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politico.eu • Tommaso Lecca

Drone strike shuts down Russia’s southern ATC center; 13 airports suspend operations, flights cancelled or delayed

Russia says a Ukrainian drone hit the air traffic control center in Rostov-on-Don, prompting transport authorities to halt flights at 13 airports in southern Russia. The disruptions extended to hundreds of flights, with widespread cancellations and delays reported on Friday morning.

2026-05-08T08:45:02.872307-07:00

FlightGlobal

Baykar-Republikorp deal: Indonesia to buy 12 Kızılelma UCAVs starting 2028

2026-05-08T01:51:35.055091-07:00

FlightGlobal

RAAF explores autonomous uncrewed cargo aircraft to extend logistics across Australia’s northern range

2026-05-07T23:50:15.216158-07:00

Unmanned Airspace

Task Force 401 selects five bases for FY26-directed-energy counter-UAS laser pilot, after Texas airspace closures

2026-05-07T10:46:31.051446-07:00

News Timeline

politico.eu

Drone strike shuts down Russia’s southern ATC center; 13 airports suspend operations, flights cancelled or delayed Russia says a Ukrainian drone hit the air traffic control center in Rostov-on-Don, prompting transport authorities to halt flights at 13 airports in southern Russia. The disruptions extended to hundreds of flights, with widespread cancellations and delays reported on Friday morning.

2026-05-08T08:45:02.872307-07:00

Drone strike shuts down Russia’s southern ATC center; 13 airports suspend operations, flights cancelled or delayed

FlightGlobal

Baykar-Republikorp deal: Indonesia to buy 12 Kızılelma UCAVs starting 2028 Baykar has signed an agreement with Indonesia’s Republikorp (PT Republik Aero Dirgantara) for the supply of 12 Kızılelma autonomous combat aerial vehicles, with deliveries beginning in 2028. The pact—announced alongside SAHA 2026 activities—could make Indonesia the first international Kızılelma customer.

2026-05-08T01:51:35.055091-07:00

Baykar-Republikorp deal: Indonesia to buy 12 Kızılelma UCAVs starting 2028

FlightGlobal

RAAF explores autonomous uncrewed cargo aircraft to extend logistics across Australia’s northern range The Royal Australian Air Force is evaluating autonomous airborne logistics using uncrewed cargo aircraft to support far-flung locations in Australia’s north. The effort targets increased reach for military installations across the country’s vast distances, reducing dependence on manned sorties and ground transport.

2026-05-07T23:50:15.216158-07:00

RAAF explores autonomous uncrewed cargo aircraft to extend logistics across Australia’s northern range

Bloomberg

Hermeus raises $350M to scale hypersonic uncrewed aircraft for US DoD—startup moves to production Hypersonic startup Hermeus Corp. raised $350 million in a new funding round to scale development of its fastest uncrewed aircraft concept for the US Department of Defense. The financing is positioned to accelerate progress from prototypes toward production for high-speed, unmanned military missions.

2026-05-07T21:45:25.812659-07:00

Hermeus raises $350M to scale hypersonic uncrewed aircraft for US DoD—startup moves to production

Breaking Defense

SAHA 2026: Aselsan unveils two uncrewed naval systems and targets export replication of Turkey’s UAV momentum Aselsan has unveiled two new uncrewed naval systems at SAHA 2026, framing a sea-domain push built to mirror Turkey’s broader UAV success. The company’s bigger challenge, per the reporting, is translating platform showpiece capabilities into export traction in a crowded unmanned market.

2026-05-07T14:09:33.202967-07:00

SAHA 2026: Aselsan unveils two uncrewed naval systems and targets export replication of Turkey’s UAV momentum

Unmanned Airspace

Task Force 401 selects five bases for FY26-directed-energy counter-UAS laser pilot, after Texas airspace closures US Joint Interagency Task Force 401 has picked five installations to run a directed-energy counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS) pilot program funded in the FY2026 NDAA. The test effort follows February deployments of a counter-drone system that triggered unexpected airspace closures in Texas, with the Pentagon planning laser trials at the selected sites.

2026-05-07T10:46:31.051446-07:00

Task Force 401 selects five bases for FY26-directed-energy counter-UAS laser pilot, after Texas airspace closures

eVTOL Insights

Savback Helicopters and Dufour Aerospace to build Sweden’s long-range hybrid-electric drone logistics network with Aero-200 tilt Savback Helicopters and Dufour Aerospace have announced a commercial partnership to launch a long-range drone logistics network across Sweden using hybrid-electric Aero-200 tiltwing aircraft. The initiative targets establishment of a “premier” network for point-to-point drone freight operations within the country.

2026-05-07T06:48:09.914265-07:00

Savback Helicopters and Dufour Aerospace to build Sweden’s long-range hybrid-electric drone logistics network with Aero-200 tilt

AeroTime

Drones cross from Russia into Latvia; two crash in Latgale and one ignites an oil storage facility Latvian officials said two drones entered the country from Russia overnight May 7 and crashed in the Latgale region. One struck an oil storage facility in Rēzekne, hitting an empty tank and starting a fire, while authorities continued searching for the second drone’s location and origin.

2026-05-07T01:24:09.060195-07:00

Drones cross from Russia into Latvia; two crash in Latgale and one ignites an oil storage facility

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UAV Development & Drone Programs News

Drone strike shuts down Russia’s southern ATC center; 13 airports suspend operations, flights cancelled or delayed

Baykar-Republikorp deal: Indonesia to buy 12 Kızılelma UCAVs starting 2028

RAAF explores autonomous uncrewed cargo aircraft to extend logistics across Australia’s northern range

Task Force 401 selects five bases for FY26-directed-energy counter-UAS laser pilot, after Texas airspace closures

News Timeline