UAV Development & Drone Programs News

FlightGlobal

US Army awards Kraus Hamdani Aerospace $14.95 million contract for solar-powered K1000ULE drone

The U.S. Army awarded Kraus Hamdani Aerospace a $14.95 million contract for its solar-powered K1000ULE uncrewed air vehicle. The available report does not specify aircraft quantities, delivery timing or the Army’s intended operational use.

The War Zone

High activity

US Air Force responds to suspected drone activity at RAF Lakenheath; no damage or injuries reported

US Air Force security forces responded Friday evening to suspected unauthorized drone activity at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, Britain, prompting an alarm and reports of a lockdown. The Air Force said no personnel, aircraft or infrastructure were affected; the response came days after aircraft were moved from nearby RAF Mildenhall following a separate threat.

The War Zone

LIVET counter-drone turret combines eight Benelli shotguns with AI-assisted tracking

Italian-developed LIVET pairs eight Benelli M4 shotguns with airburst ammunition and AI-assisted target tracking on a remotely operated turret. The system represents a kinetic approach to countering drones, combining automated detection and tracking with multiple shotgun barrels in a compact platform.

AirForceTimes

Army tests drone swarms and robotic missile launchers in Germany as Air Force shifts toward autonomy

At the U.S. Army’s Bavarian training grounds, soldiers tested a ground-based approach to overwhelming enemy air defenses using drone swarms and robotic missile launchers. Separately, the Air Force’s Force Design 2026 calls for greater use of artificial intelligence, autonomy and integrated sensors to counter emerging threats.

Payload

High activity

Drone makers attract major capital and expand production as military demand grows

Ukraine-founded UForce raised $700 million at a $6 billion valuation to expand production for Ukraine and allied customers. In France, Tekever opened a factory producing its AR3 and AR5 drones under a seven-year procurement agreement, while U.S. maker Powerus reported $130 million in signed orders and highlighted the cost gap between Patriot missiles and interceptor drones.

FlightGlobal

European firms invest in collaborative combat drones as decision-makers hesitate; UK’s CAeS reports fresh losses after UAV pivot

European aerospace companies are committing more funding to test collaborative uncrewed combat aircraft, but political and military decision-makers have yet to match that momentum. UK-based Cranfield Aerospace Solutions, which has pivoted toward its Stingray ST-5 UAV family, disclosed fresh losses in its latest accounts without updating the program’s progress.

Reuters

Quantum Systems says Bundeswehr drones are flying again after cyberattack, but Berlin has not confirmed the restart

Quantum Systems says the Bundeswehr has resumed flying its drones after a precautionary grounding tied to a cyberattack on the German manufacturer and its drone software. German authorities have not confirmed the restart. Reports say the attack may have involved a malicious QBase update, while a civilian authority is investigating.

Reuters

Shenzhen’s drone deliveries showcase China’s push to build a low-altitude economy

Drone fleets are crisscrossing tourist areas in Shenzhen, where food deliveries by air are becoming part of the city’s landscape ahead of next week’s APEC summit. The activity reflects China’s broader effort to expand its “low-altitude” economy, though the article provides no figures on fleet size, operating scale or commercial performance.