Drones (Page 2)

Latest in Drones

The U.S. Marine Corps says it is planning to award a sole-source contract for a new AGM-114 Hellfire missile-armed mobile counter-drone system to defense contractor V2X.
Drones

Company Behind Drone-Killing Hellfire Missile-Armed Buggy Set To Get Marine Corps Contract

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 3, 2026

KestrelX KX-2s flew to simulate drone threats at Sentry Savannah exercise.
Drones

These Planes Are Mimicking Enemy Shahed-136 Drones In U.S. Military War Games

By James Deboer

Posted on Feb 2, 2026

New Pentagon guidance for defending critical infrastructure against drone attacks calls for the increased use of netting, cables, and other kinds of passive physical defenses.
Drones

Hardened Structures, Nets For Drone Defense Front And Center In New Pentagon Guidance

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 2, 2026

The Israeli Iron Fist active protection system has demonstrated its ability to down incoming drones.
Drones

Iron Fist Active Protection System For Armor Can Shoot Down Drones

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jan 30, 2026

As both sides in the war in Ukraine continue their campaigns of long-range drone attacks, the Ukrainian government’s internal security agency has released a compilation of strikes directed against Russian airbases.
Drones

Ukrainian Drone Strikes On Parked Russian Aircraft Seen In “Greatest Hits” Video

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jan 30, 2026

Anduril's bolt-m drone that will be used by the USMC
Drones

Inside Anduril’s Bolt-M Kamikaze Drone Program

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Jan 23, 2026

A new defense spending bill making its way through Congress would add $240 million to the U.S. Army's budget for the purchase of more MQ-1C Gray Eagle drones.
Drones

MQ-1C Drones The Army Has Called “Obsolete” Added In New Budget Plan By Congress

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jan 22, 2026

The Ukrainian Armed Forces using the U.S.-made V2X Tempest, a high-mobility vehicle with a launcher for AGM-114 Hellfire missiles that is optimized for the counter-uncrewed aerial systems (C-UAS) role. Mounting Hellfires on a high-mobility vehicle provides a valuable new means of employing these weapons, not only against drone threats, but potentially also other targets, too.
Drones

Hellfire-Armed Drone-Killing Buggy Appears In Ukrainian Service

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Jan 12, 2026

The latest iteration of Russia’s Geran long-range one-way attack drone features a jet engine and is apparently being considered for launch from aircraft, to boost its range. The new drone, apparently first used at the beginning of this year, underlines Russia’s continued development of these drones, which bear the brunt of its relentless strikes on Ukraine, which ramp up during the winter months. It further points to Russia seeking to field drones that are better able to evade Ukraine’s air defenses, which are increasingly tailored to these kinds of threats.
Drones

Russia’s New Geran-5 Long-Range Kamikaze Drone Could Be Air-Launched

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jan 12, 2026

Kratos has confirmed to TWZ that the landing gear-equipped version of its XQ-58 Valkyrie drone being developed for the U.S. Marines will still be able to make rocket-assisted takeoffs from static launchers.
Drones

Marine XQ-58 Valkyries Will Launch Via Rockets Or Runways

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Jan 9, 2026

The Marine Corps' pursuit of a fully missionized version of Kratos' stealthy XQ-58A Valkyrie drone has taken another step forward with a new announcement that Northrop Grumman is now aiding in the effort.
Drones

USMC XQ-58 Valkyrie Development Makes Leap Forward With New Contract (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jan 8, 2026

Multiple video clips offer strong evidence that kamikaze drones were among the capabilities the U.S. military brought to bear during the operation to capture Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro over the weekend.
Drones

Did The U.S. Use Kamikaze Drones To Strike Venezuela?

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Jan 6, 2026

Shahed-136 crashed with a shoulder-fired heat seeking missile attached.
Drones

Russian Shahed-136 Kamikaze Drones Now Carrying MANPADS Missiles

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jan 6, 2026

RQ-170 Sentinel Stealth Drone Supported Maduro Capture Mission
Drones

RQ-170 Sentinel Stealth Drone Supported Maduro Capture Mission

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jan 3, 2026

Evidence that the United States employed AGM-114 Hellfire or AGM-179A Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) missiles in a covert strike on a target in Venezuela has now emerged.
Drones

Missile Fragments Add To Evidence MQ-9 Reaper Drone Carried Out Venezuela Strike

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jan 2, 2026

China has converted a cargo ship to a arsenal ship and drone carrier.
Drones

Chinese Cargo Ship Converted To Launch Advanced Combat Drones Emerges (Updated)

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Jan 2, 2026

A picture has emerged that looks to show Iran's Mohajer-6 drone has entered service, at least on a limited level, with the Venezuelan military.
Drones

Iranian Strike-Surveillance Drones Are Now Operating In Venezuela

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Jan 1, 2026

Over the past week or so, U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drones have been spotted carrying increasingly greater numbers of AGM-114 Hellfire missiles on sorties from Puerto Rico.
Drones

MQ-9 Reapers Flying With Unusually Heavy Weapons Loads Over Caribbean

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 30, 2025

New imagery of Chinese catapult-capable low-observable combat drones, or possibly mockups thereof, together with some unusual trucks, may point to plans to launch them from the ground, as well as ships.
Drones

Is This China’s Truck-Mounted Electromagnetic Catapult?

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Dec 30, 2025

Type 076 seen carrying loyal wingman drone mockup or prototype.
Drones

Chinese Loyal Wingman Drone Design Appear Set For Deck Trials

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Dec 27, 2025

Ukraine has expanded its uncrewed surface vessel attacks to the Dnipro River.
Drones

Ukraine Now Using Drone Boats To Attack Russian Riverine Targets

By Howard Altman

Posted on Dec 26, 2025

The U.S. Air Force has formally designated Northrop Grumman’s Project Talon drone as the YFQ-48A and described it as a "strong contender" to be part of its future Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) fleets.
Drones

YFQ-48A ‘Fighter Drone’ Designation Given To Northrop Grumman’s Talon By USAF

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 22, 2025

The Marine Corps is seeking to bolster its supply of FPV drones.
Drones

Marines Seeking 10,000 First-Person View Drones At $4K A Pop

By Howard Altman

Posted on Dec 20, 2025

In a significant escalation of the ‘tanker war’ between Russia and Ukraine, which has so far played out mainly in the Black Sea, Ukrainian aerial drones have struck a tanker belonging to Russia’s so-called ‘shadow fleet’ in the Mediterranean.
Drones

Ukraine Strikes Russia-Linked Tanker In The Mediterranean With ‘Bomber Drone’

By Thomas Newdick, Howard Altman

Posted on Dec 19, 2025

The U.S. Navy personnel in the Middle East have test-launched a Low-Cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System (LUCAS) long-range kamikaze drone from the Independence class Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) USS Santa Barbara.
Drones

Littoral Combat Ship Launches Shahed-136 Kamikaze Drone Clone

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Dec 18, 2025

A key Russian airbase in occupied Crimea has been targeted by a Ukrainian drone strike. According to Ukraine, the drones hit a MiG-31BM Foxhound interceptor, as well as elements of an S-400 air defense system, at Belbek Air Base, near Sevastopol.
Drones

MiG-31 Foxhound Among Russian Air Defense Assets Targeted In Crimean Drone Strike

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 18, 2025

Satellite imagery is now available showing the aftermath of a Ukrainian attack yesterday on a Russian Navy Improved Kilo class diesel-electric submarine in the Black Sea naval stronghold of Novorossiysk.
Drones

Aftermath Of Ukraine’s Underwater Drone Attack On Russian Submarine Seen In Satellite Imagery

By Thomas Newdick, Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 16, 2025

Ukraine says it carried out the world's first uncrewed underwater vehicle (UUV) attack on a Russian vessel.
Drones

Ukraine Claims World’s First Underwater Drone Attack On Russian Submarine

By Howard Altman

Posted on Dec 15, 2025

We have got what could be our first look at China’s CH-7 stealthy flying-wing drone in flight. While it’s far from the biggest Chinese drone of this configuration, it’s still of impressive size and, as we have noted in the past, appears to be tailored for intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance (ISR), as well as strike missions as an uncrewed combat aerial vehicle (UCAV).
Drones

China’s Stealthy CH-7 Flying Wing Drone Has Flown

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 15, 2025

Russia carried out a retaliation strike for Ukraine's attacks on its ships.
Drones

Russian Retaliation Strike Raises Stakes In Black Sea Shipping War

By Howard Altman

Posted on Dec 12, 2025

China's heavyweight jet-powered Jiutian drone, said to have a maximum takeoff weight of around 17.6 tons (16 metric tons), has flown.
Drones

China’s High-Flying Swarm Mothership Drone Has Flown

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 11, 2025

LUCAS drone being tested at Yuma Proving Ground.
Drones

American-Made Shahed-136 Kamikaze Drone Clones Being Tested By Marines

Howard Howard Altman, By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Dec 10, 2025

An AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile is launched from an MQ-28A Ghost Bat during Trial Kareela at RAAF Base Woomera, South Australia.
Drones

MQ-28 Ghost Bat Has Fired An AIM-120 AMRAAM Missile

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 9, 2025

French authorities reportedly took defensive measures against five drones flying over an extremely sensitive base that is home to the nuclear submarines that make up the nation's second-strike deterrent force.
Drones

Nuclear Submarine Base Drone Incursion Prompts French Military Response

By Howard Altman

Posted on Dec 5, 2025

APKWS are now flying on Ukraine's F-16s.
Drones

Ukrainian F-16s Appear To Be Armed With Laser-Guided Rockets In New Photos

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Dec 5, 2025

In an apparent first since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a Russian MiG-29 Fulcrum fighter has been destroyed, in a drone strike, according to Ukrainian reports.
Drones

First Russian MiG-29 Claimed Destroyed In Ukraine, But That May Not Be The Whole Story

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 4, 2025

Northrop Grumman has unveiled their new CCA.
Drones

Talon Emerges From The Shadows (Updated)

By Tyler Rogoway, Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Dec 4, 2025

US is deploying Shahed-136 clones to the Middle East.
Drones

U.S. Deploys Shahed-136 Clones To Middle East As A Warning To Iran

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Updated on Dec 3, 2025

U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (Nov. 23, 2025) Low-cost Unmanned Combat Attack System (LUCAS) drones are positioned on the tarmac at a base in the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) operating area, Nov. 23. The LUCAS platforms are part of a one-way attack drone squadron CENTCOM recently deployed to the Middle East to strengthen regional security and deterrence. (Courtesy Photo)
Drones

American Shahed-136 Clones Sent To Middle East Have Satellite Datalinks, Swarming Capabilities

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Dec 3, 2025

The Pentagon announced a new plan to purchase hundreds of thousands of drones for $1 billion.
Drones

Pentagon Launches $1B Program To Rapidly Buy Hundreds Of Thousands Of Kamikaze Drones

By Howard Altman

Posted on Dec 3, 2025

Russia has fielded a new version of the Shahed-136 kamikaze drone armed with a single R-60 air-to-air missile.
Drones

Russian Shahed-136 Kamikaze Drones Now Armed With Air-To-Air Missiles

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 1, 2025

Turkish industry and media alike have heralded the recent live-fire test in which a Kizilelma uncrewed combat air vehicle (UCAV) used a Turkish-made air-to-air missile to destroy a target drone. Turkey claims the test marks the first occasion a UCAV has launched a radar-guided air-to-air missile. But, while undoubtedly impressive, there are unanswered questions about how the engagement actually played out, especially to what degree the UCAV was being controlled by crewed fighter jets.
Drones

Turkey’s Fighter-Like Kizilelma Drone Shot Down Aerial Target With Radar-Guided Missile

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 1, 2025

U.S. M1A2 Abrams assigned to 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Task Force Iron, maneuver to get on line with the Apache helicopters assigned to 1st Battalion, 501st Aviation Regiment, Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Armored Division, Task Force Iron, during Iron Defender-25 at Orzysz Training Area in Orzysz, Poland, Sept. 17, 2025. The Apache helicopters provided cover fire while the Abrams advanced. The purpose of large scale training events like Iron Defender-25 is to prove the Polish Armed Forces and their NATO allies’ ability to deter and effectively defend the territory of Poland. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Pfc. Andre Gremillion Jr.)
Drones

U.S. Army AH-64E Apache’s Counter-Drone Capability Rapidly Matures

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Nov 30, 2025

A Ukrainian attack on the aircraft manufacturer Beriev’s facility in Taganrog in southwestern Russia overnight appears to have struck a unique laser testbed, the A-60.
Drones

Unique Russian A-60 Laser Testbed Jet Destroyed In Ukrainian Attack

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Nov 25, 2025

Russian officials claim that a prototype of the Sukhoi Su-75 Checkmate fighter could be in flight testing by early next year.
Drones

Russia Insists Su-75 Checkmate Fighter Will Fly Next Year

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 20, 2025

Russia is increasingly using a new Iranian Shahed drone against Ukrainian troops.
Drones

Russia Now Using Iranian Shahed-107 Drones To Strike Beyond The Front Lines

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Nov 18, 2025

Boeing says its MQ-28 Ghost Bat drone is on track for its first live-fire weapons shot, which will be of an AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM), next month.
Drones

MQ-28 Ghost Bat To Fire AIM-120 Missile In First Live Weapons Test Next Month

By Joseph Trevithick, Thomas Newdick

Posted on Nov 18, 2025

An MQ-20 Avenger drone flew a mock mission at the direction of a pilot in an F-22 Raptor during a demonstration earlier this year, General Atomics has disclosed.
Drones

F-22 Pilot Controls MQ-20 Drone From The Cockpit In Mock Combat Mission

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 17, 2025

Israel's stocks of AIM-9M Sidewinder air-to-air missiles are now more effective against long-range kamikaze drones like Iran's Shahed-136, thanks to changes to their seekers, according to a new report.
Drones

Israel Modified AIM-9M Sidewinder Missile Seekers To Better Target Drones: Report

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Nov 15, 2025

The Pentagon's new counter-drone task force has created an Amazon-like shopping portal for equipment.
Drones

Pentagon Creating Amazon-Like Shopping Portal For Counter-Drone Equipment

By Howard Altman

Updated on Nov 15, 2025

China's first super-sized Type 076 amphibious assault ship, the Sichuan, has left port for its first sea trials.
Drones

China’s Type 076 Supersized Amphibious Assault Ship Heads To Sea On Its Maiden Voyage

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 14, 2025

Anduril Unveils Omen Hybrid-Electric Vertical Takeoff And Landing Drone
Drones

Anduril Unveils Omen Hybrid-Electric Vertical Takeoff And Landing Drone

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Nov 13, 2025

Current and future operators of A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft could use them to shoot down incoming drones, according to manufacturer Embraer.
Drones

A-29 Super Tucano Light Attack Aircraft Being Pitched As Drone Hunter

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 12, 2025

A month after the emergence of satellite imagery that showed GJ-11 Sharp Sword stealthy flying-wing uncrewed combat air vehicles (UCAV) in an apparently semi-operational state, China has released the first air-to-air video of the drone. China also revealed that the official People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) name for the GJ-11 is Mysterious Dragon.
Drones

China’s Stealthy GJ-11 ‘Mysterious Dragon’ Soars Out Of The Shadows

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Nov 11, 2025

The U.S. Army has set a goal of buying one million new drones of all types over the next two to three years.
Drones

Army Sets Out To Buy A Million Drones By 2028

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 8, 2025

China's growing weapons programs puts pressure on intelligence community.
Drones

Can U.S. Intel Keep Up With China’s Tsunami Of Weapons Developments?

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Nov 7, 2025

General Atomics' Gambit family of drones, with its common modular core ‘chassis’ concept, now has a sixth member optimized for air-to-surface missions, such as attacking hostile air defenses or enemy ships.
Drones

Strike Variant Joins Gambit Family Of Autonomous Air Combat Drones

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 6, 2025

Chinese drone test ship seen in action.
Drones

Chinese ‘Mini Drone Carrier’ Seen Being Used As Test Ship

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 5, 2025

Anduril’s YFQ-44 Fury ‘Fighter’ Drone Has Flown (Updated)
Drones

Anduril’s YFQ-44 Fury ‘Fighter’ Drone Has Flown (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Oct 31, 2025

For the first time, Sikorsky's optionally-piloted UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter performed parachute drops, hovered on its own while sling loads were attached, and flew a simulated medical evacuation mission at the direction of an untrained individual onboard.
Drones

Pilot-Optional UH-60 Black Hawk Put To The Test In U.S. Military Exercise

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Oct 30, 2025

The U.S. Army has picked AeroVironment to supply a new anti-air interceptor, primarily to provide an additional layer of defense against longer-range one-way attack drones and other similarly-sized uncrewed aerial systems (UAS).
Drones

AeroVironment’s Freedom Eagle-1 Picked As New Counter-Drone Interceptor For U.S. Army

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Oct 22, 2025

General Atomics recently showed what it says is a rendering of an MQ-20 Avenger drone armed with a laser directed energy weapon.
Drones

MQ-20 Avenger Depicted With Laser Weapon In Its Nose A Sign Of What’s To Come

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Oct 22, 2025

Shield AI has unveiled X-BAT, a stealthy jet-powered 'autonomous fighter' designed to take off vertically and land the same way, tail first, after completing its mission.
Drones

The Rise Of X-BAT

By Tyler Rogoway, Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Oct 21, 2025

Singapore today launched the first of its drone motherships, or Multi-Role Combat Vessels (MRCV). The largest and most complex ship in the Republic of Singapore Navy, the Victory is the first of a planned six of these vessels. These will replace the existing Victory class missile corvettes (MCV), which entered service in 1989, and will form the cornerstone of its fleet modernization effort.
Drones

Singapore Launches Its Biggest And Most Capable Warship Ever

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Oct 21, 2025