UAS

Taiwanese aerospace prime AIDC has unveiled the Raven X loitering munition as Taiwan seeks to expand its domestic drone-development capabilities.

The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) is asking for proposals for Phase III of its Drone Dominance program, an effort to buy 60,000 one-way attack drones.

CycloTech validates cycloidal-rotor propulsion, enabling precise directional control without tilting in a two-year flight campaign.

Azerbaijan orders 14 TAI Hurkus-II trainers as part of major Turkish defense deals including JF-17 fighters, Su-25 upgrades, and a new Aselsan production facility.

Australia is looking to equip its Hunter-class frigates with a very-short-range air and surface defense system to defeat uncrewed aircraft and uncrewed surface vessels.

Fifteen states are suing the FAA over “insufficient evaluation of the environmental consequences of commercial drone package delivery.”

Amprius Technologies has received a grant of up to $75 million from the Pentagon to set up domestic U.S. production of energy-dense battery cells for drones.

Electric trainer flies; large cargo UAS takes shape; clean-sheet aerial firefighter flies; and Europe’s energy-dense aviation battery.

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.