Drones (Page 3)

Latest in Drones

The Swedish Defense Materiel Administration (FMV) recently awarded Saab with the contract, worth around $276 million and covering the period from 2025 to 2027. As well as the FMV, Saab will work with the Swedish Armed Forces, the Swedish Defense Research Agency, GKN Aerospace, and other industry partners.
Drones

Sweden Pushes Ahead With Future Fighter Program

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Oct 20, 2025

GJ-X Chinese large flying wing drone.
Drones

China’s Huge ‘GJ-X’ Stealth Drone Appears To Have Been Spotted In The Air For The First Time

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Oct 19, 2025

The U.S. Army is in the very early stages of formulating a vision for fleets of advanced and highly autonomous drones in a similar vein to the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) that the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Navy are now developing.
Drones

U.S. Army’s Vision For Loyal Wingman Drones To Fly With Its Helicopters Is Taking Shape

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Oct 17, 2025

Iranian-made Shahed-136 'Kamikaze' drone flies over the sky of Kermanshah, Iran on March 7, 2024. Iran fired over 100 drones and ballistic missiles on Saturday, April 13, 2024, in retaliation to an attack on a building attached to the country's consular annex in Damascus that killed the guards, and two generals of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on April 01, 2024. Iran has blamed Israel for the attack on April 5, 2024 in Tehran.
Drones

Army “Absolutely Needs” Drones Like Russia’s Shahed-136: 25th Infantry Division Commander

By Thomas Newdick, Howard Altman

Updated on Oct 16, 2025

Leonardo DRS talks about its CUAS efforts at AFA25

Leonardo DRS Spells Out Its Latest Approach To Counter-UAS For The U.S. Army

By The War Zone staff

Posted on Oct 15, 2025

Mojave from General Atomics which will evolve into the Gray Eagle STOL

Mojave Drone Walk-Around Tour

By The War Zone staff

Posted on Oct 15, 2025

U-hawk sikorsky
Drones

UH-60 U-Hawk Drone Walk-Around Tour

By Jamie Hunter, Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Oct 14, 2025

U.S. Army Sgt. Hunter Moody, a drone operator assigned to Bravo Company, 2nd Infantry Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division, in support of Task Force Pegasus, raises his drone at the Nursipalu Training Area near Camp Taara, Estonia, Nov. 13, 2024. Drone operations are an essential component of modern tactics. Task Force Pegasus’ mission is to engage in multinational training and exercises across the continent, strengthening interoperability with NATO allies and regional security partners, which provides competent and ready forces to V Corps, America’s forward-deployed corps in Europe. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Rose Di Trolio)
Drones

U.S. Army General In Europe Admits “We’re Behind” On Drones

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Updated on Oct 14, 2025

The next stage in the evolution of the Gray Eagle Short Takeoff and Landing (GE STOL) drone sees General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) team up with South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace, for co-development and co-production of the uncrewed aircraft system, with work set to begin immediately. A demonstrator for the medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) drone has already operated from a South Korean assault ship, but the new partnership will see production of the Gray Eagle STOL for all customers taking place in South Korea.
Drones

General Atomics’ Gray Eagle STOL Drone Will Be Made In Korea

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Oct 14, 2025

AeroVironment has unveiled a new member of its Switchblade family of loitering munitions, the Switchblade 400.
Drones

Tank-Busting Switchblade 400 Joins AeroVironment’s Family Of Kamikaze Drones

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Oct 14, 2025

Shahed 136
Drones

Russia Is Using Modified Shahed-136s To Strike Dynamic Targets Near The Front Lines

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Oct 13, 2025

Boeing CxR collaborative tiltrotor drone.
Drones

Boeing Launches New Family Of Tiltrotor Combat Drones

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Oct 13, 2025

UH-60 Black Hawk Cargo Drone With Clamshell Nose Breaks Cover (Updated)
Drones

UH-60 Black Hawk Cargo Drone With Clamshell Nose Breaks Cover (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Oct 13, 2025

China’s Stealth Sharp Sword Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles Deployed To Operational Airbase
Drones

China’s Stealth Sharp Sword Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles Deployed To Operational Airbase

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Oct 10, 2025

Northrop Grumman has been doing detailed design work that lays a path to air-launching its Lumberjack loitering one-way attack drone from Kratos' stealthy XQ-58 Valkyrie uncrewed aircraft.
Drones

Lumberjack Jet-Powered Modular Munition Eyed As Armament For XQ-58 Valkyrie Drones

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Oct 9, 2025

VAMPIRE Live Fire 2025
Drones

Entire Family Of VAMPIRE Counter-Drone Systems Unveiled

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Oct 9, 2025

Germany's leader is pushing for permission to shoot down threatening drones.
Drones

German Cabinet Approves Law To Shoot Down Threatening Drones

By Howard Altman

Posted on Oct 8, 2025

A Ukrainian drone hit the cooling tower of the Novovoronezh Nuclear Power Plant in Russia, the latest in a series of incidents at nuclear plants in the region.
Drones

Russian Nuke Plant Latest To Suffer War-Inflicted Damage

By Howard Altman

Posted on Oct 7, 2025

An employee holds a miniature of a 70mm rocket during a visit to the Thales production site in Herstal, on October, 3 2025. The company has also inaugurated a new ammunition production line at this site. Production has increased fivefold in recent years to meet the needs of the armed forces. (Photo by VIRGINIE LEFOUR / Belga / AFP) / Belgium OUT (Photo by VIRGINIE LEFOUR/Belga/AFP via Getty Images)
Drones

Thales Anti-Drone Rockets Now Being Used In Ukraine

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Oct 7, 2025

Details remain scant about an unspecified U.S. Air Force aircraft, widely believed to be a drone of some kind, which came down in southern Nevada not far from Area 51 nearly two weeks ago.
Drones

Mysterious Aircraft Crash Near Area 51 Just Got Weirder

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Oct 7, 2025

The Ukrainian city of Kramastorsk was hit by a fiber-optic-controlled FPV drone for ther first time.
Drones

Russian Fiber-Optic Drones Are Now Reaching Into Ukrainian Cities Deep Behind The Lines

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Oct 6, 2025

Sikorsky has announced a whole family of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) drones, all using a tail-sitting design powered by twin proprotors. While the company has previously showcased and tested this ‘rotor blown wing’ configuration, the new Nomad family includes much larger aircraft, all the way up to a size broadly equivalent to the S-70 Black Hawk medium-lift helicopter and intended for a variety of naval and land-based missions.
Drones

Sikorsky Unveils Nomad Family Of Scalable VTOL Drones

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Oct 6, 2025

A company in China recently unveiled a containerized system it says is capable of quickly launching and recovering thousands of small quadcopter-type drones at the touch of a button.
Drones

China’s New ‘Drone Light Show In A Box’ Massive Swarm Launcher Speaks To Evolving Threats

By Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Oct 3, 2025

CBP says it has information about a "credible threat" that drones might attack agents during ongoing immigration protests.
Drones

“Credible Threat” Of Drone Attacks Prompted Massive Chicago Airspace Restrictions, CBP Claims

By Howard Altman

Updated on Oct 3, 2025

Ukrainian officials are in Washington this week to hammer out details of a potential $50 billion drone deal.
Drones

Ukraine Deep In Talks To Sell U.S. Millions Of Drones

By Howard Altman

Posted on Oct 3, 2025

TFR Chicago during ICE operations
Drones

Massive Drone No-Fly Zone Imposed Over Greater Chicago Area (Updated)

By Howard Altman

Posted on Oct 2, 2025

Reports indicate that the United States has agreed to provide Ukraine with targeting intelligence for its long-range missile strikes against Russian energy infrastructure. For many months now, Ukraine has been waging a campaign to degrade Russia’s oil industry, depriving it of critical resources for its offensive in Ukraine as well as revenue from energy exports.
Drones

U.S. To Give Ukraine Intel For Attacks On Critical Energy Targets In Russia: Reports

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Oct 2, 2025

Russia is using long-range drones to hit Ukrainian trains.
Drones

Russia Using Long-Range Drones To Attack Ukrainian Trains: Official

By Howard Altman

Updated on Oct 2, 2025

Authorities in Turkey say fishermen found an explosive-laden drone boat 900 miles away.
Drones

Explosive-Packed Ukrainian Drone Boat Found 900 Miles Away In Turkey

By Howard Altman

Posted on Sep 30, 2025

The German air defense frigate Hamburg is among several assets deployed to protect Copenhagen during a wave of mystery drones over Europe.
Drones

Frigate, Radars, Troops Rushed To Copenhagen To Defend Against Mystery Drones

By Howard Altman

Posted on Sep 29, 2025

For the Beacon program, Northrop Grumman has adapted the Model 437 Vanguard, adding digitally engineered wings and modifications for optionally autonomous flight. The first flight was achieved with a test pilot in the cockpit.
Drones

Scaled Composites’ Model 437 Vanguard Jet Is Now Flying As An AI Testbed

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Sep 27, 2025

German defense startup Helsing has unveiled a new uncrewed combat air vehicle (UCAV), the CA-1 Europa. The company is targeting a first flight in 2027 for the UCAV, which looks very similar to the MQ-28 Ghost Bat. Boeing’s Australian subsidiary developed Ghost Bat first as a ‘loyal wingman’ drone for the Royal Australian Air Force, under the Airpower Teaming System. The U.S. Air Force has also now acquired at least one example ostensibly to support research and development and test and evaluation efforts.
Drones

Helsing’s CA-1 Drone Is An MQ-28 Ghost Bat Lookalike

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Sep 25, 2025

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon receives fuel from a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, May 25, 2025. Aerial refueling allows Fighting Falcons to extend their mission and guarantee war-winning airpower throughout the CENTCOM AOR. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Natalie Jones)
Drones

Laser-Guided Rockets Now Primary Anti-Drone Weapon For USAF Jets In Middle East

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Sep 25, 2025

Renderings from General Atomics offer new looks at how its air-launched LongShot drone might be employed from F-15 fighters, as well as B-52 bombers and C-17 cargo aircraft.
Drones

F-15 Depicted Launching LongShot Air-To-Air Missile Carrier Drone In New Renderings

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 24, 2025

Update from General Atomics from the show floor of Air, Space & Cyber 2025

We Talk YFQ-42A, LongShot, And 9M Flight Hours With General Atomics

By The War Zone staff

Posted on Sep 24, 2025

A long-range kamikaze drone that U.S. firm Kratos is working on together with Taiwan’s National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) is set to make its maiden flight early next year.
Drones

Jet-Powered Kamikaze Drone Kratos Is Developing With Taiwan To Fly Next Year

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Sep 24, 2025

Leidos has raised the possibility of eventually integrating its Black Arrow, also known as the Small Cruise Missile, in the MQ-9 Reaper drone and the OA-1K Skyraider II light attack aircraft. The roughly 200-pound munition has, so far, been tested from C-130 variants but offers the kinds of capabilities that U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) is increasingly looking at harnessing.
Drones

Tiny Black Arrow Cruise Missile Demonstrates A Whopping 400-Mile Range

By Thomas Newdick, Howard Altman

Updated on Sep 24, 2025

The crew of a U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle attempted to take down a long-range kamikaze drone with a Laser Joint Direct Attack Munition (LJDAM) precision-guided bomb after running out of missiles in the frantic midst of an all-out Iranian barrage aimed at Israel.
Drones

F-15Es Tried To Shoot Down Iranian Kamikaze Drones With Laser Guided Bombs

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Updated on Sep 24, 2025

The Danish police are seen at Copenhagen Airport, in Kastrup near Copenhagen, on September 22, 2025. Danish police said on September 23, 2025 they did not know who was responsible for flying drones over Copenhagen airport the previous evening, but that they appeared to have been knowledgeable. "The number, size, flight patterns, time over the airport. All this together ... indicates that it is a capable actor. Which capable actor, I do not know," police inspector Jens Jespersen told reporters. The airport was closed for several hours before reopening early Tuesday, causing numerous delays and travel disruptions to 20,000 passengers, airport officials said.
Drones

Denmark Says Drone Incursions Were A Deliberate “Attack”

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Sep 23, 2025

When Anduril's YFQ-44A drone flies for the first time, it will do so in a semi-autonomous fashion as part of a broader plan to get the design to an actual operational state as fast as possible.
Drones

Anduril’s Fury Will Take Off For The First Time At The Touch Of A Button

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Sep 22, 2025

In what it claims is the first such attack in history, Ukraine has used drones to strike a pair of Russian Navy Be-12 twin-turboprop amphibians. The raid appears to have destroyed two of the extremely scarce amphibians, potentially halving the number of airworthy airframes available to Russia and leaving a question mark over its future service.
Drones

Ukrainian Drones Strike Russia’s Rare Be-12 Flying Boats

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Sep 22, 2025

Skunk Works Unveils Vectis Air Combat Drone That Puts A Premium On Stealth
Drones

Skunk Works Unveils Vectis Air Combat Drone That Puts A Premium On Stealth

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 21, 2025

A new Quick Reaction Force has been created to help counter drone incursions at U.S. military bases
Drones

New Quick Reaction Force Will Counter Military Base Drone Incursions

By Howard Altman

Posted on Sep 18, 2025

What looks to be a previously unseen low-observable flying-wing drone variant with a ‘cranked kite’ planform has emerged in a satellite image from China’s secretive test base near Malan in the country's far western Xinjiang province.
Drones

Large Stealth Flying Wing Appears At Chinese Test Base

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Sep 18, 2025

The Chinese aviation industry has been developing an expanding array of flying-wing uncrewed aircraft, including as uncrewed combat air vehicles (UCAV) and high-altitude intelligence-gathering platforms, often in cooperation with state-run research institutions.
Drones

New Chinese Flying Wing Drone Design Emerges

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 16, 2025

Image of a Royal Air Force Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, seen here flying over RAF Lossiemouth. In a training flight conducted over the Moray Firth a Poseidon (P-8A) aircraft operated by 120 Sqn, based at RAF Lossiemouth, dropped a recoverable exercise variant of the Mark 54 Lightweight Torpedo, simulating an attack on a submarine. At just under 3m long and 32cm in diameter, the Mk 54 torpedo is small and light enough that five can be carried in the Poseidon's internal weapons bay. the high-explosive warheads on the live torpedoes pack a devastating punch sufficient to destroy enemy submarines that the Poseidon crew can locate and track using state-of-the-art equipment. The successful release of a torpedo is the latest milestone in the rapid development of the Poseidon in RAF service. Five Poseidon MRA1s are based at RAF Lossiemouth with a further four set to be delivered by the end of this year. The station, which is situated in close proximity to one of the aircraft's most frequent area of operations, is benefiting from a multi-million pound investment programme bringing significant economic benefits to the Highlands & Islands and Morayshire communities. The Poseidon is fitted with advanced, state-of-the-art, Anti-Submarine Warfare and Anti-Surface Warfare sensors which will provide global protection to UK, NATO and our Allies' submarines and warships in an increasingly dangerous world.
Drones

British P-8 Poseidon Flies Unusual Overland Mission Along Polish Border

By Thomas Newdick, Howard Altman

Posted on Sep 15, 2025

Royal Danish Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons fly off the wing of a U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress, assigned to the 20th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, during a Bomber Task Force Europe 25-1 mission over the U.S. European Command area of responsibility, Nov. 15, 2024. Multinational exercises enhance interoperability with NATO forces, strengthening the collective ability to respond to global threats.
Drones

Fighters, Frigate To Help Defend Poland From Drones Under New NATO Operation

By Thomas Newdick, Howard Altman

Posted on Sep 12, 2025

The Department of Defense needs to mass produce its own shahed-136 clone.
Drones

U.S. Needs To Be Building Tens Of Thousands Of Shahed-136 Clones Right Now

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Sep 12, 2025

An Italian Air Force F-2000 Eurofighter Typhoon flies a routine presence patrol mission over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Feb. 6, 2025. Close collaboration with partner nations improves interoperability, ensuring rapid crisis response and sustained operations to protect vital mutual interests in the AOR.
Drones

Drone-Killing APKWS Laser-Guided Rockets Eyed For Eurofighter Typhoon

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Sep 12, 2025

Poland is closing airspace and said the Russian drone incursion was a test.
Drones

Poland Says Russia’s Mass Drone Incursion Was “A Test”

By Howard Altman

Updated on Sep 11, 2025

Authorities in Poland say they have assessed that the incursions were not accidental. Polish and Dutch fighters shot down several of the intruding uncrewed aircraft.
Drones

After Unprecedented Night Of Downing Drones Over Poland, NATO Reports No Posture Changes (Updated)

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Sep 10, 2025

Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems have teamed up to develop a range of uncrewed air systems (UAS), all based on a common design, for which concept artwork has now been presented. The effort sees two of the world’s biggest defense companies joining forces, and entering a growing field of less expensive and more expendable drones and munitions.
Drones

Lockheed Martin Joins Forces With BAE Systems On New Ultra-Adaptable Drone

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Sep 9, 2025

MQ-28 Ghost Bat With Aerial Refueling Capability Hinted At By Boeing
Drones

MQ-28 Ghost Bat With Aerial Refueling Capability Hinted At By Boeing

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Sep 8, 2025

The U.S. Navy has taken an important step forward toward acquiring new carrier-based Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) type drones with contracts to Anduril, Boeing, General Atomics, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman.
Drones

Navy Carrier-Based ‘Loyal Wingman’ Drone Development Suddenly Pushes Forward (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Updated on Sep 5, 2025

Ukraine TB2 drone.
Drones

Ukraine’s TB-2 Bayraktar Drones Are Striking Russian Forces Again After A Long Hiatus

By Howard Altman

Posted on Sep 4, 2025

The massive military parade in Beijing yesterday has provided us with a much closer look at some of the country’s new air combat drones, the gradual emergence of which, in the run-up to the event, prompted much discussion. Of these drones, one, in particular stands out, this being a stealthy tailless design that is also notably large, and which is overall indicative of high performance.
Drones

China Unveils Large Unmanned Stealth Fighter Design During Military Parade

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Sep 3, 2025

The U.S. Air Force's top officer in the Pacific says a key takeaway from China's huge military parade tomorrow will be that "we are not deterred."
Drones

Top USAF General In Pacific “Not Deterred” By Drones, Missiles To Be Showcased At Huge Chinese Parade

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 2, 2025

Yak52 drone hunters
Drones

This Is How Ukrainian Yak-52 Crews Hunt Russian Drones

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Aug 30, 2025

The Pentagon has created a new task force to speed up delivery of counter-small drone systems, but regulatory impediments remain.
Drones

New Pentagon Task Force Aims To Accelerate Drone Defense At Home And Abroad

By Howard Altman

Updated on Aug 29, 2025

Kratos has confirmed it is working together with Taiwan’s National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) on a derivative of its jet-powered MQM-178 Firejet target drone called the Chien Feng IV.
Drones

Taiwan Teams Up With Kratos On Jet-Powered Kamikaze Drone

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 29, 2025

Russia reportedly carried out its first drone boat attack on a Ukrainian Navy ship.
Drones

Russia Just Made Its First Successful Drone Boat Attack On A Ukrainian Naval Ship

By Howard Altman

Posted on Aug 28, 2025

YFQ-42 ‘Fighter Drone’ Collaborative Combat Aircraft Has Flown For The First Time
Drones

YFQ-42 ‘Fighter Drone’ Collaborative Combat Aircraft Has Flown For The First Time

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 27, 2025

Ukraine is developing its own air defense missile systems.
Drones

Ukraine Is Working To Develop Its Own Air Defense Systems

By Howard Altman

Posted on Aug 27, 2025

A suspected Ukrainian drone explosion in Estonia highlights growing concerns about long-range weapons raising the danger of collateral damage outside the war zone.
Drones

Stray Drone Striking Estonia Highlights Dangers Of Rapidly Expanding Long-Range War

By Howard Altman

Updated on Aug 26, 2025