The California-based Coast Guard cutter Munro announced the news after returning Sunday from a 119-day deployment that began in November of last year.

Sailing in the Eastern Pacific, the Munro spotted a go-fast smuggling boat and took up what became an intense pursuit.

A Scan Eagle surveillance drone participated in the pursuit alongside an MH-65 helicopter of the Coast Guard’s Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron. The Scan Eagle, which has a low-stealth profile and a relatively small size, operates autonomously and with extreme endurance.

After firing warning shots, the helicopter disabled the vessel’s engine with gunfire, ending the pursuit. Six suspected drug smugglers were arrested.

A record haul of 22,052 pounds of cocaine was recovered from the vessel, with an estimated street value of over $250 million.

“The service, our nation and our families can be extremely proud of Munro,” Capt. Jim O’Mara, the cutter’s commanding officer, said in a statement.

“This crew rose to every new challenge thrown at them with professionalism and persistence, and they achieved historic results. This was a one-of-a-kind deployment for us, but it is also just one part of a much broader campaign and U.S. national strategy.”

O’Mara said the long deployment had been hard on crew members’ families, but he expressed gratitude for the support from home and pride in the crew’s unprecedented accomplishments.

“Our families had to adapt to each new twist, just like all military families do across the Armed Forces. It is tough on them,” he said. “But when they hold strong at home that keeps us motivated and focused on our mission.”

Video released Wednesday shows the next-gen munitions being launched in open desert terrain from M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems as part of Operation Epic Fury. The operation against Iran has seen a variety of precision munitions launched from land, sea and air, according to CENTCOM.

“I just could not be prouder of our men and women in uniform leveraging innovation to create dilemmas for the enemy,” Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander, said in a release.

The PrSM is enhanced with GPS capabilities to navigate in flight and can accurately strike targets from around 250 miles away. Its warhead is designed to deliver a fragmentation effect when it explodes, increasing power on impact. The missile, meanwhile, is reportedly built to withstand turbulent in-flight conditions.

The PrSM is among a wide array of advanced technological assets the U.S. military has deployed during its ongoing operations in Iran.

Other notable weapon deployments in the ongoing conflict include Patriot Interceptor Missile Systems and THAAD Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems. LUCAS one-way attack drones were also used for the first time in combat by the U.S. Special Operations Command-led Task Force Scorpion Strike.

Specific details about the targets engaged by the PrSMs have not been provided as of publication.

Prior to its combat debut, the U.S. Army was working with Lockheed Martin to ramp up production capacity for the munition, Defense News reported last October.

The Army tested its short-range and long-range capabilities on White Sands Missile Range in April and September of last year. Tests saw the munitions fired from HIMARS systems as well as the M270A2 Multiple Launch Rocket System, or MLRS.

Operation Epic Fury has seen over 2,000 military targets across Iran destroyed, the Pentagon said, including a naval frigate that was sunk in the first torpedo kill by a U.S. Navy submarine since World War II.

Ursa Major, a Colorado-based defense manufacturer, debuted the HAVOC missile system on Tuesday.

The medium-range hypersonic system is powered by a liquid rocket engine, is able to alter its speed in flight and can be adapted for use with a wide variety of rocket motor systems from warplanes to vertical launch systems.

Additionally, the system can be deployed outside of Earth’s atmosphere, according to the company.

“Keeping pace with our adversaries requires more than exquisite systems. It requires speed to delivery, affordability, and the ability to build at scale,” Chris Spagnoletti, CEO of Ursa Major, said in a statement.

“The Ursa Major HAVOC Missile System delivers a highly capable hypersonic weapon designed from the start to be produced rapidly and in quantity, giving the warfighter a credible and adaptable capability.”

The system has a core module that makes it suitable for striking hypersonic targets as well, the company adds.

Hypersonic missiles, which fly at roughly five times the speed of sound, have become a priority across all U.S. military branches.

The Army, Air Force and Navy are all developing hypersonic missile programs, including: the Army’s Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon; the Air Force’s Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile; and the Navy’s Conventional Prompt Strike programs.

While the services have aimed for hypersonic weapons since the early 2000s, development has lagged while Russia and China have gained advantages in this arena.

In a notable divergence, Russian and Chinese hypersonic missiles are designed to field nuclear warheads, while U.S. hypersonics are not.

“Most U.S. hypersonic weapons, in contrast to those in Russia and China, are not being designed for use with a nuclear warhead,” according to a Congressional Research Service report published last August.

The report predicted that U.S. hypersonics would “likely require greater accuracy and will be more technically challenging to develop than nuclear-armed Chinese and Russian systems,” while also noting that Russian and Chinese systems would have a potential advantage since nuclear weapons can inflict devastating damage without need for accuracy.

China has a robust hypersonic program and has conducted up to 20 times as many hypersonic missile tests than the U.S., and is also investing in underground facilities, per the report.

“Analysts disagree about the strategic implications of hypersonic weapons,” the report notes, adding that Congress has previously restricted funding due to concerns of nuclear escalation.

“Differences in threat perception and escalation ladders could thus result in unintended escalation,” the report concluded.

Sgt. Henry David Volpe, an automotive technician with the 2nd Marine Logistics Group, used his interest in engineering and robotics to help develop HANX, the Marine Corps’ first unmanned aircraft system built from 3D-printed parts to be approved by the National Defense Authorization Act, service officials announced last month.

Fortunately, for both the Marines and for Volpe, he found an outlet for his passion for robotics when he was assigned to the II Marine Expeditionary Force Innovation Campus at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

“I immediately went over to the innovation campus, shook hands with the master sergeant, and said, ‘I want to work over here, I’ve got experience with this,’” Volpe said, according to a Jan. 28 release.

The result was HANX, which derives its name from Volpe’s nickname “Hank.” The drone, approved for use by U.S. Naval Air Systems Command, features a simple and low-cost design that is easy for Marines to assemble using 3D-printing technology.

Further, HANX is NDAA compliant, meaning it’s not assembled from unapproved parts from foreign manufacturers that could contain security vulnerabilities. Previous Marine drones assembled using 3D printing were not subject to the same NDAA security requirements that exist today. The HANX drone is the first of its type to be approved by both NAVAIR and meet current NDAA requirements.

As an FPV drone, HANX can be modified for use as a flying explosive, reconnaissance tool or logistics delivery node.

“The drone is cheap and easy to change, making it easier to be utilized for a variety of missions throughout the military, compared to all of the drones bought through contractors where we aren’t allowed to modify them,” Volpe said.

Building HANX entailed over a thousand hours in the innovation lab and navigating government bureaucracy for approval, but the result is a drone that is secure, field-ready and designed by Marines for Marines, according to the release.

“This was only possible because of the collaboration with the team around me,” Volpe said. “I’d give out different drone parts and say, ‘Hey, can you redesign this for me?’ Or ‘I need 20 of these printed.’ I designed it, but I didn’t work on it alone.”

The Marine Innovation Campus has since developed a plan for in-house production of HANX, plus the framework for field training and curriculum.

Signed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in December, the guidance aims to create a clear framework for responding to unmanned aerial systems intruding near U.S. military bases.

The guidance allows military installation commanders to have greater authority and flexibility in neutralizing drones flying within sight of protected military areas, according to the release. The new policy also removes previous “fence-line” limitations around the bases, expanding the scope of what was previously considered base perimeters.

“Countering drones does not start and stop at the fence line,“ Brigadier General Matt Ross, director of JIATF-401, said in a release. ”With this new guidance installation commanders are empowered to address threats as they develop, and the guidance makes clear that unauthorized drone flights are a surveillance threat even before they breach an installation perimeter.”

Installation commanders are required to submit counter-drone defense plans for their bases within 60 days, with additional mandates for regular counter-drone drills and assessments of potential weak spots in base security that adversarial drone operators may exploit.

The guidance also allows installation commanders to share drone tracking information with federal law enforcement agencies. Additionally, it allows commanders to employ contractors to operate counter-drone systems.

The announcement comes amid rising surveillance concerns and drone intrusions near U.S. military bases, with a drone shot down near barracks housing American troops in Estonia last October.

Earlier this month, JIATF-401 made a contract award for two of the DroneHunter 4700 system, which pursues and captures other drones in midair using artificial intelligence and nets.

The multiyear contract award, announced Wednesday, will see robots delivered to the services this year. The details of the award amount are not being disclosed at this time, an L3Harris spokesperson told Defense News.

The T7 is a robust robotic system with a highly maneuverable arm that can lift payloads weighing up to nearly 300 pounds and be fitted with a variety of interchangeable components that allow it to disarm bombs in diverse environments. Featuring a multicamera view, it can operate in a variety of confined spaces and also climb stairs.

The system delivers haptic feedback, or controlled vibrations, to give operators touch sensitivity as they are controlling the robotic arm, allowing them to dispose of dangerous materials from a distance with precision.

The award comes several years after the U.S. Air Force purchased 170 T7 robots in 2021 for its explosive ordnance disposal program. The first of those robots were delivered to Eglin Air Force Base in Florida in 2022. Service personnel tasked with EOD missions who trained on the T7 stated at the time that they preferred it due to its long battery life, speed and flexibility.

“Recognized by both the Navy and Marines for outstanding dexterity and performance, L3Harris T7 robotic systems will provide them a significant advantage for their most challenging EOD missions,” Dave Kornick, president of intelligence and cyber, space and mission systems for L3Harris, said in a statement to Defense News.

The contract with the Defense Department will also see L3Harris provide comprehensive training to all service personnel on all aspects of operating the robots.

The landmark tactical exercise took place at the Pentagon’s Joint Simulation Environment (JSE) at the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division in Maryland. The advanced modeling and simulation technology at the JSE enables pilots to effectively gain flying experience on a variety of missions and practice tactics in a secure environment.

“Modern warfare is demanding more from our aviators. This milestone shows the Joint Simulation Environment’s impact on equipping them with the advanced tactics they need to win future battles,” NAWCAD Commander Rear Adm. Todd Evans stated in a release.

The tactical exercise saw the F-35 pilots use the tablets to control multiple Collaborative Combat Aircraft at once. These autonomous unmanned systems, operating with artificial intelligence, can be used as “loyal wingmen” by aviators.

Both pilots and drones engaged in combat as partners during the training, communicating with each other and striking targets with precision-guided missiles.

Last year saw major developments in tactical human-machine teaming in the air, with U.S. Air Force pilots integrating two Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie drones into combat maneuvers at Florida’s Eglin Air Force Base. It also saw increased integration between Marine F-35 and Air Force F-22 pilots, who operated as a joint force for the first time last year in training at the JSE.

The JSE plans to add new aircraft and weapons systems to its training center in fiscal year 2026, which include the EA-18G Growler, E-2D Advanced Hawkeye and the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.

The Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS) is a unique short-range ground based air defense system formed from two Joint Light Tactical Vehicles, and is designed to destroy unmanned aerial systems as well as manned aircraft, including helicopters.

The system, manufactured by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, provides Marine units with a rapid means of destroying drones and other aerial threats without requiring additional support, and allows them to hone in on and destroy targets from both fixed positions and while driving.

Each vehicle is designed to work in tandem with the other, with one geared towards shooting down helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, and the other oriented towards countering drones. The system gives Marines options to destroy targets using either Stinger missiles or a 30mm cannon.

The first full-rate production version of the MADIS debuted in September following a long period of trials. It replaces the Marines’ previous Man-Portable Air Defense System, or MANPADs, which was complex by comparison and required Marines to exit their vehicle to zero in on and destroy aerial targets.

The new version of the MADIS which is now ready to be fielded by Marines has seen several key technology upgrades, including enhanced targeting algorithms and sensor capabilities, as well as enhanced mobility. The system design is flexible enough to allow it to be upgraded to emerging threats over time.

Marines have begun training on the new system and conducted a live-fire exercise at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, California.

Marines conducted the first live-fire exercise of the MADIS during Exercise Balikatan in April 2025.

Montgomery, who helped create the foundations of NATO and was then serving as its Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe (DSACEUR), gave a speech entitled, “A Look Through A Window at World War III,” which stirred up much controversy at the time.

Many of the thoughts Montgomery expressed regarding Western defense and the evolution of war are still highly relevant in discussions of defense policy today.

Here is a look at some of Montgomery’s thoughts on NATO and how technology would change future battles.

Airpower

Montgomery predicted that airpower would become the dominant factor in war, that large surface vessels would become obsolete and that unmanned aerial systems — known to us as drones — would become ubiquitous.

“Later on…the East may have developed means of delivering their weapons with accuracy, both short-range and long-range, which do not rely on piloted aircraft,” Montgomery said. “Our ability to counter that threat by both offensive and defensive measures will be much reduced, because the targets will be far less vulnerable — whether they are launching sites, or the weapons themselves actually in the air.”

He presciently remarked that technology would eventually enable aircraft to “remain in the skies for prolonged periods and in all weathers,” adding, “That time is not yet, but it will come.”

Montgomery noted that he believed that there would always be some tactical need for piloted aircraft to perform specific support tasks, although the role of human pilots would be reduced.

He said that air dominance was of critical importance for NATO, as he believed that the West would struggle to maintain air superiority as new weapons developed.

Montgomery said that in case of a surprise assault, it was vital to “be able to hold such an attack long enough to enable nations to… mobilize their collective strength,” and that a response from NATO needed to consist of “an immediate air offensive on the largest possible scale, directed at the enemy’s air forces and at his homeland.”

Above all, Montgomery stressed that NATO countries needed to guard against a surprise aerial attack. This reflection was based on his observations of how airpower evolved during and after World War II, and the rising industrial strength of Communist nations. He stated emphatically that a future war would not see NATO allies have from the outset the same advantages in air superiority that the Allies had from 1943 onwards.

“Absolute defense against air attack will be impossible in the future. A deterrent, the means with which to hit back instantly and to give more than you receive, is the surest way to make an aggressor think twice before he attacks,” he said.

“We must develop an effective, and global, early warning system in order to have some chance of being able to take the offensive in the air should we be attacked,” he said.

He stated that he believed that “vertical lift aircraft” would be essential to achieve air dominance as this airpower could be dispersed and not an easy target for enemy forces. An astute analyst of military technology, Montgomery did not specify helicopters, but his remarks indicate that he believed vertical aircraft could develop in different forms.

“There is clearly a tremendous future of vertical lift aircraft and it must be exploited for the benefit of land forces,” Montgomery said.

A Hybrid Third World War

Montgomery believed that a potential third world war would consist of distinct phases: a battle for control of the air and seas, followed by hybrid attacks that could involve nuclear weapons — rather than the popular concept of a single nuclear strike.

“Those who are inclined to believe that future wars will be confined to push-button activities would do well to stop deluding themselves,” Montgomery argued.

He said that new technology would necessitate shrinking of naval forces, with the seas predominantly being controlled from the air and greater reliance overall on undersea vessels and smaller craft. Remarkably, he said he believed the aircraft carrier — which had risen to the peak of prominence in World War II — would eventually become obsolete.

He regarded it as vital for Western navies to still maintain control of the seas but be able and willing to adapt to new capabilities. As with airpower, Montgomery regarded force projection at sea as of critical importance.

“The first task of the Western naval forces is to make certain that they can deal with any challenge to our control of the seas, and that we do not lose that control,” he said.

Rapid Integration

Montgomery also stressed that the West needed to phase out weapons that become obsolete over time as technology progresses, noting that “the solution should be on the side of the long-term new weapons.” He also called for Western allied nations to create more flexible forces with an unprecedented degree of cohesion and interoperability between the services. Bureaucracy and duplication of effort, he said, were impeding the ability of military forces to be able to work effectively and be prepared to respond rapidly to threats.

“We seem to have lost the art of command, other than by paper,” said Montgomery. “No ordinary man can read half the paper that is in circulation; I doubt if the other half is worth reading.”

Raising the specter of nuclear war, Montgomery said he believed that governments needed to have measures in place to prevent and mitigate the damage of potential nuclear strikes, and above all, build up viable deterrents.

“As time passes and the offensive capability between East and West levels out, the advantage will go to that side which has the greater defensive strength, which can protect itself against attack, and can survive to strike back,” he said.

Dubbed Information Warfare Squadron Two, it is one of two squadrons approved to be set up within a 48-month pilot program approved by the service in June, which will see information squadrons formed on the east and west coasts and evaluate their performance to enhance doctrine, according to a service release. Intended to streamline intelligence and analysis, these squadrons will consist of staff with expertise in information warfare drawn from various naval commands.

IWRON Two is commanded by Capt. Jon O’Connor, who formally assumed command at a Dec. 5 ceremony in Norfolk, Virginia. Members of the new force include service members from the Navy Information Operations Command, Naval Information Warfare Training Group, Navy Cyber Defense Operations Command, Strike Group Oceanography Team and the Fleet Intelligence Detachment DC.

The force is modeled after successful approaches adopted by destroyer squadrons and air wings, according to the release. It is unique in concentrating a variety of functions and responsibilities pertaining to information warfare under a single commander.

Vice Adm. Mike Vernazza of Naval Information Forces said the move represents a major shift in the Navy’s approach to information warfare.

“For too long, information warfare has been a collection of vital but often disparate capabilities. Today, we change that,” Vernazza said in the release.

“The IWRON construct represents a bold step forward. We are integrating and employing advanced IW capabilities and delivering them as a unified force across the spectrum of conflict. We are employing IW warfighting effects in a way that has never been demonstrated before. To get to outcomes we haven’t had, we need to do things we haven’t done. … This is one of them,” Vernazza said.

The second information warfare squadron is planned to be stood up on the West Coast in the coming year.