unmanned aerial systems Archives

Artist rendering of the X-65 (DARPA image)

Aurora Flight Sciences begins manufacturing X-65 drone for DARPA

DARPA plans to begin flight testing for the X-plane in the summer of 2025.

Jan 3, 2024 By Mikayla Easley

Don’t expect ‘straight-line’ capability advancements for CCA drones, Air Force acquisition chief says

Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Andrew Hunter talked to DefenseScoop about collaborative combat aircraft.

Dec 21, 2023 By Jon Harper

Switchblade 600 rendering (AeroVironment image)

Army wants more vendors, more money for LASSO kamikaze drones

The Army has big plans for its Low Altitude Stalking and Strike Ordnance program.

Dec 6, 2023 By Jon Harper

Anduril develops new Roadrunner drones that it says can perform air defense missions

The new system is a “twin-jet powered autonomous air vehicle” that can take off and land vertically and fly at “high subsonic speed,” according to the company.

Dec 1, 2023 By Jon Harper

An Area-I Air-Launched, Tube-Integrated, Unmanned System, or ALTIUS, is launched from a UH-60 Black Hawk at Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz., March 4 where the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center led a demonstration that highlighted the forward air launch of the ALTIUS. (Courtesy photo provided by Yuma Proving Ground)

Army aviation community plotting paths to integrating autonomy into future fleet

“There’s a path to autonomy ... It’s going to be a graduated scale, or I kind of envision it as stair steps,” Army Aviation Branch Chief Maj.…

Oct 16, 2023 By Mikayla Easley

XQ-58 (Photoc curtesy of 96th Test Wing, 40th Flight Test Squadron. Photo by Master Sgt. Tristan McIntire)

Marines kick-off flight testing of XQ-58 Valkyrie drone for ‘penetrating affordable autonomous collaborative killer’ initiative

The event, which took place Oct. 3, was the first of six planned flight tests.

Oct 5, 2023 By Jon Harper

A palletized munitions system falls from the cargo hold of a 352d Special Operations Wing MC-130J Commando II during a live-fire demonstration for ATREUS 22-4 at Andøya Space Defense Range, Norway, Nov. 9, 2022. This is the first time Rapid Dragon, a precision munitions capability for medium-sized or larger cargo aircraft that allows U.S. and NATO forces a flexible rapid response option, has been employed in the U.S. European Command theater. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Brigette Waltermire)

Gen. Minihan envisions major expansion of Air Force’s Rapid Dragon capability

The leader of Air Mobility Command sees opportunities for greatly expanding the “palletized effects” that could be delivered by cargo planes.

Sep 11, 2023 By Jon Harper

A U.S. Marine with 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, assigned to Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Central Command (SPMAGTF-CR-CC), participate in Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System (C-UAS) training in the United States Central Command area of operations, June 22, 2021. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. Melissa Marnell)

SOCOM encountering challenges connecting counter-drone systems with software and data

An official compared current constraints with counter-UAS platforms to those often attributed to the Pentagon-wide effort known as Joint All-Domain Command and Control.

Aug 30, 2023 By Mikayla Easley

New DIU-AUVSI partnership aims to improve cybersecurity of drones

The agreement aims to ramp up the certification of unmanned aerial systems in line with federal standards.

Sep 27, 2022 By Mark Pomerleau