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DARPA opens $6.5M Lift Challenge to develop drones that can carry up to four times their weight

DARPA has launched the Lift Challenge, a $6.5 million open competition—inviting everything from major contractors to garage inventors—to develop small UAS capable of carrying roughly four times their own weight for logistics and battlefield resupply. The program seeks breakthrough airframe and subsystem concepts to leap payload-to-weight ratios.

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

DefenseNews.com

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

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

Aviation Week

DARPA designates General Atomics LongShot as X-68A as program nears F‑15 air‑launch integration

2026-02-17T06:11:19.361596-08:00

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

News Timeline

DefenseNews.com

DARPA opens $6.5M Lift Challenge to develop drones that can carry up to four times their weight DARPA has launched the Lift Challenge, a $6.5 million open competition—inviting everything from major contractors to garage inventors—to develop small UAS capable of carrying roughly four times their own weight for logistics and battlefield resupply. The program seeks breakthrough airframe and subsystem concepts to leap payload-to-weight ratios.

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

DARPA opens $6.5M Lift Challenge to develop drones that can carry up to 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

AeroTime

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Reports of covert U.S.-Dutch-Ukrainian F-16 squadron defending Kyiv; Ukraine denies foreign combat pilots Multiple reports say a covert multinational F-16 squadron — staffed by U.S., Dutch and Ukrainian pilots on six‑month contracts — is flying combat missions to defend Kyiv and intercept Russian missiles and drones. The Ukrainian Air Force has rejected those claims, saying no foreign pilots are conducting combat sorties.

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

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

Aviation Week

DARPA designates General Atomics LongShot as X-68A as program nears F‑15 air‑launch integration DARPA has designated General Atomics' LongShot prototype the X‑68A after a series of technical milestones and is advancing toward flight tests in 2026. The uncrewed, missile‑carrying air‑launched vehicle is being integrated for F‑15 air‑launch to extend combat reach and keep crewed aircraft at safer standoff distances.

2026-02-17T06:11:19.361596-08:00

DARPA designates General Atomics LongShot as X-68A as program nears F‑15 air‑launch integration

CNBC

JPMorgan starts coverage of defense stock with overweight rating, cites drone demand JPMorgan has initiated coverage of an aerospace and defense company with an overweight rating, pointing to accelerating sales driven by growing demand for drones and related systems. The bank's call signals investor optimism around the firm's revenue trajectory and exposure to unmanned platforms.

2026-02-17T04:24:47.514701-08:00

JPMorgan starts coverage of defense stock with overweight rating, cites drone demand

eVTOL Insights

AtkinsRéalis teams with Anduril UK to fast‑track sovereign autonomous systems for UK defence AtkinsRéalis has signed a teaming agreement with Anduril UK to provide critical safety, assurance and regulatory expertise aimed at accelerating development and sovereign deployment of autonomous systems for UK defence. The deal pairs a legacy engineering services firm with a defence-tech integrator to navigate certification and UK-specific compliance.

2026-02-17T03:46:12.192264-08:00

AtkinsRéalis teams with Anduril UK to fast‑track sovereign autonomous systems for UK defence

AeroTime

Denmark forms Squadron 729 at Aalborg to operate four MQ‑9B SkyGuardian/SeaGuardian drones Denmark's Air Force has stood up Squadron 729 at Aalborg Air Base to operate four MQ‑9B SkyGuardian/SeaGuardian remotely piloted aircraft, with deliveries scheduled from 2028. The unit will expand persistent maritime ISR across the Arctic, North Atlantic and Baltic regions.

2026-02-17T03:09:55.062885-08:00

Denmark forms Squadron 729 at Aalborg to operate four MQ‑9B SkyGuardian/SeaGuardian drones

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UAV Development & Drone Programs News

DARPA opens $6.5M Lift Challenge to develop drones that can carry up to four times their weight

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

DARPA designates General Atomics LongShot as X-68A as program nears F‑15 air‑launch integration

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

News Timeline