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Aviation Week • Chen Chuanren

Rheinmetall and Boeing Australia offer MQ-28 Ghost Bat to Bundeswehr

Rheinmetall and Boeing Australia have formed a strategic partnership to offer Boeing’s MQ-28 Ghost Bat as a mature collaborative combat aircraft solution to the Bundeswehr, with Rheinmetall as programme lead, positioning the loyal‑wingman UCAV for Germany’s CCA requirement aimed at operational readiness by 2029.

2026-03-31T00:45:43.158031-07:00

politico.eu

France rethinks air-defence against Iranian drone swarms after costly fighter missile intercepts

2026-03-31T01:18:31.862785-07:00

Vertical Mag

Arcanus Aerial Systems raises US$3.15M lead tranche toward US$25M Series A

2026-03-30T12:25:25.268449-07:00

Airbus

Airbus 'Bird of Prey' completes first autonomous missile‑armed counter‑UAS intercept

2026-03-30T03:20:51.648413-07:00

News Timeline

Reuters

Estonia and Latvia report foreign drone activity near Russian border; Finnair flight returned Estonian and Latvian militaries reported foreign drone activity near their borders with Russia overnight, the latest in a string of airspace incursions troubling NATO’s eastern flank. A Finnair flight to Tartu was diverted back to Helsinki after authorities cited a drone threat over Estonian airspace.

2026-03-31T01:46:05.265489-07:00

Estonia and Latvia report foreign drone activity near Russian border; Finnair flight returned

politico.eu

France rethinks air-defence against Iranian drone swarms after costly fighter missile intercepts France has deployed Tiger attack helicopters to the Middle East and is exploring cheaper intercept options to defeat Iranian attack drones, officials say, after footage of French and British fighters using high-end air-to-air missiles to shoot down swarms exposed the high per‑kill cost and fragility of current European approaches.

2026-03-31T01:18:31.862785-07:00

France rethinks air-defence against Iranian drone swarms after costly fighter missile intercepts

Aviation Week

Rheinmetall and Boeing Australia offer MQ-28 Ghost Bat to Bundeswehr Rheinmetall and Boeing Australia have formed a strategic partnership to offer Boeing’s MQ-28 Ghost Bat as a mature collaborative combat aircraft solution to the Bundeswehr, with Rheinmetall as programme lead, positioning the loyal‑wingman UCAV for Germany’s CCA requirement aimed at operational readiness by 2029.

2026-03-31T00:45:43.158031-07:00

Rheinmetall and Boeing Australia offer MQ-28 Ghost Bat to Bundeswehr

Vertical Mag

Arcanus Aerial Systems raises US$3.15M lead tranche toward US$25M Series A Arcanus Aerial Systems said it has secured a US$3.15 million lead investment as it advances rapidly toward the final close of a targeted US$25 million Series A financing. The company reported the tranche as the lead contribution toward completing the round.

2026-03-30T12:25:25.268449-07:00

Arcanus Aerial Systems raises US$3.15M lead tranche toward US$25M Series A

Kyiv Independent

Russia fires Iskander and ~164 drones (≈90 Shahed); Ukrainian private air‑defence reports Shahed and Zala kills over Kharkiv Russia overnight launched an Iskander ballistic missile and about 164 drones, including roughly 90 Shahed‑type loitering munitions, striking Ukrainian targets and killing at least four with 35 injured. A private Ukrainian air‑defence firm says it shot down Shahed and Zala drones over Kharkiv and 13 more companies will join coordinated defenses.

2026-03-30T04:17:41.001206-07:00

Russia fires Iskander and ~164 drones (≈90 Shahed); Ukrainian private air‑defence reports Shahed and Zala kills over Kharkiv

Airbus

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Airbus 'Bird of Prey' completes first autonomous missile‑armed counter‑UAS intercept Airbus completed the first demonstration flight of its Bird of Prey interceptor, a modified Do‑DT25 uncrewed aircraft, autonomously detecting, identifying and engaging a kamikaze drone in northern Germany using a Mark I air‑to‑air missile from Frankenburg Technologies. Airbus says the low‑cost drone‑missile pairing enables economically viable large‑scale interception.

2026-03-30T03:20:51.648413-07:00

Airbus 'Bird of Prey' completes first autonomous missile‑armed counter‑UAS intercept

eVTOL Insights

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Skyports and HOCHTIEF deploy automated BVLOS 'drone‑in‑a‑box' surveying at Rheinbrücke Leverkusen Skyports Drone Services has partnered with HOCHTIEF to deploy automated BVLOS 'drone‑in‑a‑box' aerial surveying at the Rheinbrücke Leverkusen bridge construction site. The system operates autonomously with remote piloting and oversight carried out from Spain, enabling repeated, on‑demand inspections without on‑site flight crews.

2026-03-30T01:45:43.198034-07:00

Skyports and HOCHTIEF deploy automated BVLOS 'drone‑in‑a‑box' surveying at Rheinbrücke Leverkusen

yle.fi

Two drones crash in southeastern Finland after airspace incursion; EU points finger at Russia Two unmanned aerial vehicles crashed in southeastern Finland near Kouvola after straying into Finnish airspace; F/A-18 Hornets were scrambled but did not engage. Finnish authorities identified one drone as a Ukrainian AN-196 Liutyi, while the European Commission said Russia was primarily responsible for the incursions.

2026-03-29T04:57:30.463145-07:00

Two drones crash in southeastern Finland after airspace incursion; EU points finger at Russia

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UAV Development & Drone Programs News

Rheinmetall and Boeing Australia offer MQ-28 Ghost Bat to Bundeswehr

France rethinks air-defence against Iranian drone swarms after costly fighter missile intercepts

Arcanus Aerial Systems raises US$3.15M lead tranche toward US$25M Series A

Airbus 'Bird of Prey' completes first autonomous missile‑armed counter‑UAS intercept

News Timeline