Germany just spent a billion euros on net-launcher drones. The U.S. is still running demonstrations.
Top story
Israeli firm Skapion unveils counter-swarm defense system at AUSA 2026. Skapion, an Israeli defense technology company, has unveiled what it describes as the first native counter-swarm defense system, announced at the AUSA Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. The system is designed to address the threat of coordinated drone swarms. No technical specifications, deployment timeline, or customer interest were disclosed in available reporting. (Press release) EDR Magazine → · sUAS News →
The rundown
DRONES — Estonia’s defense minister said the government should consider fielding light jet aircraft capable of intercepting Russian jet-powered attack drones. The proposal follows a pattern of Russian jet-powered drone activity near NATO’s eastern border. No aircraft type, budget, or procurement timeline was specified. (Corroborated) Defense News →
DRONES — Ukraine is leveraging fighter jets, AI-aimed gun turrets, and scarce surface-to-air missiles to counter Russian jet-powered drones hitting energy infrastructure. Russia fired 39 ballistic missiles at Ukraine’s power grid on October 14, knocking out power to 600,000 people, President Zelenskyy said. Ukraine is fielding faster interceptors to respond to the growing use of jet-powered drones in Russian strikes. (Corroborated) Defense News →
EW — Elbit Systems Sweden announced plans to establish the company’s first European production and maintenance center for Laser Warning Systems (LWS) in Gothenburg, Sweden. No timeline, investment amount, or customer commitments were disclosed. (Press release) EDR Magazine → · European Security & Defence →
NAVAL — The U.S. Navy awarded Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding a $56.2 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for engineering and technical support on nuclear-powered submarines for AUKUS partners Australia and the United Kingdom. Foreign partner funds cover the full cost. (Corroborated) Defence Blog → · Naval Technology →
PROCUREMENT — Maj. Gen. Ireneusz Nowak, Poland’s operational commander, said 80 percent of the Polish Armed Forces’ attention is focused on air defense, with the ground and air components of Poland’s integrated air-defense network still three to four years from completion. The statement follows repeated Russian drone incursions into Polish airspace. (Single source) Breaking Defense →
DRONES — Germany’s Bundestag approved a seven-year framework contract with ARGUS Interception GmbH, a German manufacturer based in Rotenburg an der Wümme, for the delivery of net-launcher drone systems (interceptor drones with reconnaissance sensors) worth over €1.1 billion. The contract was approved by the Bundestag budget committee on October 14. (Single source) Hartpunkt →
PROCUREMENT — Germany’s Bundestag approved a proposal to replace two Patriot air-defense fire units donated to Ukraine in 2023 and 2024. The replacement units will be procured via the U.S. Foreign Military Sales process and include command posts, launchers, radar, and power supply. No contract value or delivery timeline was disclosed. (Single source) Hartpunkt →
Signals
DRONES — Leonardo DRS secured a position on a three-year indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract worth up to $500 million to supply tactical radars to Joint Interagency Task Force 401, the U.S. Department of War organization established to accelerate counter-drone equipment to troops. No specific orders or delivery timelines were announced. (Single source) Defence Blog →
By the numbers
9 events in this issue · 3/9 corroborated · €1.6bn in stated deal values · 7/9 European · busiest beat: drones
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