Military UAVs
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News
Airbus completes acquisition of UAS maker Aerovel
Airbus has finalised its acquisition of unmanned air systems (UAS) manufacturer Aerovel, boosting its exposure to the tactical UAS market.
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News
US Army tests UAV resupply during live-fire exercises in Hawaii
During live-fire ground combat exercises with the US Army’s 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii, an uncrewed vertical take-off and landing aircraft from start-up Soaring autonomously delivered food and ammunition over multiple resupply flights.
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News
Pentagon to accelerate fielding of AeroVironment Switchblade 600 loitering munition
AeroVironment’s Switchblade 600 is now the first lethal platform to be officially purchased under the Pentagon’s so-called Replicator initiative to field mass numbers of autonomous combat systems.
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News
Pyka reveals militarised version of Pelican cargo UAV
Electric aircraft start-up Pyka is expanding into the defence realm, teaming with defence systems provider Sierra Nevada to offer a militarised version of the company’s Pelican uncrewed cargo aircraft.
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News
Boeing tests software allowing pilots to control MQ-25 autonomous refuellers
The US airframer is continuing to build toward delivering flight-worthy MQ-25 autonomous refuelling jets for the US Navy, most recently testing software that will enable the pilotless aircraft to transfer fuel to crewed fighters.
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News
Griffon and Textron advance to flight stage in competition to replace RQ-7B Shadow
The US Army’s Future Tactical Uncrewed Aerial System programme aims to deliver a vertical take-off and landing-capable aircraft that will replace the Textron RQ-7B Shadow and improve the ability of ground troops to collect and report intelligence.
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News
Anduril and General Atomics advance in USAF autonomous fighter programme
Two manufacturers have been selected by the US Air Force to advance in the competition to develop an autonomous fighter aircraft.
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News
General Atomics testing gun pod for uncrewed aircraft
The manufacturer of uncrewed aerial vehicles is partnering with armaments producer Dillon Aero to adapt the DAP-6 gun pod for use on several General Atomics platforms.
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News
DARPA tests dogfighting AI against human fighter pilot
Using a specially modified F-16 fighter known as the X-62A VISTA, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and the US Air Force pitted a dogfighting artificial intelligence system against human fighter pilots in recent air-to-air combat exercises.
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News
L3Harris in maintenance pact for Australian MQ-4Cs
Northrop Grumman Australia has signed up L3Harris to support the Royal Australian Air Force’s future fleet of MQ-4C Triton unmanned air vehicles.
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News
Iranian attack on Israel included 150 one-way UAVs: Pentagon
The weekend barrage by Iran’s armed forces, which marked Tehran’s first-ever direct attack on Israel, featured more than 300 missiles and air vehicles, according to the Pentagon.
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News
Airbus Helicopters in final stages of Aerovel acquisition
Airbus Helicopters is close to completing its acquisition of unmanned aircraft system (UAS) developer Aerovel.
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In depth
Military drone developers see more opportunity for contracted maritime surveillance
US demand is growing for sea-based “contractor-owned, contractor-operated” (COCO) intelligence services from uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) developers, while demand for land-based services has waned, according to an industry executive.
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News
Hermeus reveals details of first supersonic flight vehicle
The second flight vehicle and third airframe in the Quarterhorse line, Hermeus says the supersonic-capable Mk 2 will be a delta wingshape roughly the size of a Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter.
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News
US Marines order solar-electric UAV for endurance missions
Start-up Kraus Hamdani Aerospace was selected to provide the US Marine Corps with the company’s ultra-long-endurance K1000 solar-powered unmanned air vehicle.
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Analysis
Ukraine appears to deploy modified A-22 ultralights as suicide UAVs
Imagery circulating on social media shows what appears to be modified Aeroprakt A-22 ultralight turboprops striking targets inside Russia, including an oil refinery and an unmanned-aircraft production factory.
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News
US Navy adds two MQ-25s to initial order
Boeing received a $657 million contract for the production and delivery of two additional MQ-25 Stingray autonomous refuellers for the US Navy under the programme’s initial development and test phase.
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News
Netherlands outlines Reaper upgrade plan
The Royal Netherlands Air Force is to upgrade its fleet of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9A Reapers, including the integration of weapons onto the uncrewed air vehicles.
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News
Boeing starts work on MQ-28 production facility in Australia
Boeing has started construction of a facility in Australia’s Queensland state to produce the MQ-28 Ghost Bat unmanned air vehicle.
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News
General Atomics tests submarine detection with MQ-9B uncrewed aircraft
The deployment of sonobuoys from MQ-9B SeaGuardian remotely piloted aircraft comes as manufacturer General Atomics Aeronautical Systems seeks to ramp up sales of its latest UAV, which is also certificated for civil use.