingray is intended to extend carrier air wing range from 2029 by offloading tanking duties from F/A-18 Super Hornets. Why it matters: This is the first production buy of a platform designed to redefine carrier operations—but three jets at $187 million each suggests the Navy is still buying insurance, not volume. (Corroborated) Defense News → · The Aviationist → · Defence Industry Europe →
The rundown
DRONES — Britain has developed and flown a new family of domestically produced turbojet engines suited for drones and similar applications, reaching flight in under seven months. The Ministry of Defence announced the milestone on 15 September. No contractor, technical specifications, or programme name were disclosed. (Corroborated) UK MOD news → · UK Defence Journal →
DRONES — French Army commanders are testing smaller, dispersed formations of Leclerc tanks and support vehicles to reduce their signature and attractiveness to adversaries employing drones and long-range fires. The concept, described as “Lego bricks” of armour, is being evaluated to determine whether dispersal can maintain lethality while complicating targeting. (Corroborated) Defense News →
MUNITIONS — The U.S. Air Force’s AGM-190A Havoc Spear cruise missile has completed a combat evaluation in spring 2026 and is now cleared for broader use across special operations and conventional aircraft. Air Force Special Operations Command announced the milestone. The Havoc Spear is a small, low-cost cruise missile developed under urgent acquisition authorities. (Corroborated) Defence Blog → · Defence Industry Europe →
MUNITIONS — The U.S. Navy awarded Castelion a delivery order valued at up to $200 million on 14 September for the initial production lot of Blackbeard hypersonic strike weapons. The contract follows a separate June order for 50 prototype rounds. The order came from Portfolio 23, a Naval Air Systems Command rapid-acquisition office. (Corroborated) Defence Blog → · Defence Industry Europe →
NAVAL — German drone developer CiS announced on 15 September that it has completed final validation testing, including night operations, of the ORKA Dock Mini compact launch and recovery system. The first unit is ready for delivery to an undisclosed naval customer. The Dock Mini is designed for shipboard use. (Single source) Defence Blog →
INDUSTRY — Florian Taitsch joined German defence-tech company ARX Robotics on 1 September 2026 as Senior Director Marketing & Communications, a newly created role. Taitsch previously worked at Airbus, Rheinmetall, and most recently Helsing. ARX Robotics develops autonomous ground vehicles and announced a Poland expansion in early September. (Corroborated) Hartpunkt → · Militaer Aktuell → · Europaeische Sicherheit & Technik →
By the numbers
7 events in this issue · 6/7 corroborated · €693m in stated deal values · 4/7 European · busiest beat: industry
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