UAS

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

California hybrid eVTOL startup Odys Aviation has signed an agreement with the government of Oman to launch a proof-of-concept pilot program in the country.

Purpose-built for student research on Advanced Air Mobility, Georgia Tech celebrated the opening of its new Aircraft Prototyping Laboratory at its campus in Atlanta.

Taipei responds to China’s Victory Day weapons display with its own show of strength.

Marss has wrapped up flight testing of its counter-drone interceptor UAS and is now eyeing full-rate production as it courts global customers.

Taiwanese flight academy Apex Aviation will partner with Portugal’s Tekever on AI-powered drones used by Ukraine.

Ukraine’s armed forces face a new drone menace on the front lines that threatens after 3.5 years of full-scale war to transform a bloody stalemate with Russia into something worse for the defenders.

Taiwan’s AIDC says it is not abandoning its crewed aircraft ambitions, including a next-generation fighter, even as the company pivots to support UAS.

Uber Technologies has signed a “strategic partnership” with drone delivery company Flytrex of Tel Aviv, Israel, to start delivering food as part of an Uber Eats pilot program.

The U.S. Marine Corps is looking for a new autonomous, vertical take off and landing system to supply austere locations.

U.S. drone manufacturer AeroVironment has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Taiwan’s National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology.

Startups and established primes are revisiting weapon development to accelerate delivery of equipment to users.

French hybrid eVTOL startup Ascendance has announced a pair of newly signed strategic partnership agreements in Malayasia.

U.S. investors led a $15 million Series A round in a Ukrainian software developer for swarming drones.

Aarok, the medium-altitude, long-endurance turboprop uncrewed aircraft system developed by French company Turgis Gaillard, has made its first flight.

The Trump administration on Sept. 15 announced it would significantly loosen restrictions on international sales of uncrewed aerial systems.

Portuguese uncrewed air system developer Tekever is to build its air vehicles in Swindon, England, as part of its $545 million Overmatch investment strategy.

The Swedish developers of a low-cost anti-drone effector are working on a longer-range loitering munition capable of engaging targets beyond line of sight.

Digital and additive manufacturing newcomer Divergent Technologies has closed a $290 million venture capital round, the company announced Sept. 15.

Startup Certo Aerospace, developing an uncrewed co-axial rotorcraft, has won a UK Defense Ministry contract to demonstrate logistics and medevac capabilities.

Despite the growing prominence of mini attack drones, Singapore's Air Force continues to underscore the enduring relevance of the attack helicopter.

Most small UAS are battery powered and limited in flight time—but what about using aerodynamics to boost flight time by soaring the way birds and gliders do?

Thales has announced a teaming agreement with British robotics company Autonomous Devices to bring to market an electronic warfare uncrewed air system (EW-UAS).

China is rapidly advancing its uncrewed cargo aircraft capabilities—ostensibly for commercial use but with potential military applications.

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