Key Developments
On 16 October 2026, the Department of War said the U.S. Army had partnered with the Acquisition Directorate to accelerate counter-drone testing in Africa. The department said the effort aimed to equip soldiers within 180 days, with initial testing planned in Morocco in spring 2027.
Key Statistics
- 180 days targeted for moving counter-drone equipment to soldiers, according to the Department of War
- More than 10,000 military vehicles were covered by the Bundeswehr's D-LBO modernization plan, according to the Bundeswehr
- 8 Heron TP drones had been acquired for Bundeswehr use, according to the Bundeswehr
- 7 Eurodrones were ordered by the Bundeswehr, according to the Bundeswehr
- £2.5 billion in planned annual SME defence spending growth was cited by HM Government
Main Body
On 16 October 2026, the Department of War said the U.S. Army had partnered with the Acquisition Directorate to speed counter-drone testing in Africa, with a target of getting equipment to soldiers within 180 days. The department said initial testing was planned for Morocco in spring 2027, making the effort a near-term acquisition and fielding initiative.
The operational model centred on testing counter-unmanned aircraft systems before wider delivery, according to the Department of War. By linking an Army task force with acquisition officials, the department said the programme was designed to move technology through evaluation and toward soldier use on an accelerated timeline.
The announcement followed related U.S. work on counter-drone capabilities. On 15 October 2026, the Department of War said Joint Interagency Task Force 401 had marked its first year of accelerating counter-unmanned aircraft systems for military personnel globally. Allied governments were also adjusting testing routes, as HM Government said on 10 October 2026 that the UK Ministry of Defence and QinetiQ had launched Project Safari to improve access to test and evaluation facilities.
The development mattered for force protection and acquisition governance because the Department of War tied African testing directly to fielding equipment for soldiers. The Bundeswehr has separately described drones as changing warfare and said it used unmanned systems for reconnaissance and defence, underscoring why governments were prioritising faster testing and deployment of drone-related military technology.
