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FlightGlobal • Greg Waldron

GA‑ASI and Calidus sign UMEX MOU to explore UAE co‑production of MQ‑9B SkyGuardian and Gambit CCA

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and UAE's Calidus Aerospace signed an MOU at UMEX to explore co‑production in the Emirates of the MQ‑9B SkyGuardian remotely piloted aircraft and the Gambit collaborative combat aircraft. The agreement also covers collaboration on command‑and‑control and battle‑management systems for the platforms.

2026-01-20T20:51:25.985574-08:00

AeroTime

Renault to build Chorus long‑range strike drones in France under potential €1bn defence deal

2026-01-20T05:35:28.702076-08:00

AeroTime

Helsing denies Ukraine suspended HX-2 orders; says multiple units requesting more systems

2026-01-20T03:41:20.751878-08:00

ga.com

GA-ASI MQ-20 Avenger conducts mission-autonomy flight, completing simulated autonomous aerial intercept

2026-01-18T18:16:05.054826-08:00

News Timeline

FlightGlobal

GA‑ASI and Calidus sign UMEX MOU to explore UAE co‑production of MQ‑9B SkyGuardian and Gambit CCA General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and UAE's Calidus Aerospace signed an MOU at UMEX to explore co‑production in the Emirates of the MQ‑9B SkyGuardian remotely piloted aircraft and the Gambit collaborative combat aircraft. The agreement also covers collaboration on command‑and‑control and battle‑management systems for the platforms.

2026-01-20T20:51:25.985574-08:00

GA‑ASI and Calidus sign UMEX MOU to explore UAE co‑production of MQ‑9B SkyGuardian and Gambit CCA

AeroTime

Renault to build Chorus long‑range strike drones in France under potential €1bn defence deal Renault will manufacture the French Chorus long‑range strike drone in partnership with Turgis Gaillard as part of a national defence initiative, a programme that could culminate in a contract worth up to €1 billion. The move marks a notable industrial shift for the automaker into combat UAS production.

2026-01-20T05:35:28.702076-08:00

Renault to build Chorus long‑range strike drones in France under potential €1bn defence deal

AeroTime

Helsing denies Ukraine suspended HX-2 orders; says multiple units requesting more systems Helsing denied a Bloomberg report that Ukraine had paused purchases of its HX‑2 loitering attack drone, saying multiple Ukrainian units are actively requesting additional systems. The company's statement signals procurement activity for HX‑2 continues despite media reports of a suspension.

2026-01-20T03:41:20.751878-08:00

Helsing denies Ukraine suspended HX-2 orders; says multiple units requesting more systems

DefenseNews.com

Air Force looks to Navy's small-drone networks to cut Middle East security costs The Navy's adoption of small UAV networks for maritime situational awareness is proving successful, prompting the U.S. Air Force to pursue similar distributed drone architectures. Air Force leaders say networked small drones could reduce the cost of maintaining security in the Middle East while expanding persistent surveillance.

2026-01-19T05:00:49.144239-08:00

Air Force looks to Navy's small-drone networks to cut Middle East security costs

AeroTime

Windracers wins WFP contract to deploy UAVs for humanitarian supply operations in Madagascar Windracers has secured a contract from the UN World Food Programme to provide unmanned aerial vehicles for humanitarian supply operations in Madagascar. The deal will deploy drones to deliver essential goods to remote, hard‑to‑reach communities, supporting WFP logistics and relief distribution efforts.

2026-01-19T04:19:12.582886-08:00

Windracers wins WFP contract to deploy UAVs for humanitarian supply operations in Madagascar

ga.com

GA-ASI MQ-20 Avenger conducts mission-autonomy flight, completing simulated autonomous aerial intercept General Atomics conducted a mission-autonomy flight with its MQ-20 Avenger on 18 January 2026, loading a mission profile and using the government reference autonomy software to execute a simulated air‑to‑air intercept. The company framed the sortie as an advance in human–machine teaming and autonomous engagement tactics.

2026-01-18T18:16:05.054826-08:00

GA-ASI MQ-20 Avenger conducts mission-autonomy flight, completing simulated autonomous aerial intercept

South China Morning Post

PLA drone enters airspace near Taiwan-held Pratas Island; Taipei protests China's PLA dispatched an unmanned aerial vehicle into airspace near Taiwan-held Pratas Island in the South China Sea, drawing a Taipei protest that called the move 'provocative and irresponsible.' The Southern Theatre Command said the sortie was 'completely legitimate' routine flight training.

2026-01-17T21:35:44.221284-08:00

PLA drone enters airspace near Taiwan-held Pratas Island; Taipei protests

DefenseNews.com

US Navy, Marine Corps award L3Harris multiyear contract for 34 T7 EOD robots The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps have awarded L3Harris a multiyear contract to deliver 34 large T7 explosive ordnance disposal robots, including operator training and sustainment, to bolster EOD teams' ability to clear high‑risk ordnance across naval and expeditionary operations.

2026-01-16T13:24:53.200289-08:00

US Navy, Marine Corps award L3Harris multiyear contract for 34 T7 EOD robots

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UAV Development & Drone Programs News

GA‑ASI and Calidus sign UMEX MOU to explore UAE co‑production of MQ‑9B SkyGuardian and Gambit CCA

Renault to build Chorus long‑range strike drones in France under potential €1bn defence deal

Helsing denies Ukraine suspended HX-2 orders; says multiple units requesting more systems

GA-ASI MQ-20 Avenger conducts mission-autonomy flight, completing simulated autonomous aerial intercept

News Timeline