News

FlightGlobal • Ryan Finnerty

Report: US loses or severely damages 42 aircraft in Iran bombing campaign; includes 24 MQ-9A Reaper and seven KC-135 tankers

A report says the US military lost or suffered significant damage to 42 aircraft during an aerial bombing campaign against Iran amid a tenuous ceasefire. The tally includes 24 MQ-9A Reaper drones, seven KC-135 tankers, and several fighter types, underscoring combat attrition risks to high-tempo air operations.

2026-05-18T10:39:20.544451-07:00

AeroTime

France orders Saab Giraffe 1X radars for Varda counter-UAS, integrating sensors on Scania tactical vehicles

2026-05-18T04:54:32.756312-07:00

Aviation Week

RAF puts APKWS on frontline Typhoon jets for counter-UAS in the Middle East

2026-05-16T16:10:48.963293-07:00

Flying Magazine

Merlin rolls out “Condor” autonomy product line for large cargo aircraft, pairing civil rollout with ongoing C-130J military cer

2026-05-14T10:50:57.055655-07:00

News Timeline

FlightGlobal

Report: US loses or severely damages 42 aircraft in Iran bombing campaign; includes 24 MQ-9A Reaper and seven KC-135 tankers A report says the US military lost or suffered significant damage to 42 aircraft during an aerial bombing campaign against Iran amid a tenuous ceasefire. The tally includes 24 MQ-9A Reaper drones, seven KC-135 tankers, and several fighter types, underscoring combat attrition risks to high-tempo air operations.

2026-05-18T10:39:20.544451-07:00

Report: US loses or severely damages 42 aircraft in Iran bombing campaign; includes 24 MQ-9A Reaper and seven KC-135 tankers

AeroTime

France orders Saab Giraffe 1X radars for Varda counter-UAS, integrating sensors on Scania tactical vehicles France’s DGA has confirmed a joint contract with Saab and Scania France to supply Giraffe 1X radars integrated on Scania tactical vehicles, with an order size of 16–17 systems. The deal is intended to bolster short- and very-short-range air defence against FPV drones and tactical UAVs.

2026-05-18T04:54:32.756312-07:00

France orders Saab Giraffe 1X radars for Varda counter-UAS, integrating sensors on Scania tactical vehicles

Aviation Week

RAF puts APKWS on frontline Typhoon jets for counter-UAS in the Middle East The Royal Air Force has begun operational use of the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) on Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon fighters deployed in the Middle East, moving from testing to frontline service in under two months. The low-cost guided-rocket option is intended to improve engagement of one-way attack drones.

2026-05-16T16:10:48.963293-07:00

RAF puts APKWS on frontline Typhoon jets for counter-UAS in the Middle East

Via Satellite

Kymeta to integrate Kestrel u5 multi-orbit SATCOM terminals into Red Cat uncrewed surface vessels Kymeta will work with Red Cat Futures to integrate its satellite communications terminals into Red Cat’s uncrewed surface vessels under a May 14 partnership. The move leverages Kymeta’s multi-orbit terminal (Kestrel u5) to support autonomous, mobile command-and-control and high-speed industrial mobility operations.

2026-05-15T11:10:21.176736-07:00

Kymeta to integrate Kestrel u5 multi-orbit SATCOM terminals into Red Cat uncrewed surface vessels

FlightGlobal

Project NYX: UK selects 4 firms to develop an Apache “loyal wingman” autonomous collaborative platform, down-selecting Anduril U The UK Ministry of Defence has advanced Project NYX by selecting four companies—BAE Systems (UK), Anduril UK, Tekever, and Thales—for a concept demonstrator to field autonomous, uncrewed “wingmen” operating alongside AH-64 Apache helicopters. In the next phase, MOD down-selected Anduril UK for development toward operational capability by 2030.

2026-05-15T04:38:12.321145-07:00

Project NYX: UK selects 4 firms to develop an Apache “loyal wingman” autonomous collaborative platform, down-selecting Anduril U

FlightGlobal

Vertical Aerospace seeks dismissal of Archer Aviation US patent-infringement suit, calling claims “threadbare allegations” Vertical Aerospace has asked a US court to throw out Archer Aviation’s patent-infringement lawsuit, characterizing Archer’s allegations as “threadbare.” The filing responds to Archer’s claims that Vertical’s Valo eVTOL copies patented elements of Archer’s Midnight, escalating a fast-moving legal fight between the two eVTOL developers.

2026-05-15T03:43:13.554174-07:00

Vertical Aerospace seeks dismissal of Archer Aviation US patent-infringement suit, calling claims “threadbare allegations”

Bloomberg

Finland grounds Helsinki-Vantaa traffic for hours after a drone warning; F/A-18s scrambled and multiple diversions reported Finland issued an emergency drone alert near Helsinki-Vantaa, prompting three-hour airport operations suspensions, scramble of F/A-18 fighters, and early diversions for inbound long-haul flights. President Sauli Niinistö said the incident does not reflect any “direct military threat.”

2026-05-15T00:10:45.245203-07:00

Finland grounds Helsinki-Vantaa traffic for hours after a drone warning; F/A-18s scrambled and multiple diversions reported

FlightGlobal

US Air Force awards $18m contract to Aevex for production of Group 3 one-way attack drones The US Air Force has signed an $18 million contract with Aevex for the production of an undisclosed number and type of Group 3-sized one-way attack drones. The award expands USAF inventory into the rapidly growing one-way attack drone category as procurement shifts further toward expendable UAS.

2026-05-14T13:23:50.008346-07:00

US Air Force awards $18m contract to Aevex for production of Group 3 one-way attack drones

Menu

UAV Development & Drone Programs News

Report: US loses or severely damages 42 aircraft in Iran bombing campaign; includes 24 MQ-9A Reaper and seven KC-135 tankers

France orders Saab Giraffe 1X radars for Varda counter-UAS, integrating sensors on Scania tactical vehicles

RAF puts APKWS on frontline Typhoon jets for counter-UAS in the Middle East

Merlin rolls out “Condor” autonomy product line for large cargo aircraft, pairing civil rollout with ongoing C-130J military cer

News Timeline