UAV Development & Drone Programs News

AeroTime

Drone reports disrupt Jersey Airport for a second consecutive night, diverting four flights

Jersey Airport reported further drone activity near the airfield on Saturday, Oct. 31, after disruption the previous evening. Four flights could not land as scheduled, leading to diversions and cancellations; reports also describe three diversions during one evening. The incident highlights the operational exposure of smaller airports to suspected drone activity.

Bloomberg

Vector Defense expands as US seeks to build low-cost military drone capacity from near zero

At a manufacturing plant near Salt Lake City, drone maker Vector Defense is expanding production as the United States seeks to build capacity for inexpensive military drones. The company’s growth highlights the industrial challenge implied by a starting point described as “basically zero.”

The War Zone

Avenger air-defense systems and counter-drone kits deployed to protect Mar-a-Lago

AN/TWQ-1 Avenger systems armed with FIM-92 Stinger missiles have been deployed to protect President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. U.S. Northern Command has also supplied counter-drone fly-away sensor and jammer kits, adding detection and electronic-warfare capabilities to the site’s defenses.

The War Zone

North Korea showcases reconnaissance, attack and loitering drones, including stealthy UCAV concept

Pyongyang displayed a range of reconnaissance, attack and loitering drones, alongside an aspirational stealthy unmanned combat aircraft concept. The showcase offers a public view of the breadth of North Korea’s drone ambitions, though the available report does not detail the systems’ capabilities or operational status.

The War Zone

General Atomics develops hybrid-electric NextGen strike-recon flying wing, plans FQ-42 air-to-ground live-fire trials

General Atomics is developing NextGen, a flying-wing aircraft for strike and reconnaissance missions that uses hybrid-electric propulsion. The company also aims to conduct live-fire tests next year of an air-to-ground derivative of its FQ-42 Vengeance collaborative combat aircraft.

Reuters

Military and industry tests advance autonomous, shipborne and airborne unmanned aircraft capabilities

The US Air Force has tested new autonomous mission systems on its XQ-67A demonstrator, while China says its GJ-21 unmanned combat aircraft completed takeoff and landing tests aboard the Type 076 amphibious assault ship Sichuan. Separately, TEKEVER won a USSOCOM order for AI-enabled ISR drones, and Saab and GA-ASI tested an unmanned airborne early warning capability on the MQ-9B.

Reuters

Ukraine’s Fire Point says its systems can conduct long-range strikes without SpaceX

Fire Point chief executive told Reuters the Ukrainian arms maker has developed ways to carry out long-range strikes in Russia and Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine without relying on SpaceX satellite services. The disclosure highlights the company’s approach to maintaining operational capability without access to a commercial satellite network.

Space.com

High activity

China says GJ-21 stealth drone completes first takeoff and landing from amphibious assault ship

Chinese state media says the GJ-21 stealth attack drone has completed its first takeoff and landing aboard the amphibious assault ship Sichuan, calling it a breakthrough in the ship program. The reported milestone follows more than a year of signs that China was preparing to demonstrate ship-based operations for the aircraft.