Praeses wins $79 million US data fusion contract, Neros lands 14,000 drone order, and more - Defense AI Brief #60

October 05, 2026 - Defense AI Brief
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Welcome to this week's edition of Defense AI Brief.

Smart Shooter received a 36 month US counter drone contract valued at up to $150 million, covering its SMASH fire control systems, training, software and support for operations in the United States and overseas. Neros also reported Department of War orders exceeding $100 million for 14,000 drones and explosive payloads, including Archer AI, Archer and APEX systems.

Separately, Praeses received a five year, $79 million contract with US Air Force Global Strike Command. The agreement allows eligible US government customers to buy the company's data fusion, data management and AI powered analytics products and services.
Vatn Systems wins DIU mine countermeasure challenge
Vatn Systems won the Defense Innovation Unit Mine Countermeasure Modernization Prize Challenge. Its SIGURD autonomous underwater system detected, reacquired and neutralized mine threats during operational testing. Read more
Smart Shooter wins US counter drone contract worth up to $150 million
Smart Shooter receives a 36 month contract from the US Department of War's JIATF 401, valued at up to $150 million. The agreement covers SMASH fire control systems, training, software updates and support for domestic and overseas counter drone operations. Read more
Neros receives $100 million Department of War order for 14,000 drones
Neros reports an order worth more than $100 million from the Department of War for 14,000 drones and explosive payloads under the Drone Dominance Program. The order covers Archer AI 10 inch and Archer 5 inch systems, alongside the first large scale delivery of its APEX modular payload systems. Read more
Shield AI selects Kansas and Washington sites for X-BAT
Shield AI selects facilities in Kansas for X-BAT flight testing and sustainment, and in Washington for production. Production is planned to begin in 2029, with the program projected to support 9,800 jobs through 2046. Read more
Inturai's DomeCommand wins at Singapore defence hackathon
Inturai says its DomeCommand drone command and control platform took first and third place in the team integration category at the Singapore Defense Tech Hackathon 2026. The entries combined acoustic localisation, interceptor drone and simulation systems, while a separate three year agreement with Brihaspathi Technologies carries no initial revenue commitment. Read more
Praeses wins $79 million US Air Force data fusion contract
Praeses received a five year, $79 million contract from the US Air Force Global Strike Command. The agreement allows eligible US government customers to purchase the company's data fusion, management and AI powered analytics services. Read more

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