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The War Zone • Joseph Trevithick

USAF turbocharges ULTRA persistent-surveillance glider drones for Middle East deployment as MQ-9 losses mount

The USAF is sending its turbocharged ULTRA surveillance glider-like unmanned aircraft to the Middle East, citing strong demand for persistent surveillance capabilities amid MQ-9 losses in combat against Iran. The deployment underscores continued reliance on long-endurance ISR when attrition pressures fixed UAS fleets.

2026-05-25T10:43:56.940590-07:00

AeroTime

Surging drone threat targets Europe’s critical infrastructure—resilience must shift from compliance to operational counter-UAS r

2026-05-25T04:42:26.798554-07:00

Associated Press

Russia deploys Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile in mass Kyiv attack, third wartime use

2026-05-24T18:28:09.644253-07:00

politico.eu

Von der Leyen to meet in Lithuania over Baltic drone airspace incursions

2026-05-24T13:05:13.517117-07:00

News Timeline

The War Zone

USAF turbocharges ULTRA persistent-surveillance glider drones for Middle East deployment as MQ-9 losses mount The USAF is sending its turbocharged ULTRA surveillance glider-like unmanned aircraft to the Middle East, citing strong demand for persistent surveillance capabilities amid MQ-9 losses in combat against Iran. The deployment underscores continued reliance on long-endurance ISR when attrition pressures fixed UAS fleets.

2026-05-25T10:43:56.940590-07:00

USAF turbocharges ULTRA persistent-surveillance glider drones for Middle East deployment as MQ-9 losses mount

AeroTime

Surging drone threat targets Europe’s critical infrastructure—resilience must shift from compliance to operational counter-UAS r Europe’s critical infrastructure is facing a growing drone threat, with the operational focus needing to move beyond compliance paperwork. The cluster frames resilience as a readiness problem—implying that detection, response, and continuity planning must be exercised and embedded into day-to-day operations rather than treated as checklists.

2026-05-25T04:42:26.798554-07:00

Surging drone threat targets Europe’s critical infrastructure—resilience must shift from compliance to operational counter-UAS r

Associated Press

Russia deploys Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile in mass Kyiv attack, third wartime use Russia carried out a large-scale drone-and-missile assault on Kyiv on May 24, using the nuclear-capable Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile for the third time in the war. Ukrainian officials said the attack killed at least two people, injured 83, and damaged buildings across the capital.

2026-05-24T18:28:09.644253-07:00

Russia deploys Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile in mass Kyiv attack, third wartime use

politico.eu

Von der Leyen to meet in Lithuania over Baltic drone airspace incursions European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is set to travel to Lithuania for talks on the unfolding drone crisis after the Baltic states flagged multiple airspace incursions. The discussions follow a recent pattern of radar-detected unmanned threats triggering NATO counter-UAS responses and air-traffic disruption measures.

2026-05-24T13:05:13.517117-07:00

Von der Leyen to meet in Lithuania over Baltic drone airspace incursions

AeroTime

GA-ASI and Saab complete first flight of MQ-9B with Saab LoyalEye AEW pods General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) flew the MQ-9B fitted with Saab-supplied LoyalEye airborne early warning (AEW) pods for the first time on May 19, 2026, in Southern California. GA-ASI positions the test as a step toward persistent AEW surveillance on an unmanned platform.

2026-05-24T04:12:45.223665-07:00

GA-ASI and Saab complete first flight of MQ-9B with Saab LoyalEye AEW pods

Reuters

Russia launches major Kyiv barrage using Oreshnik plus ballistic and hypersonic missiles alongside drones Ukrainian officials and state media report a large overnight strike on Kyiv involving an Oreshnik missile, alongside Iskander, Kinzhal, and Zircon missile types, as well as drones. Kyiv’s mayoral office said four people were killed and more than 80 wounded, characterizing it as one of the city’s biggest attacks.

2026-05-23T17:13:29.606158-07:00

Russia launches major Kyiv barrage using Oreshnik plus ballistic and hypersonic missiles alongside drones

DefenseNews.com

US Marine Corps trials Neros Archer FPV drone controlled from a helicopter used as a mobile command-and-control node In a recent test, the US Marine Corps launched a Neros Archer FPV drone from the ground and then transferred control to operators aboard a helicopter orbiting miles away. The exercise demonstrated a mobile drone command-center concept for extending control ranges beyond the launch point.

2026-05-22T12:10:37.661790-07:00

US Marine Corps trials Neros Archer FPV drone controlled from a helicopter used as a mobile command-and-control node

Breaking Defense

IAI’s Diamond naval disaggregated offering pairs ship-dispersed drones and missiles with networked “mother ship” control IAI is pitching a new Diamond naval defense concept that disperses defensive systems across smaller satellite vessels and connects them to a mother ship in a disaggregated operating model. The approach is designed to flexibly combine drones and missile capabilities for small-ship users.

2026-05-22T09:54:05.718322-07:00

IAI’s Diamond naval disaggregated offering pairs ship-dispersed drones and missiles with networked “mother ship” control

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UAV Development & Drone Programs News

USAF turbocharges ULTRA persistent-surveillance glider drones for Middle East deployment as MQ-9 losses mount

Surging drone threat targets Europe’s critical infrastructure—resilience must shift from compliance to operational counter-UAS r

Russia deploys Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile in mass Kyiv attack, third wartime use

Von der Leyen to meet in Lithuania over Baltic drone airspace incursions

News Timeline