Pentagon Selects Gauntlet 2 Drone Vendors for Planned 60,000-UAS Purchase
The second Drone Dominance Program competition assessed 23 small-UAS platforms in 1,858 sorties, with a bomber-drone evaluation planned next month.
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Current reporting on unmanned systems, autonomy, counter-UAS and defence technology.
Secretive RQ-170-Linked Squadron Receives U.S. Air Force RPA Award
The 30th Reconnaissance Squadron reported 87 intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions across three areas of responsibility in 2025, while expanding its aircrew and supporting urgent deployments.
Germany Attributes Failed Explosive Drone Attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport to Russia
German authorities said an investigation linked the Aug. 4 incident to Russian hybrid activity; Moscow rejected the allegation.
Italian NATO fighter downs drone after Lithuanian airspace incursion
Lithuanian authorities said the aircraft entered from Belarus and carried an explosive; its origin remains under investigation.
CENTCOM to Form Multinational Task Force for One-Way Attack Drones
Task Force Falcon Strike will bring U.S. personnel and undisclosed regional partners together to integrate unmanned attack systems in air and maritime domains.
Japanese RQ-4B Global Hawk crashes in Sea of Japan
Japan Air Self-Defense Force lost contact with the unmanned surveillance aircraft during an undisclosed non-training mission.
Russia-Iran drone partnership shifts toward upgraded Geran technology, report says
Iranian-designed Shahed attack drones licensed for Russian production have evolved into the Geran family, with analysts assessing that upgraded systems and targeting support may now flow back to Tehran.
North Korea Says Island Drill Included Two Types of One-Way Attack Drones
State media released imagery of unmanned systems used alongside ballistic and cruise missiles in a Sept. 13 firepower exercise.
NATO Advances Plans for Lower-Cost Counter-Drone Defences
Allied Air Command is implementing Eastern Sentry and a new integrated air and missile defence plan after a drone entered Lithuanian airspace.
Anduril Fury CCA Flew Alongside F-35s in Air Force Test
Company says the July exercise also included an AIM-120 launch against a simulated target using an externally generated track.
Caine: U.S. Forces Must Prepare for Autonomous Threats
Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine cited AI-enabled FPV drones in Ukraine and a Task Force 59 rescue near Oman as examples of unmanned systems reshaping operations.
Swarm Aero Unveils Gamera Autonomous Aircraft for Air Force MMA Effort
The company is building several prototypes of the payload-capable uncrewed aircraft, with a first flight expected by the end of 2027.
Caine: US formations must expect autonomous systems to hunt and track them
The Joint Chiefs chairman said artificial intelligence, cyber capabilities and unmanned systems are changing the conditions under which US forces must prepare to operate.
Pentagon Tests Unmanned Boats and Drones Along US-Mexico Border
Officials are considering a 2027 expansion that could add autonomous systems and counter-drone capabilities, Breaking Defense reports.
US Air Force names FQ-42A Vengeance and FQ-44A Fury collaborative combat aircraft
The service plans to place at least 500 autonomous aircraft in service by 2032, alongside a separate massed modular aircraft effort.
US Air Force Accelerates Massed Modular Aircraft Program to Backfill Reaper Fleet
The service is pursuing a lower-cost, more expendable unmanned aircraft for strike, ISR, electronic warfare and communications-relay missions, with at least 180 aircraft expected.
US Army Opens Five Test Ranges to Drone and Counter-UAS Industry
Private companies will be able to seek access through a new online portal, including for electronic-warfare testing designed around conditions observed in Ukraine.
Doodle Labs Pursues US and European Radio Production for Unmanned Systems
The radio supplier is discussing local manufacturing partnerships as demand rises for mesh-networking equipment designed to sustain drone links in contested electromagnetic environments.
Anduril pitches Fury and Thunder autonomous aircraft to Poland
The U.S. company is pairing its unmanned aircraft proposal with a planned Polish production partnership for the Barracuda-500M missile.
Elbit Proposes Commercial-Ship Conversions as Drone Aviation Platforms
The Israeli company’s concept would place nine to 12 Hermes 650 Spark unmanned aircraft on converted vessels equipped for launch, recovery and mission support.
Pentagon centralizes oversight of most unmanned-system programs
A new Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Unmanned Systems will report to the deputy defense secretary and coordinate programs spanning drones, uncrewed vessels, ground robots and counter-drone technologies.
Navy Unmanned Surface Vessel Supported Apache Crew Recovery Near Oman
Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine cited the June operation and AI-enabled FPV drones in Ukraine as examples of unmanned systems’ growing military role.
US Air Force Weighs Autonomous Options for Future Tankers
Air Mobility Command is examining manned, optionally manned and autonomous concepts as it shifts funding toward advanced tanker systems.
Anthropic Says Russian-Linked Group Used Claude on Autonomous Drone Software
The AI company said the software was tested with real hardware but had not been fielded, and that it blocked the group from its services.
Army says experimental drone battalion was always intended to return to infantry role
Gen. Christopher LaNeve said the decision predates his tenure, while Army officials describe the 173rd unit as a vehicle for distributing drone-warfare lessons across the force.
Embraer develops A-29 Super Tucano counter-UAS concept
The company is conducting a proof-of-concept effort with an undisclosed country to assess the light-attack aircraft against drone targets.
Textron, Merlin Propose Uncrewed SkyCourier for Military Logistics
The SkyCourier UX concept pairs a Cessna 408 airframe with Merlin autonomy, but no prototype has been built.
USAFE Plans for Allied Collaborative Combat Aircraft in NATO Operations
U.S. Air Forces in Europe is promoting common standards and interoperability as NATO members explore autonomous combat aircraft programs.
Ukraine adapts Sea Baby surface drone to launch FPV strike drones
Ukraine’s Security Service has configured its Sea Baby unmanned surface vessel to deploy six to eight FPV attack drones, adding an aerial-launch role to the naval platform.
US Army Shifts Drone Dominance Focus to Squad-Level Operator Training
Army officials say drone supply is sufficient for platoon-level capability, while training qualified squad-level operators in contested electromagnetic conditions remains a priority.
General Atomics Details FQ-42 Vengeance and Wildfire Unmanned Programs
The manufacturer discussed its Collaborative Combat Aircraft offering and a lower-cost modular platform in a sponsored interview at Air, Space & Cyber 2026.
U.S. Navy Seeks Containerized Interceptors for Cruise Missile and Drone Defence
The Naval Affordable Interceptor concept calls for a ship-mounted container launcher with at least 60 missiles and no permanent warship modifications.
USS Theodore Roosevelt First Carrier With Deployable MQ-25 Control Center
The Navy says the carrier’s Unmanned Air Warfare Center can support command and control of Boeing’s MQ-25A unmanned aerial refueling aircraft.
Lockheed Martin Starts Building Vectis Collaborative Combat Aircraft Prototype
Skunk Works says its tailless, single-engine Vectis design combines modular systems and autonomy for air-to-air and air-to-ground missions.
Ukraine Claims Drone Strike on Gas Plant More Than 3,000 km Inside Russia
Russian officials confirmed a drone incident and fire in Novy Urengoy, while the unmanned system involved and the scale of damage remain unverified.
Lockheed Skunk Works plans five-aircraft Vectis combat drone fleet
Four additional experimental drones are in development as Lockheed Martin targets a first Vectis flight by the end of 2027.
US Navy Seeks Autonomous Carrier Drone Family for Eight Mission Sets
A July 14 request for information asks industry to outline carrier-based and VTOL unmanned systems with long-range strike capability and increasing levels of operational autonomy.
Ukrainian firms develop faster interceptors for jet-powered drones
General Cherry, Grim Tech and BlueBird Tech outlined counter-drone interceptor projects at the MSPO defense exhibition in Poland.
Lockheed Martin unveils reusable Morfius X-Rotor microwave counter-drone system
The ground-launched system is intended to engage multiple unmanned aircraft with a high-power microwave payload and be recovered for reuse.
Firestorm Labs Produces FPV Drones Aboard USS Essex
A containerized xCell microfactory manufactured drone components, repair parts and 12 Squall aircraft during the ship’s transit to RIMPAC 2026.
NATO Plans to Add Up to Five MQ-4C Triton Maritime Surveillance Drones
Northrop Grumman will build the high-altitude UAVs, with European industry supporting mission systems, data infrastructure and services.
IAI unveils Hypnosis soft-kill counter-drone system
The mobile networked system is intended to jam and spoof navigation and control signals used by large numbers of incoming drones.
Patria, General Cherry Plan Drone Development and Production in Finland
The Finnish defense company and Ukrainian drone maker signed a letter of intent focused on unmanned systems for Western European defense requirements.
X-Bow Unveils Sub-$100,000 Buckler Drone Interceptor
The company says its new Buckler interceptor is intended to counter Group 3 unmanned aircraft using an in-house-built airframe and propulsion system.
Japan Signs Mass-Production Deal for 3D-Printed Interceptor Drones
The Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency selected Terra Drone’s rocket-launched Terra B1 following a Maritime Self-Defense Force demonstration.
Dutch Navy selects Destinus Hornet B2 interceptor drones for counter-UAS role
The Royal Netherlands Navy plans to integrate kinetic drone interceptors on several warships under a program targeted for completion in the second quarter of 2027.
AVIDrone tops DARPA Lift Challenge, falls just short of four-to-one target
The Canadian company’s Katana heavy-lift unmanned helicopter carried 112.4 pounds over about five nautical miles, earning a $1.25 million first prize.
Anduril pitches autonomous aircraft to Poland for F-35 and Apache fleets
The U.S. defense technology company is in talks with Polish officials on potential Fury and Thunder aircraft offerings, while pursuing a separate missile-production partnership with PGZ.
US Air Force Seeks Transport-Launched Drone Swarms for Base Defense
An SBIR Phase II solicitation calls for AI-controlled uncrewed swarms that could deploy from mobility aircraft and establish autonomous perimeter monitoring networks.
US Air Force Plans 500 Collaborative Combat Aircraft, 500 Modular Drones by 2032
Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink also confirmed the FQ-42 and FQ-44 unmanned combat aircraft will carry the names Vengeance and Fury.
Anduril Fit-Checks Fury Drone With Air-to-Ground Weapons
Ground testing on the YFQ-44A includes JDAMs, Small Diameter Bombs and rocket pods, though no air-to-ground stores have flown on the aircraft.
US Air Force Plans First Large-Force Exercise for Collaborative Combat Aircraft
Emerald Flag in December 2026 is intended to test how autonomous fighter drones integrate with crewed fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft.
Pentagon Transfers Top Drone Competition Program to USNDA
The U.S. National Drone Association will run the Pentagon’s small-UAS competition framework, with a national championship planned in early fiscal 2027.