Colton Jones

Colton Jones is the deputy editor of Defence Blog.

UK solar-powered drone to stay airborne for months

Lincad, a UK-based battery systems specialist, has secured a contract with Prismatic, a subsidiary of BAE Systems, to develop high-voltage lithium-ion battery packs for the PHASA-35 high-altitude unmanned aerial system. The project aims to expand the operational capabilities...

U.S. greenlights $211M missile deal with Italy

The U.S. State Department has approved a potential foreign military sale to Italy involving advanced air-to-air missile systems worth approximately $211 million, according to a notification issued to Congress by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) on...

OpenAI to develop military AI under new Pentagon award

OpenAI Public Sector LLC has secured a $200 million contract from the U.S. Department of Defense to develop prototype artificial intelligence systems aimed at strengthening national security, according to a newly released announcement. The Office of the Secretary...

US Marine Corps tests autonomous AW139 helicopter

Near Earth Autonomy has completed the first autonomous test flight of a Leonardo AW139 helicopter as part of the U.S. Marine Corps' Aerial Logistics Connector (ALC) program. The flight, conducted in May in Phoenix, Arizona, marks a key...

T-6A trainer to get new avionics in $2.2B deal

The U.S. Air Force has awarded a $2.18 billion contract to Borsight Inc. for a comprehensive avionics upgrade across the T-6A Texan II training fleet, the Department of Defense said in a release. The 10-year contract will cover...

U.S. clears $215M JAGM missile sale to Netherlands

The U.S. State Department has approved a potential $215 million Foreign Military Sale to the Netherlands for hundreds of advanced air-to-ground missiles designed to enhance the strike capabilities of its AH-64 Apache helicopters. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency...

BAE Systems wins $155M contract to overhaul USS Somerset

BAE Systems – San Diego Ship Repair has been awarded a $155.9 million firm-fixed-price contract for the maintenance, modernization, and repair of the USS Somerset (LPD 25), according to the U.S. Department of Defense. The work will be...

French Navy tests Airbus Flexrotor drone

The French Navy has successfully completed a three-day demonstration of the Airbus Flexrotor uncrewed aerial system (UAS) operating from a patrol vessel off the northwest coast of France, according to the service. The tests, held from June 3...