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Aviation Week • Guy Norris

Hermeus completes Quarterhorse Mk 2.1 maiden flight, raises $350M to scale hypersonic production

Hermeus completed the maiden flight of its uncrewed Quarterhorse Mk 2.1 from Spaceport America in early March and closed a $350 million Series C (about $1 billion valuation) to move from prototypes toward production-scale, mission‑ready high‑Mach platforms aimed at U.S. defense customers.

2026-04-07T14:12:12.143427-07:00

AeroTime

France drops Patroller and Eurodrone from military law, pivots to cheaper sovereign drones

2026-04-08T08:02:17.700327-07:00

Vertical Mag

Controlled Firepower: Manned and Uncrewed Ignition Systems Transform Wildfire Management

2026-04-08T06:11:34.244266-07:00

FlightGlobal

BAE fires APKWS laser‑guided rockets from Eurofighter to test low‑cost C‑UAS capability

2026-04-08T06:31:40.868043-07:00

News Timeline

AeroTime

France drops Patroller and Eurodrone from military law, pivots to cheaper sovereign drones France's revised military law removes planned purchases of the Patroller and Eurodrone, signaling a pivot away from higher‑cost multinational UAS buys toward lower‑cost, sovereignly produced drones. The change formalises a procurement shift that will reshape demand for domestic versus collaborative European systems.

2026-04-08T08:02:17.700327-07:00

France drops Patroller and Eurodrone from military law, pivots to cheaper sovereign drones

FlightGlobal

BAE fires APKWS laser‑guided rockets from Eurofighter to test low‑cost C‑UAS capability BAE Systems has test‑fired APKWS laser‑guided Hydra 70 rockets from a Eurofighter Typhoon at its Warton site, using an RAF test and evaluation Typhoon to engage a ground target. The trials demonstrate a low‑cost counter‑unmanned aircraft system option to defeat one‑way attack drones.

2026-04-08T06:31:40.868043-07:00

BAE fires APKWS laser‑guided rockets from Eurofighter to test low‑cost C‑UAS capability

Vertical Mag

Controlled Firepower: Manned and Uncrewed Ignition Systems Transform Wildfire Management New manned and uncrewed aerial ignition systems are changing prescribed-burning and wildland fire suppression by allowing more precise, repeatable ignition patterns, expanding operational windows, and reducing firefighter exposure. Agencies are deploying drone-mounted ignition devices alongside helicopter systems to scale controlled burns with improved safety and targeting.

2026-04-08T06:11:34.244266-07:00

Controlled Firepower: Manned and Uncrewed Ignition Systems Transform Wildfire Management

MTU Aero Engines

MTU acquires AeroDesignWorks to enter small turbojet market for UAS and missiles MTU Aero Engines has bought Cologne-based AeroDesignWorks — a 2011 DLR spin‑out with roughly 40 employees that designs and manufactures small gas-turbine engines — for an undisclosed fee. The acquisition brings immediate capability in propulsion for unmanned aerial systems and guided missiles and makes AeroDesignWorks a wholly owned MTU subsidiary.

2026-04-08T06:06:39.393704-07:00

MTU acquires AeroDesignWorks to enter small turbojet market for UAS and missiles

eVTOL News

Carnegie Mellon unveils TRAAV-160 'Tartan Air Rescue' concept UAV Carnegie Mellon University has unveiled the TRAAV-160 “Tartan Air Rescue” concept unmanned aerial vehicle, a design study focused on air-rescue missions. The concept highlights academic advances in platform architecture and mission fit that could influence future medevac, search-and-rescue UAV designs and autonomy requirements.

2026-04-07T19:06:34.505984-07:00

Carnegie Mellon unveils TRAAV-160 'Tartan Air Rescue' concept UAV

Aviation Week

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Hermeus completes Quarterhorse Mk 2.1 maiden flight, raises $350M to scale hypersonic production Hermeus completed the maiden flight of its uncrewed Quarterhorse Mk 2.1 from Spaceport America in early March and closed a $350 million Series C (about $1 billion valuation) to move from prototypes toward production-scale, mission‑ready high‑Mach platforms aimed at U.S. defense customers.

2026-04-07T14:12:12.143427-07:00

Hermeus completes Quarterhorse Mk 2.1 maiden flight, raises $350M to scale hypersonic production

Flying Magazine

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FAA runs airport-based detect-and-avoid trials to test ACAS X; Reliable Robotics completes FAA contract The FAA flew remotely piloted aircraft in and around airports to test ACAS X and assess detect-and-avoid performance, with Reliable Robotics completing contract trials for the agency. The data will inform standards and certification pathways for large uncrewed aircraft operating in terminal airspace.

2026-04-07T11:51:13.899266-07:00

FAA runs airport-based detect-and-avoid trials to test ACAS X; Reliable Robotics completes FAA contract

FlightGlobal

USAF to field K1000 solar-powered ultra-long-endurance UAV in Middle East for ISR and comms relay The US Air Force's Middle East command plans to field the solar‑powered K1000ULE, an uncrewed ultra‑long‑endurance aircraft that previously demonstrated more than 75 hours of flight. The K1000 will serve as an airborne communications retransmission node and a persistent ISR platform.

2026-04-07T10:47:19.733741-07:00

USAF to field K1000 solar-powered ultra-long-endurance UAV in Middle East for ISR and comms relay

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UAV Development & Drone Programs News

Hermeus completes Quarterhorse Mk 2.1 maiden flight, raises $350M to scale hypersonic production

France drops Patroller and Eurodrone from military law, pivots to cheaper sovereign drones

Controlled Firepower: Manned and Uncrewed Ignition Systems Transform Wildfire Management

BAE fires APKWS laser‑guided rockets from Eurofighter to test low‑cost C‑UAS capability

News Timeline