Safran Electronics & Defense and MSI-Defence Systems will jointly develop and promote counter-uncrewed aerial systems (C-UAS) capabilities, integrating Safran’s optronic sights on MSI’s SEAHAWK naval and TERRAHAWK land gun systems.

The Franco-British collaboration has already secured an initial contract from a NATO European navy.

Under this contract, Safran will provide sighting systems for SEAHAWK DS30M 30 mm gun mounts aboard mine countermeasure vessels, with deliveries in 2027. Each mount will incorporate VIGEO, a version of Safran’s stabilised gunner sight adapted for maritime operations.

VIGEO is mounted directly on the gun and is designed to provide day and night target acquisition, laser ranging and fire control. It is part of a C-UAS suite including PASEO and VIGY 4. Integrated with kinetic or laser-guided effectors, these systems provide threat detection, tracking and neutralisation capabilities.

For more information

Safran Group

MSI-Defence Systems

Image: SEAHAWK DS (MSI-Defence Systems)

The Fall issue of the 2026 Unmanned Airspace Global Counter-UAS Systems Directory is now available. The guide is the world’s only comprehensive, continually updated directory of global C-UAS companies and systems. It itemises over 1,000 C-UAS products and services with performance details, company sales and partnerships arrangements. It is updated every month and broken down into niche sub-sectors (net-capture, missiles, intercept drones, detectors etc) to give C-UAS procurement and industry personnel a unique perspective of global C-UAS technical capabilities and market positions. It is available in word, PDF and excel formats and Unmanned Airspace readers are eligible for a range of discounts. For more information about the Directory please contact the editor Philip Butterworth-Hayes at philip@unmannedairspace.info.

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Shield has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Echodyne Corp., in a transaction valued at USD 5.3 billion.

Echodyne radars are built into counter-uncrewed aerial systems (C-UAS) platforms and security systems used by defence, government and commercial customers in more than 40 countries. The company’s compact, solid-state radars use its patented Metamaterials Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) technology.

In September, Echodyne received a contract with a USD 250 million ceiling from the United States’ Joint Interagency Task Force 401 to supply C-UAS radar to US and allied forces. 

Echodyne’s team will remain in place, with MESA radars remaining available as standalone products.

The Echodyne acquisition would also extend Shield’s presence in Washington. Based in Kirkland, Washington, Echodyne recently opened an 86,350-square-foot manufacturing facility, which the company says will be able to produce about 30,000 radars per year. 

Shield is raising USD 2.5 billion to support the transaction, including USD 1 billion in Series H funding at a USD 28.8 billion post-money valuation, a USD 1 billion structured equity investment from funds managed by Blackstone and USD 500 million in debt financing led by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as Sole Arranger. Of the USD 5.3 billion transaction value, USD 4.8 billion will be paid and issued at closing and up to an additional USD 500 million is contingent on Echodyne meeting agreed performance targets. 

The Series H is co-led by Disruptive and Innovation X Capital, with participation from Advent, the Strategic Investment Group of JPMorganChase’s Security and Resiliency Initiative, Snowpoint Ventures, Apandion, Center15 Capital and others. Series H proceeds will be used principally to fund the acquisition.  

The acquisition is expected to close in early 2027, subject to receipt of applicable regulatory approvals and satisfaction of other customary closing conditions. 

For more information

Shield

Echodyne

Image: Echodyne

The Fall issue of the 2026 Unmanned Airspace Global Counter-UAS Systems Directory is now available. The guide is the world’s only comprehensive, continually updated directory of global C-UAS companies and systems. It itemises over 1,000 C-UAS products and services with performance details, company sales and partnerships arrangements. It is updated every month and broken down into niche sub-sectors (net-capture, missiles, intercept drones, detectors etc) to give C-UAS procurement and industry personnel a unique perspective of global C-UAS technical capabilities and market positions. It is available in word, PDF and excel formats and Unmanned Airspace readers are eligible for a range of discounts. For more information about the Directory please contact the editor Philip Butterworth-Hayes at philip@unmannedairspace.info.

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NATO’s Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) announced on 5 November that it has selected 16 systems from five companies for the NATO counter-uncrewed aerial systems (C-UAS) marketplace.

The marketplace, which NCIA manages, was first announced in July. It is part of NATO’s Drone Edge, which is investing over USD 40 billion in C-UAS capabilities over the next five years. Through the marketplace, Allies can procure directly from the NATO catalogue without any further tender process.

The five selected companies announced yesterday are Alta Ares, Axon Enterprise Inc., Northrop Grumman, OSL UK and Quantum Systems. The selected equipment covers a mix of static, transportable and on-the-move systems. Each company has already deployed systems in Allied countries and in Ukraine.

NCIA selected the capabilities based on the following four reference scenarios:

• The Point Protection scenario focuses on enhancing the protection of a specific high-value asset or location – such as a military installation, critical infrastructure or command post – through effective detection, tracking and response.
• The Area Protection scenario focuses on the protection of a larger geographical area up to 3km in diameter, such as an airbase, logistics hub or military installation, through coordinated sensors and countermeasures against drone threats.
• The Border Protection scenario extends monitoring and protection across a 20 km border segment through persistent surveillance, early detection, tracking and coordinated responses.
• The Convoy Protection scenario focuses on the protection of moving military convoy up to 300-meter length, travelling at speeds of up to 50 km/h, through mobile C-UAS capabilities capable of detecting, tracking and responding to threats while on the move.

The framework contracts are valid for one and a half years, with the possibility to be extended. NCIA said NATO intends to run regular competitions to ensure that the newest technologies are made available to Allies.

For more information

NCIA

The Fall issue of the 2026 Unmanned Airspace Global Counter-UAS Systems Directory is now available. The guide is the world’s only comprehensive, continually updated directory of global C-UAS companies and systems. It itemises over 1,000 C-UAS products and services with performance details, company sales and partnerships arrangements. It is updated every month and broken down into niche sub-sectors (net-capture, missiles, intercept drones, detectors etc) to give C-UAS procurement and industry personnel a unique perspective of global C-UAS technical capabilities and market positions. It is available in word, PDF and excel formats and Unmanned Airspace readers are eligible for a range of discounts. For more information about the Directory please contact the editor Philip Butterworth-Hayes at philip@unmannedairspace.info.

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