Our team was on the ground at SOF Week this year, and we came back with a clear sense that something has shifted in the special operations technology landscape. What follows are our team's on-the-ground insights: how this year compared to last, where the industry is heading, and why we believe the rise of drones is really a story about something bigger than the aircraft themselves.

This year's event, held May 18-21 in Tampa, drew nearly 20,000 attendees and featured 850 exhibitors, underscoring just how central SOF Week has become to the special operations community and the industry that supports it.

GreenSight made a point of walking the exhibition floor to understand where the market is moving. We prioritized conversations with operators, program stakeholders, and companies working across autonomy, AI-enabled mission systems, UAS platforms, communications, and electronic warfare. We also attended technical briefings and capability demonstrations to hear firsthand how end users are thinking about the next generation of deployable technology. Those conversations shaped many of the observations that follow.

One thing that really stood out to us this year was how much the conversation has shifted from innovation for innovation's sake to real operational capability. In years past, there was a lot of excitement around what's possible. This year, the focus was much more on what's ready now — and how quickly those capabilities can get into the hands of operators.

We also noticed a stronger emphasis on integration and scalability. Customers aren't just looking for the best individual technology — they're looking for solutions that fit into larger mission ecosystems and can be deployed at scale.

Overall, SOF Week felt more mission-focused than ever. The conversations were centered around solving real problems with technologies that are mature enough to make an impact today.

“When discussing the capabilities of our long range, one-way attack platform, that is entering production, a common phrase we heard from the end-users and the community at large is ‘how soon can I get my hands on it or attend a demo?’” - Michael Clatworthy, VP Emerging Technologies at GreenSight

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Industry & Company Trends

Autonomy and AI weren't just buzzwords this year — they were built into almost every conversation we had. Whether it was ISR, one-way attack support, communications, logistics, or electronic warfare, companies are thinking about how autonomous systems can help operators do more with less human involvement.

Another trend we noticed was the growing importance of software. Hardware is still critical, of course, but the value increasingly comes from what happens after data is collected. Customers want systems that can process information quickly, reduce operator workload, and provide actionable intelligence rather than just raw data.

We also saw continued momentum behind open, interoperable solutions built on open APIs. The Department of War is clearly looking for technologies that can integrate with existing systems and evolve as mission requirements change.

The Rise of Drones

Drones were everywhere at SOF Week, but what stood out wasn't just the number of platforms on display — it was how the conversation has evolved. The focus has shifted from simply building better drones to developing smarter, more autonomous systems that can operate together, require less human oversight, and deliver actionable intelligence faster.

We also saw a strong emphasis on fielding attritable systems that address the growing cost asymmetry of modern warfare, where inexpensive threats are forcing a rethink of how advanced capabilities are designed, produced, and deployed.

That's exactly where we see the industry heading, and it's where GreenSight has been focused from the beginning. We don't believe success is measured solely by how advanced or exquisite an aircraft is. The real advantage comes from combining scalable manufacturing, intelligent autonomy, and actionable data to deliver mission-ready capabilities at a price point that allows the U.S. and its allies to remain competitive in the economic realities of modern conflict.

As autonomous systems become a standard part of military operations, we believe the biggest differentiator won't be who builds the most sophisticated platform. It will be who can deliver modular, interoperable systems that are reliable, affordable, and scalable enough to meet the demands of today's battlefield.

Looking ahead, GreenSight is putting that philosophy into action. We're expanding our manufacturing output to support the growing demand for Group 2 and 3 UAS from the Department of War and allied nations, and we're actively pursuing investment to accelerate that growth. As the market shifts toward scalable, affordable, mission-ready systems, we're building the capacity to meet that demand head on.

If you'd like to learn more about GreenSight's platforms or discuss partnership and investment opportunities, we'd love to connect. reach out to our team: https://greensightdefense.com/contact-us