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The War Zone • Joseph Trevithick

USMC XQ-58 Valkyries to Add Landing Gear, Enabling Both Rocket and Runway Launches

Adding landing gear to the USMC's XQ-58 Valkyrie will let the jet be rocket‑boosted for launch and recover via conventional runway landings. Rocket‑launched Valkyries will still require runway touch‑downs after missions, creating new operational options and sustainment trade‑offs for expeditionary use.

2026-01-09T11:30:52.404895-08:00

Reuters

Russia fires rare nuclear-capable Oreshnik hypersonic missile at Lviv near Poland border

2026-01-08T23:02:31.746901-08:00

FlightGlobal

US Navy digitally integrates autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft with F-35s in Joint Simulation Environment

2026-01-09T05:28:00.902972-08:00

Aviation Today

USAF assigns YFQ-48A designation to Northrop Grumman’s Project Talon

2026-01-08T14:03:29.211057-08:00

News Timeline

The War Zone

USMC XQ-58 Valkyries to Add Landing Gear, Enabling Both Rocket and Runway Launches Adding landing gear to the USMC's XQ-58 Valkyrie will let the jet be rocket‑boosted for launch and recover via conventional runway landings. Rocket‑launched Valkyries will still require runway touch‑downs after missions, creating new operational options and sustainment trade‑offs for expeditionary use.

2026-01-09T11:30:52.404895-08:00

USMC XQ-58 Valkyries to Add Landing Gear, Enabling Both Rocket and Runway Launches

FlightGlobal

US Navy digitally integrates autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft with F-35s in Joint Simulation Environment The U.S. Navy has integrated autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) with Lockheed Martin F‑35 fighters inside the Joint Simulation Environment, enabling F‑35 pilots in simulation to operate unmanned CCAs as the service develops manned–unmanned tactics ahead of fielding uncrewed fighters alongside conventional aircraft.

2026-01-09T05:28:00.902972-08:00

US Navy digitally integrates autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft with F-35s in Joint Simulation Environment

eVTOL Insights

Elroy Air and Barq Group to invest $200M in Middle East factory for Chaparral VTOL UAS Elroy Air and Barq Group have agreed an initial joint venture to invest $200 million to establish a Middle East manufacturing facility to build the Chaparral VTOL unmanned cargo aircraft. The deal aims to localize production capacity and accelerate regional deployment of Elroy's autonomous logistics UAS.

2026-01-09T01:50:11.213955-08:00

Elroy Air and Barq Group to invest $200M in Middle East factory for Chaparral VTOL UAS

Reuters

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Russia fires rare nuclear-capable Oreshnik hypersonic missile at Lviv near Poland border Moscow launched the rare nuclear-capable Oreshnik hypersonic missile at a target in Ukraine's Lviv region near the border with NATO member Poland, in what Kyiv and Western allies describe as a forceful signal to intimidate Ukraine and warn Europe and the United States amid critical peace talks.

2026-01-08T23:02:31.746901-08:00

Russia fires rare nuclear-capable Oreshnik hypersonic missile at Lviv near Poland border

Aviation Today

USAF assigns YFQ-48A designation to Northrop Grumman’s Project Talon The U.S. Air Force on Dec. 22 assigned the designation YFQ-48A to Northrop Grumman’s Project Talon, formally naming the Talon series prototype as a drone contender in the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) programme. The designation identifies Talon as an official prototype entry in the CCA competition.

2026-01-08T14:03:29.211057-08:00

USAF assigns YFQ-48A designation to Northrop Grumman’s Project Talon

Aviation Week

U.S. eases ban on foreign-made UAS with targeted exemptions The Trump administration announced exemptions to a U.S. ban on foreign-made uncrewed aircraft systems, permitting specific non‑U.S. drones to be procured or operated under defined conditions. The move loosens prior restrictions and has immediate implications for procurement, supply chains and operational availability across civil and defense users.

2026-01-08T13:41:54.818469-08:00

U.S. eases ban on foreign-made UAS with targeted exemptions

Flying Magazine

FCC narrows foreign-drone ban to exempt Pentagon 'Blue List' systems — DJI remains excluded The Federal Communications Commission has narrowed its foreign-drone restrictions by exempting unmanned aircraft and critical components that appear on the Pentagon's Blue List, allowing those systems to retain or regain approval. The FCC did not extend that relief to DJI, which remains blocked under the broader ban.

2026-01-08T12:18:45.411054-08:00

FCC narrows foreign-drone ban to exempt Pentagon 'Blue List' systems — DJI remains excluded

The War Zone

NORAD Canada commander warns of rising drone threat, urges new satellites and airborne radar jets Maj. Gen. Chris McKenna, commander of NORAD Canada, warned that proliferating drones pose a rising threat to North American airspace and urged urgent investment in new surveillance satellites and airborne radar‑equipped jets to close detection gaps and strengthen response and attribution.

2026-01-08T12:08:16.431172-08:00

NORAD Canada commander warns of rising drone threat, urges new satellites and airborne radar jets

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UAV Development & Drone Programs News

USMC XQ-58 Valkyries to Add Landing Gear, Enabling Both Rocket and Runway Launches

Russia fires rare nuclear-capable Oreshnik hypersonic missile at Lviv near Poland border

US Navy digitally integrates autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft with F-35s in Joint Simulation Environment

USAF assigns YFQ-48A designation to Northrop Grumman’s Project Talon

News Timeline