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Breaking Defense • Carley Welch

Army selects AV LASSO prototyping contender with Switchblade 400 offer, joining Textron and Uvision in loitering-munition race

The U.S. Army will receive AV’s Switchblade 400 portable anti-armor loitering munition for the AV LASSO prototyping competition, the company said. Switchblade 400 is described as a medium-range system, placing AV alongside Textron and Uvision in the early-stage contest to demonstrate concepts and hardware.

2026-05-04T06:50:37.781519-07:00

Space.com

Drone-based radar trials on Earth aim to refine Mars water-ice targeting for future drilling

2026-05-01T13:49:53.586747-07:00

The War Zone

China ramps testing of very large stealth flying-wing drones alongside a fighter-like unmanned design at a secretive test base

2026-05-01T14:55:34.201477-07:00

Aviation Week

Ukraine drones strike Shagol airfield, claim damage to Russian Su-57 fighters and Su-34 bombers ~1,700 km inside Russia

2026-05-01T11:33:00.452122-07:00

News Timeline

Breaking Defense

Army selects AV LASSO prototyping contender with Switchblade 400 offer, joining Textron and Uvision in loitering-munition race The U.S. Army will receive AV’s Switchblade 400 portable anti-armor loitering munition for the AV LASSO prototyping competition, the company said. Switchblade 400 is described as a medium-range system, placing AV alongside Textron and Uvision in the early-stage contest to demonstrate concepts and hardware.

2026-05-04T06:50:37.781519-07:00

Army selects AV LASSO prototyping contender with Switchblade 400 offer, joining Textron and Uvision in loitering-munition race

The War Zone

X-BAT stealth combat drone program highlights GE propulsion, thrust-vectoring controls, and Hivemind AI “pilot” ahead of flight Armor Harris, X-BAT’s chief designer, lays out how the stealth fighter-drone program pairs a GE engine with thrust-vectoring controls and integrates Shield AI’s Hivemind as an onboard “pilot.” The discussion also points to forthcoming flight-test plans as the autonomy-and-propulsion stack moves from concept to flight.

2026-05-03T10:38:07.475258-07:00

X-BAT stealth combat drone program highlights GE propulsion, thrust-vectoring controls, and Hivemind AI “pilot” ahead of flight

The War Zone

China ramps testing of very large stealth flying-wing drones alongside a fighter-like unmanned design at a secretive test base Satellite/open-source observers report that China’s very large stealth flying-wing drone testing is accelerating, with multiple airframes spotted together at a covert test location. Activity also includes a separate unmanned fighter-like design, signaling progress toward next-generation attritable or stealthy unmanned combat concepts.

2026-05-01T14:55:34.201477-07:00

China ramps testing of very large stealth flying-wing drones alongside a fighter-like unmanned design at a secretive test base

Space.com

Drone-based radar trials on Earth aim to refine Mars water-ice targeting for future drilling Scientists are testing drone-mounted radar on Earth to improve how spacecraft identify and access buried water ice on Mars. The goal is to reduce uncertainty in landing/site selection and drilling plans, supporting better resource mapping to inform future astronaut and mission planning.

2026-05-01T13:49:53.586747-07:00

Drone-based radar trials on Earth aim to refine Mars water-ice targeting for future drilling

FlightGlobal

Dutch airprox flags “weak” see-and-avoid after F-16 encounter; Belgium tests F-16-launched 70mm FZ275 drone-intercept capability A Dutch investigation found “weak” see-and-avoid rules contributed to a high-speed close encounter involving an F-16 formation and a light trainer near Lelystad. Separately, Belgium’s Defense Ministry says its Air Force tested F-16s firing 70mm FZ275 missiles to intercept drones.

2026-05-01T12:43:32.868135-07:00

Dutch airprox flags “weak” see-and-avoid after F-16 encounter; Belgium tests F-16-launched 70mm FZ275 drone-intercept capability

Aviation Week

Ukraine drones strike Shagol airfield, claim damage to Russian Su-57 fighters and Su-34 bombers ~1,700 km inside Russia Ukraine says it carried out an April 25 attack on the Shagol airfield in Russia’s Chelyabinsk region, hitting Russian Su-57 fighters and an Su-34 bomber using unmanned systems. Kyiv characterizes the strike as among the longest-range attacks into the country’s interior, about 1,700 km from the border.

2026-05-01T11:33:00.452122-07:00

Ukraine drones strike Shagol airfield, claim damage to Russian Su-57 fighters and Su-34 bombers ~1,700 km inside Russia

Vertical Mag

Arcanus Aerial Systems signs Beyond Vision manufacturing deal to build UAV platforms in Canada Arcanus Aerial Systems says it has reached an agreement with Beyond Vision to manufacture UAV platforms, aiming to strengthen Canada’s defense uncrewed capabilities through expanded local production. The deal underscores how UAS developers are pairing airframe and integration know-how with domestic industrial partners.

2026-05-01T06:18:31.114528-07:00

Arcanus Aerial Systems signs Beyond Vision manufacturing deal to build UAV platforms in Canada

DefenseNews.com

US Air Force seeks nearly $1B in initial Congressional funding to start Collaborative Combat Aircraft ("loyal wingman") procurem For the first time, the U.S. Air Force is asking Congress to fund the purchase of Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCAs), marking the transition from prototypes to production. The request—nearly $1 billion for initial procurement—signals the start of the “loyal wingman” era and moves CCA toward fielding.

2026-04-30T11:50:00.555823-07:00

US Air Force seeks nearly $1B in initial Congressional funding to start Collaborative Combat Aircraft ("loyal wingman") procurem

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UAV Development & Drone Programs News

Army selects AV LASSO prototyping contender with Switchblade 400 offer, joining Textron and Uvision in loitering-munition race

Drone-based radar trials on Earth aim to refine Mars water-ice targeting for future drilling

China ramps testing of very large stealth flying-wing drones alongside a fighter-like unmanned design at a secretive test base

Ukraine drones strike Shagol airfield, claim damage to Russian Su-57 fighters and Su-34 bombers ~1,700 km inside Russia

News Timeline