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Pentagon doubles down on Counter-UAS with a $500M contract Earlier this month, the Pentagon awarded AeroVironment (AV) a $500 million counter-UAS contract, continuing its investment in drone dominance and long-term procurement priority. The contract supports a range of counter-drone capabilities, including sensors, electronic warfare, command-and-control systems, and defeat technologies. —— More details in the link below Photo: AV

Ondas Autonomous Systems Acquires DZYNE Technologies in $875.8M Deal, Expanding Autonomous Defense Portfolio The acquisition significantly expands its position in autonomous defense technologies and brings together complementary capabilities across: * Multi-domain intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) * Counter-UAS * Precision strike and autonomous effects * Autonomous logistics * AI-enabled mission intelligence The acquisition will assist Ondas in their long term strategy of creating a systems-of-systems defense platform that spans the entire mission lifecycle. Ondas is creating a new business unit called Ondas Sentinel, which will focus on delivering integrated autonomous defense solutions for U.S. and allied military customers. ——— More info in the first comment below💬

What content brings you the most value on LinkedIn? We’re at the halfway point of 2026, a good time to check in on what’s actually useful in your feed. Information can either be distracting or useful. What’s most useful for you? If there’s a category missing below, drop a comment and let us know what you’d like to see more of 👇

Nokia is stepping into a nationwide counter-drone effort in Finland. Nokia Defense joined a Finnish-Nordic consortium led by the Finnish Border Guard to help build counter-UAS capabilities for patrol vehicles and boats. Nokia’s role will focus on secure, real-time connectivity between sensors, platforms, and command-and-control systems across land and maritime operations. As #drone integration continues to be a growing challenge for border security, the ability to quickly detect, share, and act on information is noticeably just as important as the detection technology. —— Read more about what Nokia shared in their press release below👇

Archer is #hiring a Program Manager, Flight Test to lead planning, execution, and certification of flight test campaigns. Summary: This role acts as the critical link between the design engineering teams, the flight operations crew, and regulatory authorities. You will be responsible for the day-to-day management of flight test vehicles, ensuring that development and certification testing is conducted safely and efficiently. The position requires a deep understanding of flight test operations and advanced organization, communication, and time management skills. ____ Learn more and apply below 👇

Team UAV is looking for an experienced Chief Pilot to lead flight operations, pilot development, and safety standards as they continue to expand their UAV operations. A great opportunity for a proven aviation leader looking to make a significant impact.

Major sporting events have historically shaped how we think about security. Increasingly, they're also shaping how we think about airspace. Ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the FAA announced "No Drone Zones" covering stadiums, fan events, team hotels, training facilities, and base camps across the United States. The restrictions are part of a broader effort involving the FAA, DHS, DOJ, and local law enforcement to address unauthorized drone activity during one of the world's largest sporting events. For the UAS industry,this is another reminder that counter-UAS planning is becoming a permanent component of modern airspace management. As drone adoption continues to grow, so too does the need for effective detection, identification, education, and enforcement strategies that protect public safety while supporting the responsible integration of drones into the national airspace. Security and innovation are often discussed separately. In reality, the future of the industry will require both to evolve together. How do you see the role of counter-UAS capabilities changing over the next five years?

Another milestone in the path toward commercial #AAM operations. Eve Air Mobility recently announced the completion of hover and low-speed flight testing on its full-scale #eVTOL engineering prototype, accumulating 59 flights as the company advances toward transition flight testing. While major funding announcements and aircraft unveilings often capture the spotlight, progress in this industry is built through incremental achievements like these. Each phase of testing helps validate performance, inform certification efforts, and move concepts closer to real-world operations. For those following the evolution of #AdvancedAirMobility, milestones like this offer a useful reminder that the industry continues to make slow(but steady), measurable progress behind the scenes. They also provide insight into where future opportunities may emerge across flight test, certification, manufacturing, maintenance, and operational planning. Photo: Eve Air Mobility

MaryLaura K. and Causey Aviation Unmanned, Inc are looking for a new team member to join their Ground Support crew supporting drone delivery operations in Texas.

Reliable Robotics Corporation is #hiring for a Flight Software Manager Summary: As a Flight Software Manager at Reliable Robotics, you’ll lead and grow the team responsible for the safety critical flight software that makes the aircraft fly. You’ll own the maturation of engineering processes to balance immediate engineering execution with formal DO-178C verification, supporting rapid integration and testing of GNC algorithms while building out the software architecture for certification. — Does this sound like a good fit? If so, click the link below for more info👇 Photo: Reliable Robotics Corporation