What comes next in defense tech?

OF NOTE

Key takeaways from this week in defense technology highlight the rapid evolution and critical importance of innovation in response to geopolitical and operational challenges. These trends underscore the critical need for agility and innovation across all aspects of defense technology.

INNOVATION

What comes next in defense tech?

Commercial innovation is driving rapid advancements in defense technology, but maturity and readiness vary.

Defense tech firm Anduril expands manufacturing in Australia

The company is building a mass manufacturing facility in Ohio and assessing potential sites abroad. In Australia, it is developing a production site in New South Wales to support its work with the Australian Defence Force.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

South Korea Looking For More Military Tech Cooperation With Allies

Seong Tae Jeong, chief technology officer at the Advanced Defense Science and Technology Research Institute at South Korea’s Agency for Defense Development, said artificial intelligence and autonomous systems are of particular interest to address the country’s manpower shortages.

TECHNOLOGY

China’s Tech Triple Play Threatens U.S. National Security

Chinese Communist Party Chairman Xi Jinping has defiantly declared that technological innovation is the “main battlefield” in China’s quest for global preeminence. But, Beijing’s bold bid to transform itself into a global science superpower is not merely an economic imperative—it is a means to strengthen China’s military might and cyber capabilities, with grave implications for the United States.

US Army ships its newest air-defense tech to units in Asia, Europe

Some of the service's newest technologies are headed to global hotspots for Army units to try them out.

DOD weapons buyer nominee wants to focus on new tech - Defense One

Michael Duffey also faced lawmakers’ questions about the Yemen-bombing Signal chat.

INVESTMENT

SOCOM awards Anduril $86M contract for autonomy software integration

U.S. Special Operations Command has tapped Anduril to help the organization develop and deploy autonomy software that can coordinate the operations of a variety of drones and other robotic platforms on the battlefield, the company is set to announce Wednesday.

As Hegseth cozies up to Silicon Valley, VCs' defense tech investing is getting frothy

A belief that the Pentagon under Trump will be more hospitable to startups is fueling defense tech venture deals at more than 100x revenue multiples, according to insiders.

Defense Tech Startup Shield AI Hits $5.3B Valuation Mark

Just a day after anti-drone tech startup Epirus raised a $250 million Series D, defense and aerospace startup Shield AI locked up a $240 million F-1 strategic funding round at a $5.3 billion valuation.