WASHINGTON -- British maritime company, Kraken Technology Group, was awarded a $49 million cap Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreement by the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) for the rapid development and prototyping of novel uncrewed surface vessel (USV) and uncrewed undersea vessel (UUV) technologies to enhance maritime capabilities for U.S. special operations forces.

The announcement follows Kraken’s participation in two SOCOM innovation cycles alongside the Norwegian and United Kingdom Governments. The OTA mechanism enables USSOCOM to rapidly assess and integrate emerging technologies from non-traditional defence innovators like Kraken.

The USVs and UUVs under development will feature autonomous navigation, low-observable technologies, and scalable sensor and effector options to support ISR, logistics, and direct-action missions across contested littoral environments.

Source: Naval News
Associated URL: https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/11/kraken-awarded-ota-by-ussocom-for-development-of-next-gen-usv-and-uuv/

MELBOURNE, Fla. - L3Harris Technologies successfully completed the system Critical Design Review (CDR) of the next-generation imager for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Geostationary Extended Observations (GeoXO) program, which will deliver more detailed data to forecasters and provide more advance warning of severe weather. This development milestone validates the imager’s detailed design and signals its readiness for system-level production.

The L3Harris GeoXO Imager (GXI) is an advanced instrument that will measure infrared wavelengths, in addition to capturing data across the visible spectrum. This enhancement will provide detailed data regarding atmospheric conditions at higher resolution than today’s weather satellites. Sophisticated forecasting models rely on this data to monitor weather, ocean and environmental conditions and accurately predict severe storms.

The GeoXO system is important for ensuring continued delivery of timely, detailed and accurate weather information for the entire Western Hemisphere, and is designed to enhance the capabilities of the GOES-R series of satellites in operation today. When it enters service in the early 2030s, GeoXO will deliver better short-term forecasting capabilities and provide even more advance warning of severe weather. GeoXO will also more precisely detect and monitor hazardous conditions such as wildfires, smoke, drought and flooding in order to support public warning systems.

The development of this mission-critical weather sensor technology is being undertaken as part of a contract with NASA, in support of NOAA. The GOES-R series of satellites includes L3Harris’ Advanced Baseline Imager, GOES-R Ground System and spacecraft propulsion systems.

Source: L3Harris
Associated URL: https://www.l3harris.com/newsroom/editorial/2025/11/l3harris-next-generation-weather-imager-ready-deliver-life-saving

RIDLEY PARK, PA - Boeing has been awarded a firm-fixed-price delivery order valued at $877 million. This contract covers the acquisition of MH-47G rotary wing aircraft to support U.S. Special Operations Command. The majority of the work will take place in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania, with completion expected by November 2030.

The MH-47G is the upgraded version of the U.S. Army Special Operations Command MH-47D/E helicopters, incorporating CH-47F technology improvements and new-build aircraft. It features advanced avionics, enhanced survivability systems, infrared-suppressing engines, and mission-specific equipment such as FLIR, multimode radar, FRIES, and defensive armament. Future upgrades under the CH-47F Block 2 program will increase payload capacity, range, and overall performance.

Source: Department of War
Associated URL: https://www.war.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/4339288/