UAS

AeroVironment said March 16 that it had acquired Empirical Systems Aerospace Inc. in a $200 million cash and stock transaction.

Anduril did not win a $20 billion check from the U.S. Army on March 13, as announced, but instead a consolidated contracting vehicle.

The UK is starting to plan the potential procurement of a specialist counter-UAS capability under its much larger Land Ground-Based Air Defense program.

Parallel Flight Technologies has received a key regulatory OK that allows it to begin commercial deployment of its heavy-lift, hybrid-electric UAS in the U.S.

A new U.S. Army online marketplace for counter uncrewed aircraft systems is now hosting more than 90 products.

The Israel Defense Forces says it is increasing its focus on taking out Iran’s drone warfare capacity.

Swarm Aero added $35 million in Series A financing to continue developing a large uncrewed aircraft system.

Sikorsky is ground-testing the powertrain for its HEX hybrid-electric tiltwing VTOL aircraft ahead of flight tests with two uncrewed demonstrators next year.

The Pentagon has outlined the first 11 companies to be crowned leaders of its Drone Dominance competition.

The French Air And Space Force is working on improving air base defenses against drones.

The USAF laboratory charged with protecting installations from small uncrewed aircraft systems is out with two new solicitations.

The UK is looking for weapons that can take out both drone boats and UAS in its latest push to rapidly add effectors to handle these growing threats.

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

Regime change has long been considered a boots-on-the-ground operation. Now the U.S. and Israel are trying to do it from the sky.

The Pentagon recently wrapped up the first of four tryout “gauntlets” for companies pitching new small uncrewed aircraft systems to the department on the road.

Survey Copter, has been contracted by the European Defense Agency for a four-year project to develop a multirole hybrid UAS for military missions.

The UK has kicked off the search for a counter-uncrewed air system (C-UAS) system for use on Royal Navy vessels.

Onera has conducted wind tunnel tests of an active flow control device intended to increase the effectiveness of ailerons to reduce drag and improve stealth.

U.S. forces struck an Iranian aircraft carrier for drones in the first hours of the war on Feb. 28, U.S. Central Command said on March 2.

The Pentagon used a counter-drone system to down what it called a “seemingly threatening” uncrewed air system, drawing concerns from lawmakers about potential risks to civil airspace.

A BAE Systems 146 airliner used for atmospheric research by UK scientists is to be grounded permanently following a review of the program.

U.S. Army units accustomed to operating with a small number of drones are grappling with the logistical demand of fielding thousands.

The UK Royal Navy has begun exploring ideas for a future crewed platform that would replace its Leonardo Merlin and Wildcat helicopters on its warships.

BAE Systems repackaged the EA-37B Compass Call’s advanced electronic attack systems into a pod that could be carried by a large uncrewed aircraft system.

Heeding lessons from modern battlefields, the U.S. Army is transforming the aviation branch with autonomous technology at all levels.