Army

WASHINGTON — After discontinuing its decade-long pursuit of long-range electronic warfare platforms, the U.S. Army is preparing to launch new airborne and ground-based EW programs in 2026, marking a significant strategic pivot toward modularity and commercial technology integration. Brig. Gen. Kevin Chaney, the Army’s Capability Program Executive for Intelligence, Electronic Warfare, and Sensors, acknowledged that the original Multi-Function Electronic Warfare program suffered from an “old-school monolithic acquisition approach.” The abandoned vision—mounting a single large EW pod on an MQ-1 Predator variant and deploying heavy truck-based ground systems—proved inflexible and difficult to deploy globally.

Army Acquisition Reform to Accelerate Cloud Migration and Simulation Modernization The Army’s dramatic acquisition overhaul positions the service to dramatically modernize its digital infrastruc...

WASHINGTON — As global militaries accelerate the search for affordable air defense capabilities, the U.S. Army is planning to equip at least some aircraft in its next-generation large drone fleet with high-energy laser systems, according to an Army official who spoke with Breaking Defense. The service is preparing to formally launch a competitive acquisition for new Group 4 or 5 unmanned aerial systems—large and very large platforms—designed to replace its current fleet of General Atomics-manufactured Gray Eagle drones. The Army Requirements Oversight Council approved the Capability Development Document outlining requirements and an acquisition strategy in late October, which details plans for short takeoff and landing (STOL) or vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) systems.

The U.S. Army is moving forward with plans to develop a new counter-unmanned systems interceptor program, targeting the proliferation of small drones that have emerged as significant threats in modern warfare. The RFI seeks mature, commercially available technologies including seekers, control actuation systems, batteries, mission computers, and related components capable of performing at Technology Readiness Level 5 or higher. Components must be immediately available for laboratory demonstration and engineered for compact 40-70 millimeter diameter missiles while withstanding military environments and launch accelerations exceeding 30 G-forces.