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AINonline • Amy Wilder

Regulators Split on Autonomy Definitions and Certification Paths, Verticon Panel Finds

At Verticon regulators said they remain split on what constitutes 'autonomy' and on certification pathways for drones and autonomous aircraft, revealing divergent national approaches that threaten to complicate global harmonization, slow commercial deployment and force manufacturers to support multiple compliance tracks.

2026-03-10T14:04:08.259591-07:00

Airbus

Airbus Helicopters, Garuda Technologies sign for up to 18 Flexrotor UAS for dry and wet lease

2026-03-10T09:48:45.020936-07:00

Vertical Mag

Robinson launches Robinson Unmanned and unveils R66 'TurbineTruck' autonomous cargo variant

2026-03-10T08:08:24.354332-07:00

New York Times

Operation Epic Fury: CENTCOM says 5,000+ Iranian targets struck in first 10 days; 140 U.S. wounded

2026-03-10T08:12:26.477296-07:00

News Timeline

AINonline

Regulators Split on Autonomy Definitions and Certification Paths, Verticon Panel Finds At Verticon regulators said they remain split on what constitutes 'autonomy' and on certification pathways for drones and autonomous aircraft, revealing divergent national approaches that threaten to complicate global harmonization, slow commercial deployment and force manufacturers to support multiple compliance tracks.

2026-03-10T14:04:08.259591-07:00

Regulators Split on Autonomy Definitions and Certification Paths, Verticon Panel Finds

Airbus

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Airbus Helicopters, Garuda Technologies sign for up to 18 Flexrotor UAS for dry and wet lease Airbus Helicopters has contracted with Garuda Technologies for delivery of up to 18 Flexrotor uncrewed aerial systems. Garuda will offer the tilt‑rotor UAS to customers worldwide via both dry and wet lease arrangements, expanding its leasing portfolio for surveillance and other global missions.

2026-03-10T09:48:45.020936-07:00

Airbus Helicopters, Garuda Technologies sign for up to 18 Flexrotor UAS for dry and wet lease

New York Times

Operation Epic Fury: CENTCOM says 5,000+ Iranian targets struck in first 10 days; 140 U.S. wounded Operation Epic Fury, launched Feb. 28, is a U.S.-Israeli campaign CENTCOM says struck more than 5,000 Iranian targets in its first 10 days and damaged over 50 vessels using bombers, stealth fighters and naval assets. The Pentagon reports about 140 U.S. service members wounded and several killed.

2026-03-10T08:12:26.477296-07:00

Operation Epic Fury: CENTCOM says 5,000+ Iranian targets struck in first 10 days; 140 U.S. wounded

Vertical Mag

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Robinson launches Robinson Unmanned and unveils R66 'TurbineTruck' autonomous cargo variant Robinson Helicopter has launched Robinson Unmanned, a new business unit developing platforms from small coaxial UAVs to heavy-lift uncrewed helicopters. It also unveiled the TurbineTruck — an autonomous R66 cargo variant fitted with Sikorsky's Matrix flight‑control system and rated for 680 kg (1,500 lb).

2026-03-10T08:08:24.354332-07:00

Robinson launches Robinson Unmanned and unveils R66 'TurbineTruck' autonomous cargo variant

FlightGlobal

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Sikorsky restarts S-92 as S-92A+ while accelerating unmanned, autonomous and hybrid-electric demonstrators Sikorsky has restarted S‑92 production as the S‑92A+, with assembly in Stratford and Owego and the first batch bound for a head‑of‑state customer. The company is simultaneously advancing unmanned and hybrid‑electric demonstrators — including a ground‑tested HEX tiltwing powertrain and autonomous Nomad and U‑Hawk projects slated for 2026.

2026-03-10T04:18:15.855188-07:00

Sikorsky restarts S-92 as S-92A+ while accelerating unmanned, autonomous and hybrid-electric demonstrators

Reuters

Beta accelerates Alia MV250 military cargo drone; first flight moved up six months to this year Beta Technologies has accelerated development of its Alia MV250 military cargo drone by six months, moving the program's first flight to this year, CEO Kyle Clark told Reuters. The schedule push follows recent FAA grant support and advances Beta's defense logistics ambitions.

2026-03-09T15:03:23.098305-07:00

Beta accelerates Alia MV250 military cargo drone; first flight moved up six months to this year

Vertical Mag

Honeywell unveils HGuide i700 IMU for GNSS‑denied unmanned platforms Honeywell introduced the HGuide i700, a high‑accuracy inertial measurement unit (IMU) built to provide precise navigation for unmanned aerial and ground platforms operating in GNSS‑denied environments. The unit is aimed at preserving autonomy and mission continuity where GPS is unavailable or jammed.

2026-03-09T12:08:15.811222-07:00

Honeywell unveils HGuide i700 IMU for GNSS‑denied unmanned platforms

Vertical Mag

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DARPA designates Bell SPRINT demonstrator X-76 after CDR; build to start ahead of 2028 flight Bell’s SPRINT demonstrator completed its critical design review and received DARPA’s X‑plane designation X‑76, clearing construction of a fold‑away rotor, runway‑independent demonstrator that DARPA aims to fly in early 2028. The crewed/uncrewed concept targets ~400‑kt high‑speed VTOL performance and will explore folding‑rotor transitions and autonomous operation modes.

2026-03-09T12:08:14.909704-07:00

DARPA designates Bell SPRINT demonstrator X-76 after CDR; build to start ahead of 2028 flight

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UAV Development & Drone Programs News

Regulators Split on Autonomy Definitions and Certification Paths, Verticon Panel Finds

Airbus Helicopters, Garuda Technologies sign for up to 18 Flexrotor UAS for dry and wet lease

Robinson launches Robinson Unmanned and unveils R66 'TurbineTruck' autonomous cargo variant

Operation Epic Fury: CENTCOM says 5,000+ Iranian targets struck in first 10 days; 140 U.S. wounded

News Timeline