🔎 Defense Tech Signal — Sunday

• The U.S. Navy is deploying underwater drones to support mine-clearing operations in the Strait of Hormuz, signaling expanded operational reliance on autonomous maritime systems for contested chokepoints.
• Japan is allocating ¥11.1 billion to acquire five wide-area UAVs to replace parts of its Apache fleet, marking a doctrinal shift from manned attack aviation to ISR-focused unmanned platforms.
• Rocket Lab secured three additional Electron launches for Japan’s iQPS radar satellite constellation, reinforcing demand for responsive launch to scale commercial SAR capacity with national security applications.

Sources:

1) DefenseScoop — https://defensescoop.com/2026/04/11/strait-of-hormuz-mine-clearance-navy-centcom-underwater-drones/
2) Defence Blog — https://defence-blog.com/japan-buys-drones-to-replace-apache-fleet/
3) SpaceNews — https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-wins-contract-for-three-more-iqps-launches/

For a continuously updated feed of defense tech signals:
https://natsecpulse.com

— Support —

NatSecPulse is independently curated. Occasional sponsorships help support ongoing coverage and infrastructure.