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• Hanneke Weitering
The contract funds Elroy Air’s development of the Chaparral, an autonomous hybrid-electric VTOL cargo aircraft, with work focused on jam-resistant navigation and hardened communications links. The award signals continued Army investment in resilient, unmanned logistics capabilities for contested operating environments.
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The contract funds Elroy Air’s development of the Chaparral, an autonomous hybrid-electric VTOL cargo aircraft, with work focused on jam-resistant navigation and hardened communications links. The award signals continued Army investment in resilient, unmanned logistics capabilities for contested operating environments.
SpaceX approached Cognition AI, the developer of an AI coding platform, about a potential acquisition, according to people familiar with the matter. The deal would have marked SpaceX’s second large takeover in recent months as Elon Musk’s space company seeks to strengthen its position in artificial intelligence.
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Embraer is approaching certification of technology that would enable the E190-E2 and E195-E2 to automatically perform rotation and the initial phase of takeoff. The capability would be a first among commercial airliners, adding a new level of onboard automation to the E2 family.
Google plans to acquire Spirit Airlines’ deidentified business, operational and crew data for $10 million to train artificial-intelligence systems. A flight attendants’ union is challenging the proposed bankruptcy sale, arguing that removing identifiers may not adequately protect employees’ privacy or prevent reidentification.
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Whisper Aero has begun piloted flight testing of its eQ250 electric ducted-fan propulsion system aboard a modified Swift 3 glider. The startup says the low-noise technology is advancing projects for civil aviation, defense applications and the FAA, with initial testing focused on demonstrating propulsion performance in flight.
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Amazon plans to expand Prime Air to nearly 500 U.S. cities and towns by the end of 2026, bringing drone delivery to tens of millions of customers and suburban areas. The push comes as the FAA prepares a final rule for routine commercial beyond-visual-line-of-sight operations, while Uber partners with Zipline on a network targeting 1 million daily deliveries.
Cybersecurity company Atalanta says it has released Argo, an AI-assisted product incorporating technology used to help secure a satellite communications network following a Russian hacking attack in 2022. The release highlights the role of automated cybersecurity tools in protecting space-linked communications infrastructure.
Regent demonstrated its autonomous Squire seaglider at a U.S. Navy drone event, highlighting a ground-effect vehicle designed to reach 70 kt, fly more than 100 nautical miles and carry a 22-kilogram payload. The demonstration positions the platform for evaluation in maritime and other defense missions.
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