News

FlightGlobal • Ryan Finnerty

USAF tests MQ-9 Reaper firing APKWS rockets with air-to-air and counter-drone utility

The U.S. Air Force and General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper conducted tests using Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) rockets to engage both aerial and ground targets. The “Reaper demo” underscores a cost-effective counter-UAS approach and points to a possible counter-UAS role for the MQ-9A in high-intensity conflict.

2026-05-11T16:19:49.721795-07:00

DefenseNews.com

Anduril’s Dive-XL targets autonomous underwater long-haul payload delivery under Australia’s Ghost Shark program

2026-05-11T09:55:44.934416-07:00

edrmagazine.eu

EDGE and Baykar agree to integrate Al TARIQ precision-guided munitions on Baykar’s AKINCI UAV under SAHA 2026 deals

2026-05-11T03:56:52.181837-07:00

politico.eu

Drone attack on Rostov-on-Don air-navigation center prompts airport suspensions and ATC capacity limits in southern Russia

2026-05-08T08:45:02.872307-07:00

News Timeline

FlightGlobal

❗️

USAF tests MQ-9 Reaper firing APKWS rockets with air-to-air and counter-drone utility The U.S. Air Force and General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper conducted tests using Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) rockets to engage both aerial and ground targets. The “Reaper demo” underscores a cost-effective counter-UAS approach and points to a possible counter-UAS role for the MQ-9A in high-intensity conflict.

2026-05-11T16:19:49.721795-07:00

USAF tests MQ-9 Reaper firing APKWS rockets with air-to-air and counter-drone utility

DefenseNews.com

Anduril’s Dive-XL targets autonomous underwater long-haul payload delivery under Australia’s Ghost Shark program Anduril Industries is developing Dive-XL to enable autonomous transportation of large payloads underwater, linked to Australia’s Ghost Shark initiative. The concept positions Dive-XL as a defense-relevant autonomy and payload-move system intended for sustained underwater operations rather than one-off missions.

2026-05-11T09:55:44.934416-07:00

Anduril’s Dive-XL targets autonomous underwater long-haul payload delivery under Australia’s Ghost Shark program

edrmagazine.eu

EDGE and Baykar agree to integrate Al TARIQ precision-guided munitions on Baykar’s AKINCI UAV under SAHA 2026 deals EDGE and Baykar signed two agreements at SAHA 2026 to deepen their UAV munitions partnership, including integrating EDGE’s Al TARIQ series precision-guided munitions with Baykar’s AKINCI platform. Sales teams will also cross-sell the companies’ respective UAV and munition offerings, expanding the bundled export pitch for customers.

2026-05-11T03:56:52.181837-07:00

EDGE and Baykar agree to integrate Al TARIQ precision-guided munitions on Baykar’s AKINCI UAV under SAHA 2026 deals

The War Zone

DARPA explores remotely triggered containerized drone swarms for hard-to-defend contested environments DARPA is pursuing remotely triggered, containerized drone swarms designed to be rapidly employable “pretty much everywhere,” including behind enemy lines. The concept emphasizes distributed mass effects and the resulting defensive challenge of tracking and defeating swarms once dispersed.

2026-05-09T13:14:03.728301-07:00

DARPA explores remotely triggered containerized drone swarms for hard-to-defend contested environments

The War Zone

Drone Swarms Packed Into Unassuming Containers Sought By DARPA

2026-05-09T13:14:03.728301-07:00

Drone Swarms Packed Into Unass

DefenseNews.com

U.S. Marine Corps seeks robotic systems to automate austere airfield construction The U.S. Marine Corps is exploring robotic solutions to speed and reduce labor-intensive airfield assembly in austere environments. The effort focuses on fieldable systems that can assist Marines with construction tasks where traditional airfield build-out is time- and manpower-consuming.

2026-05-08T11:08:47.099031-07:00

U.S. Marine Corps seeks robotic systems to automate austere airfield construction

politico.eu

Drone attack on Rostov-on-Don air-navigation center prompts airport suspensions and ATC capacity limits in southern Russia Ukrainian drone strikes hit the air traffic control facility in Rostov-on-Don, forcing more than a dozen southern Russia airports to suspend operations and leaving hundreds of flights cancelled or delayed. Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Savelyev said engineers will run a 15-hour assessment of the center’s systems, with traffic restoration expected in 2–3 days.

2026-05-08T08:45:02.872307-07:00

Drone attack on Rostov-on-Don air-navigation center prompts airport suspensions and ATC capacity limits in southern Russia

FlightGlobal

Baykar signs first Kizilelma export contract with Indonesia for 12 UCAVs (options up to 48) starting in 2028 Baykar has finalized its first export agreement for the jet-powered Kizilelma unmanned combat aircraft with Indonesia’s Republikorp, covering deliveries of 12 UCAVs beginning in 2028 and options for 36 additional airframes (48 total). The deal follows Baykar’s Kizilelma export bid and its public display of the full-scale model at SAHA 2026.

2026-05-08T01:51:35.055091-07:00

Baykar signs first Kizilelma export contract with Indonesia for 12 UCAVs (options up to 48) starting in 2028

Menu

UAV Development & Drone Programs News

USAF tests MQ-9 Reaper firing APKWS rockets with air-to-air and counter-drone utility

Anduril’s Dive-XL targets autonomous underwater long-haul payload delivery under Australia’s Ghost Shark program

EDGE and Baykar agree to integrate Al TARIQ precision-guided munitions on Baykar’s AKINCI UAV under SAHA 2026 deals

Drone attack on Rostov-on-Don air-navigation center prompts airport suspensions and ATC capacity limits in southern Russia

News Timeline