July 2026

Monthly digest · 860 defence stories, distilled to the 20 that mattered

What happened

Counter-UAS led the month with 259 stories, up 89 on the previous month. Contracts & industry (236) and Ukraine / front line (143) followed, with Contracts & industry and Ukraine / front line gaining ground. Attention shifted towards DJI (75, up from 6), Anduril (46, up from 10) and Lockheed Martin (43, up from 14), while Saronic Technologies (14) and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) (12) arrive after no coverage at all the month before. Going the other way, KNDS (5 stories down to 2). The most widely reported story was “U.S. Air Force live-fire test of Anduril YFQ-44A CCA advances semi-autonomous fighter drone program with AIM-120 launch”, carried by 13 outlets. Across the month there were 860 stories in total, from 32 outlets. Comparisons with the previous period are indicative only: it was covered by 25 outlets against 32 now, so some of the change reflects the feed expanding rather than the market.

The numbers

860 stories this month, down from 1163 the month before.

Comparisons with the previous period are indicative only: it was covered by 25 outlets against 32 now, so some of the change reflects the feed expanding rather than the market.

Most talked about

DJI	75 / 6	▲ 69
Anduril	46 / 10	▲ 36
Lockheed Martin	43 / 14	▲ 29
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI)	32 / 7	▲ 25
BAE Systems	28 / 5	▲ 23

New names this month

Saronic Technologies 14Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) 12SkyFall 12Uforce 11Axon Vision 10

Gone quiet

AReS Technologies 0 ▼ 3KNDS 2 ▼ 3Overland AI 1 ▼ 2

Theme mix

Counter-UAS 259 ▲ 89Contracts & industry 236 ▲ 11Ukraine / front line 143 ▲ 36EU & regulatory 133 ▲ 53C2 / sensors 68 ▼ 3

Top 20 of the month

Ranked by how many outlets covered each story.

1

Defence Industry Europe 15 Jul13 outlets covered this

U.S. Air Force live-fire test of Anduril YFQ-44A CCA advances semi-autonomous fighter drone program with AIM-120 launch

“This live-fire test is an important next step in the development of Collaborative Combat Aircraft,” said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach.

AndurilGeneral Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI)BAE SystemsBoeing

Also in The War Zone (TWZ), Defense News – Unmanned, The Defence Blog, DefenseScoop
2

sUAS News 16 Jul9 outlets covered this

Quantum Systems Selected as Founding Member of the EU-Ukraine Drone Alliance

The European Commission has selected Quantum Systems as one of the founding members of a

Quantum SystemsDestinusSkyFallTencore

Also in DroneLife, Defence Industry Europe, Breaking Defense, hartpunkt
3

Defense News – Unmanned 20 Jul8 outlets covered this

Lockheed Martin’s Morfius X-Rotor built to fry 50 enemy drones in one flight

Lockheed Martin is rolling out the Morfius X-Rotor, a recoverable counter-drone system the company says can kill 50 enemy drones in one flight.

Lockheed MartinBAE SystemsAirbus Defence and SpaceTekever

Also in sUAS News, The Defence Blog, Defence Industry Europe, DroneDJ
4

C4ISRNET 2 Jul7 outlets covered this

In ‘red hot’ counter-drone market, Echodyne CEO sees radar demand boom

Defeating drones starts with detection, and suppliers of relatively small and affordable radars are rushing to meet global demand.

EchodyneMoogNorthrop GrummanTrust Automation

Also in The Defence Blog, sUAS News, DroneLife, Defense News – Unmanned
5

The Defence Blog 13 Jul7 outlets covered this

US uses attack sea drones against Iran for the first time

U.S. Central Command struck dozens of targets across Iran on Sunday using one-way attack sea drones for the first time in the conflict, a new addition to a strike package that already included fighter aircraft, naval vessels, and one-way at

Saronic TechnologiesBlue OpsMARTACSierra Nevada Corporation

Also in Defence Industry Europe, Opex360 (Zone Militaire), The War Zone (TWZ), DefenseScoop
6

Army Technology 27 Jul6 outlets covered this

Tekever AR5 drones selected to replace British Army’s Watchkeeper fleet

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has chosen Tekever’s AR5 surveillance drones to replace the British Army’s ageing Watchkeeper fleet.

TekeverThales UKElbit SystemsFlowcopter

Also in The Defence Blog, Shephard Media, Opex360 (Zone Militaire), sUAS News
7

Defense News – Unmanned 20 Jul6 outlets covered this

Israel’s IAI unveils ‘Hypnosis’ system for confusing enemy drone swarms

The system, called Hypnosis, consists of an array of mobile “stations” around a defended area that send out jamming signals against drone swarms.

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI)Elbit SystemsBaykarHanwha

Also in Unmanned Airspace, C4ISRNET, Army Technology, DroneXL
8

Defense News – Unmanned 21 Jul5 outlets covered this

X-Bow out to tackle cost quandary with sub-$100,000 drone interceptor

X-Bow Systems is launching what it hopes will be a remedy to the ongoing conundrum of combating cheap drones with multimillion dollar interceptors.

X-Bow SystemsLockheed MartinAerojet RocketdyneAeroVironment

Also in The Defence Blog, C4ISRNET, Unmanned Airspace, The War Zone (TWZ)
9

Defence Industry Europe 14 Jul5 outlets covered this

Helsing selects West Virginia for first U.S. factory to produce AI-enabled HX-2 strike drones at scale

The HX-2 is already combat-proven in Ukraine, where Helsing said thousands of systems have been deployed to the front lines.

HelsingLockheed Martin

Also in DroneXL, hartpunkt, sUAS News, Breaking Defense
10

Defense News – Unmanned 7 Jul4 outlets covered this

NATO to add up to five Northrop Grumman Triton drones for maritime surveillance

“It is genuinely made in NATO and is creating jobs on both sides of the Atlantic,” alliance Secretary-General Mark Rutte said.

Northrop GrummanAirbus Defence and SpaceGeneral Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI)Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace

Also in Opex360 (Zone Militaire), C4ISRNET, Breaking Defense
11

Naval Technology 15 Jul4 outlets covered this

France equip Rafale fighters for drone hunting

France has validated a C-UAS package for Rafale fighters, which fires 68mm rockets at Shahed-type attack drones in the air. The post France equip Rafale fighters for drone hunting appeared first on Naval Technology .

ThalesDassault Aviation (multinational consortium)Telson

Also in The Aviationist, Airforce Technology, The War Zone (TWZ)
12

Unmanned Airspace 14 Jul4 outlets covered this

Cellebrite, SkySafe partner to merger C-UAS with digital forensics

Cellebrite DI Ltd, a company focused on AI-powered Digital Investigative and Intelligence solutions for the public and private sectors, has announced an expanded partnership with SkySafe,

CellebriteSkySafeDJI

Also in DroneLife, DroneDJ, DroneXL
13

Breaking Defense 22 Jul4 outlets covered this

Ukraine’s Skyfall unveils new drone interceptor to strike Russian Shaheds faster

The Skyfall spokesman added that the key feature setting this latest interceptor variant apart is its speed, which can reach 370km/h, a significant improvement over the previous 310km/h maximum.

SkyFallAuterionSkycutter

Also in Unmanned Airspace, Defence24, Defence Industry Europe
14

Unmanned Airspace 27 Jul4 outlets covered this

ST Engineering Digital Systems reports new sales of C-UAS systems in Asia

Singapore’s ST Engineering’s Digital Systems reports it has secured new deployments in Asia outside Singapore in the last few months for its counter-drone capability. The The post ST Engineering Digital Systems reports new sales of C-UAS sy

ST Engineering

Also in Asian Military Review, Defence Industry Europe, European Security & Defence
15

sUAS News 15 Jul4 outlets covered this

Auriga Space and U.S. Army DEVCOM-AC Partner on Operationalizing Electromagnetic Launch Technology for Counter-Drone Defence

Auriga Space and the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Armaments Center (DEVCOM AC) have

Auriga SpaceSpinLaunch

Also in Unmanned Airspace, The Defence Blog, DroneLife
16

C4ISRNET 21 Jul3 outlets covered this

US Marine Corps turns to AI-powered Bullfrog as drone threats expand

Allen Control Systems announced Monday that the Marine Corps has chosen the Bullfrog autonomous weapon system to integrate into its airborne defenses.

Allen Control SystemsLockheed MartinAeroVironmentBlueHalo (AeroVironment)

Also in The Defence Blog, Defense News – Unmanned
17

DroneXL 18 Jul3 outlets covered this

FCC Targets 8 Alleged DJI Front Companies As SFPD Drone Feed Leak Rocks Industry

Welcome to your weekly UAS news update. This week: the FCC moves against eight alleged DJI front companies, San Francisco police drone feeds were exposed online for months, BRINC raises $125 million, and Duke Health is now flying defibrilla

DJIOQ TechnologyCogitoQLM Technology

Also in DroneDJ, sUAS News
18

Defense News – Unmanned 24 Jul3 outlets covered this

Anduril in talks to raise funding at about $100 billion valuation

Anduril is discussing a new funding round that could see it valued at about $100 billion, rivaling companies such as Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin.

AndurilLockheed MartinBAE SystemsBlohm+Voss

Also in The Defence Blog, DroneXL
19

Breaking Defense 20 Jul3 outlets covered this

Lockheed rolls out cheaper Patriot, MBDA showcases low-cost interceptor

Displayed in a truck mounted configuration at the show, the new MBDA weapon is an upgrade to the company’s ground-launched, Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM) and can also be integrated on unmanned ground vehicles or unmanned

Lockheed MartinBETA TechnologiesDiehl DefenceFirePoint

Also in Opex360 (Zone Militaire), Unmanned Airspace
20

The Defence Blog 10 Jul3 outlets covered this

Lockheed Martin wins deal for powerful laser weapon

Lockheed Martin has been tapped by the U.S. Department of War to build the most powerful laser weapon ever packed into a shipping container, a 500-kilowatt system designed to knock cruise missiles and drone swarms out of the sky before they

Lockheed MartinnLightMBDARheinmetall

Also in DefenseScoop, Breaking Defense