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Breaking Defense • Michael Marrow

Northrop Grumman wins USMC MUX TACAIR CCA award to integrate autonomy on Kratos XQ‑58 Valkyrie

Northrop Grumman was competitively awarded the U.S. Marine Corps' MUX TACAIR Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) task on Jan. 8, 2026, to rapidly develop software, mission systems and autonomy integration for the service’s CCA capability using Kratos' XQ‑58 Valkyrie uncrewed jet.

2026-01-08T06:09:17.995465-08:00

Vertical Mag

Wingcopter, ITOCHU sign MOU to deploy 198 Wingcopter 198 drones in Japan for LiDAR surveying and disaster‑management mapping

2026-01-07T06:19:33.234804-08:00

aaminternational.com

EHang EH216 Pilotless eVTOL Completes 22 km Point-to-Point Crossing of China’s Qiongzhou Strait

2026-01-06T22:09:43.310355-08:00

The War Zone

Ukraine says donated F-16s shot down about 1,000 Russian cruise missiles and attack drones as pilots overhaul tactics

2026-01-06T09:54:10.899382-08:00

News Timeline

Breaking Defense

Northrop Grumman wins USMC MUX TACAIR CCA award to integrate autonomy on Kratos XQ‑58 Valkyrie Northrop Grumman was competitively awarded the U.S. Marine Corps' MUX TACAIR Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) task on Jan. 8, 2026, to rapidly develop software, mission systems and autonomy integration for the service’s CCA capability using Kratos' XQ‑58 Valkyrie uncrewed jet.

2026-01-08T06:09:17.995465-08:00

Northrop Grumman wins USMC MUX TACAIR CCA award to integrate autonomy on Kratos XQ‑58 Valkyrie

Vertical Mag

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Wingcopter, ITOCHU sign MOU to deploy 198 Wingcopter 198 drones in Japan for LiDAR surveying and disaster‑management mapping Wingcopter’s authorized partner in Japan, ITOCHU Corporation, has signed an MOU with PASCO and YellowScan Japan to deploy 198 Wingcopter 198 long‑range drones for LiDAR aerial surveying and disaster‑management mapping, initially targeting large‑area terrain surveys and post‑disaster mapping operations.

2026-01-07T06:19:33.234804-08:00

Wingcopter, ITOCHU sign MOU to deploy 198 Wingcopter 198 drones in Japan for LiDAR surveying and disaster‑management mapping

AeroTime

France's DGA drops 72 inert drones from A400M in flight trials to validate launch simulations and aircraft safety France’s defence procurement agency (DGA) conducted flight trials releasing 72 inert drone mock-ups from an Airbus A400M to validate launch simulations, assess separation dynamics and measure the airlifter’s structural and operational response during mass-release scenarios. The empirical data will feed modelling tools and safety procedures for future UAS launch concepts.

2026-01-07T04:34:25.333280-08:00

France's DGA drops 72 inert drones from A400M in flight trials to validate launch simulations and aircraft safety

aaminternational.com

EHang EH216 Pilotless eVTOL Completes 22 km Point-to-Point Crossing of China’s Qiongzhou Strait EHang's EH216-series pilotless eVTOL completed a point-to-point flight across China’s Qiongzhou Strait, covering the 22 km route and marking what the company described as the first pilotless eVTOL crossing of the strait. The flight demonstrates EH216’s capability for short over-water routing in an operational context.

2026-01-06T22:09:43.310355-08:00

EHang EH216 Pilotless eVTOL Completes 22 km Point-to-Point Crossing of China’s Qiongzhou Strait

FlightGlobal

Russia fits Shahed/Geran‑2 loitering munitions with MANPADS and small air‑to‑air missiles Russian forces have modified Iran‑designed Shahed‑136/Geran‑2 loitering munitions to carry Verba MANPADS and small air‑to‑air missiles, converting one‑way attack drones into airborne short‑range anti‑air assets. The change aims to threaten intercepting fighters and defeat enemy suicide UAVs, marking a tactical shift in C‑UAS employment.

2026-01-06T13:55:10.665852-08:00

Russia fits Shahed/Geran‑2 loitering munitions with MANPADS and small air‑to‑air missiles

asiatimes.com

China’s drone carriers concealed among merchant ships could militarize trade routes Reports suggest China is exploring merchant vessels modified to carry and deploy unmanned aircraft, a tactic that could mask military capability within commercial fleets and extend PLA reach along key sea lanes. The approach would blur civilian‑military lines, complicating surveillance, attribution and rules of engagement.

2026-01-06T11:37:46.405489-08:00

China’s drone carriers concealed among merchant ships could militarize trade routes

The War Zone

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Ukraine says donated F-16s shot down about 1,000 Russian cruise missiles and attack drones as pilots overhaul tactics Ukrainian pilots say donated F-16s have shot down roughly 1,000 Russian cruise missiles and one‑way attack drones. Crews report they have rewritten NATO‑taught F‑16 tactics to operate in heavily contested frontline airspace and have highlighted sustainment and operational challenges during intense combat use.

2026-01-06T09:54:10.899382-08:00

Ukraine says donated F-16s shot down about 1,000 Russian cruise missiles and attack drones as pilots overhaul tactics

Air & Space Forces Mag

US Growlers, RC-135s, RQ-170 and F-22s supported Jan. 3 strike that disabled Venezuelan air defenses US Navy EA-18G Growlers helped disable Venezuelan air defenses during the Jan. 3 US strike, with F-22 fighters also employed and later withdrawn. In the aftermath the USAF has sustained RC-135 reconnaissance flights near Venezuela, and videos purport to show an RQ-170 Sentinel returning to Puerto Rico.

2026-01-05T18:57:51.443018-08:00

US Growlers, RC-135s, RQ-170 and F-22s supported Jan. 3 strike that disabled Venezuelan air defenses

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UAV Development & Drone Programs News

Northrop Grumman wins USMC MUX TACAIR CCA award to integrate autonomy on Kratos XQ‑58 Valkyrie

Wingcopter, ITOCHU sign MOU to deploy 198 Wingcopter 198 drones in Japan for LiDAR surveying and disaster‑management mapping

EHang EH216 Pilotless eVTOL Completes 22 km Point-to-Point Crossing of China’s Qiongzhou Strait

Ukraine says donated F-16s shot down about 1,000 Russian cruise missiles and attack drones as pilots overhaul tactics

News Timeline