Canada Launches Drone Procurement Marketplace
Canada announced a national digital marketplace intended to accelerate procurement of uncrewed and counter-uncrewed systems for the Canadian Armed Forces and Canadian Coast Guard.
The Defence Drone Initiative Marketplace Supply Arrangement will connect military and government operators with nearly 400 approved Canadian suppliers. Allies and partner countries will also receive access. The system is modeled on Ukraine’s Brave1 defense technology platform.
Canada awarded initial contracts valued at up to C$50 million, which the government said will increase the number of drones deployed by the Canadian Armed Forces tenfold. The contracts follow the July launch of the Defence Drone Initiative and were issued within 50 days of the project’s start.
Canada’s longer-term objective is to establish factories, supply chains and component capacity capable of producing millions of drones over the next two years. Training, maintenance, repair, configuration and sustainment under the initial contracts must take place in Canada.
Initial Suppliers and Systems
The first procurements cover intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance drones and uncrewed ground vehicles.
Selected suppliers include Quebec-based Beonyx, which offers a Canadian-designed and manufactured ground vehicle; AVSS, with manufacturing and assembly in Ontario; and Montreal-based Volatus Aerospace, working with partners in the United Kingdom and providing domestic logistics, training and lifecycle support.
Ontario-based Twenty20 Insight will provide Canadian services for a UK-designed and manufactured platform. Saskatchewan-based Draganfly plans Canadian licensed production of a platform based on Australian technology. Ontario-based Objexis AI will provide a Canadian-built platform using domestically owned intellectual property, software, avionics and mission systems.
Joint Production With Ukraine
General Dynamics Mission Systems-Canada and Ukrainian company Green Tech Harvest formed a partnership to develop and produce drones and related technologies. The arrangement will use Canadian manufacturing to support Ukrainian defense requirements and is expected to involve critical minerals, engineering, skilled trades and computer science.
The agreement follows a partnership between Airlogix and Sentinel Research & Development announced in May. Canada said other industry arrangements remain under negotiation.
The two governments also agreed to pursue long-term joint production of uncrewed systems, counter-drone and electronic disruption technologies, priority munitions and ammunition. The framework will combine Ukrainian operational experience with Canadian manufacturing, software and artificial intelligence capabilities, supported by research, technology transfer and predictable procurement.
Additional Defense and Security Assistance
Canada committed approximately C$350 million for air-defense interceptors through the U.S.-managed Joint Ukraine Multinational Program—Services, Training and Articles Rapid Timeline, or JUMPSTART. It also allocated nearly C$23 million to strengthen Ukrainian police, national guard, military and frontline community capabilities against hybrid threats and disinformation.
Operation UNIFIER, Canada’s military training and capacity-building mission for Ukraine, has been extended through 2029. Canada said cooperation will also expand in intelligence, cyber defense, counter-drone operations, electronic disruption and foreign information manipulation.
Since 2022, Canada’s combined military, economic, humanitarian, development, security and immigration commitments for Ukraine have exceeded C$26 billion.
Energy, Reconstruction and Long-Term Cooperation
Canada announced nearly C$435 million in loan guarantees through the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development for winter gas purchases and backup electricity generation. A further C$200 million in concessional loans through Export Development Canada will support reconstruction projects involving Canadian companies.
Additional commitments include C$10 million for the Ukraine Energy Support Fund, bringing Canada’s contribution to C$100 million, and C$2 million for an International Energy Agency program supporting energy resilience and regulatory development.
Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed declarations establishing a planned 100-year partnership and expanded defense and security cooperation. The framework covers co-development and production of defense equipment, information sharing, trade, reconstruction, critical minerals, and cooperation in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and space technologies.

View full article

KONGSBERG Selects MESA Radar for Counter-UAS Systems
KONGSBERG has selected Echodyne’s MESA radar platform for air and surface applications, including integration with its PROTECTOR RS4 and RS6 remote weapon stations. The initial integrations are intended to provide radar tracking data for counter-unmanned aircraft system operations.
According to Echodyne’s Sept. 9, 2026, announcement, the solid-state radar can be installed on static, crewed and uncrewed platforms. The companies did not disclose procurement quantities, customers, deployment schedules, or contract value.
Detection and Fire-Control Functions
The MESA radar supplies range, range-rate, bearing and target kinematic data to the weapon station’s fire-control chain. Echodyne said the radar is designed to stabilize and cue the system’s optical sensors, maintain target tracks and reduce the time between detection and engagement.
The integration combines the radar with KONGSBERG’s weapon-station architecture and Collaborative Fire Control capabilities. It is intended to support tracking of fast-moving unmanned aircraft with low radar cross-sections while operating within the size, weight, and power limits of vehicle-mounted or stationary systems.
Echodyne CEO Eben Frankenberg said the integration is intended to provide the PROTECTOR family with persistent tracks for fire-control cueing and target lock. He also cited the radar’s compact, software-defined configuration as relevant to use across the existing PROTECTOR platform base.
Airburst and Networked Engagements
The companies identified programmable airburst munitions as one application for the radar data. Accurate range and range-rate measurements can support calculation of the point at which a munition should function along a target’s flight path.
In a networked configuration, a cooperative search radar or another sensor can pass an initial threat track to a radar-equipped remote weapon station. The local MESA radar can then refine and maintain that track for fire-control use.
This search-cue-track-engage process is designed to allow distributed systems to share an air picture, allocate targets and retarget as engagements are completed. The release did not identify specific munitions, engagement ranges or performance figures for the integrated systems.
Multi-Year Integration and Testing
Echodyne and KONGSBERG said they have conducted several years of integration, testing and demonstrations involving the radar-enabled configuration. The announcement did not specify test locations, participating military organizations, or whether the system has entered operational service.
Beyond the RS4 and RS6 integrations, the companies are evaluating additional uses for the radar across KONGSBERG air and surface mission systems. Planned joint technical work will focus on resilient sensing, networked fire control and protection against changing unmanned-system threats.

View full article

Houthis Reportedly Seize Strategic Island
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement has reportedly taken control of Perim Island in the Bab al-Mandab Strait during a rapid advance along the country’s western coast.
The Houthis described the capture as part of a large-scale operation to expel Saudi-backed forces. An unnamed military official from Yemen’s internationally recognized government told AFP that the group had also seized two other islands in the strait and now controlled Yemen’s entire Red Sea coastline.
“Everything that was under our control on the western coast has fallen,” the official said.
Shipping Through Bab al-Mandab
Perim Island sits in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a major maritime gateway connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and shipping routes between Asia and Europe.
The Houthis said the strait remains safe for shipping companies other than Saudi vessels. However, their new positions could increase risks around one of the world’s most important trade corridors, particularly if fighting expands or restrictions broaden beyond Saudi-linked traffic.
The group has reiterated that it does not intend to threaten international shipping while maintaining that Saudi vessels will be targeted.
Potential Impact on Oil Markets
Oil prices remained relatively stable immediately after reports of the island’s capture and the blockade of Saudi vessels. Traders have yet to determine how significantly the situation will affect shipments.
Saudi Arabia, the world’s second-largest oil producer, has relied more heavily on the Red Sea route since the US and Israel’s war on Iran severely restricted access through the Strait of Hormuz. A broader closure of Bab al-Mandab could therefore place additional pressure on Saudi exports and global energy supplies, potentially raising crude oil and consumer fuel prices.
The effect may be more limited if restrictions remain focused only on Saudi-registered vessels. Many large oil tankers are registered elsewhere, which could allow shipments from other producers to continue. Rerouting cargo may also be possible, although alternative arrangements could increase time and costs.
Saudi Arabia Seeks US Support
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly asked US President Donald Trump to take military action against the Houthis following their advance. The two leaders have spoken several times in recent days, according to sources familiar with the discussions.
Trump declined to commit US forces, but Washington offered intelligence and targeting support to Saudi Arabia. Talks between the two countries remain ongoing, and Saudi officials are reportedly seeking a coalition with the US amid concerns that military action against the Houthis could prompt an Iranian response.
US Position on the Escalation
A senior US administration official did not address the reported request for military action directly, but said Washington was focused on protecting core national security interests, including freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.
The official added that the US intends to empower regional partners to take the lead in managing security challenges and remains in continuous discussions with Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s internationally recognized government.
For now, the US is not preparing to intervene directly, while the Houthis’ territorial gains have increased pressure on Saudi-backed forces and uncertainty around Red Sea shipping.

View full article

Factory-equipped Bodyguard 2.0 arrives at $599
Smith & Wesson is shipping the .380 Auto Bodyguard 2.0 with a factory-installed Viridian RFX1 green-dot reflex sight. The optic is dovetail-mounted and zeroed, eliminating the need for separate installation or adapter plates.
The package has a $599 MSRP and is offered in three configurations: a model with a thumb safety, a no-thumb-safety version, and a compliant model limited to 10-round magazines. Availability remains subject to federal, state, and local laws.
For comparison, the standard Bodyguard 2.0 NTS has a $449 MSRP, while the separately sold RFX1 for the pistol is priced at $229.
Carry dimensions and configurations
The striker-fired Bodyguard 2.0 measures 5.5 inches long, 0.88 inch wide, and 4.8 inches high, with a listed weight of 12 ounces. Its stainless steel barrel is 2.75 inches long with a 1:10-inch twist and an Armornite finish. The stainless steel slide also uses an Armornite finish, while the frame and grip are polymer.
Standard-capacity versions support 10- and 12-round magazines and ship with one of each. The compliant configuration is restricted to 10 rounds. The no-thumb-safety model is identified as SKU 14786 and lists Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, and Vermont under state compliance.
Other controls include a flat-face trigger, an 18-degree grip angle, and a reversible ambidextrous magazine release. The pistol does not have a threaded barrel or integrated laser.
Viridian RFX1 optic
The RFX1 uses a 3 MOA green dot and a 16-by-15 mm objective lens. It provides unlimited eye relief, automatic brightness adjustment, and Viridian’s INSTANT-ON activation system. Power comes from a CR1632 battery, with a listed battery life of up to 30,000 hours.
The optic measures 1.63 inches long, 0.81 inch wide, and 1.02 inches high. Its housing is machined from 6061 aluminum, and it carries an IPX4 water-resistance rating. The design is also described as shockproof.
Viridian developed this version of the RFX1 around the Bodyguard 2.0’s slide geometry. It incorporates slide serrations and a tapered dovetail intended to limit lateral movement while keeping the optic aligned with the pistol’s narrow profile.
Sights, handling and intended use
The factory-mounted optic provides an alternative to relying solely on the micro pistol’s iron sights, particularly for shooters seeking a clearer aiming reference. Its automatic brightness system adjusts dot visibility for changing ambient light without manual controls.
The package retains the Bodyguard 2.0’s compact dimensions and 12-ounce listed weight while adding the green-dot system at the factory. Smith & Wesson positions the three versions to address differing preferences on manual safeties and magazine-capacity restrictions.
Included equipment and service
Each standard-capacity pistol ships with one 10-round magazine, one 12-round magazine, and tools for the optic. The compliant model’s magazine package is not detailed beyond its 10-round capacity restriction.
The Bodyguard 2.0 series is covered by Smith & Wesson’s lifetime service policy.

View full article

GA-ASI Unveils Wildfire Uncrewed Aircraft
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) unveiled Wildfire, a medium-altitude, long-endurance uncrewed aircraft intended for military, civil, and commercial missions. The company described the clean-sheet design as a lower-cost, attrition-tolerant platform that can be produced and deployed in greater numbers than its existing large UAS.
Wildfire is focused primarily on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, strike and related missions. GA-ASI said the aircraft also could support non-combat applications, including heavy cargo delivery, using its payload capacity and reinforced hardpoints.
Air Force Competition and Delivery Timeline
GA-ASI has proposed Wildfire for the U.S. Air Force’s Massed Modular Aircraft competition, managed through the Defense Innovation Unit. The program is seeking an alternative to the MQ-9A Reaper.
According to GA-ASI, Wildfire meets or exceeds the competition’s stated requirements and could be delivered several years before the fiscal 2031 timeline identified by DIU. The company also said its existing production facilities and supplier network would allow it to manufacture more than twice as many aircraft within the same period. The release did not provide unit cost figures, production quantities or a date for an initial flight.
Range, Payload and Mission Systems
GA-ASI lists Wildfire with a ferry range exceeding 8,000 nautical miles. The aircraft is designed to carry two Long-Range Anti-Ship Missiles simultaneously over what the company described as operationally meaningful distances. Another disclosed configuration carries four Joint Strike Missiles.
Other payload options include munitions, launched effects, sensors and mission-specific equipment. The aircraft will incorporate multispectral targeting sensors and is designed to accommodate long-range precision-strike weapons. Detailed information on endurance, payload weight, dimensions, speed and propulsion was not included in the announcement.
GA-ASI positioned Wildfire in the same general medium-altitude, long-endurance class as the MQ-9A, while stating that the new aircraft will offer greater payload capacity and range at a lower cost.
Autonomy and Collaborative Operations
Wildfire will use mission-autonomy technology derived from GA-ASI’s FQ-42A Collaborative Combat Aircraft work. Rather than relying on a conventional ground control station, human personnel are expected to operate the aircraft through U.S. government-provided autonomy software.
The intended control architecture is designed to let individual operators manage multiple aircraft and support networked operation of dozens of Wildfires. GA-ASI said the platform will also employ proliferated low-Earth-orbit satellite communications technology already demonstrated aboard other company aircraft.
Design and Intended Role
The aircraft combines selected features from GA-ASI’s existing UAS with lower-cost components and a modular architecture. The company said it deliberately limited the platform to a narrower group of missions than the MQ-9B, which is configured for roles including anti-submarine warfare, counter-UAS operations and airborne early warning.
GA-ASI President David R. Alexander characterized Wildfire as a high-volume aircraft intended to perform a smaller number of core missions. For defense users, the design is meant to permit deployment in kinetic environments where commanders may accept greater risk to individual aircraft. GA-ASI said the design draws on experience from more than 1,600 uncrewed aircraft delivered across the Predator, Reaper, SkyGuardian, Avenger, and Collaborative Combat Aircraft families.

View full article

Availability and Price
Shield Arms has released the S20, a 20-round 9mm magazine for Glock 43X and Glock 48 Slimline pistols. It is available now at a price of $44.99.
The S20 is intended primarily as a higher-capacity spare magazine. Its steel body extends below the pistol’s grip and is not flush-fitting like the company’s 15-round S15 magazine. No baseplate extension is required to reach the stated 20-round capacity.
Design and Capacity
The S20 uses the same patented staggered-feed geometry as the S15 but lengthens the magazine body to accommodate five additional cartridges. Unlike an S15 fitted with a separate +5 aluminum extension, the S20 uses a continuous, one-piece steel body.
Integrated over-insertion tabs are stamped into the magazine body. These tabs are designed to prevent the magazine from being seated too deeply during rapid or forceful reloads, helping maintain feed-lip alignment.
The magazine is formed from steel and treated with a black QPQ nitrocarburizing finish for hardness, wear resistance, and corrosion protection. Shield Arms says it is manufactured in the United States to the same standards as the S-Series lineup.
Compatibility Requirements
The S20 is compatible only with 9mm Glock 43X and Glock 48 pistols. It does not fit the Glock 43 or Glock 42, which use shorter frames, and it is not designed for full-size or compact double-stack Glock models.
Use requires a Shield Arms S-Series steel magazine catch. The S20 is not compatible with the factory polymer magazine catch. Shield Arms also advises against using its steel catch with Glock’s factory plastic magazines, recommending steel magazines with steel catches and plastic magazines with plastic catches.
Owners using a first-generation Shield Arms aluminum magazine catch should confirm compatibility before installing the S20. Pistols already configured with the required steel catch need no gunsmithing or fitting to use the new magazine.
Intended Role
Because the S20 protrudes below the grip, Shield Arms positions it as a backup, range, competition, or home-defense magazine rather than a flush-fit concealed-carry option. Existing S15 users can carry the 15-round magazine in the pistol and use the S20 as a higher-capacity spare.
The S20 may be particularly relevant to Glock 43X and 48 owners already committed to the Shield Arms magazine system, since switching between the S15 and S20 does not require another magazine-catch change. Glock has also introduced its own 15-round magazines, but the S20 is specifically designed around the Shield Arms steel-catch system.
Specifications and Support
The S20 holds 20 rounds of 9mm ammunition and uses a steel body with a black nitride QPQ finish. Its over-insertion protection is built directly into the body rather than added through a separate component.
Shield Arms covers the magazine with a lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship. It also includes the company’s “Spring for Life” guarantee, under which a worn magazine spring can be replaced without charge for the life of the product.

View full article

Navy Selects VAMPIRE for Littoral Defense
The U.S. Navy has selected L3Harris Technologies to deliver VAMPIRE counter-unmanned systems for its integrated C-UxS defense architecture, the company announced Sept. 8, 2026. The system is intended to counter unmanned aerial systems, remotely piloted platforms and potentially other small threats in littoral environments.
L3Harris is ruggedizing the Navy configuration against maritime stresses including humidity, salt exposure and vibration. The company has not disclosed the number of systems ordered, contract value, delivery schedule, or exact configuration.
“VAMPIRE is a flexible and effective system that meets the unique requirements of the U.S. Navy for littoral C-UxS defense,” said Tony Calderon, president of Targeting & Sensor Systems at L3Harris.
Maritime Roles and Variants
VAMPIRE has developed into a family of modular systems combining sensors, precision weapons, electronic jammers and other effectors. Its maritime-focused Black Wake variant is designed for installation on crewed or uncrewed vessels and for lower-cost engagements against small drones and fast attack craft.
L3Harris has not confirmed that Black Wake is the version selected by the Navy. The announced system could be deployed as part of a wider detection and command network to protect forces, bases, logistics sites or other infrastructure near the coast.
Other VAMPIRE configurations include the land-based Stalker XR, airborne Dead Wing, containerized CASKET, BAT system for base protection, and Killcode electronic-warfare variant.
Sensors and System Architecture
The baseline VAMPIRE uses a self-contained, palletized design that can be fitted to different vehicles or platforms. According to L3Harris, two personnel can install the system in a vehicle cargo bed in about two hours using standard tools.
Its primary sensor is the stabilized WESCAM MX-10D RSTA electro-optical and infrared turret, mounted on a telescopic mast. The sensor supports surveillance, identification, and laser target designation.
VAMPIRE also connects to the Widow Mission Management System, which is compliant with the Forward Area Air Defense Command and Control architecture. Widow integrates sensors, effectors, radios, and navigation functions, allowing individual launchers to operate within a broader counter-unmanned network.
Weapons and Engagement Range
For kinetic engagements, VAMPIRE can use the 70 mm AGR-20A Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System laser-guided rocket. A proximity fuze improves its effectiveness against small aerial targets by allowing an engagement without a direct impact.
Company documentation lists an engagement range of up to approximately six kilometers for the current configuration. The launcher can also accommodate other laser-guided munitions, depending on the selected configuration, host platform, and target.
The system is intended to provide an intermediate defensive layer between electronic warfare, automatic weapons and more expensive surface-to-air missiles. This gives naval forces another option for responding to repeated or numerous unmanned threats without relying exclusively on higher-cost interceptors.
Related Orders and Operational Use
The Navy selection follows a separate U.S. Army VAMPIRE order announced in June 2026 and valued at up to $106 million. L3Harris reports that VAMPIRE systems have accumulated more than 350,000 operational hours in Europe since 2023.
The company has also introduced Wraith Shield software, which uses radios as sensors to help defeat small drones. L3Harris says the software can be integrated with VAMPIRE and Drone Guardian systems as part of a layered defense against unmanned threats.

View full article

Ukrainian General Staff Reports 1.5 Million Russian Troop Losses
Russia has lost an estimated 1,500,870 troops since beginning its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, according to a Sept. 9 report from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The total includes 1,480 Russian casualties recorded over the preceding day. Russia has not officially released comprehensive casualty figures or a casualty list.
Equipment Losses
The Ukrainian General Staff also reported that Russia has lost 12,338 tanks and 25,290 armored combat vehicles since the invasion began. Its figures include 146,008 vehicles and fuel tanks, 49,383 artillery systems, 2,105 multiple-launch rocket systems and 1,613 air-defense systems.

Reported aviation losses comprise 441 aircraft and 355 helicopters. The General Staff also listed 506,188 aerial drones, 2,534 unmanned ground systems and 5,103 cruise missiles.
At sea, Ukraine’s military estimates that Russia has lost 35 ships and boats, along with two submarines.
Estimates of Ukrainian Casualties
A January 2026 report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies estimated that Ukraine likely suffered between 500,000 and 600,000 casualties from February 2022 through December 2025. The report estimated that between 100,000 and 140,000 Ukrainian troops were killed in action during that period.
Ukrainian officials rarely disclose military casualty totals. President Volodymyr Zelensky told France TV on Feb. 4 that at least 55,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed in action since the start of the full-scale war. He added that many more service members remained missing in action.
Difficulties Confirming the Toll
The intensity of combat and Russian drone attacks has made it difficult for Ukraine to recover the bodies of fallen soldiers. Recovery is required before DNA testing can be used to confirm identities, complicating efforts to establish a complete count of those killed or missing.
The available Russian and Ukrainian figures come from differing official statements and estimates, with Moscow providing no comprehensive public accounting of its losses.

View full article

We’ve rolled out a couple of smaller updates across the Uncrowned Empire network, including a visual improvement to our news listings and an expansion of Uncrowned Gaming’s coverage structure.
News Index Images Now Match Article Images
News index and listing pages on Uncrowned Addiction, Uncrowned Armory, and Uncrowned Gaming have been updated to display featured images in a 16:9 aspect ratio.

Previously, the images shown while browsing news categories and index pages used a taller layout, which could crop widescreen artwork more aggressively than intended. The featured image displayed on the article itself already used the proper widescreen presentation, creating a visual mismatch between the listing and the article readers eventually opened.
The updated layout brings those two presentations into line. Featured images on our news index pages now use the same 16:9 format as the image displayed within the article, allowing artwork to retain much more of its intended composition while creating a more consistent appearance throughout the site.
It’s a relatively small change, but one that should make browsing news cleaner and better reflect how our featured artwork was designed to be viewed.
Uncrowned Gaming Adds Squad-Based Roguelikes & Roguelites
We have also expanded the game coverage structure on Uncrowned Gaming with a new category dedicated to Squad-Based Roguelikes & Roguelites.
The new coverage area is intended for games that combine roguelike or roguelite progression with a meaningful squad, party, or multi-character system. This gives games built around managing or fighting alongside a group a more appropriate home within Uncrowned Gaming rather than forcing them into broader categories that do not quite describe their gameplay.
A corresponding Squad-Based Roguelikes & Roguelites News category has been added under Game Updates, alongside a dedicated forum section for discussion, guides, recommendations, and other community content.
As with the rest of Uncrowned Gaming, the focus remains on games where leadership, party management, squad composition, or command are meaningful parts of the experience.
These are relatively minor updates, but both continue our ongoing work to improve how content is presented and organized throughout the Uncrowned Empire network.
Read on Uncrowned Empire