UAV Development & Drone Programs News

Aviation Week • Graham Warwick

Elroy completes first point‑to‑point cargo flight with Chaparral hybrid‑electric autonomous VTOL

Elroy Air has completed the first point‑to‑point cargo delivery using its Chaparral hybrid‑electric, autonomous VTOL, flying an uncrewed payload up to 300 lb across a mission profile of roughly 300 miles. The flight advances Chaparral's middle‑mile logistics and military resupply concept for heavy‑lift unmanned operations.

2025-12-18T06:12:47.784213-08:00

Unmanned Airspace

NHS and Open Skies Network to launch medical drone deliveries linking Cornwall and Isles of Scilly in 2025

2025-12-18T02:05:19.264287-08:00

Aviacionline

Bundeswehr awards €1.7bn 'SPOCK 1' persistent SAR contract to Rheinmetall–ICEYE JV

2025-12-17T12:13:59.764351-08:00

dronelife.com

Spaceport Cornwall and National Drone Hub launch UK BVLOS and autonomy testing programme

2025-12-15T08:27:08.213530-08:00

UAV Development & Drone Programs News Timeline

FlightGlobal

USAF to Fit X-62 VISTA with Raytheon PhantomStrike AESA to Test AI-Enabled Combat for Uncrewed Fighters USAF will install Raytheon’s PhantomStrike AESA on the X-62 VISTA at Edwards AFB, enabling the Test Pilot School to evaluate AI-enabled sensor fusion, control and autonomous combat modes as part of the service’s development of uncrewed fighter systems and advanced autonomy flight testing.

2025-12-19T07:58:18.769640-08:00

USAF to Fit X-62 VISTA with Raytheon PhantomStrike AESA to Test AI-Enabled Combat for Uncrewed Fighters

Aviation Today

Northrop Grumman targets Project Talon first flight next year after Beacon autonomy acceleration Northrop Grumman says it used its Beacon autonomy testbed to accelerate development of Project Talon, an autonomous drone offering for the U.S. Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, and is now targeting a first flight of Talon next year for initial flight‑testing.

2025-12-18T10:06:17.785520-08:00

Northrop Grumman targets Project Talon first flight next year after Beacon autonomy acceleration

The Aviationist

U.S. Navy conducts first at‑sea launch of LUCAS one‑way attack drone from USS Santa Barbara in Arabian Gulf On Dec. 16 the U.S. Navy launched a LUCAS (Low‑cost Unmanned Combat Attack System) one‑way attack drone from the flight deck of Independence‑class littoral combat ship USS Santa Barbara (LCS‑32) while operating in the Arabian Gulf. Task Force 59's Scorpion Strike squadron conducted the first at‑sea employment.

2025-12-18T09:09:05.531503-08:00

U.S. Navy conducts first at‑sea launch of LUCAS one‑way attack drone from USS Santa Barbara in Arabian Gulf

Aviation Week

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Elroy completes first point‑to‑point cargo flight with Chaparral hybrid‑electric autonomous VTOL Elroy Air has completed the first point‑to‑point cargo delivery using its Chaparral hybrid‑electric, autonomous VTOL, flying an uncrewed payload up to 300 lb across a mission profile of roughly 300 miles. The flight advances Chaparral's middle‑mile logistics and military resupply concept for heavy‑lift unmanned operations.

2025-12-18T06:12:47.784213-08:00

Elroy completes first point‑to‑point cargo flight with Chaparral hybrid‑electric autonomous VTOL

Unmanned Airspace

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NHS and Open Skies Network to launch medical drone deliveries linking Cornwall and Isles of Scilly in 2025 Open Skies Network and Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust will begin a multi‑year NHS medical drone service in 2025 to carry clinical samples and supplies between mainland Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. The UK‑first trial aims to scale cargo‑drone operations across the archipelago and nearby mainland routes.

2025-12-18T02:05:19.264287-08:00

NHS and Open Skies Network to launch medical drone deliveries linking Cornwall and Isles of Scilly in 2025

Aviacionline

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Bundeswehr awards €1.7bn 'SPOCK 1' persistent SAR contract to Rheinmetall–ICEYE JV Germany's Bundeswehr has awarded €1.7 billion to a Rheinmetall–ICEYE joint venture to build SPOCK 1, a persistent synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) satellite system for space-based reconnaissance. The contract — roughly $2 billion — includes tactical ISR to detect hostile activity near a German brigade deployed in Lithuania.

2025-12-17T12:13:59.764351-08:00

Bundeswehr awards €1.7bn 'SPOCK 1' persistent SAR contract to Rheinmetall–ICEYE JV

tectonicdefense.com

AIRO delivers first fully American-made ISR drones, signalling shift in U.S. UAS supply chain Virginia-based AIRO, a holding company for eVTOL, drone and avionics businesses, said it has delivered the first ISR drones built entirely in the United States. The move advances U.S. efforts to reshore critical components, improve sustainment and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers for military UAS.

2025-12-17T07:45:16.106780-08:00

AIRO delivers first fully American-made ISR drones, signalling shift in U.S. UAS supply chain

Airbus

EMSA awards €30m framework to Airbus for Flexrotor maritime surveillance drones The European Maritime Safety Agency has awarded Airbus a €30 million framework contract to provide its Flexrotor remotely piloted aircraft for multipurpose maritime surveillance across member states, covering aircraft provision and mission support to enhance EU-wide maritime monitoring and response capabilities.

2025-12-17T05:13:23.487514-08:00

EMSA awards €30m framework to Airbus for Flexrotor maritime surveillance drones

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