Aviacionline
• Edgardo Gimenez Mazó
Joby Aviation has secured an additional $37 million in U.S. Air Force funding for its autonomous flight platform, bringing the contract ceiling to $50 million. The work includes operational testing, with further Pacific exercises planned, and supports development of the aircraft’s autonomous cargo capability.
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Joby Aviation has secured an additional $37 million in U.S. Air Force funding for its autonomous flight platform, bringing the contract ceiling to $50 million. The work includes operational testing, with further Pacific exercises planned, and supports development of the aircraft’s autonomous cargo capability.
Shield Space is developing swarms of up to 100 autonomous cubesats intended to defend Western satellites in orbit. The U.K. startup is applying lessons from drone warfare in Ukraine to the effort, with the proposed spacecraft described as capable of firing lasers.
Saildrone is preparing to manufacture its Surveyor uncrewed vessels in Norway, with a first mold already being readied, CEO Tom Fidjeland said at Euronaval. Fidjeland described the production work as technically straightforward, pointing to a local manufacturing route as the company pursues greater reach in the European market.
Helsing has delivered the source code for its Mission Operating System Bundeswehr to Germany’s defense procurement agency, giving the government ownership of software intended for future combat drones and other air warfare systems. The transfer is intended to let the armed forces develop future weapon systems independently of individual suppliers.
The Gambit Series is being presented as a scalable path for collaborative combat aircraft, with its developer positioning the family to counter current threats and address future challenges. The announcement offers no details on aircraft variants, capabilities, customers or delivery timelines.
Germany’s BAAINBw has contracted MBDA Deutschland to build a demonstrator addressing the challenges of integrating a directed-energy weapon onto a tactical aircraft. The initiative is intended to lay groundwork for a Luftwaffe capability to engage drones and cruise missiles; the reports do not specify a platform, schedule or weapon performance.
Shield AI has completed assembly of its first X-BAT, a single-engine, tail-sitting VTOL autonomous combat aircraft, in Frisco, Texas. The prototype is moving to Kansas for flight testing, with the company aiming for a first flight before year-end; the aircraft is designed for multi-role combat missions.
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Saab says it has flight-tested an internally developed AI agent aboard the Gripen E, validating its performance in simulated beyond-visual-range combat scenarios. The agents are trained for multiple air-combat tasks and are being developed for crewed and uncrewed aircraft, with Saab targeting possible operational deployment within months.
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