UAV Development & Drone Programs News

Aviacionline • Gastón Dubois

Bundeswehr awards €1.7bn 'SPOCK 1' persistent SAR contract to Rheinmetall–ICEYE JV

Germany's Bundeswehr has awarded €1.7 billion to a Rheinmetall–ICEYE joint venture to build SPOCK 1, a persistent synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) satellite system for space-based reconnaissance. The contract — roughly $2 billion — includes tactical ISR to detect hostile activity near a German brigade deployed in Lithuania.

2025-12-17T12:13:59.764351-08:00

dronelife.com

Spaceport Cornwall and National Drone Hub launch UK BVLOS and autonomy testing programme

2025-12-15T08:27:08.213530-08:00

Janes

Satellite images show damage to Russian Improved Kilo submarine after Ukrainian underwater drone strike in Novorossiysk

2025-12-16T09:35:43.316861-08:00

DefenseNews.com

Marines field MADIS 'hunter‑killer' short‑range air‑defence to 1st LAAD as full‑rate production begins

2025-12-16T10:51:39.914122-08:00

UAV Development & Drone Programs News Timeline

Aviation Today

Northrop Grumman targets Project Talon first flight next year after Beacon autonomy acceleration Northrop Grumman says it used its Beacon autonomy testbed to accelerate development of Project Talon, an autonomous drone offering for the U.S. Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, and is now targeting a first flight of Talon next year for initial flight‑testing.

2025-12-18T10:06:17.785520-08:00

Northrop Grumman targets Project Talon first flight next year after Beacon autonomy acceleration

The Aviationist

U.S. Navy launches LUCAS one‑way attack drone from USS Santa Barbara — first shipboard at‑sea employment in Arabian Gulf The U.S. Navy conducted the first at-sea shipboard launch of a LUCAS one‑way attack drone from the flight deck of Independence‑class littoral combat ship USS Santa Barbara (LCS‑32) in the Arabian Gulf. Task Force 59 operated the system as part of Task Force Scorpion Strike to strengthen regional deterrence.

2025-12-18T09:09:05.531503-08:00

U.S. Navy launches LUCAS one‑way attack drone from USS Santa Barbara — first shipboard at‑sea employment in Arabian Gulf

Aviacionline

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Bundeswehr awards €1.7bn 'SPOCK 1' persistent SAR contract to Rheinmetall–ICEYE JV Germany's Bundeswehr has awarded €1.7 billion to a Rheinmetall–ICEYE joint venture to build SPOCK 1, a persistent synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) satellite system for space-based reconnaissance. The contract — roughly $2 billion — includes tactical ISR to detect hostile activity near a German brigade deployed in Lithuania.

2025-12-17T12:13:59.764351-08:00

Bundeswehr awards €1.7bn 'SPOCK 1' persistent SAR contract to Rheinmetall–ICEYE JV

tectonicdefense.com

AIRO delivers first fully American-made ISR drones, signalling shift in U.S. UAS supply chain Virginia-based AIRO, a holding company for eVTOL, drone and avionics businesses, said it has delivered the first ISR drones built entirely in the United States. The move advances U.S. efforts to reshore critical components, improve sustainment and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers for military UAS.

2025-12-17T07:45:16.106780-08:00

AIRO delivers first fully American-made ISR drones, signalling shift in U.S. UAS supply chain

Airbus

EMSA awards €30m framework to Airbus for Flexrotor maritime surveillance drones The European Maritime Safety Agency has awarded Airbus a €30 million framework contract to provide its Flexrotor remotely piloted aircraft for multipurpose maritime surveillance across member states, covering aircraft provision and mission support to enhance EU-wide maritime monitoring and response capabilities.

2025-12-17T05:13:23.487514-08:00

EMSA awards €30m framework to Airbus for Flexrotor maritime surveillance drones

DefenseNews.com

Marines field MADIS 'hunter‑killer' short‑range air‑defence to 1st LAAD as full‑rate production begins The U.S. Marine Corps has begun fielding the Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS), with two systems delivered to 1st Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion on Dec. 12, 2025, following full‑rate production, NET training and a live‑fire exercise. MADIS is designed to defeat UAS and low‑altitude manned aircraft, including helicopters.

2025-12-16T10:51:39.914122-08:00

Marines field MADIS 'hunter‑killer' short‑range air‑defence to 1st LAAD as full‑rate production begins

Janes

Satellite images show damage to Russian Improved Kilo submarine after Ukrainian underwater drone strike in Novorossiysk Satellite imagery provides a rare view of damage to a Russian Improved Kilo (Project 636.3 Varshavyanka) submarine in Novorossiysk after Ukraine's Security Service said a submersible unmanned underwater vehicle navigated into the protected harbor and detonated close to the vessel. Moscow has since reinforced port defences.

2025-12-16T09:35:43.316861-08:00

Satellite images show damage to Russian Improved Kilo submarine after Ukrainian underwater drone strike in Novorossiysk

Army Recognition

Belgium to deploy first MQ-9B SkyGuardian over the Mediterranean in 2026 Belgium will deploy its first MQ‑9B SkyGuardian over the Mediterranean in 2026 under its Operations Plan, tasking the unmanned system with intelligence, surveillance and maritime‑domain awareness. The decision establishes a Belgian large‑UAS maritime ISR capability and aligns with broader European patrol and ISR investments.

2025-12-16T03:37:21.699050-08:00

Belgium to deploy first MQ-9B SkyGuardian over the Mediterranean in 2026

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