The Prototype Ultimatum
Marine Corps Forces Pacific commander Lt. Gen. Jim Glynn told defense contractors to stop bringing single prototypes to exercises—bring five, leave three, and let Marines break them in the field.
This is a direct challenge to traditional acquisition timelines. Glynn cited the Joint Fires Network, which evolved from "prototypes" to operational use despite never becoming a formal program of record. His message: "We have to fight with what we have, not what acquisition can get us in five years." In the Indo-Pacific, the Marines are "working in weeks and months, not years"—and they need gear that can scale from one operator controlling one drone to controlling entire swarms.
Read the full breakdown \\ Defense One >
SG1 + Lura \\ Helsing AI
\\ On the Radar
Challenges with technology overload will determine the future of autonomy \\ Breaking Defense >
Interview with Teague's David Smith: Warfighters are at cognitive overload limits, and autonomous systems must reduce complexity rather than add it, citing younger troops openly rejecting 20+ year old tools while Ukraine demonstrates the power of adaptable, low-cost solutions over legacy platforms.
Two Roads To Usable AR Glasses \\ Forbes >
Two companies are cracking AR's biggest problems from opposite ends: HarmonEyes trained AI on 130 fatigue datasets to predict cognitive overload before it happens, while Kopin's $15.4M Army-backed microLED embeds eye-tracking directly into pixels, eliminating cameras and cutting headset weight in half for defense and commercial use.
F-22 Raptor Takes Control of MQ-20 Avenger During Test \\ The Aviationist >
GA-ASI, Lockheed, and L3Harris demonstrated an F-22 controlling an MQ-20 drone mid-flight via tablet and new GRACE software, validating the Air Force's plan to pair CCAs exclusively with Raptors first as the "threshold platform" before expanding to F-35s and F-16s.
Anduril Unveils Omen Hybrid-Electric Vertical Takeoff And Landing Drone \\ TWZ >
Anduril revealed Omen, a tail-sitting VTOL drone boasting 3-4x the range and payload of standard Group 3 platforms. Designed specifically for Indo-Pacific distances, this mid-weight drone achieves its breakthrough via hybrid-electric propulsion (solving prior technical 'walls') and is now set to compete directly against much larger aircraft through a partnership with UAE's EDGE Group.
Switzerland invests in advanced camouflage against drones \\ Defence Blog >
Switzerland split multispectral camouflage contracts among three suppliers (SSZ, Saro, Saab) for systems that defeat optical, IR, and radar detection by modern sensors. The 14-lot procurement supports the country's modernization drive against drone threats while executing its June 2025 policy to balance domestic industry growth with access to NATO-standard concealment technology for alpine and urban operations.
The Army-led effort is also working on policy for buying and deploying C-UAS systems stateside. \\ Defense One >
The Army's new Joint Interagency Task Force 401 is building an online marketplace where military bases, FBI, and DHS can buy tested counter-drone components from hundreds of vendors currently scattered across the market. The effort shifts focus from larger Group 3 drones (handled overseas with explosive warheads) to smaller Groups 1-2 threats under 55 pounds requiring non-kinetic solutions like jammers for domestic use, establishing standardized testing so agencies can compare vendor performance across separate evaluations.
We’ve now flown a propulsion demonstrator, which we’re now going to evolve into a new product with EDGE.