FlightGlobal
• Greg Waldron
The U.S. Air Force and industry partners demonstrated a widening set of capabilities, from a YFQ-44A firing an AIM-120 and CCA prototypes flying with manned aircraft to AI-enabled P-8A–MQ-4C interoperability. Separately, a robot-formed nose panel returned a storm-damaged C-17 to service.
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The U.S. Air Force and industry partners demonstrated a widening set of capabilities, from a YFQ-44A firing an AIM-120 and CCA prototypes flying with manned aircraft to AI-enabled P-8A–MQ-4C interoperability. Separately, a robot-formed nose panel returned a storm-damaged C-17 to service.
Recent demonstrations span automated MQ-4C Triton–P-8A Poseidon mission control, AI-enabled fighter intercepts, autonomous submarine-hunting sonar and the Pentagon’s push to scale drone production. The activity comes as the Navy again reorganizes its unmanned-systems office, underscoring continued pressure to field interoperable autonomous capabilities faster.
Paramount has completed integration of Aselsan’s ASELFLIR-500 electro-optical/infrared sensor onto the Mwari multi-role platform, adding a capability aimed at engaging slow-speed aerial threats. The integration reflects a shift in the platform’s mission focus toward counter-drone operations.
Gilat Satellite Networks says it has successfully demonstrated AI-based technology that detects and cancels interference on satellite communication links. The company characterizes the milestone as a step toward more resilient operations in contested spectrum environments, where interference can degrade link performance and communications reliability.
SpaceX is ramping up purchases of Tesla Megapack battery systems in the second quarter to help power its Colossus artificial-intelligence data centers in Greater Memphis, linking the expansion of its AI computing infrastructure to increased demand for large-scale backup power.
Kratos said its XQ-58 Valkyrie stealth autonomous drone crashed upon takeoff at the Dugway Proving Ground in Utah while operating in a test configuration. The incident puts a key U.S. program for autonomous, lower-cost combat aircraft under scrutiny, though no further details were provided.
High activity
Canada is advancing uncrewed aviation across military, commercial and emergency-response missions: the Royal Canadian Navy has deployed a Textron Aerosonde on an Arctic patrol vessel, while Voyageur ordered Airbus U030 Flexrotors and Volatus announced partnerships for sovereign intelligence and heavy-lift wildfire aircraft.
Recent demonstrations by Northrop Grumman, Boeing, the U.S. Navy and Royal Navy show accelerating investment in networked maritime autonomy: MQ-4C Triton and P-8A aircraft exchanged mission data, while British forces linked a Wildcat helicopter, drones and ground units across more than 200 miles.
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