Sensors, radar & optics
Coverage of radar, electro-optical and infrared sensors, and the semiconductor supply chain they depend on.
Why this segment matters
Sensing determines what a weapon system can actually do, and the shift from mechanically scanned to active electronically scanned array radar has changed both capability and industrial structure. Gallium nitride has been the enabling technology, allowing more power in less volume — which matters most where size, weight and power are constrained, on aircraft, drones and missiles.
Infrared and electro-optical systems follow a parallel logic. Detector materials, cooled versus uncooled architectures and specialised optics form a supply chain with few qualified producers, and one exposed to the same critical-materials restrictions affecting the wider sector. Gallium and germanium availability links this segment directly to raw materials policy.
Coverage here follows radar and sensor programme awards, upgrade contracts on existing platforms, semiconductor and detector supply agreements, export control decisions, and counter-drone detection systems. Qualification cycles are long, so market share shifts slowly even when a competing technology looks superior on paper.
Can L3Harris' PAC-3 Award Boost Its Missile Business Growth?
Yahoo Finance
US Navy Selects L3Harris VAMPIRE for Littoral Counter-Drone Defense
Naval News
L3Harris Receives Landmark PAC‑3 MSE Propulsion Contract to Power America’s Arsenal of Freedom
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Infleqtion Landed a $20 Million NASA Contract — Here's What Else Happened Recently
Yahoo Finance
SpaceTech Weekly Recap – August 24–30, 2026
This recap highlights advancements in autonomous ISR technologies and growing sovereign demand for Earth Observation (EO) satellite capabilities within the global space infrastructure sector.
NASA Awards Infleqtion $20M Contract for Quantum Gravity Sensor
Infleqtion has been awarded a $20 million follow-on contract by NASA to continue the development of a space-based quantum gravity sensor.
Infleqtion Rises 6% on $20M NASA Quantum Gravity Award, IonQ Climbs 5%
Yahoo Finance
NASA Awards Infleqtion $20 Million as World's First Quantum Gravity Mission Advances Toward Flight
Yahoo Finance
UAV Radar Market worth $990.2 million by 2031 - Exclusive Report by MarketsandMarkets™
The article discusses the UAV radar market, which is a sector relevant to Hensoldt's specialized radar and sensor technology portfolio.
Infleqtion to Test Quantum Sensing in Colorado to Advance U.S. Critical Minerals Security
Yahoo Finance
SpaceTech Weekly Recap – August 10–16, 2026
BlackSky's international contract demonstrates growing demand for Gen-2 and Gen-3 satellite imagery and sensor data, contributing to strong financial performance in the space technology sector.
SpaceTech Weekly Recap – August 3–9, 2026
Rocket Lab secured a $397 million Space Force contract to build threat-tracking satellites and continues to support the iQPS Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) constellation.
“MATRA” The Digital Power Behind Dynamic Maritime Operations
HAVELSAN has introduced the MATRA Digital Maritime Solutions suite, which provides a unified architecture to integrate diverse sensors and systems for enhanced maritime operational coordination.
Boeing and Northrop Grumman Successfully Simulate P-8A Poseidon and MQ-4C Triton Teaming
Boeing and Northrop Grumman successfully demonstrated manned-unmanned teaming between the P-8A Poseidon and MQ-4C Triton, utilizing universal standard interfaces for sensor and intelligence data sharing.
Blue Water Autonomy Selected by U.S. Navy for Autonomous Open-Ocean Survey Work
Blue Water Autonomy was selected by the U.S. Navy for high-resolution ocean floor mapping, utilizing uncrewed surface vessels to characterize operational environments through acoustics and terrain surveying.
Belgian MQ-9Bs deployed in the Mediterranean Sea in support of NATO operations
The Belgian Air Force successfully deployed its MQ-9B SkyGuardian system to Sigonella, utilizing the platform's advanced sensor suite for NATO maritime surveillance and intelligence operations.
China’s Growing Regional Ballistic Missile Arsenal: A Guide
The article discusses China's expanding ballistic missile arsenal, which necessitates advanced sensor and radar capabilities for tracking and defense against diverse conventional and nuclear-armed threats.
The reasons why Group 2 drones are right-sized for the fight
Advancements in fuel cell technology are enabling Group 2 VTOL drones to perform mission tasks—such as advanced ISR—previously limited to larger, sensor-heavy platforms.
P-8 Poseidon Crews Controlling MQ-4C Triton Drones Becoming A Reality
Boeing and Northrop Grumman have successfully tested a common command and control architecture allowing P-8A Poseidon crews to remotely task MQ-4C Triton surveillance drones in flight, enhancing battlespace flexibility.
Army launches search for counter-drone missile priced under $150K
The U.S. Army has issued an RFI for a new counter-drone interceptor missile designed for the Raytheon Coyote launcher, targeting a price point below $150,000 per unit.