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FlightGlobal • Ryan Finnerty

Pentagon discloses LUCAS loitering munition: 434 nm range, $10k–$55k unit cost

The Pentagon disclosed specifications for LUCAS, a reverse-engineered Shahed-136 derivative loitering munition with a reported 434 nm range and unit costs between $10,000 and $55,000. The US military has begun operational deployments of the low-cost, long-range one-way attack drone in the Middle East theatre.

2026-03-15T08:59:43.411374-07:00

Air Data News

Dominion Dynamics targets armed 'loyal wingman' drone to operate with F‑35 fighters

2026-03-15T05:09:30.410005-07:00

Airbus

Airbus to flight‑test two Kratos XQ‑58A Valkyrie with European MARS, targets Luftwaffe UCCA capability by 2029

2026-03-13T04:04:21.056090-07:00

eVTOL Insights

Rotunda Hospital and Manna Air run urgent medical drone delivery flight simulation in Ireland

2026-03-13T05:20:09.532984-07:00

News Timeline

FlightGlobal

Pentagon discloses LUCAS loitering munition: 434 nm range, $10k–$55k unit cost The Pentagon disclosed specifications for LUCAS, a reverse-engineered Shahed-136 derivative loitering munition with a reported 434 nm range and unit costs between $10,000 and $55,000. The US military has begun operational deployments of the low-cost, long-range one-way attack drone in the Middle East theatre.

2026-03-15T08:59:43.411374-07:00

Pentagon discloses LUCAS loitering munition: 434 nm range, $10k–$55k unit cost

Air Data News

Dominion Dynamics targets armed 'loyal wingman' drone to operate with F‑35 fighters Dominion Dynamics, a Canadian startup, is advancing plans for an armed combat drone engineered for manned–unmanned teaming with modern fighters, explicitly including the F‑35. The design aims to operate alongside fifth‑generation jets to provide strike and support functions while integrating with existing fighter mission systems.

2026-03-15T05:09:30.410005-07:00

Dominion Dynamics targets armed 'loyal wingman' drone to operate with F‑35 fighters

Flying Magazine

Grubhub partners with Dexa to trial drone food delivery, joining DoorDash (Wing) and Uber Eats (Flytrex) Grubhub has partnered with drone operator Dexa to trial drone food delivery, joining DoorDash (Wing) and Uber Eats (Flytrex) in commercial experiments. The trial will test aerial last-mile food logistics, assessing operational feasibility, safety procedures and customer experience for on‑demand drone deliveries.

2026-03-13T11:39:26.968643-07:00

Grubhub partners with Dexa to trial drone food delivery, joining DoorDash (Wing) and Uber Eats (Flytrex)

FlightGlobal

Pentagon reveals LUCAS loitering munition — Shahed-136 derivative with 434 nm range and sub-$55k unit cost The Pentagon has released specifications for LUCAS, a one-way loitering munition reverse-engineered from Iran’s Shahed-136. The system offers a 434 nm range, a per-unit cost the department places between $10,000 and $55,000, and has been employed operationally in the Middle East.

2026-03-13T10:23:53.030335-07:00

Pentagon reveals LUCAS loitering munition — Shahed-136 derivative with 434 nm range and sub-$55k unit cost

eVTOL Insights

Rotunda Hospital and Manna Air run urgent medical drone delivery flight simulation in Ireland Rotunda Hospital partnered with Manna Air to run a flight simulation of an urgent medical drone delivery model in Ireland, demonstrating the potential to move time-critical medical supplies by air. The exercise tested operational concepts for rapid point-to-point transport in a healthcare setting.

2026-03-13T05:20:09.532984-07:00

Rotunda Hospital and Manna Air run urgent medical drone delivery flight simulation in Ireland

Reuters

Senator seeks watchdog probe into government use of laser anti‑drone system in Texas The top Democrat on the U.S. Senate Commerce aviation subcommittee has asked for a government watchdog investigation into two recent incidents in Texas involving government use of a laser‑based anti‑drone system, citing concerns about the deployments. It escalates congressional scrutiny of counter‑drone tools.

2026-03-13T04:24:22.360446-07:00

Senator seeks watchdog probe into government use of laser anti‑drone system in Texas

Airbus

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Airbus to flight‑test two Kratos XQ‑58A Valkyrie with European MARS, targets Luftwaffe UCCA capability by 2029 Airbus is integrating its autonomous MARS mission system into two Kratos XQ‑58A Valkyrie scheduled to fly this year, accelerating its Uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft (UCCA) effort to deliver an operational system to the German Air Force by 2029 and positioning Europe for manned–unmanned teaming operations.

2026-03-13T04:04:21.056090-07:00

Airbus to flight‑test two Kratos XQ‑58A Valkyrie with European MARS, targets Luftwaffe UCCA capability by 2029

Reuters

German Eurofighters and Romanian F‑16s scrambled after radar detects drones over southeastern Romania On March 13, radar systems in southeastern Romania detected aerial targets near the border with Ukraine. Romanian Air Force F‑16s and German Eurofighter Typhoons were scrambled in separate intercepts after air‑defence forces were placed on high alert; authorities said the objects were identified as drones.

2026-03-13T03:04:15.351428-07:00

German Eurofighters and Romanian F‑16s scrambled after radar detects drones over southeastern Romania

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UAV Development & Drone Programs News

Pentagon discloses LUCAS loitering munition: 434 nm range, $10k–$55k unit cost

Dominion Dynamics targets armed 'loyal wingman' drone to operate with F‑35 fighters

Airbus to flight‑test two Kratos XQ‑58A Valkyrie with European MARS, targets Luftwaffe UCCA capability by 2029

Rotunda Hospital and Manna Air run urgent medical drone delivery flight simulation in Ireland

News Timeline