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AFSOC Proves HAVOC SPEAR Precise and Effective

Thursday, October 1st, 2026

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD. —

Air Force Special Operations Command announced its small cruise missile, the AGM-190A Havoc Spear, has been evaluated in a test configuration and successfully meets requirements to become an available weapons system for broader real-world use across a variety of special operations and conventional aircraft.

Havoc Spear is a mission-adaptable, modular-design small cruise missile that can be rapidly produced at relatively low cost. During a combat evaluation in the spring of 2026, the new missile’s capabilities proved to be accurate and effective when employed from an AFSOC platform in a test configuration, meeting AFSOC’s requirement for a small cruise missile.

“Havoc Spear’s range and capabilities expands standoff options, giving commanders a versatile tool to neutralize threats without putting platforms or personnel in immediate danger,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Mike Conley, AFSOC commander. “It’s also not lost on us the value of being able to test a new weapon system in combat – and prove its success on the battlefield early on in the process.”

AFSOC partnered with U.S. Africa Command to conduct the combat evaluation within the Combatant Command’s area of responsibility.

“We work every day to disrupt the networks that have made Africa the epicenter of global terrorism,” said U.S. Air Force Gen. Dagvin Anderson, AFRICOM commander. “These successful operational assessments prove we will continue to bring the unique capabilities only the U.S. can provide in order to defend U.S. interests alongside our partners.”

Working with industry partners, U.S. Special Operations Command spearheaded the acquisition of Havoc Spear on behalf of AFSOC using a cooperative research & development agreement to leverage the rapid, iterative weapon-development system. CRADA allows users to move faster than standard acquisition timelines to field innovative capabilities like Havoc Spear to the warfighter.

“To outpace our adversaries, we can’t rely on traditional acquisition pipelines,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Robert Johnston, AFSOC director of strategic plans, programs and requirements. “AFSOC is eager to explore more agile, lesser-known pathways to modernization to deepen industry partnerships, leverage calculated risks, and rapidly deliver capabilities to our warfighters.”

Havoc Spear’s capability will enhance lethality, create dilemmas for adversaries, and reinforce AFSOC’s commitment to maintain a decisive advantage against emerging threats across all domains. AFSOC continues to adapt, maintaining its steadfast commitment to providing exquisite support to ensure the joint force, special operations forces, and Department of the Air Force can conduct uncontested global operations.

Via Air Force Special Operations Command Public Affairs

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PAE Munitions Marks 50 years of US-German Partnership on Rolling Airframe Missile Program

Sunday, September 27th, 2026

VIRGINIA, UNITED STATES —

PAE Munitions marked the 50th anniversary of the Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) program Sept. 17 during the 97th RAM Steering Committee meeting, recognizing five decades of U.S.-German cooperation to deliver and sustain a critical naval self-defense capability.

“For 50 years, the RAM program has continued to evolve to meet fleet needs and the changing threat environment,” said Capt. Tom Pilkerton, Terminal Defense Systems program manager. “That steady focus on capability and modernization has helped sustain RAM’s role as an important part of naval self-defense.”

Since 1976, the RAM program has reflected a long-standing partnership between the U.S. and Germany, sustained by close collaboration across government and industry. Over five decades, that cooperative approach has helped the program adapt, endure, and build industrial base resiliency.

“We are operating in an environment where demand for capable weapons is increasing, and the ability to produce at scale is just as important as the capability itself. Foundational to RAM’s success is the ability of our governments and industries to work together, solve problems together, and deliver together — at speed and scale.”

Van Hendrey, Portfolio Acquisition Executive Munitions and U.S. Co-Chair of the RAM Steering Committee

RAM provides naval ships a rapid-response, short-range defensive capability against anti-ship cruise missiles and other airborne threats as part of a layered self-defense system. Its continued modernization has helped ensure the system remains responsive to evolving threats and fleet requirements.

The anniversary also underscores the strength and durability of the U.S.-German cooperative model, which has sustained the program through changing requirements, engineering challenges, and shifts in the threat environment while continuing to deliver capability for naval forces.

About PAE Munitions: Portfolio Acquisition Executive (PAE) Munitions is a Department of the Navy organization responsible for the development, procurement, and delivery of naval munitions and strike capabilities. By unifying key weapons programs and aligning the weapons industrial base, PAE Munitions provides enterprise-level integration to accelerate production, increase capacity, and ensure the Fleet is equipped with the munitions needed to project power and win.

Via Portfolio Acquisition Executive Marine Corps

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FlyFocus to Unveil Polish-Made TASACK Precision Loitering Munition at MSPO 2026

Wednesday, September 9th, 2026

New 110-km system combines cost-focused design, top-attack capability and a predominantly Polish-made technology stack
TASACK is a new 15 kg precision loitering munition with a flight range of up to 110 km and 5 kg payload
A stabilised EO/IR gimbal enables operators to identify and track targets and execute attack profiles ranging from flat to vertical
Simplified internal and external architecture is designed to reduce production costs, with the majority of components manufactured in Poland
A point-and-click interface allows operators to engage targets without requiring the extensive piloting skills conventional FPV systems demand
FlyFocus debuts TASACK on 8 September at MSPO in Kielce, Poland

WARSAW, Poland (September 8, 2026) — FlyFocus, a Polish defence technology company specialising in unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and avionics, unveiled TASACK, its new precision loitering munition, for the first time at MSPO 2026 in Kielce, Poland. With its interface built around a point-and-click design, TASACK’s operator does not need real piloting skills to engage a target, unlike conventional FPV systems, which require extensive pilot training.

Designed for precision engagement of stationary and moving targets, TASACK combines a flight range of up to 110 kilometres with a 5 kg payload and speeds of up to 300 km/h. The system has been engineered around a deliberately simplified, modular architecture intended to reduce manufacturing costs while allowing rapid assembly, maintenance and upgrades as operational requirements change.

A key feature is TASACK’s stabilised daylight or infrared gimbal, which provides visual targeting and enables operators to approach targets using attack profiles ranging from flat trajectories to near-vertical top attacks. This allows the system to observe and track targets before engaging them from the most appropriate direction. The system provides visual targeting accuracy of 1 m CEP50, according to FlyFocus specifications.

The majority of TASACK’s components, including its gimbal, are manufactured in Poland. This continues FlyFocus’ broader strategy of building unmanned systems around secure, NATO-aligned supply chains while retaining control over critical UAV technologies.

“TASACK has been designed around what we believe matters most for this class of system: precision, simplicity and the ability to manufacture at meaningful scale,” said Igor Skawi?ski, CEO and co-founder of FlyFocus. “Modern militaries need sophisticated capabilities, but they also need systems that can be produced affordably, deployed quickly and adapted as battlefield conditions change. Our objective with TASACK is to bring those requirements together in one platform.”

TASACK also shares a common ground control interface with FlyFocus’s existing Polaris, CableGuard and Striker platforms. By maintaining a consistent operator environment across different UAV classes, FlyFocus aims to reduce the additional training required when personnel move between systems.

The 15 kg electrically powered aircraft can remain airborne for up to 1.5 hours and provides an 80 km datalink range. Midcourse navigation combines enhanced GNSS and inertial navigation, with radio-navigation available as an option. The modular airframe can accommodate different warheads depending on mission requirements and can be prepared for launch in approximately five to seven minutes.

TASACK is presented publicly for the first time at MSPO alongside FlyFocus’s wider portfolio of unmanned systems and avionics. The company expects TASACK to achieve production readiness in Q1 2027.

Posted in Admin, International, Munitions, Press Release, weapons | No Comments »

ORIGIN and WITU Unveil BLAZE with Latest Version of Warhead at MSPO

Tuesday, September 8th, 2026

Latvia’s ORIGIN is introducing its autonomous counter-drone interceptor BLAZE at MSPO with the latest version of a directional fragmentation warhead developed by Poland’s WITU (Wojskowy Instytut Techniczny Uzbrojenia).
The module was engineered by WITU specifically for BLAZE and the demands of modern counter-drone operations, combining a focused effect against aerial targets with multiple layers of mechanical, electronic and software-controlled safety.
The warhead carries a NATO stock number, making BLAZE the first NATO-codified interceptor drone available with a STANAG-compliant warhead module.
ORIGIN is scaling manufacturing partnerships across Europe to meet growing demand from NATO countries.

RIGA, Latvia & KIELCE, Poland (8 September 2026) – ORIGIN, the Latvian defence technology company, and Poland’s Military Institute of Armament Technology (WITU, Wojskowy Instytut Techniczny Uzbrojenia) are introducing BLAZE, an autonomous counter-drone interceptor, with the latest version of a directional fragmentation warhead, at MPSO in Kielce. WITU designed the warhead specifically for ORIGIN’s BLAZE, combining a focused effect against aerial targets with multiple layers of mechanical, electronic and software-controlled safety. The module carries a NATO stock number, making BLAZE the first NATO-codified interceptor drone available with a STANAG-compliant warhead module.

The BLAZE warhead is a compact directional high-explosive fragmentation module built specifically for intercepting unmanned aerial threats. Rather than adapting an existing munition, WITU engineered the warhead from the outset as an integral part of BLAZE. Weighing 700 grams, it directs a concentrated pattern of high-velocity steel fragments toward the target, delivering the required effect while keeping the interceptor light and agile.

WITU designed and built the Electronic Safe and Arm Device (ESAD), the electronic system that governs how and when the warhead activates. The explosive charge, directional fragmentation package, electronically controlled fuze and mechanical safety mechanisms are combined within a single precision-engineered module. The warhead remains safely disarmed until defined flight conditions are met, can be armed and disarmed repeatedly in flight, and automatically returns to a safe state if an engagement is cancelled, allowing BLAZE to return and land. It initiates at a precisely controlled moment during the terminal intercept.

Col. Piotr Ruli?ki, Head of the Center for Ballistics and Unmanned Systems at the Military Institute of Armament Technology (WITU), said: “The ESAD we built for ORIGIN’s BLAZE meets the same safety and standardisation requirements we apply across our work for the Polish armed forces. We designed it from the ground up for counter-drone engagements, with the safety and control features that mission demands. Partnering with ORIGIN lets our expertise support allied NATO forces, which is a good example of how Polish and Baltic industry can build on each other’s strengths.”

Beyond the WITU partnership, ORIGIN has partnered with several electronics manufacturers with operations across Europe to scale up production of BLAZE interceptors to meet growing demand from NATO countries. In line with the interceptor’s modular design, this lets end users take on a larger share of their own supply chain where that suits their procurement needs.

Origin’s BLAZE interceptor will be showcased at WITU’s stand (booth number: 2-E08) at MSPO in Kielce, Poland from 8 to 11 September 2026.

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Saab Receives Order for RBS 70 NG from Finland

Monday, August 31st, 2026

Saab has signed a contract and received an initial order from The Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command for deliveries of the RBS 70 NG air defence solution. The order value is SEK 1.2 billion.

The new contract also enables Finland to place additional future orders for the RBS 70 NG as well as training, spare parts and maintenance equipment.

“We are proud to continue supporting Finland’s Defence Forces and contributing to keeping the nation’s skies safe. With RBS 70 NG, Finland will receive a state-of-the art short-range air defence capability to effectively meet evolving aerial threats,” says Görgen Johansson, head of Saab’s business area Dynamics.

The Finnish Defence Forces has been a user of the previous version of RBS 70 since 2008. The latest generation, RBS 70 NG, features the unjammable laser-guided missile while also adding a range of new capabilities, such as an automatic target tracker and built-in night capability which further increase hit probability and enhance operational use.

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AV Receives $51 Million US Army Order for Switchblade 600 Loitering Munitions

Wednesday, August 26th, 2026

Award under Lethal Unmanned Systems IDIQ reflects growing demand for AV’s next-generation, long-range precision loitering munitions and proven Switchblade 600 performance.

ARLINGTON, Va., August 26, 2026 – AeroVironment, Inc. (“AV”) (NASDAQ: AVAV), a global leader in defense technology, autonomous systems and precision strike solutions, today announced receipt of a $51 million delivery order from the United States Army for additional Switchblade® 600 Block 2 loitering munition systems. The order also includes Switchblade 600 Block 1 systems in support of a Foreign Military Sale to a key United States ally.

The order was awarded under the Army’s existing five-year, $990 million Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract for Lethal Unmanned Systems (LUS), originally issued in August 2024.

This latest award represents a follow-on procurement to the Army’s initial order for the next-generation Switchblade product line and underscores the strong, sustained demand for AV’s battle-proven long-range, precision loitering munitions.

“Continued investment by the U.S. Army in Switchblade 600 Block 2 reflects both the growing demand for long-range, precision loitering munitions and the proven reliability of the Switchblade family in demanding operational environments,” said Brian Young, Senior Vice President of Loitering Munitions at AV. “Building on the success of Switchblade 600 Block 1, Block 2 continues to deliver the meaningful upgrades in autonomy, resilience, and lethality tailored to the Army’s needs in contested, multi-domain operations.”

This order also reflects AV’s expanding production capacity and performance on prior Switchblade 600 deliveries.

“This new delivery order under the LUS IDIQ further validates Switchblade 600 Block 2 as a next-generation, scalable fires solution for the Army,” said Young. “As we expand our manufacturing capacity and accelerate delivery timelines, we’re ensuring that U.S. soldiers have reliable, combat-proven loitering munitions that deliver precision effects at range while keeping them out of harm’s way.”

Since 2025, Switchblade 600 has been fielded across more than 20 brigade combat teams while hundreds of U.S. soldiers have been trained on the system’s operation and employment.

Switchblade 600 Block 2 is designed for multi-domain operations and ruggedized for maritime and highly contested environments. Developed in collaboration with United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM), the system incorporates upgraded avionics and advanced automatic target recognition including SPOTR AiTR, to enable faster detection, identification, and engagement of threats.

Integrated resilient communications, including Silvus MANET radios, support distributed operations and extended handoff ranges, while improved navigation and mission resilience allow effective employment in GPS-challenged environments. These enhancements provide commanders with increased reach, flexibility, and confidence against armored and other high-value targets.

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Tiberius Aerospace Announces Invictus Has Moved into Formal Engineering Testing and Evaluation, Bringing Scalable Long-Range Precision Strike Across Multiple Domains

Friday, August 21st, 2026

Tiberius Aerospace, the modern defense technology company building next-generation weapon systems and AI-powered defense solutions for the United States, United Kingdom and allied nations, today announced that Invictus is moving from early laboratory investigation to prove the concept into formal engineering Test & Evaluation (T&E) development, marking a major step towards fielding its next-generation long-range precision strike system.

Invictus is a tube-launched, multi-mission system designed for integration across multiple platforms and domains. Its architecture is intended to support launch from vertical launch systems and autonomous vehicles operating across land and sea, giving warfighters greater flexibility in how long-range precision effects are delivered.

Tiberius Aerospace launched its first ramjet munition, Sceptre, in May 2025 and recently announced successful ramjet ignition during live firing in the US. This rapid development and learning has facilitated the accelerated transition of the Invictus programme from exploratory laboratory development into a proven engineering program focused on validating propulsion, flight performance, guidance, platform integration and manufacturability through formal testing. Direct- connect testing of the Invictus ramjet engine is already underway at Purdue’s Zucrow Laboratories, where the engine has demonstrated excellent operability using Jet-A across all conditions tested to date.

The program is advancing against an increasingly urgent strategic challenge: the need for the United States and its allies to rebuild long-range precision strike capacity faster than traditional defense production can replenish it. The U.S. Army used virtually all of its stockpile of ATACMS and Precision Strike Missiles during the five-month conflict with Iran, intensifying concerns about readiness for future contingencies. Across Europe, Western missile inventories have also come under growing pressure, driving NATO governments and manufacturers to accelerate production and rebuild stockpiles.

Invictus is being designed to address both capability and capacity, combining long-range precision with an architecture built for adaptability and scale. The Invictus-200 will pair a ramjet with an integral booster to deliver speeds up to Mach 3 and precision strike at ranges of up to 200 kilometres, with targeting precision of 5.5-meter CEP depending on guidance configuration. Its 10– 15 kilogram payload capacity and modular, open architecture will allow the system to be configured for different missions and evolve as operational requirements change.

“The move into formal engineering, testing and evaluation is a major step toward turning Invictus from a promising technology into a deployable capability,” said Chad Steelberg, Founder and CEO of Tiberius Aerospace. “Invictus and Sceptre have been designed from first principles to deliver cost-effective lethality from the outset, using our AI powered platform GRAIL to maximize the combat effect delivered for every dollar spent by simplifying the weapon, engineering it for high-volume production and building in an open architecture that can evolve without replacing the entire system. We have used GRAIL to enable a Silicon Valley approach to product development, connecting program requirements with domestic and allied suppliers capable of producing components and systems and therefore supporting a broader and more resilient industrial base. Invictus will bring together long-range precision, multi-domain flexibility, cost-effective lethality and scalable production in a weapon designed not only for today’s operational requirements, but for continuous adaptation throughout its service life.”

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Rheinmetall Successfully Demonstrates Launch of the FV-014 Loitering Munition System from Containerized Missile Launcher

Friday, August 14th, 2026

Rheinmetall has successfully launched its FV-014 loitering munition system from the Containerized Missile Launcher, a modular multi launcher for guided missiles and loitering munitions. Both the Containerized Missile Launcher and the FV-014 loitering munition system are in-house developments. The product demonstration took place in July 2026 at the National Test Centre for Unmanned Aerial Systems at the German Aerospace Centre in Cochstedt, Saxony-Anhalt.
As part of a customer demonstration, the
FV-014 was launched from a Rheinmetall HX truck, both from a stationary position and whilst moving. During the demonstration, the system carried out various simulated operational profiles and attack flights. This successful test underlines Rheinmetall’s expertise in the field of modern loitering munition systems and marks another important milestone in the expansion of its portfolio of unmanned weapons for various ranges.

The FV-014 was developed for highly mobile operations on the modern battlefield. It combines reconnaissance, target identification and precision strike capabilities within a single system and is designed for operational ranges of up to 100 kilometres. State-of-the-art sensor technology, network capability and strong resilience to GNSS interference through a high degree of autonomy enable deployment even in demanding operational scenarios. The system is suitable for engaging both armoured and unarmoured targets.
Launching takes place from a transport and launch container using a booster. These launch containers can be integrated into the Containerized Missile Launcher on a modular basis. Depending on the selected container model, this launcher can accommodate up to 18 FV-014. After ejection, the aircraft unfolds its folding wings and transitions to aerodynamic flight. With a flight duration of up to 70 minutes, the operator has sufficient time for reconnaissance, target selection and decision making for the attack.

The system is controlled via a user-friendly ground station with permanent human-in-the-loop control. This enables the operator to identify and track targets, launch precise attacks and abort the mission, if necessary in order to respond to changing operational conditions.

The FV-014 is a modern loitering munition system with a launch weight of around 22 kilograms, including a payload of approximately six kilograms. The integrated HEDP (High-Explosive Dual Purpose) warhead has a penetration capacity of more than 600 millimetres of solid armour steel and is equally effective against armoured and unarmoured targets, as well as infrastructure.
An electrically powered propeller guarantees a quiet approach. Furthermore, the FV-014 is designed for a reduced radar and infrared signature. In addition to precise single strikes, the system supports swarm operations to simultaneously engage multiple targets or to ‘saturate’ by deliberately overstraining enemy defence systems. Future deployment from mobile land vehicle platforms and seagoing units is planned.

The Containerized Missile Launcher is a highly flexible, modular designed launch platform, amongst other things, for the FV-014loitering munition system. It is based on a standardised ISO container of any size. It can be deployed both in a stationary configuration and on mobile platforms, such as a Rheinmetall HX truck, as well as on naval vessels. In the 20-foot configuration, a Containerized Missile Launcher can accommodate up to 18 FV-014 and is fully compatible with existing transport, logistics and operational platforms. Connection to command, control, communications, computers and intelligence (C4I) systems enables flexible launch by a local operator, via radio link or satellite communication. An integrated power supply ensures reliable long-term operation, even in remote operational areas. The consistent use of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components reduces life-cycle costs. Furthermore, the system features an integrated ‘sleeper’ capability for remote activation.

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