From BurgerBots to Hypersonics: This Week in RAD Tech

The Mission Brief

Hey RAD Readers,

We’ve got robots flipping burgers, missiles getting smarter, and more AI crammed into hardware than ever before.

It’s been a massive week across the robotics, aerospace, and defense landscape

Let’s dive in.

Robotics Roundup

ABB Spins Off Robotics Division - Industrial automation titan ABB is spinning off its robotics division, citing "limited synergies."

This is big: one of the biggest names in industrial robotics is about to fly solo.

BurgerBots + ABB Launch Robot-Run Burger Joint - Fast food just got a firmware update. BurgerBots and ABB launched a robot-powered restaurant using FlexPickers and cobots to sling burgers. Efficiency meets crispy perfection.

Dyna Robotics dropped DYNA-1, a foundation model for robots claiming round-the-clock autonomous dexterity. A bold move toward truly commercial-ready robotics.

Flexxbotics at Automate 2025 - Flexxbotics is demoing its factory-floor automation tech at Automate 2025 using UR30 cobots to manage multiple machines. The factory of the future is collaborative.

Algorized Joins MassRobotics - AI startup Algorized joined the MassRobotics community to push forward its people-sensing AI—a key enabler for smoother human-robot interaction.

Flexiv Expands into Europe - China's Flexiv is teaming up with Italy’s Time Robotics to bring adaptive robotic tech to Europe. Adaptive arms are on the move.

Aerospace Adventures:

Airbus vs. Boeing - April Output Airbus built 56 planes, Boeing 37, despite supply chain woes. Demand is strong, but parts are scarce. Airbus still leads the race in 2025.

Hongqi Unveils Flying Car - China’s Hongqi introduced the Tianyan 1 eVTOL at the Shanghai Auto Show. Luxury meets liftoff.

F-15EX Gets $3.1B Boost - The U.S. greenlit a $3.1B funding package to accelerate production of the F-15EX Eagle II fighter jet.

4. Defense Dispatches:

PrSM Inc 2 Missile Accelerated to 2027 - The U.S. Army is fast-tracking the Precision Strike Missile Increment 2 with extended range and multi-mode targeting. Think naval strikes and air defense takedowns.

Army Builds Space EW Capability - New system: Tactical Integrated Ground Suite for long-range space electronic warfare. Space is a warfighting domain now.

AeroVironment + BlueHalo Merge - Two U.S. defense tech firms become one power player. Unmanned systems, autonomy, and ISR are the big focus.

M1E3 Abrams Confirmed - The Army is moving ahead with fielding the M1E3 Abrams, the next-gen tank designed for lethality and survivability.

Army Tests Microwave Drone Blaster - The Army tested its IFPC-HPM system (High-Powered Microwave) to counter drone swarms. Indo-Pacific field test? Check.

Lockheed + Rheinmetall expand missile production partnership for NATO.

Meme of the Day: