Inside the PLA’s push for collaborative combat aircraft
From parade floats to carrier decks, China’s collaborative combat aircraft programme is advancing on multiple fronts. But beneath the variety of airframes lies a simpler truth: the real competition is in the software.
US Air Force awards CCA engine contracts to Honeywell, GE-Kratos
Both Honeywell Aerospace and the team of GE Aerospace and Kratos were awarded contracts to complete development of new designs for small turbofan engines meant to offer low-cost propulsion for the emerging category of uncrewed fighter aircraft.
BAE Systems expands UAS technology pact with US partner Survice Engineering
BAE Systems’ FalconWorks unit is to expand its collaboration with US partner Survice Engineering, after a successful pact based on the T-150 uncrewed aerial system.
Leonardo awaits Royal Navy’s signals before deciding on next steps for Proteus
Leonardo Helicopters is uncertain if or when its Proteus uncrewed technology demonstrator will fly again following the autonomous platform’s maiden sortie earlier this year.
General Atomics LongShot ‘missile truck’ designated X-68A
The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has designated General Atomics’ LongShot air-launched weapons platform as the X-68A, after what the agency calls “significant progress” on the uncrewed missile carrier designed to extend combat reach while keeping crewed aircraft at safer standoff distances.
Bayraktar TB3 conducts live naval strikes from Turkish carrier during exercise
Turkey’s Bayraktar TB3 unmanned air vehicle has successfully conducted live naval strikes from the TCG Anadolu aircraft carrier during NATO’s Steadfast Dart 2026 exercise in the Baltic Sea, marking a significant milestone in carrier-based UAV operations.
Dronamics to adapt Black Swan cargo drone for surveillance tasks
Dronamics is to equip its Black Swan uncrewed aerial vehicle with a new intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance payload supplied by German company Hensoldt.
New Greek navy frigates to deploy Schiebel’s Camcopter S-100 UAS
Athens has ordered Schiebel’s Camcopter S-100 uncrewed aerial system (UAS) for operation from its navy’s incoming fleet of French-built frigates.
USAF demonstrates interoperable autonomy architecture across competing CCAs
The US Air Force has successfully demonstrated its Autonomy Government Reference Architecture on both the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems YFQ-42A and Anduril Industries YFQ-44A collaborative combat aircraft, validating an open-system approach designed to prevent vendor lock-in and accelerate capability deployment.
Helsing’s CA-1 Europa UCAV to fly with Hensoldt sensor package
Helsing is to integrate sensor technology from fellow German company Hensoldt aboard its CA-1 Europa unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV), the companies have announced.