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Aviation Today • Frank Wolfe

US Air Force says 20+ eligible contenders remain for Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) Increment 2

The U.S. Air Force says that while it selected nine companies for CCA Increment 2 in February, more than 20 companies remain eligible for the program. The expanded eligibility pool signals a competitive, multi-vendor path for next-phase loyal-wingman development and autonomy integration.

2026-06-17T22:48:51.726705-07:00

Aviation Week

USAF awards production contracts for first Collaborative Combat Aircraft fleet: GA-ASI FQ-42A and Anduril YFQ-44A

2026-06-17T14:21:04.826761-07:00

Reuters

Rosaviatsiya orders minimum-altitude and operational restrictions for light aircraft and drones over Moscow and adjacent regions

2026-06-17T05:48:55.377787-07:00

DefenseNews.com

Poland weighs joining X-BAT autonomous VTOL fighter program as it considers up to 32 new jets

2026-06-17T05:48:44.189341-07:00

News Timeline

FlightGlobal

Atlas UAV’s Kerveros upgrade targets operational armed-drone evaluation by year-end Atlas UAV says development of its Kerveros capability will enable the first delivery of an armed drone to an undisclosed customer for operational evaluation, expected by year-end. The milestone underscores how quickly the company is translating new mission payload/arming capability into customer-facing testing.

2026-06-18T02:32:49.701337-07:00

Atlas UAV’s Kerveros upgrade targets operational armed-drone evaluation by year-end

Aviation Today

US Air Force says 20+ eligible contenders remain for Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) Increment 2 The U.S. Air Force says that while it selected nine companies for CCA Increment 2 in February, more than 20 companies remain eligible for the program. The expanded eligibility pool signals a competitive, multi-vendor path for next-phase loyal-wingman development and autonomy integration.

2026-06-17T22:48:51.726705-07:00

US Air Force says 20+ eligible contenders remain for Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) Increment 2

Aviation Today

Mach Industries named DIU aircraft integrator for Navy runway-independent long-range drone program Mach Industries says it won a Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) contract to serve as aircraft integrator for a U.S. Navy effort aimed at developing runway-independent, long-range drones. The award positions the startup to coordinate the platform integration work required to field an uncrewed capability designed to operate without conventional runways.

2026-06-17T22:48:51.608908-07:00

Mach Industries named DIU aircraft integrator for Navy runway-independent long-range drone program

Aviation Week

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USAF awards production contracts for first Collaborative Combat Aircraft fleet: GA-ASI FQ-42A and Anduril YFQ-44A The U.S. Air Force awarded production contracts to General Atomics (GA-ASI) and Anduril for the first operational fleet of Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), assigning GA-ASI to produce the YFQ-42A and Anduril to manufacture the YFQ-44A. The move transitions the program from prototype development to full-scale manufacturing of semi-autonomous loyal-wingman aircraft.

2026-06-17T14:21:04.826761-07:00

USAF awards production contracts for first Collaborative Combat Aircraft fleet: GA-ASI FQ-42A and Anduril YFQ-44A

AeroTime

Thales unveils RapidStriker mobile counter-drone system at Eurosatory 2026 using low-cost 70mm rockets Thales used Eurosatory 2026 to debut RapidStriker, a vehicle-mounted counter-drone and counter-helicopter air-defense concept built around low-cost 70mm rockets. The system targets a broader drone/helicopter threat set with a mobile “engage-from-the-road” approach rather than dedicated fixed-site defenses.

2026-06-17T08:18:30.043217-07:00

Thales unveils RapidStriker mobile counter-drone system at Eurosatory 2026 using low-cost 70mm rockets

Reuters

Rosaviatsiya orders minimum-altitude and operational restrictions for light aircraft and drones over Moscow and adjacent regions Russia’s civil aviation authority, Rosaviatsiya, says it will impose new flight restrictions on light private aircraft and drones in Moscow and surrounding areas, including a minimum altitude requirement. The curbs are aimed at regulating unmanned-aircraft and low-altitude activity in the capital’s airspace.

2026-06-17T05:48:55.377787-07:00

Rosaviatsiya orders minimum-altitude and operational restrictions for light aircraft and drones over Moscow and adjacent regions

DefenseNews.com

Poland weighs joining X-BAT autonomous VTOL fighter program as it considers up to 32 new jets Poland is considering joining X-BAT, an autonomous vertical-takeoff fighter program, at the same time the government is evaluating plans to acquire up to 32 new fighter jets. The decision signals continued search for next-step modernization beyond its current procurement pipeline.

2026-06-17T05:48:44.189341-07:00

Poland weighs joining X-BAT autonomous VTOL fighter program as it considers up to 32 new jets

Reuters

Italy conditionally backs Leonardo–Baykar UAV joint venture Italy’s government has given conditional approval to a joint venture between state-controlled defense group Leonardo and Turkey’s Baykar to produce unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), according to a Reuters source. The decision sets the framework for local production as both firms pursue the JV’s next steps.

2026-06-17T00:32:41.887516-07:00

Italy conditionally backs Leonardo–Baykar UAV joint venture

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UAV Development & Drone Programs News

US Air Force says 20+ eligible contenders remain for Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) Increment 2

USAF awards production contracts for first Collaborative Combat Aircraft fleet: GA-ASI FQ-42A and Anduril YFQ-44A

Rosaviatsiya orders minimum-altitude and operational restrictions for light aircraft and drones over Moscow and adjacent regions

Poland weighs joining X-BAT autonomous VTOL fighter program as it considers up to 32 new jets

News Timeline