UAV Development & Drone Programs News

Aviation Week • Chen Chuanren

AVIC's 16‑ton Jiutian ('Nine Heavens') completes maiden flight, demonstrates drone‑swarm launch capability

AVIC’s large uncrewed system SS‑UAV Jiu Tian (Jiutian or 'Nine Heavens') completed its maiden flight on December 11 in Shaanxi province. The 16‑ton mothership is presented as a general‑purpose UAS able to carry and launch swarms of attack drones from an internal bay and external hardpoints.

2025-12-11T02:26:46.147226-08:00

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

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

AeroTime

DJI FlyCart 100: LiDAR‑equipped delivery drone with 100‑kg payload and parachute recovery

2025-12-04T18:03:53.652650-08:00

UAV Development & Drone Programs News Timeline

Aviation Week

AVIC's 16‑ton Jiutian ('Nine Heavens') completes maiden flight, demonstrates drone‑swarm launch capability AVIC’s large uncrewed system SS‑UAV Jiu Tian (Jiutian or 'Nine Heavens') completed its maiden flight on December 11 in Shaanxi province. The 16‑ton mothership is presented as a general‑purpose UAS able to carry and launch swarms of attack drones from an internal bay and external hardpoints.

2025-12-11T02:26:46.147226-08:00

AVIC's 16‑ton Jiutian ('Nine Heavens') completes maiden flight, demonstrates drone‑swarm launch capability

SpaceNews.com

Voyager wins $21M AFRL award to develop AI‑powered airborne signals processing The Air Force Research Laboratory awarded Voyager Technologies a $21 million R&D contract to develop AI‑enabled airborne signals processing and next‑generation ISR mission capabilities. Work will focus on automating signal detection, classification and sensor fusion for aerial platforms and operational ISR tasks.

2025-12-10T13:10:59.333238-08:00

Voyager wins $21M AFRL award to develop AI‑powered airborne signals processing

AINonline

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NASA awards Reliable Robotics contract to flight‑test autonomous Cessna 208B Caravan near U.S. airports NASA's Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate has awarded Reliable Robotics a contract to flight‑test its autonomous Cessna 208B Caravan in and around U.S. airports. Data from the trials will feed national performance standards and support integration of uncrewed aircraft systems near commercial airfields.

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

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

AeroTime

Auterion releases test footage showing coordinated FPV drone swarm strike Auterion released test footage showing multiple first‑person‑view (FPV) drones flying in a coordinated swarm and executing an attack profile, demonstrating synchronized navigation, strike sequencing and networked control in a multi‑UAS setup. The footage highlights increased operational sophistication in small UAS tactics.

2025-12-10T03:47:03.067251-08:00

Auterion releases test footage showing coordinated FPV drone swarm strike

Air Data News

Poland in talks to transfer remaining MiG‑29 fighters to Ukraine in exchange for drone and missile technology Poland says its General Staff is negotiating transfer of the country's remaining, soon‑to‑be‑retired MiG‑29 fighters to Ukraine, with Kyiv potentially providing access to drone and missile technologies in return. Talks are ongoing and would reallocate legacy Soviet‑era fighters to Ukrainian forces.

2025-12-10T01:58:00.407065-08:00

Poland in talks to transfer remaining MiG‑29 fighters to Ukraine in exchange for drone and missile technology

FlightGlobal

Rotron and LIG Nex1 sign MoU to develop exportable Medium UAV common platform UK propulsion specialist Rotron Aerospace has signed an MoU with South Korea’s LIG Nex1 to jointly develop a Medium UAV Common Platform, combining Rotron propulsion systems with LIG’s platform expertise to pursue integrated UAS solutions and future export programmes targeting international customers.

2025-12-09T20:50:23.872471-08:00

Rotron and LIG Nex1 sign MoU to develop exportable Medium UAV common platform

FlightGlobal

US Army awards $13M contract to AV for P550 drones to support Long Range Reconnaissance training The US Army has awarded uncrewed-aircraft maker AV a $13 million contract to supply P550 drones to support training under its Long Range Reconnaissance programme. The drones will be used to train soldiers in aerial reconnaissance tactics, expanding the Army's unmanned training fleet.

2025-12-09T12:28:06.642965-08:00

US Army awards $13M contract to AV for P550 drones to support Long Range Reconnaissance training

FlightGlobal

AV and Parry Labs win $13.2M OTA to supply P550 UAS to U.S. Army AV, with partner Parry Labs, has been awarded a three‑year Other Transaction Agreement from the U.S. Army with an initial base value of $13.2 million to supply P550 unmanned aircraft systems; additional contract options could grow the award and accelerate fielding of the platform.

2025-12-09T12:28:06.642965-08:00

AV and Parry Labs win $13.2M OTA to supply P550 UAS to U.S. Army

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