UAV Development & Drone Programs News

FlightGlobal

Think tank calls for missile-armed collaborative combat aircraft to escort vulnerable support aircraft

A think tank is advocating specialized, missile-carrying collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) to protect airborne support assets from China’s growing long-range air-to-air missile capability. The concept would use uncrewed aircraft as escorts to counter threats against tankers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms, and other high-value enablers.

AINonline

Bristow triples early-delivery reservations for Chaparral hybrid-electric cargo drone to 15

Helicopter operator Bristow has reserved 15 early-delivery Chaparral hybrid-electric cargo drones, tripling its initial reservation commitment. The move provides an early commercial signal for cargo-drone demand and positions Bristow to expand beyond conventional rotorcraft operations as the aircraft becomes available.

The War Zone

High activity

General Atomics delivers FQ-42A Vengeance to Creech for test and evaluation

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has delivered an FQ-42A Vengeance to Creech Air Force Base in Nevada, where the aircraft will continue regular test and evaluation operations. The handover marks the latest step in advancing the platform’s operational assessment with the U.S. Air Force.

Urban Air Mobility News

Bristow expands Elroy Air Chaparral reservation to 15 autonomous cargo aircraft

Bristow Group has reserved 10 additional early delivery positions for Elroy Air’s Chaparral autonomous cargo aircraft, bringing its total reservation to 15. The expanded commitment strengthens Bristow’s planned role in deploying uncrewed electric cargo aircraft for logistics operations as Elroy advances the Chaparral program.

FlightGlobal

Tekever wins five-year UK MoD contract for initial batch of six AR5 UAVs

Tekever will supply the British Army with an initial batch of six AR5 uncrewed air vehicles under a five-year contract with the UK Ministry of Defence, establishing a dedicated procurement and support relationship for the company’s UAV platform.

Reuters

Luxembourg deploys additional detection assets after drone sightings temporarily halt airport services

Luxembourg has deployed additional airspace-detection assets after drone sightings prompted the temporary suspension of services at Luxembourg Airport late Friday. The move strengthens monitoring around the airport as authorities respond to an operational disruption caused by unidentified unmanned aircraft activity.

Washington Post

Missile and Drone Strikes Ignite Fuel Tanks Near Riyadh Airport

Ballistic missiles and drones struck near Riyadh’s international airport, setting storage tanks alight and sending a large plume of black smoke into the sky. The incident followed Saudi Arabia’s first overnight air-raid alert since fighting in neighboring Yemen intensified this month, prompting emergency firefighting response.

Air Data News

US Air Force to field Collaborative Combat Aircraft in large-scale exercise for first time

The US Air Force will introduce its Collaborative Combat Aircraft drones to a large-scale combat exercise in December, marking the first reported exercise deployment for uncrewed aircraft designed to operate alongside crewed fighters and another step toward operational integration.