UAV Development & Drone Programs News

Space.com • Kenna Hughes-Castleberry

NASA tests Mars aerial-explorer drones in Death Valley to advance next‑gen planetary flight

NASA's Mars Exploration program is conducting drone flight tests in Death Valley to advance next‑generation aerial explorers for planetary missions. The Death Valley trials are designed to exercise systems and operational concepts in a Mars‑analog environment ahead of future Martian flight campaigns.

2025-12-15T07:04:48.780579-08:00

Aviation Week

China's CH-7 flying‑wing stealth ISTAR drone completes maiden flight, advancing long‑range UAV capability

2025-12-15T03:32:32.189397-08:00

The War Zone

Australia commits $1.4bn to MQ-28 Ghost Bat after Dec. 8 AIM-120 live-fire kill

2025-12-09T09:11:29.894413-08:00

AINonline

NASA awards Reliable Robotics contract to flight‑test autonomous Cessna 208B Caravan near U.S. airports

2025-12-10T06:38:19.316874-08:00

UAV Development & Drone Programs News Timeline

Space.com

NASA tests Mars aerial-explorer drones in Death Valley to advance next‑gen planetary flight NASA's Mars Exploration program is conducting drone flight tests in Death Valley to advance next‑generation aerial explorers for planetary missions. The Death Valley trials are designed to exercise systems and operational concepts in a Mars‑analog environment ahead of future Martian flight campaigns.

2025-12-15T07:04:48.780579-08:00

NASA tests Mars aerial-explorer drones in Death Valley to advance next‑gen planetary flight

Aviation Week

China's CH-7 flying‑wing stealth ISTAR drone completes maiden flight, advancing long‑range UAV capability China has completed the maiden flight of the CH-7, a high‑altitude, long‑endurance flying‑wing stealth unmanned aerial vehicle designed for strategic ISR/ISTAR missions in contested environments. State and industry descriptions say the CH-7 can penetrate target areas, relay data on enemy vessels and support frontline targeting.

2025-12-15T03:32:32.189397-08:00

China's CH-7 flying‑wing stealth ISTAR drone completes maiden flight, advancing long‑range UAV capability

The Aviationist

U.S. Army retires RC-12X/MC-12S/EO-5C turboprops, shifts ISR to jet-powered High Accuracy Detection platform The U.S. Army has completed retirement of its legacy RC-12X Guardrail, MC-12S EMARSS and EO-5C ARL‑M turboprop ISR fleet, ending more than five decades of continuous turboprop surveillance. The aircraft will be replaced by a jet‑powered High Accuracy Detection platform as the service modernizes sensors and unmanned capabilities.

2025-12-13T08:08:29.244280-08:00

U.S. Army retires RC-12X/MC-12S/EO-5C turboprops, shifts ISR to jet-powered High Accuracy Detection platform

Aviation Week

Edge Autonomy to license Penguin C MK2.5 VTOL military drone for production in Taiwan UAS maker Edge Autonomy will license production of its Penguin C MK2.5 vertical‑takeoff‑and‑landing (VTOL) unmanned aircraft in Taiwan. The Penguin C MK2.5 is already in service with the U.S. military and will be produced locally under the licensing deal.

2025-12-12T12:37:57.811079-08:00

Edge Autonomy to license Penguin C MK2.5 VTOL military drone for production in Taiwan

FlightGlobal

Saab's Rainforest to flight‑test unmanned Ruby in 2026 with 'software‑defined' fuselage Saab's internal innovation unit The Rainforest will conduct a 2026 flight test of its unmanned Ruby vehicle, using what it describes as "the world's first software-defined aircraft fuselage." The flight will validate an airframe whose functions are controlled and updated through onboard software rather than fixed hardware.

2025-12-12T09:09:33.210408-08:00

Saab's Rainforest to flight‑test unmanned Ruby in 2026 with 'software‑defined' fuselage

Aviation Week

Quantum Systems wins Bundeswehr order for 147 Twister ISR systems, with options for 600 more Quantum Systems has won a Bundeswehr tender to supply its Twister reconnaissance drone as the ALADIN system’s successor across Germany’s armed services. The agreement contains a fixed order for 147 systems and related services, with options for up to 600 additional systems — potentially 747 aircraft in total.

2025-12-12T04:13:34.056867-08:00

Quantum Systems wins Bundeswehr order for 147 Twister ISR systems, with options for 600 more

Unmanned Airspace

NPS-led multi-sensor counter-drone prototype completes first at-sea field tests aboard Dutch FRISC during NATO Bold Machina A rapidly developed, NPS-led multi-sensor counter-drone prototype completed its first at-sea field tests in September during NATO's Bold Machina exercise in the Netherlands, operating passively aboard a Dutch Navy FRISC. The trials aimed to demonstrate maritime detection and classification of small UAS in an operational environment.

2025-12-12T02:15:37.914862-08:00

NPS-led multi-sensor counter-drone prototype completes first at-sea field tests aboard Dutch FRISC during NATO Bold Machina

unmannedsystemstechnology.com

Boeing, Insitu and TNO advance MRaISR multi‑mode radar ISR capabilities Boeing, Insitu and the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) announced progress on their Multi‑function Radar Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (MRaISR) programme, detailing advances in multi‑mode radar ISR capabilities aimed at integration onto airborne and uncrewed platforms for tactical sensing.

2025-12-11T23:45:18.923909-08:00

Boeing, Insitu and TNO advance MRaISR multi‑mode radar ISR capabilities

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The drones section on Hype offers a comprehensive look at the rapidly evolving world of unmanned aerial vehicles. Our expert analysis covers the latest advancements in drone technology, regulatory changes, and the expanding use of drones across industries, from commercial delivery to environmental monitoring.