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FlightGlobal • Greg Waldron

General Atomics YFQ-42A collaborative combat aircraft crashes in California; test flights paused

General Atomics' YFQ‑42A collaborative combat aircraft suffered a mishap and crashed after takeoff from a company‑owned airfield in the California desert on April 6; no injuries were reported. GA‑ASI has paused YFQ‑42A test flights and is investigating the root cause while assessing the airframe.

2026-04-06T18:22:02.663235-07:00

The Aviationist

New videos give clearest public view yet of classified RQ-180 flying‑wing; Cold War stealth program foreshadows Iran ISR role

2026-04-06T08:15:52.812854-07:00

interestingengineering.com

China completes world‑first flight of 7.5‑ton hydrogen‑powered unmanned cargo aircraft

2026-04-06T01:58:43.664140-07:00

The War Zone

How USAF Special Tactics Would Turn a Remote Iranian Strip into a Temporary Airbase in Hours

2026-04-06T12:01:50.426973-07:00

News Timeline

FlightGlobal

General Atomics YFQ-42A collaborative combat aircraft crashes in California; test flights paused General Atomics' YFQ‑42A collaborative combat aircraft suffered a mishap and crashed after takeoff from a company‑owned airfield in the California desert on April 6; no injuries were reported. GA‑ASI has paused YFQ‑42A test flights and is investigating the root cause while assessing the airframe.

2026-04-06T18:22:02.663235-07:00

General Atomics YFQ-42A collaborative combat aircraft crashes in California; test flights paused

The War Zone

How USAF Special Tactics Would Turn a Remote Iranian Strip into a Temporary Airbase in Hours A former U.S. Air Force Special Tactics Squadron member explains how a remote airstrip in Iran could be converted into a temporary forward airbase within hours, covering rapid runway preparation, emplacement of force‑protection and airfield‑defence measures, and tactical employment of special‑operations assets to sustain short‑term flights.

2026-04-06T12:01:50.426973-07:00

How USAF Special Tactics Would Turn a Remote Iranian Strip into a Temporary Airbase in Hours

The Aviationist

New videos give clearest public view yet of classified RQ-180 flying‑wing; Cold War stealth program foreshadows Iran ISR role New, higher-resolution videos provide the clearest public imagery to date of the classified RQ‑180 flying‑wing stealth reconnaissance drone, revealing structural details and operational markings. Reporting links the platform's likely mission profile—over Iran—to a clandestine Cold War‑era stealth drone program that pursued a similar ISR requirement.

2026-04-06T08:15:52.812854-07:00

New videos give clearest public view yet of classified RQ-180 flying‑wing; Cold War stealth program foreshadows Iran ISR role

interestingengineering.com

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China completes world‑first flight of 7.5‑ton hydrogen‑powered unmanned cargo aircraft China has completed the maiden flight of a 7.5‑metric‑ton (16,535 lb) unmanned cargo aircraft in Zhuzhou, Hunan, powered by a megawatt‑class liquid‑hydrogen turboprop tested by AECC. The sortie is a world‑first demonstration of hydrogen propulsion at this scale for fixed‑wing uncrewed cargo missions.

2026-04-06T01:58:43.664140-07:00

China completes world‑first flight of 7.5‑ton hydrogen‑powered unmanned cargo aircraft

AeroTime

France to ramp drone production 400% and boost guided-weapons output, POLITICO reports France plans to increase drone production by 400%, guided-bomb output by 240%, and Aster and MICA missile production by 30%, POLITICO reports. The measures aim to rapidly replenish munitions stocks and expand offensive and air‑defence capacity amid ongoing European security pressures.

2026-04-05T23:06:37.437930-07:00

France to ramp drone production 400% and boost guided-weapons output, POLITICO reports

FlightGlobal

RMAF conducts first test flight of TAI Anka‑S MALE UAV The Royal Malaysian Air Force flew its first Turkish Aerospace Industries Anka‑S medium‑altitude, long‑endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle on 3 April — a three‑hour maiden sortie from Labuan air base. Malaysia says the system will bolster long‑endurance intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance ahead of service entry.

2026-04-05T22:01:11.491000-07:00

RMAF conducts first test flight of TAI Anka‑S MALE UAV

AeroTime

Pentagon weighs anti‑drone laser deployments at US sites The Pentagon is considering broader deployment of laser‑based counter‑drone systems at select U.S. locations after a series of drone incursions near military bases and other sensitive sites. The deliberation signals an effort to accelerate fielding of directed‑energy tools to detect and defeat small UAS on domestic soil.

2026-04-02T13:25:58.058091-07:00

Pentagon weighs anti‑drone laser deployments at US sites

Aviation Today

Army Accepts First Optionally‑Piloted Black Hawk; Will Test Autonomy to Inform Fleet Scaling The U.S. Army has formally accepted its first optionally‑piloted Black Hawk helicopter and will subject the aircraft to a rigorous test campaign. Data from the evaluations will be used to inform decisions on scaling autonomous and optionally‑piloted capabilities across the UH‑60 fleet.

2026-04-02T09:38:59.528988-07:00

Army Accepts First Optionally‑Piloted Black Hawk; Will Test Autonomy to Inform Fleet Scaling

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UAV Development & Drone Programs News

General Atomics YFQ-42A collaborative combat aircraft crashes in California; test flights paused

New videos give clearest public view yet of classified RQ-180 flying‑wing; Cold War stealth program foreshadows Iran ISR role

China completes world‑first flight of 7.5‑ton hydrogen‑powered unmanned cargo aircraft

How USAF Special Tactics Would Turn a Remote Iranian Strip into a Temporary Airbase in Hours

News Timeline