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MBDA and Poland’s WITU Advance Low-Cost Supersonic Interceptor Against Swarm Attacks, Seeker Trials Successfully Completed

Europe

KIELCE, Poland — MBDA and Poland’s Military Institute of Armament Technology (WITU) are advancing the Counter Mass Interceptor (CMI), a low-cost, supersonic surface-to-air missile designed to counter mass attacks involving one-way attack drones, ISR drones, helicopters and cruise missiles. The programme follows successful seeker field trials in Poland in September 2026, which evaluated the infrared seeker against representative drone targets across several engagement scenarios. The results have cleared the way for the seeker to be integrated into a prototype missile designed by WITU. The first firing campaign is planned for 2027. The CMI is designed for high-volume production and to reduce the cost imbalance between relatively inexpensive drones and the more costly interceptors normally used against them. The missile is intended to engage targets at ranges and altitudes exceeding 6 kilometres. The interceptor weighs approximately 53 kg, is about 2.3 metres long and has a 122 mm diameter. It uses an infrared seeker and carries a blast-fragmentation warhead. MBDA first presented the CMI at the Farnborough International Airshow in July 2026, alongside its surface-launched ASRAAM offering. Polish Design with MBDA Seeker MBDA and WITU announced their cooperation at the MSPO 2026 defence exhibition in Kielce, where they signed a broader memorandum of understanding covering missile research. Under the CMI programme, WITU is responsible for the missile design, while MBDA provides the seeker technology. The arrangement gives Poland a major role in developing the weapon rather than limiting its participation to local assembly. MBDA has also indicated interest in producing the seeker in Poland, subject to approval by Polish authorities. WITU Director Colonel Paweł Sweklej said the cooperation combines a fully Polish missile design with MBDA's seeker technology and supports the development of Polish technologies for European missile solutions. Chris Allam, UK Managing Director of MBDA, said the project demonstrates MBDA's commitment to Poland and builds on its support for Poland's layered air-defence capability through the PILICA+ and NAREW programmes, including technology transfer. The partnership also comes under the Northolt Treaty, signed by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in May 2026 to strengthen defence cooperation and support joint development of next-generation munitions and European supply-chain resilience. Part of Poland's Layered Air Defence The CMI is being developed as an additional high-volume layer within Poland's expanding air-defence and counter-UAS capability. Poland is developing a combination of missiles, guns, electronic warfare systems, radars and other effectors to address different types of aerial threats. The CMI is intended for the lower-cost, high-volume end of this architecture, while systems including Piorun, CAMM and CAMM-ER provide other air-defence capabilities. MBDA already has a significant role in Poland through NAREW and PILICA+. WITU is also participating in the European Hypersonic Defence Interceptor System (HYDIS) programme, which focuses on future interceptor technologies for hypersonic and ballistic threats. The immediate focus of the CMI programme is prototype integration followed by the planned 2027 firing campaign. MBDA and WITU have not disclosed a unit price, production target or entry-into-service date.

DRDO Demonstrates Indigenous 3.5×3 mm GaN Chip Delivering 30 Watts for Next-Generation Radars and Electronic Warfare

India

New Delhi — The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has demonstrated and implemented indigenous Gallium Nitride (GaN) semiconductor technology for high-frequency defence applications, including next-generation radars and electronic warfare systems. The development is part of India’s efforts to build domestic capability in advanced semiconductor technology. The technology was highlighted in the Ministry of Defence’s annual report for 2025-26. It covers advanced components used to generate, amplify, receive and control high-frequency signals. Such components have applications in radar, electronic warfare, communications, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and unmanned systems. Indigenous GaN Technology for X-Band Applications A single indigenous GaN chip measuring 3.5 × 3 mm can deliver up to 30 watts of power and operate at speeds reported to be 300 times faster than silicon. The development includes indigenous GaN Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuit (MMIC) technology for applications up to the X-band. The technology also includes indigenously fabricated S-band GaN High Electron-Mobility Transistor (HEMT) power bars, power amplifiers, low-noise amplifiers and switch MMICs, which have been designed, fabricated and demonstrated. GaN is a semiconductor material suited to high-frequency and high-power applications. Its use in radar transmitters and electronic warfare systems allows the development of compact components capable of handling high-frequency signals and significant power levels. SSPL Develops GaN and SiC Technology The latest progress builds on work by DRDO’s Solid State Physics Laboratory (SSPL). In November 2024, the Ministry of Defence said SSPL had developed indigenous processes for manufacturing 4-inch-diameter Silicon Carbide (SiC) wafers and fabricating GaN HEMTs rated up to 150 watts and MMICs up to 40 watts for applications up to X-band frequencies. The Ministry said GaN/SiC technology can provide improved efficiency, reduced size and weight, and enhanced performance. It identified the technology as important for future combat systems, radars, electronic warfare, communications, intelligence, reconnaissance and unmanned systems. Limited production capability for indigenous GaN-on-SiC MMICs has also been established at the Gallium Arsenide Enabling Technology Centre (GAETEC) in Hyderabad. According to the Ministry, these multifunctional MMICs have applications in strategic systems, space, aerospace and 5G and satellite communications. iDEX Brings Private Industry Into GaN Development The development is also linked to the government’s Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) programme. On December 1, 2023, iDEX-Defence Innovation Organisation signed its 300th contract with Agnit Semiconductors Private Limited for the design and development of advanced GaN semiconductors for next-generation wireless transmitters used in defence applications, including radars and electronic warfare jammers. The Ministry of Defence said at the time that almost all GaN components were being imported because the technology is sensitive and cutting-edge, with exports controlled or restricted by several countries. The project aimed to design, develop and manufacture GaN components in India using indigenous technology. The contract was signed in New Delhi by then Additional Secretary (Defence Industries Production) and Defence Innovation Organisation CEO T Natarajan with Agnit Semiconductors Private Limited. Former Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane and senior civil and military officials were also present. The development of indigenous GaN and SiC-based MMIC technology, together with limited production capability at GAETEC and industry participation through iDEX, is intended to strengthen India’s domestic semiconductor capability for defence and other strategic applications.

Pentagon Awards BlueHalo Up to $99.8 Million Contract for Orbital Battlespace R&D Program

U.S

WASHINGTON / ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has awarded BlueHalo LLC an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with a ceiling of $99,832,117 for the Leveraged Orbital Battlespace Optimization (LOBO) research and development program. The five-year contract is intended to support research aimed at advancing scientific knowledge and state-of-the-art technology for space systems. The contract is expected to run through August 29, 2031. Work will be carried out in Huntsville, Alabama, and at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. AFRL’s Space Vehicles Directorate at Kirtland is the contracting activity. At the time of the award, the Air Force obligated $1,696,597 in fiscal 2026 research, development, test and evaluation funds. The funding supports two initial task orders with a combined ceiling of $20,178,910. Additional work can be placed through future task orders under the contract. The award followed a competitive solicitation that received one offer. LOBO Program Details Remain Classified The public contract announcement provides limited information about the specific technologies or systems that will be developed under LOBO. The notice describes the effort broadly as research to advance scientific knowledge and state-of-the-art technology supporting space systems. The Air Force Research Laboratory and BlueHalo have not publicly released the technical details of the first two task orders, including the specific hardware, software or orbital platforms involved. BlueHalo has previously worked with AFRL in areas including autonomous space-based sensing, space situational awareness, battle-management command and control, and defensive counterspace technologies. The company has also developed space-based optical communications capabilities. In 2025, BlueHalo demonstrated a two-terminal optical communications system designed to simulate long-distance communications involving low-Earth, medium-Earth and geostationary orbits, advancing the system to Technology Readiness Level 6. BlueHalo Now Part of AeroVironment The LOBO award comes after BlueHalo became part of AeroVironment Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV). AeroVironment completed its acquisition of BlueHalo in May 2025 through an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $4.1 billion. BlueHalo is based in Huntsville, Alabama, and Arlington, Virginia, while the LOBO work will be performed at its Huntsville operation and Kirtland Air Force Base. The new contract provides AFRL with a multi-year contracting vehicle for research related to the optimization of the orbital battlespace. While the contract has a maximum value of nearly $100 million, the amount ultimately spent will depend on future task orders issued during the contract period.

Lockheed Martin Showcases Vectis at MSPO 2026, Offering Complement for Poland’s F-35 Fleet

Europe

KIELCE, POLAND — Lockheed Martin has displayed its Vectis unmanned combat aircraft at the 34th International Defence Industry Exhibition (MSPO 2026) in Kielce, presenting the Skunk Works-developed Collaborative Combat Aircraft as a potential complement to fifth-generation fighters such as Poland’s F-35A. Poland is building a fleet of 32 F-35A fighters, and Vectis is designed to extend the capabilities of crewed aircraft by distributing sensors, weapons and electronic warfare functions across networked platforms. Vectis development and propulsion Lockheed Martin publicly unveiled Vectis on September 21, 2025, describing it as a Group 5 Collaborative Combat Aircraft developed by its Skunk Works division for U.S. and allied forces. The clean-sheet, internally funded programme was already under development when it was revealed, with parts ordered and company funding committed to a rapid design-build-fly schedule. Lockheed Martin is targeting a first flight in 2027. In December 2025, the company selected the Williams International FJ44-4 turbofan, which provides more than 3,600 pounds of thrust, to reduce propulsion risk as the aircraft moves toward flight testing. Missions and low-observable design Vectis is designed for precision strike, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance targeting, electronic warfare, and offensive and defensive counter-air missions. It also incorporates multi-domain connectivity and an open-system architecture. The aircraft uses a tailless configuration and blended shaping intended to support low observability. Lockheed Martin has not disclosed exact figures for its radar cross-section, maximum speed, combat radius or internal weapons capacity. The company says Vectis is smaller than an F-16 but larger than its compact CMMT missile-like drones. The aircraft could allow F-35s to operate with additional sensors, weapons and electronic warfare capabilities distributed across the formation. A Vectis operating farther forward could potentially collect targeting information, support electronic warfare or carry additional weapons while crewed aircraft remain at greater distance from heavily defended areas. Relevance to Poland The concept is particularly relevant to Poland as it develops its F-35 fleet and broader networked combat capabilities. In contested airspace, autonomous aircraft could provide additional capabilities without requiring every new combat platform to be a crewed fighter. Vectis is being positioned toward the higher-survivability end of the CCA market. This differs from the first U.S. Air Force CCA Increment 1 platforms, General Atomics’ YFQ-42A and Anduril’s YFQ-44, for which engineering, manufacturing, development and production contracts were awarded in June 2026. Lockheed Martin has not disclosed a procurement decision involving Poland. The 2027 first flight will provide an opportunity to demonstrate Vectis’ aerodynamic performance, propulsion, autonomy and mission-system integration as development continues.

New App 'Zuckoff' Tracks Nearby Meta Smart Glasses Using Bluetooth Signals Amid Growing Privacy Concerns

Space & Technology

WARSAW — A Polish software developer has launched Zuckoff, an app that detects nearby camera-equipped smart glasses by scanning their Bluetooth signals. The app was developed by 30-year-old software engineer Paweł Szydłowski and has gained approximately 5,000 users in its first month on Apple's App Store. The app was created amid growing privacy concerns over the use of smart glasses to record people without their knowledge. It primarily detects Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses, developed in partnership with EssilorLuxottica. The glasses look similar to conventional eyewear but include a forward-facing camera, microphones and onboard artificial intelligence. How Zuckoff Works Zuckoff scans Bluetooth Low Energy broadcasts and compares them with a database of known smart-glasses signatures. Szydłowski built the database by purchasing several models and recording their Bluetooth fingerprints, including device identifiers, manufacturer codes and service UUIDs. The project lists codes including 0x0D53 for Luxottica, covering Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley Meta devices, 0x058E for Meta Platforms Technologies wearables, and 0x03C2 for Snap Spectacles. The app can also flag some devices based on advertised product names, but with lower confidence. The free version provides an estimated proximity reading while scanning. Zuckoff Pro adds background detection, push notifications, a Home Screen widget, Lock Screen Live Activity, longer sighting history and CSV export. It costs $9.99 annually, with a free trial week, or $24.99 for a lifetime license with Family Sharing. Scanning takes place on the device. The app does not require an account or access to personal data, location, camera or microphone. Logs remain local unless users export them or voluntarily report an unidentified device. Detection Limitations Zuckoff can detect compatible hardware but cannot determine whether the camera is recording or identify the wearer. Bluetooth strength provides only a rough proximity estimate and does not show the device's direction. Signals can be stronger when glasses start up, pair or are removed from their charging case, while some devices may broadcast less noticeably during normal use. Therefore, an alert indicates that compatible camera-equipped glasses may be nearby, not that recording is taking place. The app currently supports iOS 18 or later, while an Android version is in closed testing. Privacy Concerns Privacy concerns around smart glasses have increased following examples of people being recorded without their knowledge. In late 2024, two Harvard students demonstrated I-XRAY, which used Meta Ray-Ban glasses to stream video while software performed facial recognition to identify people. Meta's glasses use a small LED to indicate camera activity. After discovering that some users had covered or removed the indicator, Meta disabled the cameras on thousands of affected glasses. The company said those devices represented less than 0.1% of glasses sold and introduced software updates to improve detection of attempts to obstruct or damage the LED. It also removed online instructions showing how to bypass the indicator. European Union regulators have reportedly contacted Szydłowski for information about Zuckoff's functionality and privacy implications, although details of the reported inquiry have not been independently confirmed. Zuckoff is an independent project with no affiliation with Meta, Luxottica, Ray-Ban, Oakley or Snap. Szydłowski continues to expand its detection database using signals collected from physical hardware and accepts reports of additional smart-glasses models.

DRDO Conducts Successful Flight Trial of Indigenous STAR Supersonic Target, MoD Report Confirms

India

NEW DELHI — The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted the maiden flight trial of its indigenous Supersonic Target (STAR) missile in November 2025, according to the Ministry of Defence’s annual report. The STAR programme is designed to provide the Indian armed forces with a high-speed aerial target for testing and training air-defence systems, radars, tracking equipment and missile interceptors against supersonic threats. The system is powered by an indigenous Liquid Fuelled Ramjet (LFRJ) engine developed by the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad. The STAR uses a two-stage propulsion system, with a solid rocket booster providing initial acceleration before the liquid-fuelled ramjet takes over for sustained supersonic flight. Key Development Milestones During 2025, DRDO completed qualification testing of the STAR's onboard avionics, including its navigation, flight-control and telemetry systems. The dedicated launcher and catapult system were also developed and qualified. Static propulsion testing was completed up to the stage of ramjet ignition before the November 2025 flight trial. The STAR is designed to operate at speeds of Mach 1.8 to Mach 2.5, with an altitude range of approximately 100 metres to 10 kilometres. Its stated operational range is 55 to 175 kilometres, while available programme information gives flight durations of 50 to 200 seconds. The system can conduct different flight profiles, including low-altitude and sea-skimming trajectories, allowing air-defence systems to be tested against high-speed targets under different conditions. The programme also supports India's development of indigenous liquid-fuelled ramjet technology. Work has been reported on possible air-launched configurations, although the primary role of STAR remains that of a supersonic target. The successful November 2025 flight, together with the completion of avionics qualification, launcher and catapult development, and static ramjet testing, represents significant progress in the STAR programme.

U.S. Approves Possible $140 Million Sale of Four Black Hawk Helicopters to Argentina

U.S

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of State has approved a possible $140 million Foreign Military Sale to Argentina covering four refurbished UH-60L Black Hawk utility helicopters and associated equipment. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress of the proposed sale on September 10 under Transmittal No. 26-79. If finalized, the deal would give the Argentine Army its first Black Hawk helicopters and support the replacement of its aging Bell UH-1H Huey fleet. Equipment and Support Argentina has requested four UH-60Ls and two General Electric T700-GE-701D engines. The package includes attitude heading reference systems, APX-100 and APX-123 Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) transponders, navigation and instrument landing system receivers, automatic direction finder receivers, AN/ARC-220 high-frequency radios and ARC-186 very-high-frequency radios. It also includes Garmin GTN-750 GPS systems, Cobham C-5000 multiband radios, EBC 406HM emergency locator transmitters, internal auxiliary fuel tanks, fast-rope insertion and extraction systems, rescue hoists, cargo hooks and Bambi buckets. Maintenance and aircrew training devices and software, helmets, transportation, organizational equipment, spare and repair parts, support equipment, tools, test equipment, technical data and publications, personnel training, and U.S. government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support are also included. Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company based in Stratford, Connecticut, is the principal contractor. The U.S. government said no offset agreement is currently known and that the sale would not require additional U.S. government or contractor personnel in Argentina. It would also have no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness. The State Department said the proposed sale would strengthen Argentina's ability to conduct border security, counter-transnational crime, and humanitarian assistance and disaster-response missions. It also said the sale would not change the basic military balance in the region. Replacement for Argentina's Hueys Around 50 UH-1Hs remain in the Argentine Army inventory. The service first launched a tender in December 2024 for three used UH-60s, but canceled it in January 2025 because of budget constraints. In June 2026, Argentine Army Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Oscar Santiago Zarich indicated that the service would acquire an initial four Black Hawks still in U.S. service, with plans to expand the fleet over time. Argentina already has experience with the Black Hawk. A single VIP-configured aircraft has operated in the presidential fleet since 1994 and was transferred to the Argentine Air Force in 2024. The Army itself has not previously operated the type. Part of Wider Military Modernization The UH-60L is an earlier model than the UH-60M currently produced for the U.S. Army and many foreign customers. Sikorsky offers modernization programs for older UH-60Ls, including digital cockpit and avionics upgrades, providing a possible future upgrade path for Argentina. The helicopter acquisition is part of Argentina's wider military modernization program, which also includes 24 surplus F-16s from Denmark and four P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft from Norway. The $140 million figure is the estimated value of the potential sale, not a finalized contract price. The final cost could be lower depending on the equipment and services ultimately purchased. No delivery schedule has been set, and Argentina and the U.S. still need to complete negotiations and finalize the Letter of Offer and Acceptance. U.S. Ambassador to Argentina Peter Lamelas said the helicopters would be refurbished and delivered in stages.