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The War Zone • Tyler Rogoway

General Atomics' Collaborative Combat Aircraft YFQ-42A officially named 'Dark Merlin'

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems announced Feb. 23 that its U.S. Air Force Collaborative Combat Aircraft has been officially designated YFQ-42A Dark Merlin. The company will market the prototype under the Dark Merlin name as its entry in the CCA programme.

2026-02-23T03:53:48.711016-08:00

suasnews.com

Myanmar National Airlines ATR-72-600 struck by suspected FPV/kamikaze drone at Myitkyina Airport

2026-02-21T07:35:21.586562-08:00

DefenseNews.com

U.S. Army says drones are transforming aviation and combined‑arms training

2026-02-20T15:47:20.063792-08:00

AeroTime

Reports of covert U.S.-Dutch-Ukrainian F-16 squadron defending Kyiv; Ukraine denies foreign combat pilots

2026-02-17T07:50:02.809275-08:00

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The War Zone

General Atomics' Collaborative Combat Aircraft YFQ-42A officially named 'Dark Merlin' General Atomics Aeronautical Systems announced Feb. 23 that its U.S. Air Force Collaborative Combat Aircraft has been officially designated YFQ-42A Dark Merlin. The company will market the prototype under the Dark Merlin name as its entry in the CCA programme.

2026-02-23T03:53:48.711016-08:00

General Atomics' Collaborative Combat Aircraft YFQ-42A officially named 'Dark Merlin'

suasnews.com

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Myanmar National Airlines ATR-72-600 struck by suspected FPV/kamikaze drone at Myitkyina Airport On 20 February 2026, a Myanmar National Airlines ATR 72-600 was struck by a suspected FPV (first-person view) "kamikaze" drone at Myitkyina Airport in Kachin State while boarding passengers and preparing for takeoff. Authorities and the carrier are investigating the strike.

2026-02-21T07:35:21.586562-08:00

Myanmar National Airlines ATR-72-600 struck by suspected FPV/kamikaze drone at Myitkyina Airport

DefenseNews.com

U.S. Army says drones are transforming aviation and combined‑arms training The U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence, under Maj. Gen. Clair A. Gill, is integrating unmanned systems into aviation and combined‑arms training, saying drones are "changing everything" for combined‑arms combat. The shift embeds UAS into tactics and instruction, accelerating doctrinal and operational adaptation.

2026-02-20T15:47:20.063792-08:00

U.S. Army says drones are transforming aviation and combined‑arms training

AeroTime

Germany reviews 2029-ready uncrewed combat jet for Luftwaffe amid fast-track strike-drone push Germany has added another review round to its fast‑track Luftwaffe strike‑drone programme, reopening scrutiny of an uncrewed combat jet scheduled for 2029 readiness after the project's August 2025 acceleration, Hartpunkt reports. The step formalises tighter acquisition oversight while maintaining the accelerated timetable.

2026-02-20T05:55:38.383369-08:00

Germany reviews 2029-ready uncrewed combat jet for Luftwaffe amid fast-track strike-drone push

defence-industry.eu

BAE FalconWorks and SURVICE sign framework to deepen uncrewed air system development BAE Systems' FalconWorks and SURVICE Engineering have signed a framework agreement to collaborate on uncrewed air system (UAS) technologies, building on an existing relationship that dates to a 2015 Malloy Aeronautics agreement. The pact formalises joint development and systems-integration work on UAS capabilities.

2026-02-19T05:29:51.196207-08:00

BAE FalconWorks and SURVICE sign framework to deepen uncrewed air system development

DefenseNews.com

DARPA launches $6.5M Lift Challenge to develop drones that carry four times their weight DARPA has launched its Lift Challenge, a $6.5 million open competition seeking drone designs capable of carrying roughly four times their own weight for logistics and resupply missions. The program invites big firms and 'garage' innovators to submit novel airframe and subsystem concepts.

2026-02-18T07:15:29.481484-08:00

DARPA launches $6.5M Lift Challenge to develop drones that carry four times their weight

DefenseNews.com

Apaches test APEX 30mm proximity rounds, use airburst shrapnel to down drones in air‑to‑air trials AH‑64 Apache crews test‑fired APEX 30mm proximity‑fuzed rounds in air‑to‑air trials, using airburst shrapnel effects to engage and destroy unmanned aerial systems at multiple ranges. Live‑fire testing produced successful drone shoot‑downs, validating the 30mm APEX munition as a counter‑UAS option for attack helicopters.

2026-02-18T03:40:37.318659-08:00

Apaches test APEX 30mm proximity rounds, use airburst shrapnel to down drones in air‑to‑air trials

AeroTime

Venom autonomous strike aircraft completes first flight after 71-day design-to-flight build Divergent Technologies and Mach Industries designed, built and flew the Venom autonomous strike aircraft in 71 days, conducting a first flight that underscores a dramatic acceleration in rapid defense prototyping. The demonstrator highlights industry moves toward compressed development cycles for autonomous armed systems.

2026-02-17T08:54:12.058579-08:00

Venom autonomous strike aircraft completes first flight after 71-day design-to-flight build

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UAV Development & Drone Programs News

General Atomics' Collaborative Combat Aircraft YFQ-42A officially named 'Dark Merlin'

Myanmar National Airlines ATR-72-600 struck by suspected FPV/kamikaze drone at Myitkyina Airport

U.S. Army says drones are transforming aviation and combined‑arms training

Reports of covert U.S.-Dutch-Ukrainian F-16 squadron defending Kyiv; Ukraine denies foreign combat pilots

News Timeline