AeroTime
• Ian Molyneaux
JetZero has started upgrading the Pratt & Whitney engines intended for its Jet 1 blended-wing-body demonstrator. Separately, a UK-developed turbojet designed for drones and larger aircraft has advanced from concept to production and flight testing in seven months.
UAV Development & Drone Programs
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The U.S. Air Force plans to field 500 Collaborative Combat Aircraft by 2032, with Anduril’s FQ-44 Fury and General Atomics’ FQ-42 Vengeance selected for the program. Lockheed Martin is also boosting production of its Vectis, scheduled to fly in 2027, as manufacturers broaden their uncrewed combat-aircraft portfolios.
JetZero has started upgrading the Pratt & Whitney engines intended for its Jet 1 blended-wing-body demonstrator. Separately, a UK-developed turbojet designed for drones and larger aircraft has advanced from concept to production and flight testing in seven months.
Pratt & Whitney says its F135 Engine Core Upgrade for the F-35 Block 4 has cleared a risk-reduction design review, targeting greater longevity, thrust and fuel efficiency. Separately, the company has licensed Hermeus to build F100-PW-229 engines for its high-speed Quarterhorse Mk 2 drone.
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Denmark accused a Russian warship of firing two emergency flares at a Danish military helicopter, while Poland scrambled fighters after Russian drone attacks on Ukraine and Lithuania reported an explosive device on a downed drone. European leaders described the incidents as part of a broader pattern of provocations.
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The U.S. Navy is moving multiple uncrewed and advanced-weapon concepts toward operational use: Boeing received a $562 million contract for three MQ-25A Stingrays, Castelion secured a potential $200 million Blackbeard production order, and Textron Aviation and Merlin unveiled a pilotless SkyCourier military resupply concept.
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A NATO-intercepted drone entered Lithuanian airspace from neighboring Belarus and was shot down by an Italian Eurofighter F-2000A Typhoon, as Russia’s war against Ukraine intensifies. The incident highlights mounting pressure on NATO’s eastern-flank air defenses and Lithuania’s readiness to respond to aerial threats.
Textron Aviation is studying an autonomous military-cargo version of the Cessna SkyCourier that removes the conventional cockpit and creates space for a new forward-loading arrangement. The concept explores how distributed autonomy and revised fuselage access could support future unmanned logistics missions.
The U.S. Air Force plans to establish a dedicated point-defense career field within two years and is considering a new acquisition office to oversee the mission. The changes reflect a shift toward defending bases worldwide against drone and missile attacks, following recent Iranian strikes in the Middle East.
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