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Aviation Week • Graham Warwick

FAA proposes new drone no-fly zones over critical infrastructure; rules would enable operator applications and expand enforcemen

The FAA has published an NPRM proposing tighter restrictions on unmanned aircraft operations in airspace over critical infrastructure sites. The rule would allow affected operators to apply for tailored flight limitations and warns that violators could face fines, criminal charges, or certificate/licensing consequences.

2026-05-05T15:58:08.270844-07:00

Northrop Grumman

DARPA completes first flight test of XRQ-73 SHEPARD hybrid-electric, stealthy flying-wing drone at Edwards

2026-05-06T10:19:38.902409-07:00

eu-startups.com

WaiV Robotics raises €6.4M ($7.5M) to field fully automatic VTOL drone landing/takeoff platform for maritime operations

2026-05-05T05:40:04.052467-07:00

Vertical Mag

Wisk Aero’s second Generation 6 autonomous aircraft enters flight testing with a May 4 Hollister, Calif., sortie

2026-05-04T09:36:35.049503-07:00

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Northrop Grumman

DARPA completes first flight test of XRQ-73 SHEPARD hybrid-electric, stealthy flying-wing drone at Edwards Northrop Grumman’s XRQ-73 SHEPARD uncrewed aircraft has begun flight testing under DARPA, with AFRL participation, at Edwards Air Force Base, California, in April 2026. The series-hybrid-electric demonstrator is designed for very quiet, high-efficiency flight and is aimed at proving military utility for next-generation lightweight autonomous systems.

2026-05-06T10:19:38.902409-07:00

DARPA completes first flight test of XRQ-73 SHEPARD hybrid-electric, stealthy flying-wing drone at Edwards

Aviation Week

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FAA proposes new drone no-fly zones over critical infrastructure; rules would enable operator applications and expand enforcemen The FAA has published an NPRM proposing tighter restrictions on unmanned aircraft operations in airspace over critical infrastructure sites. The rule would allow affected operators to apply for tailored flight limitations and warns that violators could face fines, criminal charges, or certificate/licensing consequences.

2026-05-05T15:58:08.270844-07:00

FAA proposes new drone no-fly zones over critical infrastructure; rules would enable operator applications and expand enforcemen

AINonline

Aeronautics boosts UAS production capacity to expand beyond legacy platforms Aeronautics says it has doubled unmanned production capacity as drone use cases expand. The company’s Orbiter, Dominator, Aerostar and Octoper drones can be adapted for new roles, positioning the supplier to scale platform availability for evolving operational needs.

2026-05-05T08:09:28.570433-07:00

Aeronautics boosts UAS production capacity to expand beyond legacy platforms

eu-startups.com

WaiV Robotics raises €6.4M ($7.5M) to field fully automatic VTOL drone landing/takeoff platform for maritime operations British maritime autonomy startup WaiV Robotics has emerged from stealth with a €6.4 million ($7.5 million) seed round and unveiled what it calls the first fully automatic at-sea VTOL landing and takeoff platform, designed for reliable operations in high sea states.

2026-05-05T05:40:04.052467-07:00

WaiV Robotics raises €6.4M ($7.5M) to field fully automatic VTOL drone landing/takeoff platform for maritime operations

DefenseNews.com

USAF unveils 20-year flight plan for small unmanned aerial systems and drone-swarm concepts The U.S. Air Force has rolled out a 20-year flight plan focused on small unmanned aerial systems, with an emphasis on how swarming drones could reshape air warfare. The roadmap signals a long-term pivot toward distributed uncrewed capabilities and swarm-style employment against evolving threats.

2026-05-05T04:23:57.449211-07:00

USAF unveils 20-year flight plan for small unmanned aerial systems and drone-swarm concepts

AeroTime

French armed forces’ US dependency risk highlighted as 20 years of budget cuts force reliance on US ISR and carrier catapult cap A new French parliamentary report argues that two decades of defense budget restraint have left France leaning on US aerospace for core capabilities spanning drones (including MQ-9 Reaper), early warning (E-2 Hawkeye), and aircraft carrier launch systems (EMALS). It maps capability gaps and sovereignty shortfalls that policy makers can’t close with mere “requirements” language.

2026-05-05T04:01:26.965776-07:00

French armed forces’ US dependency risk highlighted as 20 years of budget cuts force reliance on US ISR and carrier catapult cap

FlightGlobal

DLR tests AI-driven shape-shifting trailing-edge wing on uncrewed aerial vehicle Germany’s DLR says it has demonstrated control of a trailing-edge configuration using artificial intelligence on an uncrewed aerial vehicle equipped with a shape-shifting wing concept. The flight test validates an AI-controlled morphing/actuation approach aimed at enabling adaptive aerodynamics without crew on board.

2026-05-05T03:09:02.673268-07:00

DLR tests AI-driven shape-shifting trailing-edge wing on uncrewed aerial vehicle

Air Data News

SOCOM trims OA-1K Skyraider II buy, rebalances toward MQ-9 Reaper “drone mothership” concept in FY2027 budget request U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) says its fiscal 2027 budget request will scale back the planned acquisition of the OA-1K Skyraider II while increasing investment in unmanned systems centered on the MQ-9 Reaper. SOCOM also seeks to evolve the MQ-9 remotely piloted aircraft system into a “mothership” architecture for future operations.

2026-05-05T02:06:29.533542-07:00

SOCOM trims OA-1K Skyraider II buy, rebalances toward MQ-9 Reaper “drone mothership” concept in FY2027 budget request

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UAV Development & Drone Programs News

FAA proposes new drone no-fly zones over critical infrastructure; rules would enable operator applications and expand enforcemen

DARPA completes first flight test of XRQ-73 SHEPARD hybrid-electric, stealthy flying-wing drone at Edwards

WaiV Robotics raises €6.4M ($7.5M) to field fully automatic VTOL drone landing/takeoff platform for maritime operations

Wisk Aero’s second Generation 6 autonomous aircraft enters flight testing with a May 4 Hollister, Calif., sortie

News Timeline