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Industry · Counter-drone

Helsing targets fast drones with Contra interceptors, Defense News reports

Company officials put the cost below $100,000 per shot, Defense News reports. Contra remains in testing; Helsing expects market readiness in the second half of 2027.

Germany's Helsing unveiled Contra on Oct. 26, pairing two air-defense missiles with artificial intelligence software to organize intercepts, Defense News reported. Company officials said the offering could down fast attack drones for under $100,000 per shot.1

Helsing targets drone intercepts under $100,000 per shot, Defense News reports

Contra air-defense offering: claimed cost and expected market readiness

under $100,000 per shotCompany officials' cost claim
second half of 2027Market readiness, CEO forecast

Contra remains in testing; market readiness is an expectation.

Reported by Defense News, Oct. 26, 2026. As of Oct. 27, 2026.

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Helsing CEO Gundbert Scherf said one contract had already been signed. Contra remains in testing; Scherf expects market readiness in the second half of 2027. Defense News did not identify the buyer, contract value or delivery date.1

Jet-powered Inferno is intended as the main countermeasure against all but the most sophisticated threats, with a stated speed of 700 km/h and range of 20 kilometers. Ambush uses a solid rocket motor.1

A computer animation at the launch illustrated 20 Inferno and 40 Ambush interceptors launching from shipping containers against a drone swarm, with AI calculating the order and distance of intercepts.1

Defense News reports European governments are eager to buy local equipment, fearing U.S.-made systems such as Patriot will become harder to obtain after the Iran war. Helsing executives said widely available hardware in the missiles' active radar seekers would spare prospective buyers concerns about Chinese-linked supply chains and U.S. export controls.1

Sources (1)
  1. Defense News: Helsing unveils interceptor missiles designed to chase Russia's fast-flying Geran drones www.defensenews.com
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Industry · Air

Saab flies its own AI agents on Gripen E

Saab says developing the agents and their training tools in-house gives it control over how the software operates, is verified and evolves.

Saab unveiled its own artificial intelligence agents on Nov. 3 after flying them on a Gripen E fighter. The company says an agent autonomously controlled the aircraft in beyond-visual-range combat scenarios during the flight trials.2

Saab has flown its own AI agents on Gripen E

3 November 2026

Saab says agents, training environments and tools were developed within Saab, giving full control over operation and verification

Saab says agents can support the pilot in the cockpit or operate alongside pilots in its own unmanned air platform

Source: Saab press release, 3 November 2026

Sources
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The agents, training environments and supporting development tools were developed within Saab. The company says that gives it full control over the agents' operation, verification and continued development.2 Breaking Defense reported that Gripen flight tests in 2025 used Helsing's Centaur AI tool.1

Saab is also a founding partner in Sferical AI, a Swedish sovereign AI initiative providing large-scale computing capacity for AI development.2 Breaking Defense reported that Peter Nilsson, head of Advanced Programs at Saab's aeronautics business area, said that without Sferical AI, Saab would have to use Google or Amazon. He said that could leave Saab without full control of its data.1

Saab says the agents can support a pilot in the cockpit or operate alongside pilots in its own unmanned air platform. The company says it is continuing to expand the agents' capabilities and fly them in a broader range of scenarios.2

Sources (2)
  1. Breaking Defense: Sweden's Saab launches family of AI agents for future aircraft projects breakingdefense.com
  2. Saab: Saab unveils its AI agents for future fighter systems, 3 November 2026 www.saab.com
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Industry

KBR's government business revenue falls 5% ahead of planned spin-off

Mission Technology Solutions posts higher operating income despite lower sales, while its Antarctic support contract is not yet in reported backlog ahead of the planned Trinzic separation.

KBR's Mission Technology Solutions business reported third-quarter fiscal 2026 revenue of $1,266 million. Revenue fell 5% from a year earlier. KBR attributed the decline primarily to lower federal civilian volumes associated with anticipated NASA headwinds, partly offset by growth with Defense & Intelligence and International Government customers.1

Operating income was $115 million, up 2%

Mission Technology Solutions

revenue

Mission Technology Solutions revenue, $ millions: Q3 FY2026 1,266; Q3 FY2025 1,326

Operating income$115 millionactual

Operating income was $115 million, up 2% or $2 million

Source: KBR third quarter fiscal 2026 results, Exhibit 99.1. Comparisons against third quarter fiscal 2025. As of October 29, 2026.

Sources
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The business preserved operating profit as sales contracted: operating income rose 2% to $115 million. KBR credited higher earnings from unconsolidated joint ventures, favorable portfolio mix and project execution, partly offset by lower revenue and higher selling, general and administrative expenses.1

Mission Technology Solutions backlog and options fell to $17.3 billion at quarter end from $17.5 billion at the end of the preceding quarter.1–2

The Antarctic Science and Engineering Support Contract is not yet reflected in backlog or book-to-bill. KBR was re-awarded the National Science Foundation contract following resolution of a Government Accountability Office protest; the 20-year contract has an $8 billion ceiling.1

The segment also won a $208 million Army task order supporting precision strike and aviation modernization over five years. It also won a $60 million NATO PATRIOT technical and engineering support contract.1

Mission Technology Solutions will become Trinzic upon separation. KBR targets completion on January 4, 2027. The separation remains subject to final board approval and other customary conditions, including effectiveness of the Form 10 registration statement.1

KBR is preparing to separate businesses whose revenue moved in opposite directions this quarter, with Sustainable Technology Solutions revenue up 26% to $762 million. That segment reported record backlog of $5.8 billion. KBR and Trinzic plan to present their financial outlooks at separate Investor Days on November 11 and November 12, respectively.1

Sources (2)
  1. KBR third quarter fiscal 2026 results, Exhibit 99.1 to Form 8-K www.sec.gov
  2. KBR second quarter fiscal 2026 results, Exhibit 99.1 to Form 8-K www.sec.gov
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