UAS

The U.S. Defense Department is conducting its newest stage of qualifying trials for its attack drones program.

Ukraine still needs a MALE uncrewed aircraft system to loiter in domestic airspace and shoot down incoming Russian attack drones and glide bombs, a co-owner of Ukrainian attack drone and missile-maker Fire Point says.

Israeli drone-maker Aeronautics Group says it has demonstrated single-operator control of multiple uncrewed air vehicles (UAVs).

General Atomics sees air-recoverable uncrewed aircraft systems extending the reach of MQ-9 payloads.

The partnership of Renault Group and Thales to boost manufacturing capacity of loitering munitions is the latest example of companies investing in domestic capacity to ensure a sovereign drone-making industry.

U.S. startup Mach Industries has confirmed it has won a Defense Innovation Unit contract to demo a hybrid-electric uncrewed long-range strike aircraft.

One of the key weapons in Ukraine’s deep strike campaign against Russia may be regaining some of its effectiveness after a long and steep decline.

Safran and Edge Group signed said they have agreed around a joint venture to work on the French manufacturer’s Hammer precision weapon.

Australian counter-drone specialist Electro Optic Systems is nearing a contract to launch the highest-power version yet of its Apollo high-energy laser system.

A small French aviation startup unveiled a partnership with Taiwan’s state-owned aerospace manufacturer on the opening day of the Eurosatory trade show June 15.

A German modification house specializing in the conversion of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft is close to flying its first UAS.

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

U.S.-based AeroVironment and Ubiqconn Technology of Taipei have signed an MOU to develop a common UAV controller for a variety of drones operated by the Taiwanese military.

Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works has revealed a one-way attack drone entirely additively manufactured and robotically assembled by partner Divergent Technologies.

Rohde & Schwarz is getting into the increasingly contested market for laser-based counter-drone system.

German advanced air mobility startup ERC System has unveiled a new heavy-lift cargo drone aimed at military resupply and critical logistics missions.

A French Air Force Dassault Rafale downed a drone that entered Latvian airspace, marking the second shootdown of a UAS in the Baltic states in recent weeks.

Swarm Aero has picked Honeywell Aerospace to provide the powerplant for its Group 5 UAS it is targeting for the U.S. Air Force’s MQ-9 replacement.

Growing demand for high-end uncrewed aircraft is prompting MTU Aero Engines to explore at least a partial reset of its design philosophy in an effort to establish itself as a major propulsion provider for such systems.

Palladyne AI has signed an exclusive agreement to manufacture and market IAI’s Harpy, Harop and Mini Harpy loitering munitions to the U.S. Defense Department.

The Pentagon’s strategy to acquire 340,000 drones by the end of next year requires industry to scale production up while driving prices down.

The U.S. Army’s new Amazon.com-like website for drone acquisition is challenging industry business models and supply chains.

Existing infrastructure to support electric aircraft in the U.S. is limited and airports face challenges installing the foundations, a report says.

A German developer of a military rotary-wing uncrewed aircraft system has completed two first flights in just three days.

SOFWerx plans to assess the capabilities of uncrewed aircraft with hybrid-electric propulsion and channel wings for vertical takeoff and landing.