MBDA has conducted demonstration firings of its MMP anti-tank missile guided to a target beyond visual line-of sight with help from a multi-copter drone.

Leonardo’s Seaspray search radar is to be integrated onto the MQ-9B SkyGuardian as General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) pushes the unmanned air system for the maritime surveillance mission.

Both companies have received $8.5 million contracts to launch Phase 1 of the a four-step prototyping program worth up to $250 million.

The new acquisition strategy for ReleaseONE signals Roper’s plan to harvest the first tranche of ABMS technologies into a batch of systems that can be acquired, developed and fielded. 

France has lifted the lid on the development of a hybrid inertial navigation system that can take star readings in daylight.

The demonstration on Dec. 16 from Laguna Army Air Field, Arizona, may offer a low-cost alternative to controlling large UAS on long-range missions if satellite communications are unavailable or jammed.

Teledyne Technologies will buy smaller rival FLIR Systems under a proposed $8 billion stock-and-cash deal unveiled Jan. 4, bringing together two complementary providers of digital imaging, aerospace and defense electronics to form a growing midtier specialist.

The remaining core of defense electronics specialist Sparton finally has a new strategic owner, with the U.S. subsidiary of Israel’s Elbit Systems agreeing to buy it for $380 million, the companies announced Dec. 23.