Aerospace & Defense Electronics

WASHINGTON - The Senate Armed Services Committee filed its version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) on June 16, releasing text of the bill and an accompanying report. Those documents, as well as an executive summary released by the committee, can be found using the link at the bottom of the page. The SASC previously cleared the bill on June 12 by a vote of 18-9. Meanwhile, the House Armed Services Committee approved its version of the NDAA on June 4 by a vote of 44-12.

Both pieces of legislation authorize $1.15 trillion in funding for national defense, matching the president's discretionary request. However, both bills exclude an additional $350 billion sought by the administration through the budget reconciliation process, which would bring total department funding to $1.5 trillion.

To streamline military acquisition, the Senate bill proposes eliminating statutory requirements for the Space Development Agency and the Space Rapid Capabilities Office. This move would give the Space Force flexibility to determine the ideal acquisition structure needed to support ongoing and future space programs.

Additional organizational reforms in the Senate bill include authorizing a new combatant command dedicated to robotic and autonomous systems and establishing an under secretary of defense for cyber, information, and networks.

Source: Forecast International
Associated URL: https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/press-releases/sasc-chairman-roger-wicker-and-ranking-member-jack-reed-announce-fy27-ndaa-filing

STOCKHOLM -- Saab announced a strategic investment of EUR11.1 million (approx. USD12.7 million) for a 10% equity stake in Paris-based battlefield AI company, Comand AI.

The investment brings Comand AI’s planning solutions into Saab’s research and development ecosystem. Saab notes that this includes systems such as GlobalEye and other initiatives.

The company also notes that the agreement is pending approval from regulatory authorities.

Source: Saab
Associated URL: https://www.saab.com/newsroom/press-releases/2026/saab-invests-in-comand-ai-to-strengthen-european-defence-sector

DUBLIN - MBRYONICS, the laser communications company, have chosen Pilot Photonics' ultra-fast tunable lasers for their terabit-per-second transceivers for optical communication. Responding to the increasing market demand for space-ready, Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC)-powered, low SWaP-C optical communication devices, the two Irish photonics firms are combining their technologies to enable next-generation satellite communications.

MBRYONICS is innovating in the space communications field by integrating PIC devices in satellite and ground station modules, making robust lasercom devices for the New Space market. For their hardened terabit-per-second coherent transceiver, they are integrating Pilot Photonics' fast-switching, low-linewidth tunable laser. The fast wavelength tunability is crucial for optical Doppler compensation in coherent space communications. This makes Pilot's laser, with its nanosecond tuning, a natural fit.

Pilot Photonics, the leading Irish developer of integrated photonic engines, builds PIC-based devices for space, telecom, datacom, and test & measurement applications. Among its suite of innovations is its line of tunable lasers, with fully monolithic integration and wide tunability. The laser's compact form factor, low mass, and high power efficiency makes it a perfect fit for the requirements of cutting-edge satellites.

Source: Pilot Photonics
Associated URL: https://mbryonics.com/