News

Reuters • Andrius Sytas

Lithuania and Latvia activate “air danger” warnings and scramble NATO jets after suspected drone incursion near Vilnius

Lithuania and Latvia issued mobile air-danger alerts in eastern districts after radar detected tracks consistent with drones, with NATO jets scrambled to intercept a drone near Vilnius. Lithuania suspended traffic at the capital’s airport and urged residents to take shelter as the situation escalated.

2026-05-20T00:57:04.680020-07:00

FlightGlobal

Northrop’s YFQ-48A Talon Blue completes first taxi test in Mojave; Crane supplies brake control system

2026-05-20T00:25:17.979038-07:00

FlightGlobal

Boeing MQ-25A Stingray secures Milestone C approval, setting stage for low-rate initial production

2026-05-19T21:55:46.814816-07:00

defence-blog.com

Russia flies Su-57D two-seat prototype as stealth fighter platform expands into training and potential drone-coordination roles

2026-05-19T11:25:23.543577-07:00

News Timeline

Reuters

Lithuania and Latvia activate “air danger” warnings and scramble NATO jets after suspected drone incursion near Vilnius Lithuania and Latvia issued mobile air-danger alerts in eastern districts after radar detected tracks consistent with drones, with NATO jets scrambled to intercept a drone near Vilnius. Lithuania suspended traffic at the capital’s airport and urged residents to take shelter as the situation escalated.

2026-05-20T00:57:04.680020-07:00

Lithuania and Latvia activate “air danger” warnings and scramble NATO jets after suspected drone incursion near Vilnius

FlightGlobal

Northrop’s YFQ-48A Talon Blue completes first taxi test in Mojave; Crane supplies brake control system Northrop Grumman’s YFQ-48A “Talon Blue” collaborative combat aircraft prototype conducted its first taxi test on May 14 in Mojave, California. Crane Aerospace and Electronics supplied the brake control system, and Northrop was also named a preferred provider under the US Department of Defense’s Drone Dominance effort.

2026-05-20T00:25:17.979038-07:00

Northrop’s YFQ-48A Talon Blue completes first taxi test in Mojave; Crane supplies brake control system

FlightGlobal

Boeing MQ-25A Stingray secures Milestone C approval, setting stage for low-rate initial production Boeing’s MQ-25A Stingray uncrewed carrier refuelling aircraft has received Milestone C approval for the US Navy. The decision clears the way for low-rate initial production (LRIP) of the MQ-25A to support the Navy’s unmanned tanker concept integrated with carrier air operations.

2026-05-19T21:55:46.814816-07:00

Boeing MQ-25A Stingray secures Milestone C approval, setting stage for low-rate initial production

defence-blog.com

Russia flies Su-57D two-seat prototype as stealth fighter platform expands into training and potential drone-coordination roles United Aircraft Corporation has begun flight testing a rebuilt two-seat Su-57 configuration, tentatively designated Su-57D, following earlier taxi trials and reported ground runs. First flight reportedly occurred May 19, with the programme accompanied by further claims that the variant may support drone-control missions in addition to pilot training.

2026-05-19T11:25:23.543577-07:00

Russia flies Su-57D two-seat prototype as stealth fighter platform expands into training and potential drone-coordination roles

FlightGlobal

Tekever opens first US office near Fort Bragg to expand autonomous drone footprint for US special operations Autonomous drone developer Tekever has established its first US presence near Fort Bragg, North Carolina—home of the Pentagon’s Joint Special Operations Command. The move signals a push to commercialize and scale its drone operations closer to a key U.S. special-operations customer base.

2026-05-19T09:24:25.477042-07:00

Tekever opens first US office near Fort Bragg to expand autonomous drone footprint for US special operations

Vertical Mag

Applied Aeronautics launches SkyBeam heavy-lift quadrotor modular drone platform for defense, public safety and commercial missi Applied Aeronautics has unveiled SkyBeam, a U.S.-made modular heavy-lift quadrotor positioned for defense, public safety and commercial use. The company frames the platform around endurance, payload flexibility and rapid deployment, and describes it as dual-use, with hybrid-electric/VTOL rotary-wing drone design elements.

2026-05-19T09:10:29.354298-07:00

Applied Aeronautics launches SkyBeam heavy-lift quadrotor modular drone platform for defense, public safety and commercial missi

Flying Magazine

❗️

Miami International and Miami-Dade unveil $33M AI Airport Operations Center (AOC) and start air-taxi and drone management trials Miami International Airport and Miami-Dade County plan a $33 million Airport Operations Center with AI and 360-degree monitoring, targeting opening in 2027. The county also plans to test air-taxi management, beginning with drone trials and then scaling toward larger electric air-taxi operations, using BDI’s ALTA platform at Miami Executive as part of Florida’s AAM planning.

2026-05-19T06:10:37.334803-07:00

Miami International and Miami-Dade unveil $33M AI Airport Operations Center (AOC) and start air-taxi and drone management trials

Aviation Week

GE Aerospace wins USAF funding to advance GE426 medium-thrust engine for Autonomous Collaborative Platform GE Aerospace has secured a U.S. Air Force contract to complete the preliminary design review for its GE426 engine for the service’s medium-thrust-class Autonomous Collaborative Platform (ACP) effort. GE says the GE426 is being optimized for the cost profile of the collaborative combat aircraft market and will be larger than the 1,500-lb-thrust GEK1500 developed with Kratos.

2026-05-19T05:11:14.081754-07:00

GE Aerospace wins USAF funding to advance GE426 medium-thrust engine for Autonomous Collaborative Platform

Menu

UAV Development & Drone Programs News

Lithuania and Latvia activate “air danger” warnings and scramble NATO jets after suspected drone incursion near Vilnius

Northrop’s YFQ-48A Talon Blue completes first taxi test in Mojave; Crane supplies brake control system

Boeing MQ-25A Stingray secures Milestone C approval, setting stage for low-rate initial production

Russia flies Su-57D two-seat prototype as stealth fighter platform expands into training and potential drone-coordination roles

News Timeline