R&D - currentdefencenews.com

February 11, 2026
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Air Platforms

Taiwan Drops C-130H Upgrade, Buys C-130J

Taiwan’s Air Force plans to purchase 10 C-130J Super Hercules aircraft from the US, abandoning upgrades for its aging C-130H fleet after determining modernization would be cost-inefficient. The new...

February 11, 2026
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Naval Platforms

Naval Group Expands AI With Thales

Naval Group has acquired a 20-percent stake in Thales’ cortAIx France AI accelerator, reinforcing France’s push to integrate artificial intelligence into naval combat systems. The investment grants governance participation...

February 11, 2026
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Missile & Missile Defence

European AAM Gets Next-Gen Guidance

Spanish defense company Indra is enhancing the European Meteor air-to-air missile with a redesigned datalink intended to expand operational range and strengthen resistance to electronic countermeasures. The upgrade has...

February 11, 2026
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Unmanned Systems

Taiwan Tests Mighty Hornet IV Drone

Taiwan’s NCSIST and US firm Kratos have successfully completed integration testing of the Mighty Hornet IV attack UAV, validating the payload and mission systems without requiring redesign. The milestone...

February 10, 2026
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Land Platforms

Norway, UK Advance Armoured Vehicle R&D

Norway and the United Kingdom have signed the research and development agreement for the multinational Common Armoured Vehicle System program, advancing toward potential procurement of Patria’s 6×6 armored vehicles....

February 10, 2026
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Air Platforms

Saab Plans APKWS for Gripen Jets

Saab is assessing the integration of the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) onto its JAS 39 Gripen fighter as a cost-effective response to drone threats. Drawing lessons from...

February 10, 2026
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Air Platforms

Eurofighter Gets Aero Enhancement Kit

Eurofighter and NETMA have agreed to develop and certify an Aerodynamic Modification Kit for the Typhoon, designed to streamline integration of new weapons and external stores. The kit includes...

February 9, 2026
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Unmanned Systems

Red Cat Debuts Armed Multi-Role USV

US defense company Red Cat Holdings is expanding its footprint in maritime autonomy with the introduction of the V7, a 7.8-meter expeditionary unmanned surface vessel engineered for long-range kinetic...

February 7, 2026
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Unmanned Systems

US Marine Corps 3D-Printed FPV Drone (HANX)

The US Marine Corps has approved its first NDAA-compliant 3D-printed first-person-view drone, known as HANX, developed by Sgt. Henry David Volpe. Approved by Naval Air Systems Command, the low-cost...

February 6, 2026
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Communication and Electronics

Teledyne FLIR Debuts Faster Ranger Radars

Teledyne FLIR has upgraded its Ranger R8-3DX and R20SS radars with faster rotation speeds and improved detection coverage, strengthening counter-drone, border security, and force protection missions.