UAS

Vertical Aerospace, which just appointed former Airbus Commercial Aircraft CEO Fabrice Brégier as chair of its board, said it has initiated a review of strategic alternatives.

The Ukrainian Army has combined heavy-lift drones with uncrewed ground vehicles to strike Russian positions in a new take on the airborne assault mission.

U.S. startup Poseidon Aerospace plans to fly its Egret large uncrewed cargo aircraft by year’s end after closing a $60 million Series funding round.

The Dutch Defense Ministry will work with Australian laser developer Electro Optic Systems for the development of a high-energy laser.

Latvian uncrewed-systems maker Origin will trial its Blaze counter-drone interceptor using Anduril’s Lattice software under a partnership between the two companies.

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

Bye Aerospace’s eFlyer 2 electric trainer has completed its first flight.

Beta Technologies has launched electric aircraft operations in North Carolina under the FAA’s eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP).

Portuguese uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) manufacturer Tekever is on the hunt for new acquisitions after securing $580 million in direct investments.

Turkey’s Baykar has begun testing an anti-submarine warfare capability with its TB3 naval uncrewed aircraft system.

Dutch drone-maker DeltaQuad has unveiled a fixed-wing vertical-takeoff-and-landing (VTOL) drone with an eye on extended flight time.

Parallel Flight Technologies says a new FCC conditional approval has cleared a regulatory hurdle that had delayed commercial orders for its Firefly heavy-lift hybrid-electric uncrewed aircraft.

Australia has declared initial operating capability for its Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton UAS and L3Harris MC-55A Peregrine electronic warfare aircraft,

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te hailed the use of attack drones in a recent missile exercise in Pingtung, southern Taiwan.

U.S. Air Force demand for a new fleet of Massed Modular Aircraft points to a novel way of fighting, with swarming, attritable aircraft flinging long-range missiles from afar.

The Defense Innovation Unit’s Drone Dominance program has scored top-five performers for its Gauntlet II one-way attack drone mission areas.

The British Defense Ministry has formalized its plans to acquired Tekever AR5 tactical intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance drones, while also moving forward with buying small drones for the army.

U.S. startup Astro Mechanica has unveiled a concept for a large new uncrewed aircraft system to host a high-energy laser and other nonkinetic effects.

South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration has launched a requirement for a vertical takeoff and landing uncrewed aircraft system.

The Japan Air Self-Defense Force has launched a search for a Northrop Grumman RQ-4B Global Hawk after losing contact with the uncrewed aircraft over the Sea of Japan on Sept. 15.

General Atomics-Aeronautical Systems Inc. plans to draw on its Collaborative Combat Aircraft experience to develop the autonomous capabilities for its new Wildfire proposal.

Indra says it has received a Spanish government order to procure a new family of tactical drones for the country's armed forces, with first deliveries in 2028.

In the wake of Zelensky's warning about Russian airspace safety, risk expert Matt Borie returns to the podcast to discuss the effect of drone activity on civil aviation, conflict zone impacts on commercial air transport and more.

Airbus says it has received a follow-on deal from the French government for U050 Capa0X uncrewed aircraft systems.

Poland’s WB Group has unveiled a low-observable, jet-powered one-way attack drone at the MSPO defense show.