FlightGlobal
• Greg Waldron
Northrop Grumman says its YFQ-48A Talon Blue collaborative combat aircraft has completed its first fully autonomous flight, as the U.S. Air Force targets 500 autonomous aircraft in service by 2032. Separate milestones include a Navy–GA-ASI mission-planning demonstration and delivery of a digital autonomy test-range framework to Australia.
General Atomics
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Northrop Grumman says its YFQ-48A Talon Blue collaborative combat aircraft has completed its first fully autonomous flight, as the U.S. Air Force targets 500 autonomous aircraft in service by 2032. Separate milestones include a Navy–GA-ASI mission-planning demonstration and delivery of a digital autonomy test-range framework to Australia.
Otto Aerospace’s highly efficient Celera 500L airframe concept could offer an unconventional basis for a successor to General Atomics’ MQ-9 Reaper. Its potential entry into the competition highlights the appeal of extreme aerodynamic efficiency—but Otto faces established defense contractors and other emerging challengers.
Australia’s Royal Australian Air Force has reached major milestones across three intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance fleets in six months: completing its P-8A Poseidon force and declaring initial operational capability for the MQ-4C Triton and MC-55A Peregrine, according to the Department of Defence.
High activity
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has delivered an FQ-42A Vengeance to Creech Air Force Base in Nevada, where the aircraft will continue regular test and evaluation operations. The handover marks the latest step in advancing the platform’s operational assessment with the U.S. Air Force.
The U.S. Air Force has designated General Atomics’ CCA as the FQ-42 Vengeance and Anduril’s aircraft as the FQ-44 Fury. The service plans to field at least 500 semi-autonomous combat aircraft by 2032, with an FQ-44 production mock-up displayed at AFA Air, Space & Cyber.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems is positioning its Wildfire unmanned aircraft for the program to replace the MQ-9 Reaper, linking the company’s next-generation drone offering to a major U.S. military aircraft procurement effort.
The Italian Air Force has ordered two additional MQ-9A Block 5 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems. Deliveries are expected from the end of 2027, expanding Italy’s fleet for Mediterranean intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and support of NATO operations.
Saab says potential customers are interested in pairing General Atomics’ LoyalEye surveillance system, mounted on the MQ-9B SkyGuardian, with its piloted GlobalEye airborne early-warning aircraft. The concept would combine uncrewed and manned surveillance capabilities in a single operational package.
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