CCA
YFQ-42A Returns to Flight Testing
“We pushed the envelope, identified a risk, learned from the data, and have cleared the YFQ-42A to return to flight. Even when flight testing on the YFQ-42 was temporarily paused, the program was not.”
Testing
E W
GA-ASI Completes First Flight of MQ-9B with AEW Pods
GA-ASI pairs Saab’s AEW sensors with the world’s longest-range, highest-endurance unmanned aircraft system (UAS), the MQ-9B. At sea or over land, the AEW mission package on MQ-9B will put air dominance within reach at a lower cost than legacy platforms.
Testing
Airbus Demonstrates Multi-Domain Capabilities in Spanish Navy Manned-Unmanned Teaming Exercise
Technology
Otto Aerospace Laminar-Flow Aircraft Flight Test Advances DARPA Research
Conceived under DARPA’s EWA effort, the demonstrator serves as a broader validation platform for Otto’s laminar-flow research, providing data applicable to future energy-relay UAV concepts
C-UAS
Ukraine’s Celebra Trident C-UAS Laser System Enters Final Testing Stages
The system was tested last winter against FPV drones of different classes. Since then, the company has improved its targeting system using artificial intelligence, enhanced target acquisition and tracking, and integrated the system with radar for trajectory monitoring.
Weapons Systems / Lasers
GA-ASI and USAF Demonstrate APKWS on MQ-9A Reaper
APKWS can increase the number of weapons the MQ-9A is able to carry, as well being able to carry new lower cost weapons.
Testing
Spanish Consortium's Flight Demonstration Validates Manned-Unmanned Teaming and Formation Flight
The UAV Navigation–Grupo Oesía flight control system, as a subcontractor to SATNUS, proved key to the success of the demonstration.
Propulsion
First Flight for DARPA’s XRQ-73 Hybrid-Electric Flying Wing Drone
Developed to advance propulsion technologies for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Series Hybrid Electric Propulsion AiRcraft Demonstration (SHEPARD) program, the XRQ-73 advances next-generation propulsion for lightweight autonomous aircraft
Transport
Amazon Starts UK Drone Deliveries
The tech giant is convinced there is demand for ultra-fast deliveries and hopes to slowly expand the service.
C-UAS
NATO Allies Test Layered Counter-Drone Defences in Romania
The event was notable for the scale and variety of systems brought together for testing across a 2.5 km area. These included more than 215 systems such as radars, acoustic and radio-frequency detectors, electronic warfare tools, and both kinetic and non-kinetic effectors.
Weapons Systems / Lasers
ThinKom’s Truck-Mounted Microwave Gun Fries drones at US Army Test
Transport
NASA and UNOS to Test Drone Transport of Organs
The first phase of this partnership will focus on developing and testing instrumentation to measure how environmental factors such as temperature, vibration, and altitude affect organs during UAV flights carrying research organs.