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insidedefense.com • Abby Shepherd

Anduril and HD Hyundai kick off production for autonomous surface vessels, aiming for a Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel contender

Anduril and South Korea’s HD Hyundai say the first ship in a new class of autonomous surface vessels has entered production, with an expected water entry in October. The effort is positioned to support U.S. Navy options for the Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel (MUSV) program.

2026-04-20T11:17:51.789110-07:00

The War Zone

USMC begins defining sixth-generation fighter requirements, with drones positioned as the bridge via MUX TACAIR collaborative co

2026-04-20T14:01:51.153008-07:00

Breaking Defense

MQ-9B SeaGuardian® positioned for US Navy–Marine Corps maritime mission advantage

2026-04-20T12:43:18.543095-07:00

Airbus

NAHEMA awards NH90 Block 2 architecture study to NHIndustries, advancing NATO rotorcraft midlife upgrade

2026-04-20T02:45:15.734683-07:00

News Timeline

The War Zone

USMC begins defining sixth-generation fighter requirements, with drones positioned as the bridge via MUX TACAIR collaborative co The Marine Corps is moving from concept to requirements for a sixth-generation fighter, with Lieutenant General William Swan saying the effort is already taking shape. The service envisions drones and collaborative-combat aircraft as a near-term bridge to future capabilities.

2026-04-20T14:01:51.153008-07:00

USMC begins defining sixth-generation fighter requirements, with drones positioned as the bridge via MUX TACAIR collaborative co

Breaking Defense

MQ-9B SeaGuardian® positioned for US Navy–Marine Corps maritime mission advantage General Atomics frames the MQ-9B SeaGuardian as uniquely suited to meet modern conflict demands in the maritime battlespace, emphasizing its ability to deliver a decisive operational edge for Navy and Marine Corps missions. The pitch aligns with the platform’s broader role in persistent maritime ISR and maritime-domain operations.

2026-04-20T12:43:18.543095-07:00

MQ-9B SeaGuardian® positioned for US Navy–Marine Corps maritime mission advantage

insidedefense.com

Anduril and HD Hyundai kick off production for autonomous surface vessels, aiming for a Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel contender Anduril and South Korea’s HD Hyundai say the first ship in a new class of autonomous surface vessels has entered production, with an expected water entry in October. The effort is positioned to support U.S. Navy options for the Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel (MUSV) program.

2026-04-20T11:17:51.789110-07:00

Anduril and HD Hyundai kick off production for autonomous surface vessels, aiming for a Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel contender

saildrone.com

Saildrone unveils Spectre MUSV for ASW and VLS strike, built with Lockheed Martin Saildrone introduced Spectre, a 52-meter, 30-knot medium unmanned surface vessel positioned to close anti-submarine warfare capability gaps and conduct high-speed, stealth kinetic strike. The platform is offered in two variants—Spectre Silent Endurance and Spectre Stealth Strike—alongside a naval strike mission concept showcased at Sea Air Space.

2026-04-20T07:17:40.471464-07:00

Saildrone unveils Spectre MUSV for ASW and VLS strike, built with Lockheed Martin

Airbus

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NAHEMA awards NH90 Block 2 architecture study to NHIndustries, advancing NATO rotorcraft midlife upgrade NATO Helicopter Management Agency (NAHEMA) has contracted NHIndustries to begin a major NH90 Block 2 architecture study, starting work on a next-generation variant’s performance improvements and future combat/interop integration. The contract formalizes the Block 2 evolution study ahead of the rotorcraft midlife upgrade planning cycle.

2026-04-20T02:45:15.734683-07:00

NAHEMA awards NH90 Block 2 architecture study to NHIndustries, advancing NATO rotorcraft midlife upgrade

Breaking Defense

Northrop Grumman proves in-flight hot-swap autonomy on Talon IQ testbed, completing 3-hour mission software flight test Northrop Grumman completed an eighth mission-autonomy software flight test in Mojave, California, using the Talon IQ testbed. The company says it demonstrated mid-flight hot-swapping of “AI brains”/autonomy software—queueing different companies’ behaviors to control the platform—during a three-hour sortie.

2026-04-17T15:37:14.670447-07:00

Northrop Grumman proves in-flight hot-swap autonomy on Talon IQ testbed, completing 3-hour mission software flight test

FlightGlobal

Pratt & Whitney selects PW500 turbofan to power Northrop Grumman’s YFQ-48A Talon Blue for USAF CCA flight evaluation Pratt & Whitney will supply the engine for Northrop Grumman’s YFQ-48A Talon Blue, an additional design under evaluation in the U.S. Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program. Northrop’s self-funded single-engine concept will use a PW500 turbofan variant as it moves into next-gen CCA flight testing.

2026-04-17T15:16:11.915042-07:00

Pratt & Whitney selects PW500 turbofan to power Northrop Grumman’s YFQ-48A Talon Blue for USAF CCA flight evaluation

DefenseNews.com

USAF tests Anduril YFQ-44A Fury semiautonomous jet-powered combat drone Air Force personnel have operated Anduril’s YFQ-44A Fury Fighter Drone through experimental trials, advancing a semiautonomous, jet-powered combat-drone concept designed to potentially fly alongside piloted fighters. The test activity signals movement from early integration toward more critical evaluation phases for the programme’s autonomy and combat-relevant systems.

2026-04-17T12:59:53.196480-07:00

USAF tests Anduril YFQ-44A Fury semiautonomous jet-powered combat drone

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UAV Development & Drone Programs News

Anduril and HD Hyundai kick off production for autonomous surface vessels, aiming for a Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel contender

USMC begins defining sixth-generation fighter requirements, with drones positioned as the bridge via MUX TACAIR collaborative co

MQ-9B SeaGuardian® positioned for US Navy–Marine Corps maritime mission advantage

NAHEMA awards NH90 Block 2 architecture study to NHIndustries, advancing NATO rotorcraft midlife upgrade

News Timeline