The War Zone
• Thomas Newdick
The U.S. Air Force wants a new family of expendable target drones capable of mimicking a broad range of threats, from stealth fighters to swarms of unmanned aircraft. The effort reflects a requirement to modernize training and test targets as adversaries’ capabilities evolve rapidly worldwide.
UAV Development & Drone Programs
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The U.S. Air Force wants a new family of expendable target drones capable of mimicking a broad range of threats, from stealth fighters to swarms of unmanned aircraft. The effort reflects a requirement to modernize training and test targets as adversaries’ capabilities evolve rapidly worldwide.
High activity
Viasat selected Rocket Lab to build a GEO satellite for the U.S. Space Force’s Protected Tactical SATCOM-Global program, while Eutelsat advanced Europe’s IRIS² infrastructure. Rocket Lab also delivered eight platforms for Globalstar replenishment, and Honeywell validated satellite-enabled BVLOS drone control; Finland’s ReOrbit launched a €4.6 million connectivity R&D program.
The U.S. Army and Mexico’s military signed a declaration of intent enabling Mexico to procure UAS and counter-UAS systems through the Pentagon’s digital marketplace. Separately, India agreed to lease two General Atomics MQ-9B SeaGuardians to the Navy for 30 months and maritime surveillance missions.
High activity
Uber and Zipline are partnering to bring autonomous drone delivery to millions of U.S. customers through Uber Eats. The rollout will begin in markets where Zipline already operates, including Dallas and Houston, before expanding nationwide, with the companies targeting 1 million deliveries per day by the end of 2029.
Ukraine has unveiled a long-range uncrewed aircraft system as satellite imagery and leaked documents point to Russia’s expanding Geran-family strike-drone infrastructure. The developments coincide with Moscow’s claim of intercepting 822 Ukrainian drones and an apparent Ukrainian strike on the Engels-2 bomber base.
The U.S. Air Force is seeking advanced target drones able to reproduce the performance characteristics of a broad range of aircraft, from stealth fighters to small unmanned systems. The effort points to a requirement for more representative and adaptable threat-replication capabilities in testing and training.
Uber, DoorDash, Walmart and other delivery platforms are investing in drone delivery to reduce trip times. Uber’s stated ambition is to reach 1 million daily drone-delivery trips by 2029, signaling that logistics operators view unmanned aircraft as a potential tool for scaling last-mile operations.
Japan is testing Helsing’s HX-2 loitering munition, with Rakuten helping the German defense startup navigate the country’s complex procurement system. The effort highlights both growing interest in loitering weapons and the role of commercial intermediaries in accessing Japan’s defense market.
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