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FlightGlobal • Ryan Finnerty

Pentagon reveals LUCAS loitering munition: Shahed-136 derivative with 434 nm range and sub-$55k unit cost, first used operationally in Middle East

FlightGlobal reports: The Pentagon has disclosed specifications for its LUCAS one-way attack drone, a reverse-engineered derivative of Iran's Shahed-136 offering 434nm range at costs between $10,000-$55,000, as the US military deploys the type operationally for the first time in the Middle East theatre.

2026-03-13T10:23:53.030335-07:00

Flying Magazine

Grubhub partners with Dexa to trial drone food delivery, joining DoorDash (Wing) and Uber Eats (Flytrex)

2026-03-13T11:39:26.968643-07:00

Airbus

Airbus to flight‑test two Kratos XQ‑58A Valkyrie with European MARS; aims UCCA operational for Germany by 2029

2026-03-13T04:04:21.056090-07:00

eVTOL Insights

Rotunda Hospital and Manna Air run urgent medical drone delivery flight simulation in Ireland

2026-03-13T05:20:09.532984-07:00

News Timeline

Flying Magazine

Grubhub partners with Dexa to trial drone food delivery, joining DoorDash (Wing) and Uber Eats (Flytrex) Grubhub has partnered with drone operator Dexa to trial drone food delivery, joining DoorDash (Wing) and Uber Eats (Flytrex) in commercial experiments. The trial will test aerial last-mile food logistics, assessing operational feasibility, safety procedures and customer experience for on‑demand drone deliveries.

2026-03-13T11:39:26.968643-07:00

Grubhub partners with Dexa to trial drone food delivery, joining DoorDash (Wing) and Uber Eats (Flytrex)

FlightGlobal

Pentagon reveals LUCAS loitering munition: Shahed-136 derivative with 434 nm range and sub-$55k unit cost, first used operationally in Middle East

2026-03-13T10:23:53.030335-07:00

Pentagon reveals LUCAS loiteri

eVTOL Insights

Rotunda Hospital and Manna Air run urgent medical drone delivery flight simulation in Ireland Rotunda Hospital partnered with Manna Air to run a flight simulation of an urgent medical drone delivery model in Ireland, demonstrating the potential to move time-critical medical supplies by air. The exercise tested operational concepts for rapid point-to-point transport in a healthcare setting.

2026-03-13T05:20:09.532984-07:00

Rotunda Hospital and Manna Air run urgent medical drone delivery flight simulation in Ireland

Reuters

Senator seeks watchdog probe into government use of laser anti‑drone system in Texas The top Democrat on the U.S. Senate Commerce aviation subcommittee has asked for a government watchdog investigation into two recent incidents in Texas involving government use of a laser‑based anti‑drone system, citing concerns about the deployments. It escalates congressional scrutiny of counter‑drone tools.

2026-03-13T04:24:22.360446-07:00

Senator seeks watchdog probe into government use of laser anti‑drone system in Texas

Airbus

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Airbus to flight‑test two Kratos XQ‑58A Valkyrie with European MARS; aims UCCA operational for Germany by 2029 Airbus has accelerated its Uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft (UCCA) effort, integrating the European MARS mission system into two Kratos XQ‑58A Valkyrie demonstrators scheduled to fly this year, and is targeting an operational capability for the German Air Force by 2029.

2026-03-13T04:04:21.056090-07:00

Airbus to flight‑test two Kratos XQ‑58A Valkyrie with European MARS; aims UCCA operational for Germany by 2029

Reuters

German Eurofighters and Romanian F‑16s scrambled after drones detected over southeastern Romania Radar systems detected aerial objects entering Romanian airspace near the southeastern border with Ukraine, prompting a RO-ALERT and high alert for air-defence forces on March 13. German Eurofighter Typhoons and Romanian F‑16s were scrambled in separate intercepts as authorities investigated drone incursions.

2026-03-13T03:04:15.351428-07:00

German Eurofighters and Romanian F‑16s scrambled after drones detected over southeastern Romania

AeroTime

French Chief Warrant Officer Arnaud Frion killed in drone strike in Iraqi Kurdistan; five soldiers wounded A French soldier, Chief Warrant Officer Arnaud Frion, was killed and five other French troops wounded in a drone strike in Iraq’s Kurdistan region — France’s first military fatality since the start of the current Middle East war. President Macron condemned the attack as “unacceptable.”

2026-03-13T02:13:56.761589-07:00

French Chief Warrant Officer Arnaud Frion killed in drone strike in Iraqi Kurdistan; five soldiers wounded

FlightGlobal

Satellite analysis: Yelabuga SEZ expands from two to 116 buildings to mass-produce Iranian-derived Geran drones Satellite imagery analyzed by CSIS shows Russia's Yelabuga special economic zone has expanded from two buildings in 2021 to 116 structures, forming a mass-production complex for Iranian-derived Geran attack drones. The facility supports sustained deployment of Geran loitering munitions used against Ukrainian targets.

2026-03-12T21:17:55.026573-07:00

Satellite analysis: Yelabuga SEZ expands from two to 116 buildings to mass-produce Iranian-derived Geran drones

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UAV Development & Drone Programs News

Pentagon reveals LUCAS loitering munition: Shahed-136 derivative with 434 nm range and sub-$55k unit cost, first used operationally in Middle East

Grubhub partners with Dexa to trial drone food delivery, joining DoorDash (Wing) and Uber Eats (Flytrex)

Airbus to flight‑test two Kratos XQ‑58A Valkyrie with European MARS; aims UCCA operational for Germany by 2029

Rotunda Hospital and Manna Air run urgent medical drone delivery flight simulation in Ireland

News Timeline