UAV Development & Drone Programs News

Breaking Defense • Barry Rosenberg

US Air Force details Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) path to combat readiness: live teaming flights, rapid test surrogates,

At the AIAA Aviation Forum 2026, Air Force leaders outlined how Collaborative Combat Aircraft is moving from concept to combat readiness, including live teaming flights and rapid test surrogates to shorten the assessment cycle. Separate coverage highlights production and evaluation efforts for an autonomous air-to-air interceptor under JIATF 401, alongside broader scrutiny of autonomy assumptions for 2030-era wingmen.

4 Sources

2026-07-10T07:46:24.828466-07:00

AeroTime

Raytheon UK training overhaul, USAF LAIRCM missile-defense upgrade and Army C2/anti-drone wins underscore rapid counter-UAS and

6 Sources

2026-07-10T01:58:52.441351-07:00

SpaceWatch Global

NATO launches talks to buy up to 10 Saab GlobalEye AEW&C aircraft as it also pushes secure comms and air-defense data modernizat

7 Sources

2026-07-08T22:53:31.675054-07:00

Payload

NATO expands multinational ISR and airlift capacity with MQ-4C Triton, A400M fleet initiative, and sovereign satellite networkin

4 Sources

2026-07-09T22:15:38.150336-07:00

UAV Development & Drone Programs News Timeline

Breaking Defense

4 sources

US Air Force details Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) path to combat readiness: live teaming flights, rapid test surrogates, At the AIAA Aviation Forum 2026, Air Force leaders outlined how Collaborative Combat Aircraft is moving from concept to combat readiness, including live teaming flights and rapid test surrogates to shorten the assessment cycle. Separate coverage highlights production and evaluation efforts for an autonomous air-to-air interceptor under JIATF 401, alongside broader scrutiny of autonomy assumptions for 2030-era wingmen.

2026-07-10T07:46:24.828466-07:00

US Air Force details Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) path to combat readiness: live teaming flights, rapid test surrogates,

AeroTime

6 sources

Raytheon UK training overhaul, USAF LAIRCM missile-defense upgrade and Army C2/anti-drone wins underscore rapid counter-UAS and Multiple defense awards and test updates target digitally enabled readiness and onboard survivability: the British Army’s 15-year Collective Training System contract; a sole-source USAF deal for LAIRCM enhanced sensor development through 2029; Army orders for L3Harris NGC2 manpack Falcon systems; and autonomous/UAS fleet technology sourcing alongside initial NUBURU laser dazzler counter-UAS test results in Italy.

2026-07-10T01:58:52.441351-07:00

Raytheon UK training overhaul, USAF LAIRCM missile-defense upgrade and Army C2/anti-drone wins underscore rapid counter-UAS and

Payload

4 sources

NATO expands multinational ISR and airlift capacity with MQ-4C Triton, A400M fleet initiative, and sovereign satellite networkin NATO announced Finland’s incorporation into the Multinational MRTT Fleet alongside an LOI to pursue Northrop Grumman’s MQ-4C Triton for ISR expansion. At the NATO Summit Defence Forum, participating governments launched a High Visibility Project for the Airbus A400M, while eight allies plan to network national defense satellites into a single framework.

2026-07-09T22:15:38.150336-07:00

NATO expands multinational ISR and airlift capacity with MQ-4C Triton, A400M fleet initiative, and sovereign satellite networkin

Aviation Today

1 source

Pentagon Drone Dominance Program invites 19 companies for second challenge-round competition worth up to $300M in production ord The Pentagon’s Drone Dominance Program (DDP) has invited 19 companies to compete in the final stage of its second challenge round, scheduled for an August competition. Winners will be positioned to secure production orders totaling up to $300 million.

2026-07-09T08:45:24.889088-07:00

Pentagon Drone Dominance Program invites 19 companies for second challenge-round competition worth up to $300M in production ord

Aviation Today

None source

Ukraine And European Union Discussing Drone Deal, As Kamikaze Drones Hit Russian Supply Lines

2026-07-09T08:32:27.455388-07:00

Ukraine And European Union Dis

Aviation Today

3 sources

UK canvasses industry for counter-drone electronic warfare systems as Ukraine pursues European drone deals The UK Ministry of Defense is soliciting industry input on potential counter-drone electronic warfare (EW) systems it could supply to Ukraine. The move comes as Ukraine discusses drone-related arrangements with European partners, alongside intensifying strikes using long-range kamikaze “one-way attack” drones against Russian infrastructure.

2026-07-09T08:32:27.455388-07:00

UK canvasses industry for counter-drone electronic warfare systems as Ukraine pursues European drone deals

AeroTime

6 sources

Ukraine claims Su-35S kill using modernized air defense assets; Firebolt Engineering reports first Griffen jet-powered drone int Ukrainian pilots and multiple outlets report the downing of a Russian Sukhoi Su-35S, with Russian sources not denying the incident. Separately, British-Ukrainian Firebolt Engineering says its Griffen jet-powered interceptor drone has shot down a Shahed (Geran-2) kamikaze drone for the first time.

2026-07-09T04:17:26.080439-07:00

Ukraine claims Su-35S kill using modernized air defense assets; Firebolt Engineering reports first Griffen jet-powered drone int

SpaceWatch Global

7 sources

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NATO launches talks to buy up to 10 Saab GlobalEye AEW&C aircraft as it also pushes secure comms and air-defense data modernizat NATO says it will begin formal negotiations with Saab to acquire up to 10 GlobalEye airborne early warning and control aircraft based on the Global 6500. Separate reporting highlights NATO’s continued appetite for high-altitude surveillance platforms, plus NCIA selection of Thales/Leonardo for secure deployable comms for Allied Special Operations Forces Command and NATO’s plan to modernize air-defense data via contracts awarded to Anduril, Palantir and Athea SAS.

2026-07-08T22:53:31.675054-07:00

NATO launches talks to buy up to 10 Saab GlobalEye AEW&C aircraft as it also pushes secure comms and air-defense data modernizat

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