BAE Systems Australia Conducts ATLAS UGV Trials

20 Februari 2026

ATLAS Uncrewed Ground Vehicle (UGV) (photo: BAE Systems Australia)

Test success: ATLAS Uncrewed Ground Vehicle put through its paces

BAE Systems today announced successful trials for its Autonomous Tactical Light Armour System (ATLAS) Uncrewed Ground Vehicle (UGV). The trials are part of the ongoing development for a next generation modular autonomous land capability designed to support main battle tank or combat reconnaissance vehicle capabilities.

Launched at Land Forces in September 2024, the ATLAS Collaborative Combat Variant (CCV) has been the focus of significant trial activities at all levels of autonomy – from teleoperation to waypoint-based navigation, to full ‘sense and avoid autonomy’ – and is a fully functional prototype demonstrator.

The M242 Bushmaster 25mm cannon integrated with the VANTAGE ATS provides accurate and highly lethal fire to a range of 2,500m (photo: BAE Systems Australia)

ATLAS represents a true combat multiplier – a fighting vehicle that increases combat mass and reduces the soldier’s exposure to risk. The prototype platform is manoeuvrable and fast, making it an ideal companion for both tracked and wheeled crewed combat vehicles across difficult terrain and in all weather and environmental conditions.

The ATLAS CCV can be delivered in multiple payload configurations. As shown in the assault configuration, the vehicle is armed with a new, lightweight, affordable, highly automated medium calibre turret system called ‘VANTAGE’, designed for use on uncrewed platforms.

The VANTAGE turret integrates BAE Systems’ passive Multi-Spectral Automatic Target Detection, Tracking and Classification System (ATTCS), delivering high levels of automated operation, reducing operator cognitive load, enabling one-to-many operation and reducing the probability of detection and the time to target engagement.

Andrew Gresham, Managing Director – Defence Delivery, BAE Systems Australia, said:

“In just sixteen months, we have gone from launching ATLAS at Land Forces to operating a fully functional prototype demonstrator.

“ATLAS has been developed to give soldiers the advantage on the modern battlefield.

“This has resulted in an autonomous platform that will deliver the dull, dirty and dangerous tasks expected in a combat environment.

“We are currently engaged in significant marketing and customer engagement activities in international markets.”

(BAE Systems Australia)

Friendship Flight RTAF & ROKAF

20 Februari 2026

RTAF T-50TH aircraft flew jointly with the ROKAF T-50B (photos: RTAF)

The Royal Thai Air Force organized a friendship flight activity with the Black Eagles squadron of the Republic of Korea Air Force at Wing 41, Chiang Mai Province. The T-50TH aircraft flew jointly with the T-50B, with an exchange of observer pilots from both countries.

This activity reflects the confidence and trust between Thailand and the Republic of Korea in military cooperation, demonstrating readiness for joint operations at the tactical level, as well as strengthening relations at the strategic level, enabling the professional advancement of their collaborative work in the same air.

The distance of aircraft in the air can be measured, but the distance of trust needs no measurement, because we have more than 100% of it.

(RTAF)

Uji Terima Kendaraan Tempur Angkut Personil J-Forces

20 Februari 2026

Uji terima kendaraan tempur angkut personil J-Forces yang dilengkapi RCWS (photos: J-Forces)

Uji Terima Kendaraan Tempur Angkut Personil di Batujajar dan Subang telah sukses dilaksanakan. Rangkaian pengujian komprehensif ini dilakukan untuk memvalidasi performa unit sebelum resmi bertugas mendukung tugas pokok TNI.

Beberapa tahap pengujian krusial meliputi:

Mobilitas: Uji Rem (Basah/Kering), Zig-Zag, Radius Putar, dan Off-Road.

Daya Gempur: Uji Tembak RCWS (300m & 500m) serta Gun Shoot.

Teknologi & Fitur: Uji Thermal, Kamera, dan Uji Statis.

Komitmen kami adalah menghadirkan alutsista dengan standar tertinggi guna mendukung kedaulatan NKRI di berbagai medan penugasan.

(J-Forces)

Penanda-tanganan Kontrak Kerjasama Rocket Launcher Badan Teknologi Pertahanan Kemhan RI

19 Februari 06

Penanda-tanganan Kontrak pengembangan rocket launcher (photos: Kemhan)

Badan Teknologi Pertahanan Kementerian Pertahanan Republik Indonesia melaksanakan penandatanganan kontrak kerja sama pengembangan dan pengadaan sistem rocket launcher sebagai bagian dari upaya strategis penguatan Alutsista nasional. 13/02/2026.

Kegiatan ini merupakan wujud komitmen Kemhan RI dalam meningkatkan kemandirian industri pertahanan, memperkuat kemampuan teknologi dalam negeri, serta mendukung modernisasi sistem persenjataan TNI secara berkelanjutan.

Kerja sama ini diharapkan mampu mendorong percepatan transfer teknologi, peningkatan kapasitas sumber daya manusia, serta penguatan ekosistem riset dan inovasi pertahanan nasional. Dengan sinergi yang solid antara pemerintah dan mitra strategis, pembangunan kekuatan pertahanan negara terus dilaksanakan secara terukur, profesional, dan berorientasi pada kepentingan nasional.

Langkah ini menjadi bagian penting dalam mewujudkan sistem pertahanan negara yang tangguh, adaptif, dan berdaya saing global. Bertekad Kuat, Berteknologi Maju, untuk Pertahanan Negara yang Mandiri.

(Batekhan)

PCG Acquires Three US King Air Planes to Boost Search, Rescue Capacity

19 Februari 2026

Beechcraft King Air of the Philippine Navy (photo: Vin De Guzman)

MANILA – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) formally began the acquisition of three Beechcraft King Air turboprop airplanes from the United States to boost the country's maritime domain awareness (MDA) and search and rescue (SAR) capabilities.

In a statement on Tuesday, the PCG said the acquisition was formalized through a letter of offer and acceptance signed by PCG Commandant Ronnie Gil Gavan and US Assistant Secretary of War for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs John Noh during a bilateral meeting in Makati City on Monday.

“The milestone signing cements a critical upgrade to the PCG’s MDA and SAR capability,” it said.

The signing came after a recent series of maritime incidents in the Philippine seas, such as the capsizing of the bulk carrier M/V Devon Bay and the sinking of the passenger ferry M/V Trisha Kerstin 3 that occurred days apart.

“(These incidents) have underscored the urgent need for faster and more efficient SAR response,” it said.

Aside from the aircraft acquisition, Gavan and Noh also discussed the Search and Rescue Optimal Planning System Program, a comprehensive US Coast Guard SAR planning program that uses advanced environmental modeling and simulation technology to optimize search planning.

The program is said to maximize the probability of locating persons in distress at sea.

“The introduction of these capabilities is expected to significantly boost the PCG’s effectiveness in MDA and SAR operations,” the statement said.

During the meeting, both officials discussed broader US support for the PCG’s modernization, including sustained MDA operations in the West Philippine Sea and support for other coast guard functions.

“The meeting reinforced the coast guard-to-coast guard dimension of the US-Philippine alliance and the shared commitment to a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific,” the PCG said.

Gavan also announced the first-time participation of the PCG in the Rim of the Pacific exercise as the first foreign coast guard service to join the exercise since its inception.

“(The event places) the PCG alongside the world’s leading navies and maritime security agencies,” it said. 

(PNA)

KAI Aims to Conclude Final Negotiations with Indonesia for the KF-21 in the First Half of This Year

19 Februari 2026

For the batch one, Indonesia plans to purchase 16 KF-21 Boramae (IF-X) fighters (photo: KAI)

[Financial News] Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) will conclude final negotiations with Indonesia regarding the KF-21 within the first half of this year. Through this, the company aims to achieve its guidance for orders of 10.4383 trillion won and sales of 5.7306 trillion won this year. It is expected to achieve sales of over 5 trillion won for the first time since its founding.

According to industry sources on the 12th, KAI stated in a recent conference call, "The key to this order target is the first export of the KF-21. The initial batch of KF-21s is included within the 6.5 trillion won export target for finished aircraft." The company added, "We are striving to conclude final negotiations with Indonesia within the first half of this year."

The Indonesian delivery schedule is under negotiation, and we are negotiating the Indonesian delivery schedule as there is a remaining supply to the South Korean government,” he said.

South Korea and Indonesia are jointly developing the KF-21 (Indonesian name: IF-X) fighter jet project, sharing a project cost of 8.1 trillion won from 2015 to 2026. In January 2016, Indonesia agreed to bear 20% of the KF-21 development cost, approximately 1.7 trillion won (later reduced to approximately 1.6245 trillion won), until June 2026, in exchange for the transfer of one prototype and various technical data, and to produce 48 fighter jets locally in Indonesia.

In the latter half of last year, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto met with President Lee Jae-myung and said, “We will continue follow-up discussions on the KF-21 project,” adding, “I understand that discussions related to this are ongoing, and discussions are also being held on economic feasibility, such as price and funding plans, and this is happening not only among government officials but also among technical staff. "Various discussions are underway," he said.

President Lee Jae-myung said, "In the military and security fields, we have established a deep cooperative relationship, such as the joint development of fighter jets, and I hope that we can continue this cooperative relationship so that it can be looked back on with greater results."

(Financial News)

Operations Squadron Start Operating Skydio X10 UAS

18 Februari 2026

Skydio X10 UAS (photo: NZDF)

New Uncrewed Aerial System a game changer for RNZAF Base Ohakea

Operations Squadron are now planning for the Skydio X10 to be used across Security Forces, Aviation Rescue Fire Flight and airfield management. 

Constructed of plastic and carbon fibre, the Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) weighs about 2kg and comes equipped with thermal imaging, the ability to photograph and map 3D objects, and is designed to be able to carry spotlights, a speaker and sensors clipped to the frame.

“We can map infrastructure and aircraft by taking numerous photos using an automated mapping flight plan. We then upload those photos to cloud software that will form a larger 3D map,” airfield manager Paul Smillie said.

For aircraft maintenance, this can eliminate the need for personnel to inspect aircraft using cherry-pickers to spot defects in hard-to-reach areas. The gimbled camera can also swivel and take images from underneath the aircraft.

Operations Squadron units will work together to ensure the UAS can be used alongside core work.

Skydio X10 UAS (photo: Adorama)

The UAS can also provide live video back to an operations centre on the ground, he said.

“It could also be used for security forces tracking an insider threat. We can fly it remotely from up to 12km away and provide them with the live footage they need without putting any of their people at risk.”

Another safety aspect of the UAS that’s valuable at a busy airfield is its sensors. It detects aircraft transponder systems, which transmit their GPS position, and informs the controller.

Mr Smillie said UAS technology was evolving and it would likely soon play a more dominant role in military capability. One potential was for UAS to be housed in secure, weather-proof docks located in remote areas and controlled from the base.

“It can be programmed to go at the same time, every day, every week.”

Increasingly utilising UAS capabilities on the base was going to be an interesting journey, Mr Smillie said.

“We'll be working with a regulator to allow better-use cases at an aerodrome. It's got some good safety features, so with the mitigation those bring we can look at flying closer to active runways.”

(NZDF)