Australia Launched Cargo UAV from C-130J Hercules for The First Time

28 Juli 2026

Detail of Aladdin cargo UAV (photos: Aus DoD)

Drone launch marks innovation milestone

The successful launch of an air delivery drone, known as Aladdin, from a C-130J Hercules has demonstrated how emerging technologies can be rapidly integrated into Air Force capability.

Conducted during Exercise Jericho Dawn in Cultana, South Australia, the launch marked a milestone for Air Force innovation by moving a prototype capability beyond the laboratory and into a military operating environment. 

As technology advances at an unprecedented pace, maintaining a competitive edge depends on Defence’s ability to quickly identify, test and field new capabilities. The successful integration of Aladdin represents a tangible step towards that objective.

Exercise Jericho Dawn aimed to speed up the transition of new technologies from concept to operational use. To achieve this, the exercise brought together Air Force, industry and academia to test a range of maturing systems in realistic field conditions. 

Officer in Charge of Exercise Jericho Dawn Wing Commander Keirin Joyce said the exercise existed to challenge conventional approaches and rapidly explore solutions to emerging capability needs.

“Air Force, like any service, has gaps and opportunities that it needs to tackle every year and that’s Jericho’s job to identify those gaps, identify where there are opportunities and to go challenge them,” Wing Commander Joyce said.

The centrepiece of the activity was Aladdin. 

'Aladdin brings a whole range of new capabilities to Defence and potentially into the civil sector for search and rescue, disaster relief, military resupply, tactical resupply and support to land elements.'

Launched from the back of a C-130J Hercules, Aladdin is a low-cost uncrewed aerial system. It is capable of delivering up to 35 kilograms of communication equipment, relief supplies and other critical payloads with pinpoint accuracy on land or at sea.

 

Stabilising mid-air and landing safely, Aladdin demonstrated its ability to deploy from a military platform and deliver supplies in austere environments. 

Being no bigger than a wheelie bin, this capability has the potential to solve a growing operational challenge – delivering critical supplies across increasingly contested and logistically complex places. 

Wing Commander Paul Hay, rapid capability development project manager for Aladdin, said the system created new options for commanders while reducing pressure on high-demand assets.

“Aladdin brings a whole range of new capabilities to Defence and potentially into the civil sector for search and rescue, disaster relief, military resupply, tactical resupply and support to land elements,” Wing Commander Hay said.

“It also enables us to autonomously land parts on a ship underway at sea.”

For Exercise Jericho Dawn, this outcome represented more than the successful launch of a drone. It demonstrated the increasingly important ability to integrate and operationalise innovation to ensure the future force adapts as quickly as the strategic environment demands.

(Aus DoD)

Pengadaan Jembatan Taktis untuk TDM Berjalan Sesuai Jadwal, Diperkirakan Diterima 2028

28 Juli 2026

Sistem Jembatan Taktis Tentera Darat Malaysia (TDM) (photo: AirTimes)

Kementerian Pertahanan telah mengumumkan bahwa pengadaan Sistem Jembatan Taktis untuk Tentera Darat Malaysia (TDM) sedang dilaksanakan sesuai jadwal, dengan aset tersebut diharapkan diterima pada April 2028.

Menteri Pertahanan Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin mengatakan proyek ini termasuk dalam pengadaan yang disetujui di bawah Rencana Pembangunan Berkelanjutan Keempat (RP4), Rencana Malaysia Kedua Belas (Rencana Malaysia ke-12) Tahun 2024 dengan alokasi maksimal sebesar RM280 juta.

(AirTimes)

Kapal Patroli Kelas T-994 Thailand Menerima Sentinel 30 RWS

28 Juli 2026

Sentinel 30 stasiun senjata kendali jarak jauh dari EM&E Group (photo: EM&E)

Kapal patroli pantai kelas T-994 kelima Thailand telah dilengkapi dengan stasiun senjata kendali jarak jauh (RCWS) naval Sentinel 30.

Sebuah video Angkatan Laut Kerajaan Thailand (RTN) yang baru-baru ini dirilis yang menandai berakhirnya Latihan ‘CARAT Thailand’ 2026 telah memberikan konfirmasi visual bahwa senjata tersebut telah dipasang pada kapal, yang memiliki nomor panji 998.

Meskipun kapal tersebut bukan peserta dalam latihan bilateral yang dipimpin Angkatan Laut AS, kapal tersebut dapat dilihat di latar belakang rekaman saat berlabuh di Pangkalan Angkatan Laut Sattahip.

Mengingat bahwa kapal kelas T-994 keempat dan kelima diperoleh secara berpasangan dan tercakup dalam program pengadaan persenjataan yang sama, kemungkinan besar kapal sejenis dengan nomor panji 997 juga telah menerima instalasi Sentinel 30.

Sentinel 30 remotely weapon station (RWS) terpasang di kapal patroli T-998 (photo: RTN)

Janes telah menghubungi RTN untuk konfirmasi tetapi belum menerima tanggapan pada saat publikasi.

Perusahaan pertahanan Spanyol, EM&E Group, mengumumkan pada Februari 2025 bahwa mereka telah mendapatkan kontrak untuk memasok dua sistem RCWS angkatan laut Sentinel 30 kepada RTN.

Menurut perusahaan tersebut, setiap sistem terintegrasi dengan senapan rantai Mk44 Bushmaster II 30 mm dan sistem pembidik elektro-optik yang menyediakan fungsi pengendalian tembakan dan akuisisi target.

Kapal patroli T-998 dan T-997 (photo: RTN)

Setiap dudukan dilengkapi dengan dua kotak penyimpanan amunisi yang menyediakan kapasitas gabungan 200 butir amunisi, dan mendukung amunisi 30 mm konvensional dan amunisi ledakan udara yang dapat diprogram.

Kapal kelas T-994 merupakan bagian dari Skuadron Penjaga Pantai Angkatan Laut Kerajaan Thailand (RTN) dan terutama digunakan untuk operasi keamanan maritim di perairan pesisir Thailand.

Misi-misi ini meliputi patroli maritim, perlindungan perikanan, operasi anti-penyelundupan, dan kegiatan anti-pembajakan.

(Jane's)

KRI Pulau Fani-731 Latihan Penembakan Meriam 20 MM Searanger

27 Juli 2026

Latihan penembakan meriam 20 mm Searanger buatan Rheinmetall (photos: TNI AL)

TNI AL. Koarmada II -- KRI Pulau Fani (PFN)-731 melaksanakan penembakan Meriam 20 MM Searanger dalam rangka uji fungsi amunisi kaliber 20x128 MM di perairan utara Pulau Jawa, Selasa (21/7). Kegiatan ini merupakan bagian dari pengujian untuk memastikan performa, keandalan, dan efektivitas amunisi sebagai upaya mendukung kesiapan sistem senjata TNI Angkatan Laut.

Pelaksanaan uji fungsi menggunakan sasaran Tomatto Killer dan ditinjau langsung oleh Kepala Dinas Penelitian dan Pengembangan TNI Angkatan Laut (Kadislitbangal) Laksamana Pertama TNI Danny Hotler Bahtera yang onboard di KRI Pulau Fani-731. Turut hadir dalam kegiatan tersebut tim dari Dissenlekal, Dislitbangal, serta Labinsen.

Dalam pelaksanaannya, penembakan dilakukan menggunakan tiga metode, yaitu single, rapid, dan burst, dengan total 20 butir amunisi yang ditembakkan. Seluruh rangkaian uji fungsi berjalan dengan aman, lancar, dan berhasil sesuai parameter yang telah ditetapkan.

Keberhasilan pelaksanaan uji fungsi ini menjadi salah satu bentuk komitmen TNI Angkatan Laut khususnya Koarmada II dalam memastikan kesiapan alutsista beserta sistem persenjataannya tetap berada pada kondisi optimal.

(Koarmada 2)

Josefa Slipways Inc. Mulai Membangun Tugboat Ketiga untuk Angkatan Laut Filipina

27 Juli 2026

Pembangunan kapal tunda ketiga (tugboat) untuk Angkatan Laut Filipina (photos: Josefa Slipways Inc)

Upacara peletakan lunas untuk Kapal Tunda Pelabuhan terbaru Angkatan Laut Filipina telah resmi berlangsung di Josefa Slipways Inc. di Sual, Pangasinan - menandai tonggak sejarah lain bagi industri pembuatan kapal lokal yang berkembang di negara ini.

Ini akan menjadi kapal tunda ketiga yang dibangun oleh Josefa Slipways untuk Angkatan Laut Filipina, menyusul keberhasilan pengiriman Kapal Tunda Pelabuhan YT-027 dan Kapal Tunda Laut AT-010, keduanya berdasarkan desain Robert Allan Ltd. (Kanada). Kapal baru ini juga akan menjadi kapal tunda galangan dengan daya tarik tambat 25 ton, yang memberikan dukungan penting untuk penanganan kapal, sandar, penarikan, dan operasi pelabuhan di pangkalan angkatan laut.

Meskipun kapal tunda jarang mendapat perhatian seperti fregat atau kapal patroli lepas pantai, kapal tunda sangat diperlukan untuk operasi armada sehari-hari. Setiap sandar, lepas sandar, dan pergerakan kapal perang yang lebih besar dengan aman bergantung pada kapal pendukung pelabuhan yang mumpuni.

Pembangunan kapal pendukung angkatan laut yang berkelanjutan di Filipina juga mencerminkan kemajuan yang stabil dalam mengembangkan keahlian pembuatan kapal lokal, memperluas kemampuan industri, dan mendukung tujuan jangka panjang programSelf-Reliant Defense Posture  (SRDP) Angkatan Laut.

(Naval Intel)

Japan and Vietnam Discussed Joint Development and Joint Production of High-speed Landing Craft

27 Juli 2026

"Caimen Japan", the next-generation high-speed landing craft being developed by Japan Marine United and BMT for Japan's Self-Defense Force as the basis of their proposed joint project (image: BMT)

From July 12th to 15th, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Giang visited Japan for the first time in five years. During this visit, I had the opportunity to speak with him directly every day, not only through a defense ministerial meeting, but also through a stroll around the National Diet building grounds and a luncheon. 

It was an opportunity to further deepen my personal relationship of trust with Minister Giang. Furthermore, through the defense ministerial meeting and luncheon, we were able to exchange views on the regional situation and have concrete discussions on how to further develop defense cooperation. 

Between our two countries, various forms of cooperation are actively taking place in the land, sea, and air forces, including high-level exchanges and people-to-people exchanges through study abroad at the National Defense Academy, as well as mutual visits of troops, port calls of naval vessels and goodwill training, and capacity-building support. 

“Caimen-Japan Fast Landing Craft” (image: Japan Marine United Corporation)

Joint production of high-speed landing craft

We welcomed the progress of this cooperation and confirmed that we will further promote bilateral and multilateral cooperation, including in the fields of peacekeeping operations and cybersecurity, and contribute together to regional peace and stability. 

In addition, regarding defense equipment and technology cooperation, we agreed to start discussions toward realizing the joint development and joint production of high-speed landing craft under the leadership of myself and Minister Giang. We also confirmed that we will further strengthen our efforts, including promoting cooperation in the defense industry. 

Vietnam is an important partner in achieving peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. In the midst of an increasingly challenging international situation, it is important for both countries to further develop their comprehensive strategic partnership and to concretize cooperation in the security field. We will continue to work to further strengthen cooperation in the defense sector. That concludes my opening remarks.

(Japan MoD)

ST Engineering's Counter-Drone Capability Gains Momentum in Asia

26 Juli 2026

ST Engineering's counter-drone combine soft-kill and hard-kill (image: ST Engineering)

Singapore – ST Engineering's Digital Systems business has secured new deployments in Asia outside Singapore in the last few months for its counter-drone capability, reflecting growing demand for effective counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) solutions as defence and security agencies strengthen protection against evolving drone threats.

The deployments span both defence and critical infrastructure applications, underscoring the versatility, operational maturity and effectiveness of ST Engineering's counter-drone capability across diverse mission requirements. These include an air defence deployment and another for the protection of multiple critical infrastructure sites against evolving drone threats.

Built on a layered defence architecture, ST Engineering's counter-drone solution combines advanced sensors, AI-enabled command-and-control, and soft-kill and hard-kill effectors to detect, track, identify and neutralise evolving drone threats. Its modular design enables deployment across defence, public security and critical infrastructure protection missions.

Low Jin Phang, Chief Operating Officer for Defence & Public Security, and President for Digital Systems, ST Engineering, said, "Counter-drone capabilities have become an increasingly important part of modern defence and security operations. These deployments underscore the growing demand for integrated solutions against evolving drone threats and validate our ability to deliver operationally proven counter-drone capabilities."

Developed through extensive testing and operational validation, ST Engineering's counter-drone capability draws on the Group's expertise in sensors, communications, AI, and mission systems to deliver integrated protection against a broad spectrum of drone threats.

(ST Engineering)