April 23rd 2025

OF NOTE

AI and Automation on the Battlefield

Artificial intelligence continues to be a major focus, with the Pentagon and industry partners advancing AI for real-time data processing, target spotting, and decision-making. The Navy is expanding the use of AI systems like Rebellion Defense’s IRIS for target spotting and tracking, with warship prototypes set for testing next year.

Advances in AI-driven manufacturing are paving the way for potential robot factories on the front lines, promising to reshape logistics and force projection in future conflicts.

Counter-Drone and Laser Weapons

The Marine Corps is preparing to field new counter-drone systems for dismounted units, following successful tests. The Army is also exploring simple, cost-effective unmanned technologies, such as 3D-printed kamikaze drones and self-powered lasers for intercepting incoming threats.

Data, Sensors, and Connectivit

Advanced sensor networks are being deployed across domains (land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace) to improve situational awareness. The challenge is ensuring secure, timely data delivery to decision-makers and operators.

Innovations in edge computing, 5G, and hybrid cloud solutions are enhancing battlefield communications and enabling faster, more flexible responses.

INNOVATION

Why Now is the Time for Defense Tech in Europe

Reinvigorating its manufacturing base and allowing new defense tech startups to emerge will have its challenges – most of them because of Europe’s fragmentation.

Europe’s defense tech acquisition process is different for 29 independent MoDs from each country plus the UK and Ukraine.

Some of them have already bought or ordered high quantities of US weapons in the last years – significant budgets have already been committed to an ally we’re now unsure of.

TECHNOLOGY

India Is Testing New Defense Technologies That Mirror Russia And Ukraine

Over the past three years, the Russia-Ukraine War has transformed modern warfare, as new technologies are being rapidly developed and fielded to provide enhanced capabilities to the warfighters. Both countries are heavily leveraging commercial technology, especially in the drone and counter-drone space, to defeat traditional military systems, such as tanks and artillery.

This shift has allowed different countries, including India, to become larger players in the defense technology domain. In particular, India’s Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has conducted a number of tests in the last few months on cutting-edge drone and counter-drone systems.

Island Defence: Assessing Taiwan’s Military Capabilities

Since its inception, Taiwan has grappled with a range of challenges in resisting mounting pressure from China. From defence and economic concerns to sociopolitical dynamics, the island is navigating complex terrain in its efforts to push back. As part of its response, Taiwan is set to increase its defense budget to over 3% of its GDP, signaling a major military overhaul.

But is this overhaul sufficient to safeguard the island against China’s military might? This article examines Taiwan’s current defense capabilities and evaluates their resilience in the face of China’s expanding military power.

Musk's SpaceX is frontrunner to build Trump's Golden Dome missile shield

Elon Musk's SpaceX and two partners have emerged as frontrunners to win a crucial part of President Donald Trump's "Golden Dome" missile defense shield, six people familiar with the matter said.

Musk's rocket and satellite company is partnering with software maker Palantir and drone builder Anduril on a bid to build key parts of Golden Dome, the sources said, which has drawn significant interest from the technology sector's burgeoning base of defense startups.

Vatn and Palantir Team Up

The company will use Palantir’s Foundry system to digitize the way it works and use artificial intelligence to improve everything from production speed to supply chain.

Anduril Unveils a New-Age Torpedo

The vessel is Anduril’s answer to a torpedo, but designed to be deployed from unmanned vessels. Plus, it can be produced for a “fraction of the cost” of its legacy counterparts, Shane Arnott, senior VP of programs and engineering at Anduril, told reporters during a press briefing.

Lockheed wants to turn F-35 into a ‘Ferrari’ with sixth-gen tech

Lockheed Martin plans to fold technologies it developed in its unsuccessful bid for the Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance platform into the F-35 and F-22 Raptor to create a “supercharged” fifth-generation fighter, company executives said.

DOD wants communications tech to enable commandos’ drone swarms

Officials are interested in items with high technological and manufacturing readiness levels to meet quick timelines.

Israeli defense tech giant launches 'Typhoon' in desert

Rafael Advanced Defense Systems showcased its Typhoon counter-unmanned aircraft system, successfully striking a drone on its second firing attempt during a demonstration in Israel. The launch highlighted the system’s capabilities despite initial misses.

INVESTMENT

Palmer Luckey and other defense tech leaders see Trump's victory as a win for the industry

Some of the defense tech industry's optimism for Trump's victory lies in SpaceX founder Elon Musk's proximity to the president-elect and his vice president, JD Vance, Forbes reported.

"The close relationships between Vance, Elon, and the defense VC and startup ecosystem will create a huge opening for real defense acquisition reform and widening of the number of players," Nathan Mintz, CEO of CX2, an electronic warfare company, told the outlet.

Luckey told Bloomberg that Musk has "outperformed every reasonable expectation." Luckey said he was initially skeptical of Musk's ability to take on projects at his other ventures like SpaceX and X while "also keeping this administration focused on things like space."

Private investment in Ukrainian defense technologies soared by 900% in one year but there is still not enough capital

According to the Ukrainian Council of Gunsmiths, this sector experienced remarkable growth in 2024, surging by 900% compared to 2023, with estimates ranging from $35M to $50M. This demonstrates that Ukrainian manufacturers are developing effective defense solutions.

Startup Nation Central's 2025 Israel Defense Tech Companies Sees Surge in Companies in the Sector

Startup Nation Central, a non-profit promoting the Israeli innovation ecosystem around the world, has updated its Israel Defense Tech Landscape Map to include 312 companies operating in the sector.

While the original map was developed in 2024, the updated map now reflects significant growth in the sector, driven in part by the ongoing war. The war has accelerated the growth of existing defense tech companies and sparked a wave of entrepreneurial ventures to address the pressing security needs of a rapidly changing battlefield. As a result, Israel's defense tech ecosystem continues to evolve at a remarkable pace, with new companies rising to meet the demand for more advanced and tailored solutions.

The updated map is part of a broader Defense Tech Spotlight that captures key trends, investment activity, and global momentum, as governments and investors ramp up efforts to strengthen national security through innovation.