UAV Development & Drone Programs News

Aviacionline • Gastón Dubois

Bundeswehr awards €1.7bn to Rheinmetall–ICEYE JV for space-based radar supporting troops in Lithuania

Germany's Bundeswehr has committed €1.7bn ($2bn) to a newly formed Rheinmetall–ICEYE joint venture to build space-based radar and reconnaissance satellites, including a constellation to detect hostile activity near a German brigade deployed in Lithuania. The contract is part of a wider multi‑billion military procurement push.

2025-12-17T12:13:59.764351-08:00

dronelife.com

Spaceport Cornwall and National Drone Hub launch UK BVLOS and autonomy testing programme

2025-12-15T08:27:08.213530-08:00

DefenseNews.com

Marines field MADIS 'hunter‑killer' short‑range air‑defence to 1st LAAD as full‑rate production begins

2025-12-16T10:51:39.914122-08:00

Space.com

NASA tests Mars aerial-explorer drones in Death Valley to advance next‑gen planetary flight

2025-12-15T07:04:48.780579-08:00

UAV Development & Drone Programs News Timeline

Aviacionline

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Bundeswehr awards €1.7bn to Rheinmetall–ICEYE JV for space-based radar supporting troops in Lithuania Germany's Bundeswehr has committed €1.7bn ($2bn) to a newly formed Rheinmetall–ICEYE joint venture to build space-based radar and reconnaissance satellites, including a constellation to detect hostile activity near a German brigade deployed in Lithuania. The contract is part of a wider multi‑billion military procurement push.

2025-12-17T12:13:59.764351-08:00

Bundeswehr awards €1.7bn to Rheinmetall–ICEYE JV for space-based radar supporting troops in Lithuania

tectonicdefense.com

AIRO delivers first fully American-made ISR drones, signalling shift in U.S. UAS supply chain Virginia-based AIRO, a holding company for eVTOL, drone and avionics businesses, said it has delivered the first ISR drones built entirely in the United States. The move advances U.S. efforts to reshore critical components, improve sustainment and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers for military UAS.

2025-12-17T07:45:16.106780-08:00

AIRO delivers first fully American-made ISR drones, signalling shift in U.S. UAS supply chain

Airbus

EMSA awards €30m framework to Airbus for Flexrotor maritime surveillance drones The European Maritime Safety Agency has awarded Airbus a €30 million framework contract to provide its Flexrotor remotely piloted aircraft for multipurpose maritime surveillance across member states, covering aircraft provision and mission support to enhance EU-wide maritime monitoring and response capabilities.

2025-12-17T05:13:23.487514-08:00

EMSA awards €30m framework to Airbus for Flexrotor maritime surveillance drones

DefenseNews.com

Marines field MADIS 'hunter‑killer' short‑range air‑defence to 1st LAAD as full‑rate production begins The U.S. Marine Corps has begun fielding the Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS), with two systems delivered to 1st Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion on Dec. 12, 2025, following full‑rate production, NET training and a live‑fire exercise. MADIS is designed to defeat UAS and low‑altitude manned aircraft, including helicopters.

2025-12-16T10:51:39.914122-08:00

Marines field MADIS 'hunter‑killer' short‑range air‑defence to 1st LAAD as full‑rate production begins

Janes

Satellite images show damage to Russian Improved Kilo submarine after Ukrainian underwater drone strike in Novorossiysk Satellite imagery provides a rare view of damage to a Russian Improved Kilo (Project 636.3 Varshavyanka) submarine in Novorossiysk after Ukraine's Security Service said a submersible unmanned underwater vehicle navigated into the protected harbor and detonated close to the vessel. Moscow has since reinforced port defences.

2025-12-16T09:35:43.316861-08:00

Satellite images show damage to Russian Improved Kilo submarine after Ukrainian underwater drone strike in Novorossiysk

Army Recognition

Belgium to deploy first MQ-9B SkyGuardian over the Mediterranean in 2026 Belgium will deploy its first MQ‑9B SkyGuardian over the Mediterranean in 2026 under its Operations Plan, tasking the unmanned system with intelligence, surveillance and maritime‑domain awareness. The decision establishes a Belgian large‑UAS maritime ISR capability and aligns with broader European patrol and ISR investments.

2025-12-16T03:37:21.699050-08:00

Belgium to deploy first MQ-9B SkyGuardian over the Mediterranean in 2026

Unmanned Airspace

Rheinmetall showcases counter‑UAS capability at Finnish GBAD Demo Days Rheinmetall Air Defence AG demonstrated counter‑small‑UAS systems at the Ground‑based Air Defence (GBAD) Demo Days in Lohtaja, Finland, after an invitation from the Inspector of Air Defence. The live trials, conducted in challenging climatic conditions, underscore Europe’s intensified focus on defending against small unmanned aerial systems.

2025-12-16T03:16:26.404127-08:00

Rheinmetall showcases counter‑UAS capability at Finnish GBAD Demo Days

Bloomberg

Anduril Pushes Its Billion-Dollar Drone Strategy into the UK, Co-Funding Programs and Securing Manufacturing Deals

2025-12-15T22:50:10.840811-08:00

Anduril Pushes Its Billion-Dol

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