UNCREWED SYSTEMS
Near Earth Autonomy to demonstrate ship-to-shore supply drone for US Navy
The demonstration contract calls for an aircraft-agnostic solution that can autonomously deliver cargo in GPS-denied environments.
Uncrewed Systems
Japan’s TerraDrone launches defence unit targeting military business
Japanese manufacturer of civil uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) TerraDrone is launching a foray into the defence market, citing an “increasingly unstable” geopolitical environment and rapid rise of drones as military weapons.
Defence
Syos ready to launch serial production of autonomous SA200 rotorcraft
Syos Aerospace is ready to launch serial production of its SA200 uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV), following the conclusion of a five-year development effort.
Helicopters
Robinson reveals autonomous TurbineTruck variant of R66 amid wider uncrewed systems push
Robinson Helicopter has unveiled the TurbineTruck – an uncrewed cargo variant of its popular R66 turbine-powered light-single.
Civil UAVs
Singapore’s ST Engineering reveals new DrN-600 medium-lift cargo drone
Singapore-based ST Engineering has disclosed details of its DrN-600 vertical take-off unmanned aircraft, a medium-lift platform designed for commercial cargo delivery and military logistics operations with a 100kg payload capacity.
Military UAVs
Grid Aero’s Lifter Lite uncrewed cargo aircraft makes runway appearance alongside C-130
California-based start-up Grid Aero has begun ground testing its Lifter Lite uncrewed cargo aircraft, less than a year after publicly unveiling the twin-engined turboprop design intended as a companion to the Lockheed Martin C-130 transport.
Aerospace
Windracers ramps up production to meet Ultra Mk2 demand
UK cargo drone developer Windracers is gearing up to build more than 100 examples of its Ultra Mk2 aircraft this year as it ramps up production to meet soaring demand.
Aerospace
China’s first unmanned mid-altitude cargo aircraft completes maiden sortie
China has completed the maiden flight of the Tianma-1000, the country’s first mid-altitude, unmanned cargo aircraft.
Military UAVs
DARPA launches X-plane competition for new uncrewed cargo drone
The Pentagon’s technology incubator has launched a competition seeking novel designs for uncrewed cargo aircraft capable of carrying payloads more than four times their own weight, with applications spanning military logistics to civil package delivery.
Civil UAVs
CAeS pivots towards new blended-wing-body drone as it pauses fuel cell powertrain development
Cranfield Aerospace Solutions (CAeS) has unveiled a new hydrogen fuel cell-powered blended-wing-body uncrewed air vehicle (UAV) in a move that marks a significant shift for the UK company’s strategy.
Civil UAVs
Mira Aerospace completes first public test of solar ApusNeo18 UAV
United Arab Emirates company Mira Aerospace has completed the first public test flight of its solar-powered ApusNeo18 unmanned air vehicle, reaching stratospheric altitudes with an Earth observation payload.
Civil UAVs
Anduril and Korean Air partner on autonomous wildfire response UAVs
Anduril and Korean Air are developing an autonomous unmanned aircraft system designed to manage wildfire response operations with minimal human intervention, expanding their existing partnership into firefighting applications.