36 SMT007 MAGAZINE I APRIL 2026
MIL/AERO007
DARPA-developed Autonomous
Helicopter Technology Transitions to
U.S. Army ⊲
As part of the technology transition agreement
between DARPA and the Army's Project Manager
for Utility Helicopters, an experimental, fly-by-
wire H-60Mx Black Hawk, fully equipped with the
DARPA-funded Sikorsky MATRIX™ autonomy suite,
has been delivered to the U.S. Army for advanced
operational testing.
Lockheed Martin Completes Live Target
Tracking Exercise for the Aegis System
Equipped Vessel System ⊲
The first live target tracking exercise using the
SPY-7 radar has been completed. The ASEV
system demonstrated the ability to search, detect,
identify, track, and discriminate against live
targets and concluded with virtual target engage-
ments. This successful exercise highlights ASEV's
maturity of the integrated SPY-7 Aegis System.
Airbus' Bird of Prey Destroys Kamikaze
Drone in First Demo ⊲
The interceptor drone autonomously searched,
detected, and classified a medium-sized one-way
attack drone. The interceptor engaged the target
with a Mark I air-to-air missile.
Honeywell Aerospace, Defense
Department Sign Deal to Boost Defense
Tech Production ⊲
Honeywell Aerospace is among the first Tier 1
suppliers to sign a framework agreement of this
nature with the DoW. This supplier framework
agreement is to rapidly increase the production of
critical defense technologies with a $500 million
multi-year investment to upgrade the company's
production capacity.
£14 Million Funding Boost to Power UK
Space Technology Innovation ⊲
The funding is available through the European
Space Agency's (ESA) General Support Technol-
ogy Programme (GSTP), its flagship programme
for maturing new space technologies from early-
stage research to flight-ready demonstration.
NUBURU Activates U.S. Defense
Manufacturing Infrastructure, Initiates
Phase ⊲
This milestone marks NUBURU's transition into
an operational U.S.-based defense manufacturing
participant, with active infrastructure now being
deployed to support current and future govern-
ment and allied demand. NUBURU develops
directed-energy technologies, electronic warfare,
and software-orchestrated defense systems.
Teledyne to Supply Detectors for Lazuli
Space Observatory ⊲
Lazuli, a state-of-the-art 3-meter–class observa-
tory, is designed for rapid-response observations
and precision astrophysics across optical and
near-infrared wavelengths. The Teledyne focal
plane arrays and electronics will enable Lazuli's
spectrograph to capture and analyze the faint
light from these supernovae with unprecedented
sensitivity and spectral resolution
Vertical Aerospace Launches Battery
Pilot Production Line for Valo ⊲
Opened in 2023, the Vertical Energy Centre has
produced the battery systems used in the compa-
ny's piloted flight testing since 2024. The facility
has now been upgraded with automated, aero-
space-grade manufacturing processes designed
to support certification and production, improving
efficiency, consistency, and battery performance.
RTX Collins Aerospace Completes
Clean Aviation HECATE Project ⊲
As a part of the European Union's Clean Aviation
Joint Undertaking, with support from UK Research
and Innovation, the program completed testing,
verification and validation of its Electrical Power
Generation and Distribution System; a hybrid-
electric system producing more than 500 kilo-
watts of power for use in hybrid-electric aircraft.
