Japan and the U.S. Cooperate on Unmanned Combat Aircraft
An agreement has been signed with Japan and the U.S. for joint AI development for unmanned combat aircraft to accompany manned fighters.
Unmanned Systems News
Russian Shaheed-136 Kamikaze UAV Retrieved by Ukraine
One of Russia’s widely used Shaheed-136 type kamikaze UAVs was retrieved intact by the Ukrainian soldiers.
The U.S. Navy Establishes Unmanned Systems Task Group
The U.S. Navy’s Task Force 59 formed a new sub-force to operate unmanned systems, Task Force 59.1.
Gray Eagle 25M UCAV Makes Maiden Flight
The newest version of the U.S.’s MQ-1 Predator line of UCAVs, Gray Eagle 25M or GE-25M, made its maiden flight on the 5th of December, 2023.
EDGE Group Receives Order for Rotary-Wing UAVs
UAE-based defence firm EDGE Group announced an order from UAE MoD for HT-100 and HT-750 rotary-wing UAVs.
Bangladesh to Receive 24 Additional Bayraktar TB2 UAVs
Bangladesh, having placed an order of 12 Bayraktar TB2 armed UAVs before, will receive 24 additional units, according to Bangladeshi sources.
TB3 at UMEX: Air-to-Ground and Air-to-Air Defence UCAV
Baykar has revealed the munitions to be integrated on Bayraktar TB3 marine UCAV. The new set of ammunition brings air defence capacity to the marine UCAV.
TB3 Makes Its International Debut at UMEX, UAE
Turkiye’s first fixed-wing marine UCAV TB3 was introduced to the international arena at UMEX, which is held in the UAE.
New Platforms of the Turkish Navy to Enter Service
New naval platforms will be accepted into the service with the ceremony on the 19th of January, as TurDef wrote exclusively.
Baykar TB2 with EDGE's Smart Munition DESERT STING 16
UAE-based EDGE Group announced that its "DESERT STING 16" precision-guided munition is integrated into Baykar’s TB2 UAV.
Ethiopian Air Force Shows Its AKINCI UCAV
A Bayraktar AKINCI UCAV used by the Ethiopian Air Force was seen on the Ethiopian TV channel Fana Television.
Pakistan Displays BARQ Missiles With Bayraktar TB2 UAV
Pakistan Armed Forces released a photo of Bayraktar TB2 armed UAV with the indigenous BARQ laser-guided air-to-surface missile with high-explosive (HE) warhead.
France and Greece Cooperate on the Patroller UAV Program
Greece and France deepen defence relations in UAV programmes. The first step will be on Patroller UAV, but more will come.
Iran Introduces New Kamikaze UAV for Russia
Iran reportedly introduced a new Kamikaze UAV, which is called Shaheed-107, for the Russian Armed Forces.
Global Defence Trend Brief
- 15:00 US Army expands electronic warfare integration across brigades - The US Army is increasing the integration of electronic warfare capabilities into brigade-level form...
- 15:00 European nations accelerate airbase hardening programmes - European governments are investing in hardened aircraft shelters, dispersed operating locations and...
- 15:00 China strengthens military-civil fusion in space capabilities - China continues integrating commercial and state space assets to enhance military communications, su...
- 15:00 Japan expands stockpiles of long-range stand-off weapons - Japan is increasing procurement and domestic production of stand-off missiles as part of efforts to...
- 15:00 Autonomous maritime surveillance networks gain wider adoption - Navies are increasingly deploying autonomous maritime systems in coordinated surveillance networks t...
- 15:00 Counter-drone doctrine shifts toward affordable mass defence - Military planners are focusing on affordable counter-UAS solutions capable of defeating large number...
- 15:00 Hypersonic defence programmes prioritise persistent tracking - Defence agencies are developing sensor architectures designed to maintain continuous tracking of hyp...
- 15:00 Military satellite constellations expand tactical support roles - Distributed satellite constellations are increasingly being used to provide tactical communications,...
- 15:00 Collaborative autonomy emerges as key future force multiplier - Defence organisations increasingly view collaborative autonomous systems operating in coordinated gr...
- 15:00 Industrial resilience becomes core requirement in defence planning - Governments are incorporating supply-chain security, manufacturing resilience and surge production c...
- 12:00 Turkey targets more defence sales as Western rearmament accelerates - Reuters reported that Türkiye's defence exports reached $10 billion in 2025, with exports to Europe...
- 12:00 ASELSAN to ramp up Steel Dome deliveries in 2026 - Reuters reported that ASELSAN plans to deliver more than 150 components for Türkiye's ÇELİKKUBBE air...
- 12:00 Defense News highlights ASELSAN's autonomous warfare vision - Defense News reported that ASELSAN used SAHA 2026 to showcase a future warfare concept built around...
- 12:00 Le Monde examines Türkiye's expanding defence role in Mali - Le Monde reported that Türkiye has become a key security partner for Mali through drone exports, mil...
- 12:00 Middle East Forum analyses Baykar's European expansion - A Middle East Forum analysis argued that Baykar's expansion into Europe reflects the growing importa...
- 12:00 French study identifies Türkiye as a major new European supplier - The Foundation for Strategic Research assessed Türkiye as one of the most successful new entrants in...
- 12:00 Jerusalem Post highlights Baykar export performance - The Jerusalem Post reported that Baykar's drone exports reached $1.8 billion in 2024, with around 90...
- 12:00 Foreign media focus on KIZILELMA at SAHA 2026 - International exhibition coverage highlighted Baykar's KIZILELMA unmanned combat aircraft among the...
- 12:00 International observers track KAAN and export milestones - The Defense Watch reported that Türkiye entered 2026 with ongoing KAAN flight testing, record defenc...
- 12:00 German Patriot deployment underscores air-defence debate - Reuters reported that Germany will deploy a Patriot air-defence system to southeastern Türkiye for s...
- 09:00 US Air Force expands focus on contested logistics operations - The US Air Force is increasing investment in contested logistics concepts, including autonomous resu...
- 09:00 European defence planners prioritise protection of ammunition facilities - European governments are investing in hardened storage sites and dispersed ammunition facilities to...
- 09:00 China advances integration of AI into military decision support - China is expanding efforts to incorporate artificial intelligence into command, intelligence and bat...
- 09:00 Japan strengthens rapid deployment capability for remote islands - Japan is enhancing airlift, sealift and logistics capabilities to reinforce remote island territorie...
- 09:00 Autonomous underwater vehicles gain importance in seabed security - Navies are increasingly deploying autonomous underwater vehicles to monitor seabed activity and prot...
- 09:00 Counter-drone systems increasingly combine soft-kill and hard-kill methods - Military organisations are adopting layered counter-UAS architectures that integrate jamming, spoofi...
- 09:00 Hypersonic missile threats accelerate investment in early warning networks - Defence agencies are expanding space-based and terrestrial early warning systems to improve detectio...
- 09:00 Distributed satellite constellations become standard military approach - Military space planners increasingly favour distributed constellations of smaller satellites to impr...
- 09:00 Collaborative combat aircraft drive changes in airpower doctrine - Air forces are adapting operational doctrine to incorporate autonomous collaborative aircraft that c...
- 09:00 Production depth increasingly determines defence export success - Defence customers are placing growing emphasis on supplier production capacity, delivery speed and l...
