FlightGlobal
• Ryan Finnerty
Northrop Grumman says its YFQ-48A Talon Blue jet has flown for the first time in recent weeks, as the company positions for future opportunities to develop uncrewed fighters. The company is bullish on its prospects for winning a competitive award in the next phase of development.
UAV Development & Drone Programs
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Northrop Grumman says its YFQ-48A Talon Blue jet has flown for the first time in recent weeks, as the company positions for future opportunities to develop uncrewed fighters. The company is bullish on its prospects for winning a competitive award in the next phase of development.
A cargo aircraft used to transport military assistance to Ukraine was attacked by explosive-packed drones at an airfield in eastern Germany in early August, German officials say. They allege the drones were piloted by Russian military-intelligence agents, describing the strike as an opening move in a broader sabotage campaign against Europe.
Helsing is in advanced talks to invest in Destinus at a valuation of about €6 billion ($6.7 billion), according to people familiar with the matter. The proposed deal would bring two of Europe’s prominent drone makers closer, though its terms and strategic implications have not been disclosed.
Sailors aboard the USS Ronald Reagan in the Pacific remotely controlled a Boeing MQ-25A Stingray unmanned tanker at a Boeing facility more than 2,100 miles (3,380 km) away, using a satellite network. The test demonstrates long-range command connectivity for the Navy’s carrier-based refueling drone.
Leidos is positioning its Air Shield counter-drone system for the Army’s M-SHORAD Increment 4 competition, citing operational radar and automated engagement capabilities. Separately, an Army air defense unit has been earmarked to support the Golden Dome for America project, an Army official confirmed.
NATO said it will send additional maritime patrol aircraft, radar systems and drones to the Black Sea following a series of deadly drone attacks on shipping in the region, apparently linked to Russia’s war in Ukraine. The move adds surveillance and monitoring capacity amid heightened risks to maritime traffic.
Drone autonomy and counter-UAS technologies dominated AUSA coverage, with suppliers presenting integrated detection and interception approaches as the Army seeks to broaden competition and bring in new vendors. Separately, autonomous flight developer Reliable Robotics said its Series D round increased to $275 million, putting its valuation above $1 billion.
The wars in Ukraine and the Middle East show drones are reshaping combat, prompting the Pentagon to adjust its capabilities. But the argument is that military planners must avoid overlearning those conflicts: building for the next fight requires more than expanding lethal drone forces.
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