The U.S. Air Force has developed a means to launch small drones from its KC-135 aerial refueling tankers, and is now looking at adding that capability to the fleet. The service says the tankers could send out uncrewed aerial systems to help defend themselves from incoming threats and just
Testing
The U.S. Air Force recently demonstrated a major leap in human-machine teaming, flying autonomous collaborative platforms (ACPs), alongside crewed fighter aircraft during a training event at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. Pilots operating an F-16C Fighting Falcon and an F-15E Strike Eagle each controlled two XQ-58A Valkyrie aircraft in
In view of increasingly demanding missions, the A400M's capabilities are constantly being expanded. Effective communication is an essential part of military operations, but it is also undergoing radical change. Connectivity is paramount, with data playing an ever more important role. Looking ahead, the Future Combat Air System (FCAS)
* AeroVironment, Inc. announced that its Wildcat unmanned aircraft system (UAS) has achieved a series of development milestones in support of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) Early VTOL Aircraft Demonstration (EVADE). Wildcat has successfully completed VTOL-to-forward-flight transitions, validated its core flight and propulsion systems, and begun integrating critical
Business
Ukrainian companies have increased their industrial capacity to produce four million drones a year, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said at a June 26 press briefing. The statement comes as Ukraine seeks to increase domestic arms production amid uncertainty over further U.S. support and reduced dependence on supplies from European
Testing
The U.S. Army took a step toward integrating killer drones into its battlefield tactics after it dropped live grenades from the air at a training area in Germany last week. Members of the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment of the Tennessee Army National Guard on Wednesday became the first conventional
In Denmark, in the presence of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov and Swift Beat, LLC CEO Eric Schmidt signed a memorandum on a long-term strategic partnership. The document provides for expanding the company’s production capacity, with modern drones to be supplied to Ukraine on
Testing
Northrop Grumman Corporation’s latest MQ-4C Triton uncrewed multi-intelligence aircraft is undergoing testing with the U.S. Navy’s Naval Air Systems Command. The aircraft will go through calibration and other testing prior to being transferred to the Navy’s operational unit. Triton is the world's premier unmanned
The Federal Aviation Administration receives thousands of complaints every year about the characteristic loud buzzing produced as drone propellers slice through the air. That noise is an issue in other countries, too: Canada and England, for instance, report a sharp uptick in similar complaints over the last several years. Experts
Ukraine is now using bomber drones launched from unmanned surface vessels (USVs aka drone boats) to attack targets in Crimea. This includes a high-value Russian radar installation on peninsula. The strikes mark the latest iteration of Ukraine’s drone boat campaign that’s kept Russia’s Black Sea Fleet (BSF)
Transport
Abu Dhabi has launched its first test flight for a cutting-edge drone parcel delivery service, marking a significant step forward in efforts to modernise the emirate's transport network and boost efficiency. The test journey over Khalifa City, announced last week, involved a drone taking a package from a
Drone Light Shows
Thursday night, the sky above Irving was lit up with more than just fireworks. About 525 drones took flight as part of Sky Elements' highly anticipated show at the city's Sparks and Stripes Fourth of July celebration. The North Texas-based company was aiming to set a world