Unmanned

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The U.S. Air Force is planning to retire its remaining RQ-4 Global Hawk high-altitude, long-endurance drones by the end of the 2027 Fiscal Year. The service says it has become clear that the RQ-4s would be overly vulnerable in any future conflict against a peer or near-peer adversary, but it’s not clear what aircraft (or other assets) might fill the resulting capability gap. This only adds to the growing evidence that a top-secret, high-flying, stealth spy drone, commonly referred to as the RQ-180, or variants or derivatives thereof, is getting close to entering service, if it isn’t already being employed operationally on some level.

Air Force Chief Hints At Existence Of Clandestine Spy Aircraft Air Force Chief Hints At Existence Of Clandestine Spy Aircraft

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway

Jul 26 5:51 PM EDT

US Special Operations Command has been tasked to lead the so-called "left-of-launch" fight against drones before they can get airborne or maybe are even produced in the first place.

Destroying Drones Before Launch Is Becoming A Major Mission For U.S. Special Operators Destroying Drones Before Launch Is Becoming A Major Mission For U.S. Special Operators

By Joseph Trevithick

Jul 25 3:49 PM EDT

The ballooning cost of the US Air Force's Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile program is one of the drivers behind uncertainly over the future of its sixth-generation combat jet effort, which could evolve into a fully uncrewed platform.

Next Generation Air Dominance Fighter Uncertainty Tied To Sentinel ICBM Woes Next Generation Air Dominance Fighter Uncertainty Tied To Sentinel ICBM Woes

By Joseph Trevithick

Jul 23 8:32 PM EDT

General Atomics has revealed a new fifth member of its Gambit modular drone family that is carrier-capable and that could represent a step forward in a broader naval aviation vision for the United Kingdom and other countries.

New Carrier-Based Version Of The Gambit Family Of Combat Drones Is In The Works New Carrier-Based Version Of The Gambit Family Of Combat Drones Is In The Works

By Joseph Trevithick

Jul 22 9:24 PM EDT

Northrop Grumman has offer a new and interesting look at its secretive XRQ-73 drone.

Our Best Look Yet At The XRQ-73 Hybrid-Electric Stealthy Flying Wing Drone Our Best Look Yet At The XRQ-73 Hybrid-Electric Stealthy Flying Wing Drone

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway

Jul 10 7:46 PM EDT

Ukraine’s unorthodox efforts to develop ways of defeating Russian drones have taken an apparent new turn, with the appearance of a light airplane carrying a sharpshooter to intercept uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs). At this stage, few details about the concept are available, but it’s notable that the aircraft in question — the Ukrainian-made Aeroprakt A-22 ultralight — is a type that we have seen in the past adapted as one-way attack drone, something you can read more about here.

Ultralight Drone Hunting Planes Now In Use In Ukraine Ultralight Drone Hunting Planes Now In Use In Ukraine

By Thomas Newdick

Jul 8 2:49 PM EDT

In a bizarre turn of events, Chinese-made Wing Loong drones, apparently headed to Libya, have been seized by Italian authorities off the coast of southern Italy. The disassembled drones were in crates that were marked as containing parts for wind turbines, in what seems to have been an effort to evade a United Nations arms embargo imposed on Libya.

Chinese Wing Loong Drones Disguised As Wind Turbines Seized By Italy Chinese Wing Loong Drones Disguised As Wind Turbines Seized By Italy

By Thomas Newdick

Jul 3 3:59 PM EDT

Kratos has developed a new launch trolley that allows its XQ-58 drones to take off from traditional runways.

XQ-58 Valkyrie Can Now Take Off From Runways Thanks To New Launch Trolly System XQ-58 Valkyrie Can Now Take Off From Runways Thanks To New Launch Trolly System

By Joseph Trevithick

Jul 3 2:33 PM EDT

MQ-9 with new electronic warfare pod

New Electronic Warfare Pod Turns Marine MQ-9 Reaper Into “A Black Hole” New Electronic Warfare Pod Turns Marine MQ-9 Reaper Into “A Black Hole”

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Jul 2 10:12 PM EDT

Russia has unveiled a counter-drone interceptor, a single-use drone with an explosive warhead that’s expressly designed to bring down the kinds of Ukrainian uncrewed aerial vehicles that have taken a steady toll of Russian troops and equipment on the battlefield. The Vogan-9SP counter-drone interceptor was developed by Russia’s Red Line company, seemingly a new entrant in the field.

Russia Jumps Into Purpose-Built Drone-Hunting Drone Weapons Space Russia Jumps Into Purpose-Built Drone-Hunting Drone Weapons Space

By Thomas Newdick

Jul 2 4:13 PM EDT

The US Air Force is taking a second look at the crewed sixth-generation stealth combat jet it is developing under the Next Generation Air Dominance initiative to see where costs could be cut, even at the cost of losing certain capabilities.

Next Generation Air Dominance Fighter’s Future Increasingly Uncertain Next Generation Air Dominance Fighter’s Future Increasingly Uncertain

By Joseph Trevithick

Jul 1 8:48 PM EDT

Anduril and General Atomics have shared new details about progress and challenges, including on production and autonomy issues, as part of the Air Force Collaborative Combat Aircraft program.

Construction Of First Collaborative Combat Aircraft Drone Has Begun At General Atomics Construction Of First Collaborative Combat Aircraft Drone Has Begun At General Atomics

By Joseph Trevithick

Jul 1 5:09 PM EDT

The US Air Force's Air Mobility Command has outlined a critical need to give its fleets new counter-drone defenses they can use wherever they go.

Built-In Counter-Drone Defenses Sought For Air Force Transports, Tankers Built-In Counter-Drone Defenses Sought For Air Force Transports, Tankers

By Eric Tegler, Joseph Trevithick

Jun 29 3:55 PM EDT

A propeller-driven Yak-52 primary training aircraft has appeared with an impressive collection of kill marks displayed on its fuselage; seemingly confirmation of its success having been impressed into service as a drone-killer. While we reported on a series of previous videos showing the use of Soviet-era Yak-52s to attack Russian drones, the latest evidence suggests that the unorthodox solution could be becoming a more important part of Ukraine’s multilayered air defenses.

Yak-52 Kill Marks Hint At Success In Ukraine’s Drone War Yak-52 Kill Marks Hint At Success In Ukraine’s Drone War

By Thomas Newdick

Jun 25 1:35 PM EDT

A secretive stealthy drone being developed under the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's Series Hybrid Electric Propulsion AiRcraft (SHEPARD) Demonstration program has now been designated the XRQ-73.

Shadowy XRQ-73 Hybrid-Electric Stealthy Flying Wing Drone Emerges Shadowy XRQ-73 Hybrid-Electric Stealthy Flying Wing Drone Emerges

By Joseph Trevithick

Jun 24 6:42 PM EDT

Ukraine is ramping up its attacks on Russian ISR drones to reduce their situational awareness.

Ukraine Situation Report: Drone-On-Drone Aerial Engagements Ramp-Up Ukraine Situation Report: Drone-On-Drone Aerial Engagements Ramp-Up

By Howard Altman

Jun 19 7:27 PM EDT