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Unmanned Airspace • Philip Butterworth-Hayes

Task Force 401 selects five bases for FY26-directed-energy counter-UAS laser pilot, after Texas airspace closures

US Joint Interagency Task Force 401 has picked five installations to run a directed-energy counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS) pilot program funded in the FY2026 NDAA. The test effort follows February deployments of a counter-drone system that triggered unexpected airspace closures in Texas, with the Pentagon planning laser trials at the selected sites.

2026-05-07T10:46:31.051446-07:00

eVTOL Insights

Savback Helicopters and Dufour Aerospace to build Sweden’s long-range hybrid-electric drone logistics network with Aero-200 tilt

2026-05-07T06:48:09.914265-07:00

Aerospace Testing Intnl

UK commits £346.5m (nearly €350m) to accelerate drone deliveries and eVTOL/advanced air mobility—plus hybrid Remote ID for real-

2026-05-06T08:22:03.151365-07:00

AeroTime

Drones cross from Russia into Latvia; two crash in Latgale and one ignites an oil storage facility

2026-05-07T01:24:09.060195-07:00

News Timeline

Breaking Defense

SAHA 2026: Aselsan unveils two uncrewed naval systems and targets export replication of Turkey’s UAV momentum Aselsan has unveiled two new uncrewed naval systems at SAHA 2026, framing a sea-domain push built to mirror Turkey’s broader UAV success. The company’s bigger challenge, per the reporting, is translating platform showpiece capabilities into export traction in a crowded unmanned market.

2026-05-07T14:09:33.202967-07:00

SAHA 2026: Aselsan unveils two uncrewed naval systems and targets export replication of Turkey’s UAV momentum

Unmanned Airspace

Task Force 401 selects five bases for FY26-directed-energy counter-UAS laser pilot, after Texas airspace closures US Joint Interagency Task Force 401 has picked five installations to run a directed-energy counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS) pilot program funded in the FY2026 NDAA. The test effort follows February deployments of a counter-drone system that triggered unexpected airspace closures in Texas, with the Pentagon planning laser trials at the selected sites.

2026-05-07T10:46:31.051446-07:00

Task Force 401 selects five bases for FY26-directed-energy counter-UAS laser pilot, after Texas airspace closures

eVTOL Insights

Savback Helicopters and Dufour Aerospace to build Sweden’s long-range hybrid-electric drone logistics network with Aero-200 tilt Savback Helicopters and Dufour Aerospace have announced a commercial partnership to launch a long-range drone logistics network across Sweden using hybrid-electric Aero-200 tiltwing aircraft. The initiative targets establishment of a “premier” network for point-to-point drone freight operations within the country.

2026-05-07T06:48:09.914265-07:00

Savback Helicopters and Dufour Aerospace to build Sweden’s long-range hybrid-electric drone logistics network with Aero-200 tilt

AeroTime

Drones cross from Russia into Latvia; two crash in Latgale and one ignites an oil storage facility Latvian officials said two drones entered the country from Russia overnight May 7 and crashed in the Latgale region. One struck an oil storage facility in Rēzekne, hitting an empty tank and starting a fire, while authorities continued searching for the second drone’s location and origin.

2026-05-07T01:24:09.060195-07:00

Drones cross from Russia into Latvia; two crash in Latgale and one ignites an oil storage facility

Northrop Grumman

DARPA and Northrop Grumman launch XRQ-73 Shepard hybrid-electric ISR demonstrator at Edwards DARPA and Northrop Grumman have completed the first flight of the XRQ-73 Shepard, an uncrewed reconnaissance platform designed to demonstrate hybrid-electric propulsion for future autonomous systems. Built with Scaled Composites, the “flying wing” uses electricity generated by a gas turbine to drive an ultra-quiet propulsion system. Flight tests are underway at Edwards Air Force Base.

2026-05-06T10:19:38.902409-07:00

DARPA and Northrop Grumman launch XRQ-73 Shepard hybrid-electric ISR demonstrator at Edwards

Aerospace Testing Intnl

❗️

UK commits £346.5m (nearly €350m) to accelerate drone deliveries and eVTOL/advanced air mobility—plus hybrid Remote ID for real- The UK government is investing nearly £350m to expand drone deliveries and enable eVTOL/advanced air mobility, including funding for a real-time identification system for drones. It also pairs the rollout with regulation and enforcement measures aimed at curbing illegal drone activity, with support for industry to reduce red tape.

2026-05-06T08:22:03.151365-07:00

UK commits £346.5m (nearly €350m) to accelerate drone deliveries and eVTOL/advanced air mobility—plus hybrid Remote ID for real-

Aviation Week

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FAA proposes drone no-fly zones over critical infrastructure, with enforcement for violators A decade after Congress directed protections against drone threats to critical infrastructure, the FAA has published proposed rules restricting unmanned aircraft operations over key facilities. The NPRM also allows critical infrastructure operators to apply for tailored restrictions, while pilot violators could face fines, criminal charges, or certificate action.

2026-05-05T15:58:08.270844-07:00

FAA proposes drone no-fly zones over critical infrastructure, with enforcement for violators

AINonline

Aeronautics boosts UAS production capacity to expand beyond legacy platforms Aeronautics says it has doubled unmanned production capacity as drone use cases expand. The company’s Orbiter, Dominator, Aerostar and Octoper drones can be adapted for new roles, positioning the supplier to scale platform availability for evolving operational needs.

2026-05-05T08:09:28.570433-07:00

Aeronautics boosts UAS production capacity to expand beyond legacy platforms

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UAV Development & Drone Programs News

Task Force 401 selects five bases for FY26-directed-energy counter-UAS laser pilot, after Texas airspace closures

Savback Helicopters and Dufour Aerospace to build Sweden’s long-range hybrid-electric drone logistics network with Aero-200 tilt

UK commits £346.5m (nearly €350m) to accelerate drone deliveries and eVTOL/advanced air mobility—plus hybrid Remote ID for real-

Drones cross from Russia into Latvia; two crash in Latgale and one ignites an oil storage facility

News Timeline