XPONENTIAL 2026. The world’s largest global conference for robotics and autonomous systems, XPONENTIAL 2026 -- co-hosted by the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) and Messe Düsseldorf North America (MDNA) -- is open in Detroit May 11-14, with the aim of convening industry, government, and end users as questions of safety, trust, regulation, and scale increasingly shape how and where autonomy is deployed.

SOLANA BEACH, California. AEVEX Corp. will display autonomous systems, launched effects, airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), and related mission technologies during SOF Week 2026 in Tampa, the company announced in a statement.

XPONENTIAL 2026. Embedded computing company Elma Electronic will be highlighting some of its embedded products and technology trends at the XPONENTIAL trade show, set to be held May 11-14 in Detroit.  

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio. The T-7A Red Hawk -- the advanced jet trainer produced by Boeing and Saab for the U.S. Air Force -- has officially been cleared for low-rate initial production following Milestone C approval. 

BALABAC ISLAND, Philippines. U.S. and allied special operations and reconnaissance forces took part in maritime security training during Exercise Balikatan 2026 in the Philippines, including reconnaissance, airfield seizure, and crisis-response activities, the U.S. military announced in a statement.

ARLINGTON, Virginia. AeroVironment’s LOCUST high-energy laser system completed a counter-uncrewed aerial system (C-UAS) test at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico in coordination with Joint Interagency Task Force 401 and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the company announced in a statement.

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, California. Northrop Grumman’s XRQ-73 hybrid-electric uncrewed aircraft has started flight testing at Edwards Air Force Base in California for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the company announced in a statement.

SOF WEEK 2026--Tampa, Fla. A new feature at SOF Week 2026 will be the SOF Week Outpost at Peter O. Knight Airport (presented by Northrop Grumman), aimed at giving attendees an opportunity to see large aviation-related static displays, live demonstrations, and an expanded Special Air Warfare Zone. The SOF Week 2026 exhibition is set to be held May 18-21 in Tampa, Florida. 

HAWTHORNE, California. ThinKom Solutions won the Space Systems Command’s “Fight Tonight” competition for its Containerized Digital Array transportable satellite communications ground station, the company announced in a statement.

MCKINNEY, Tex. Raytheon (an RTX NYSE: RTX) business) won a contract from defense logistics group Blue Raven to produce 120 of the Raytheon software-defined SharpSight radar systems, a move that Raytheon officials call "the largest single order to date for the new system and a key step in expanding its availability to customers worldwide." 

TAMPA, Florida. Artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, tactical communications, electronic warfare, counter-uncrewed aerial system (UAS) technologies, and acquisition pathways for small businesses will be among the major themes at SOF Week 2026 as U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) brings operators, government leaders, partner nations, and industry together in Tampa, according to event organizers.

CHANTILLY, Virginia. General Dynamics Mission Systems’ GPS Source subsidiary won a three-year, $17 million contract for prototyping, demonstration, and testing of the NorthStar positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) Hub for the U.S. Army, the company announced in a statement.

COSTA MESA, California. Anduril is leading a group of industry partners under contract to develop, test, and deliver space-based interceptor systems for the U.S. Space Force’s Space-Based Interceptor program as part of the Golden Dome for America initiative, the company announced in a statement.

ARLINGTON, Virginia. AeroVironment won a U.S. Army prototype agreement for the Low-Altitude Stalking and Strike Ordnance (LASSO) program to support development, delivery, and testing of its Switchblade 400 loitering munition, the company announced in a statement.

BINGEN, Washington. Insitu, a Boeing subsidiary, will provide intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) services to the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and other U.S. government customers using its ScanEagle and Integrator uncrewed aerial system (UAS) platforms under a contractor-owned, contractor-operated model, the company announced in a statement.