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Aviation Today • Calvin Biesecker

Hermeus advances Quarterhorse Mk 2.1 supersonic testing with DIU $159M high-Mach flight and payload release contract

Hermeus says its Quarterhorse Mk 2.1 has completed its first supersonic flight, reaching Mach 1.21. Separately, the company received a $159 million Pentagon Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) contract modification to demonstrate high-Mach flight and high-speed payload carry-and-release for future military capabilities.

2026-06-04T07:10:58.246739-07:00

Aviation Today

Boeing touts MQ-28 Ghost Bat low-RCS validation as USAF CCA Increment 1 selects between Loyal-wingman contenders

2026-06-04T06:57:22.292124-07:00

Associated Press

Iran-linked drone strike damages Kuwait International Airport’s Terminal 1 as the airport reopens and airlines weigh security ri

2026-06-03T22:26:53.183639-07:00

suasnews.com

blueflite’s Cobalt 461 UAS added to FAA Section 44807 Approved List

2026-06-03T12:23:01.838927-07:00

News Timeline

Aviation Today

Hermeus advances Quarterhorse Mk 2.1 supersonic testing with DIU $159M high-Mach flight and payload release contract Hermeus says its Quarterhorse Mk 2.1 has completed its first supersonic flight, reaching Mach 1.21. Separately, the company received a $159 million Pentagon Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) contract modification to demonstrate high-Mach flight and high-speed payload carry-and-release for future military capabilities.

2026-06-04T07:10:58.246739-07:00

Hermeus advances Quarterhorse Mk 2.1 supersonic testing with DIU $159M high-Mach flight and payload release contract

Aviation Today

Boeing touts MQ-28 Ghost Bat low-RCS validation as USAF CCA Increment 1 selects between Loyal-wingman contenders Boeing says the MQ-28A “Ghost Bat” has validated a low radar cross section (RCS) ahead of the U.S. Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) Increment 1 winner selection this year. The service plans to start Increment 2 after picking between competing airframe concepts, including Anduril’s YFQ-44A Fury.

2026-06-04T06:57:22.292124-07:00

Boeing touts MQ-28 Ghost Bat low-RCS validation as USAF CCA Increment 1 selects between Loyal-wingman contenders

Associated Press

Iran-linked drone strike damages Kuwait International Airport’s Terminal 1 as the airport reopens and airlines weigh security ri Kuwait reopened after a deadly drone attack in which Iranian drones hit Terminal 1 at Kuwait International Airport, killing at least one person and injuring dozens while causing major damage, officials say. Kuwait released strike footage amid renewed escalation concerns as airlines restart operations and reassess whether the reopened gateway can be trusted.

2026-06-03T22:26:53.183639-07:00

Iran-linked drone strike damages Kuwait International Airport’s Terminal 1 as the airport reopens and airlines weigh security ri

Breaking Defense

USAF picks GE Aerospace and Rolls-Royce to advance “medium-thrust” drone engines for next-gen uncrewed air systems The U.S. Air Force has selected GE Aerospace and Rolls-Royce to advance designs for engines intended to power a medium-thrust class of drones, an Air Force spokesperson told Breaking Defense. The effort signals continued propulsion investment to expand payload-capable uncrewed fleets beyond current inventories.

2026-06-03T12:44:08.447034-07:00

USAF picks GE Aerospace and Rolls-Royce to advance “medium-thrust” drone engines for next-gen uncrewed air systems

suasnews.com

blueflite’s Cobalt 461 UAS added to FAA Section 44807 Approved List blueflite says its Cobalt 461 UAS platform was added to the FAA’s Section 44807 Approved UAS list effective June 1, 2026. The update marks a regulatory milestone for the platform’s eligibility under the FAA’s approval framework for specific operations.

2026-06-03T12:23:01.838927-07:00

blueflite’s Cobalt 461 UAS added to FAA Section 44807 Approved List

Breaking Defense

Army and J-7 to test new stratospheric sensor payload via high-altitude balloon The U.S. Army and the J-7 plan to conduct sensor testing using a high-altitude balloon in the coming days, with the prototype designed to expand intelligence-gathering coverage in the stratosphere. The test campaign is intended to validate performance of the new ISR sensor platform ahead of follow-on efforts.

2026-06-03T08:12:54.591158-07:00

Army and J-7 to test new stratospheric sensor payload via high-altitude balloon

eVTOL Insights

NAAMCE expands Ohio test environment to support FAA BVLOS advanced air mobility validation at scale The FAA’s BVLOS regulatory framework is moving forward as Ohio’s National Advanced Air Mobility Center of Excellence (NAAMCE) expands its real-world test environment for advanced air mobility innovators. The upgrade targets the gap between lab demonstrations and operationally relevant scale-up needed for BVLOS operations.

2026-06-02T00:12:28.478925-07:00

NAAMCE expands Ohio test environment to support FAA BVLOS advanced air mobility validation at scale

FlightGlobal

US demos and pitches “Ukraine-style” counter-UAS: Tycho.AI’s rotor-drone intercept concept and ParaZero’s DefendAir net launcher Tycho.AI is pitching the Pentagon on small, ultra-agile rotor-driven drone interceptors modeled on Ukraine’s experience countering larger attack platforms. Separately, ParaZero demonstrated in the US its DefendAir net-launcher system, reporting a 100% success rate against fast incoming FPV drones.

2026-06-01T20:20:35.533995-07:00

US demos and pitches “Ukraine-style” counter-UAS: Tycho.AI’s rotor-drone intercept concept and ParaZero’s DefendAir net launcher

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UAV Development & Drone Programs News

Hermeus advances Quarterhorse Mk 2.1 supersonic testing with DIU $159M high-Mach flight and payload release contract

Boeing touts MQ-28 Ghost Bat low-RCS validation as USAF CCA Increment 1 selects between Loyal-wingman contenders

Iran-linked drone strike damages Kuwait International Airport’s Terminal 1 as the airport reopens and airlines weigh security ri

blueflite’s Cobalt 461 UAS added to FAA Section 44807 Approved List

News Timeline