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Airbus

Airbus to flight‑test two Kratos XQ‑58A Valkyrie with European MARS; aims UCCA operational for Germany by 2029

Airbus has accelerated its Uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft (UCCA) effort, integrating the European MARS mission system into two Kratos XQ‑58A Valkyrie demonstrators scheduled to fly this year, and is targeting an operational capability for the German Air Force by 2029.

2026-03-13T04:04:21.056090-07:00

eVTOL Insights

Rotunda Hospital and Manna Air run urgent medical drone delivery flight simulation in Ireland

2026-03-13T05:20:09.532984-07:00

Reuters

Romania and Germany scramble F‑16s and Eurofighter Typhoons after drone contacts near Ukraine border

2026-03-13T03:04:15.351428-07:00

Reuters

Senator seeks watchdog probe into government use of laser anti‑drone system in Texas

2026-03-13T04:24:22.360446-07:00

News Timeline

FlightGlobal

Pentagon reveals LUCAS loitering munition: Shahed-136 derivative with 434 nm range and sub-$55k unit cost, first used operationally in Middle East

2026-03-13T10:23:53.030335-07:00

Pentagon reveals LUCAS loiteri

eVTOL Insights

Rotunda Hospital and Manna Air run urgent medical drone delivery flight simulation in Ireland Rotunda Hospital partnered with Manna Air to run a flight simulation of an urgent medical drone delivery model in Ireland, demonstrating the potential to move time-critical medical supplies by air. The exercise tested operational concepts for rapid point-to-point transport in a healthcare setting.

2026-03-13T05:20:09.532984-07:00

Rotunda Hospital and Manna Air run urgent medical drone delivery flight simulation in Ireland

Reuters

Senator seeks watchdog probe into government use of laser anti‑drone system in Texas The top Democrat on the U.S. Senate Commerce aviation subcommittee has asked for a government watchdog investigation into two recent incidents in Texas involving government use of a laser‑based anti‑drone system, citing concerns about the deployments. It escalates congressional scrutiny of counter‑drone tools.

2026-03-13T04:24:22.360446-07:00

Senator seeks watchdog probe into government use of laser anti‑drone system in Texas

Airbus

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Airbus to flight‑test two Kratos XQ‑58A Valkyrie with European MARS; aims UCCA operational for Germany by 2029 Airbus has accelerated its Uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft (UCCA) effort, integrating the European MARS mission system into two Kratos XQ‑58A Valkyrie demonstrators scheduled to fly this year, and is targeting an operational capability for the German Air Force by 2029.

2026-03-13T04:04:21.056090-07:00

Airbus to flight‑test two Kratos XQ‑58A Valkyrie with European MARS; aims UCCA operational for Germany by 2029

Reuters

Romania and Germany scramble F‑16s and Eurofighter Typhoons after drone contacts near Ukraine border On March 13 Romanian radar detected multiple aerial targets near the border with Ukraine, prompting a RO-ALERT and air‑defence forces to be placed on high alert. German Eurofighter Typhoons and Romanian F‑16s were scrambled in separate intercepts after suspected drones potentially breached Romanian airspace; fragments may have fallen on Romanian territory.

2026-03-13T03:04:15.351428-07:00

Romania and Germany scramble F‑16s and Eurofighter Typhoons after drone contacts near Ukraine border

AeroTime

French Chief Warrant Officer Arnaud Frion killed in drone strike in Iraqi Kurdistan; five soldiers wounded A French soldier, Chief Warrant Officer Arnaud Frion, was killed and five other French troops wounded in a drone strike in Iraq’s Kurdistan region — France’s first military fatality since the start of the current Middle East war. President Macron condemned the attack as “unacceptable.”

2026-03-13T02:13:56.761589-07:00

French Chief Warrant Officer Arnaud Frion killed in drone strike in Iraqi Kurdistan; five soldiers wounded

FlightGlobal

Satellite analysis: Yelabuga SEZ expands from two to 116 buildings to mass-produce Iranian-derived Geran drones Satellite imagery analyzed by CSIS shows Russia's Yelabuga special economic zone has expanded from two buildings in 2021 to 116 structures, forming a mass-production complex for Iranian-derived Geran attack drones. The facility supports sustained deployment of Geran loitering munitions used against Ukrainian targets.

2026-03-12T21:17:55.026573-07:00

Satellite analysis: Yelabuga SEZ expands from two to 116 buildings to mass-produce Iranian-derived Geran drones

DefenseNews.com

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US Navy, DIU select Anduril’s Dive‑XL for CAMP trials to develop extra‑large autonomous undersea capability The Defense Innovation Unit and U.S. Navy have chosen Anduril to develop and test its Dive‑XL extra‑large autonomous underwater vehicle under the Combat Autonomous Maritime Platform (CAMP) program. The award follows Anduril’s longest‑ever XL‑AUV demonstration and aims to mature persistent, large‑scale unmanned undersea operations.

2026-03-12T14:38:12.639326-07:00

US Navy, DIU select Anduril’s Dive‑XL for CAMP trials to develop extra‑large autonomous undersea capability

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UAV Development & Drone Programs News

Airbus to flight‑test two Kratos XQ‑58A Valkyrie with European MARS; aims UCCA operational for Germany by 2029

Rotunda Hospital and Manna Air run urgent medical drone delivery flight simulation in Ireland

Romania and Germany scramble F‑16s and Eurofighter Typhoons after drone contacts near Ukraine border

Senator seeks watchdog probe into government use of laser anti‑drone system in Texas

News Timeline