News

FlightGlobal • Craig Hoyle

GA-ASI and Saab complete first flight of MQ-9B with LoyalEye unmanned airborne early warning radar pods

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and Saab have completed the maiden flight of the first unmanned airborne early warning (AEW) configuration: an MQ-9B equipped with Saab’s LoyalEye AEW radar pods. The companies frame the test as a major step toward next-generation uncrewed surveillance for early threat detection.

2026-05-21T09:38:36.247976-07:00

DefenseNews.com

USAF calls MQ-9 Reaper “MVP” for Epic Fury and pitches expendable autonomous-drone propulsion as lawmakers push manned-unmanned

2026-05-21T11:10:25.711914-07:00

Aviation Today

Redwire lands multi-year, multi-million contract to deliver Penguin Mk3 UAS to NATO ally

2026-05-21T09:25:20.963092-07:00

Reuters

Latvia detects drone in airspace, activates NATO fighter jets to counter the threat

2026-05-21T03:13:55.800829-07:00

News Timeline

DefenseNews.com

USAF calls MQ-9 Reaper “MVP” for Epic Fury and pitches expendable autonomous-drone propulsion as lawmakers push manned-unmanned US Air Force leaders told Congress on May 20 that the MQ-9 Reaper has been a key “workhorse” in the U.S. air campaign against Iran, even as the service’s fiscal 2027 budget request prioritizes crewed fighters. In parallel, GE Aerospace and Kratos won a May 19 contract to design the GE426 expendable drone engine for autonomous aircraft.

2026-05-21T11:10:25.711914-07:00

USAF calls MQ-9 Reaper “MVP” for Epic Fury and pitches expendable autonomous-drone propulsion as lawmakers push manned-unmanned

FlightGlobal

❗️

GA-ASI and Saab complete first flight of MQ-9B with LoyalEye unmanned airborne early warning radar pods General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and Saab have completed the maiden flight of the first unmanned airborne early warning (AEW) configuration: an MQ-9B equipped with Saab’s LoyalEye AEW radar pods. The companies frame the test as a major step toward next-generation uncrewed surveillance for early threat detection.

2026-05-21T09:38:36.247976-07:00

GA-ASI and Saab complete first flight of MQ-9B with LoyalEye unmanned airborne early warning radar pods

Aviation Today

Redwire lands multi-year, multi-million contract to deliver Penguin Mk3 UAS to NATO ally Redwire says it has received a multi-year, multi-million dollar contract from a NATO ally to deliver the company’s Penguin Mk3 unmanned aircraft system. The award adds to the firm’s growing defense-drone workload and reinforces its bid position with European government customers.

2026-05-21T09:25:20.963092-07:00

Redwire lands multi-year, multi-million contract to deliver Penguin Mk3 UAS to NATO ally

Reuters

Latvia detects drone in airspace, activates NATO fighter jets to counter the threat Latvia’s armed forces said at least one drone entered the country’s airspace, prompting activation of NATO fighter jets to engage the suspected threat. The incident follows a pattern of similar Baltic security events, underscoring persistent unmanned-airspace risks in the region.

2026-05-21T03:13:55.800829-07:00

Latvia detects drone in airspace, activates NATO fighter jets to counter the threat

SpaceWatch Global

Lithuanian swarm-software firm targets Series A amid NATO-focused investor push and 10x backlog growth Lithuania’s unmanned defense systems specialist, led by CEO Vytenis Buzas, is pursuing a Series A as its backlog reaches “10 times” growth. The company says it aims for a fifteenfold revenue jump this year and is limiting investor outreach to NATO and European capitals.

2026-05-21T02:05:47.884802-07:00

Lithuanian swarm-software firm targets Series A amid NATO-focused investor push and 10x backlog growth

FlightGlobal

DRDO’s ULPGM-V3 clears final trials for drone-launched precision in air-to-ground and air-to-air roles India’s DRDO has completed final configuration development trials for its Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Launched Precision Guided Missile (ULPGM-V3), validating the weapon in both air-to-ground and air-to-air combat modes. Trials were conducted near Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, as New Delhi positions the system as an indigenous drone-warfare capability for precision engagements against ground and air targets.

2026-05-20T20:24:35.498414-07:00

DRDO’s ULPGM-V3 clears final trials for drone-launched precision in air-to-ground and air-to-air roles

FlightGlobal

Shield AI selected Hivemind to pilot LUCAS one-way attack drones with collaborative swarm autonomy Shield AI says the Defense Department selected its Hivemind agentic AI software to serve as the autonomy “pilot” for LUCAS Kamikaze one-way drones. The test demonstration later this year targets swarming 10 or more munitions operating collaboratively under the LUCAS program.

2026-05-20T08:54:31.817627-07:00

Shield AI selected Hivemind to pilot LUCAS one-way attack drones with collaborative swarm autonomy

Aviation Week

Jet Aviation adds automated drone + AI exterior aircraft inspections for U.S. customers, extending a 2023 Basel deployment Jet Aviation has launched a service in the U.S. that uses automated drones and artificial intelligence to inspect aircraft exteriors for customers, building on a technology partnership started in 2023. The capability first rolled out from its Basel, Switzerland headquarters in 2023 and is now being extended across its global footprint.

2026-05-20T04:40:56.464475-07:00

Jet Aviation adds automated drone + AI exterior aircraft inspections for U.S. customers, extending a 2023 Basel deployment

Menu

UAV Development & Drone Programs News

GA-ASI and Saab complete first flight of MQ-9B with LoyalEye unmanned airborne early warning radar pods

USAF calls MQ-9 Reaper “MVP” for Epic Fury and pitches expendable autonomous-drone propulsion as lawmakers push manned-unmanned

Redwire lands multi-year, multi-million contract to deliver Penguin Mk3 UAS to NATO ally

Latvia detects drone in airspace, activates NATO fighter jets to counter the threat

News Timeline