Unmanned (Page 2)

Latest in Unmanned

A U.S. Navy MQ-4C Triton surveillance drone disappeared abruptly and unexpectedly from online flight tracking sites after declaring an in-flight emergency while flying over the Persian Gulf today.
MQ-4C

Navy MQ-4C Triton’s Fate Unknown After Disappearing From Flight Tracking Over Persian Gulf

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 9, 2026

Here Is What Trump’s Gargantuan $1.5T Defense Budget Has In It
Unmanned

Here Is What Trump’s Gargantuan $1.5T Defense Budget Has In It

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 8, 2026

RQ-180 features seen in new videos shot in Greece.
RQ-180

New Views Of Massive RQ-180 Stealth Drone Flying Over Greece

By Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Apr 7, 2026

A secretive late Cold War-era drone program known as Quartz, intended to persistently monitor mobile nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles deep within the Soviet Union, offers a window into exactly why the RQ-180 could be in high demand in the Middle East now.
RQ-180

RQ-180’s Likely Role Over Iran Foreshadowed By Secret Cold War Stealth Drone Program

By Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Apr 6, 2026

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

MQ-28 Ghost Bat Gains Major European Foothold As Rheinmetall Joins Forces With Boeing

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Mar 31, 2026

Spotters in Greece have caught an especially good look at what very much appears to be a very stealthy, long-range, high-altitude intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance drone commonly referred to as the RQ-180, or an evolution of that design.
RQ-180

RQ-180 Secret Stealth Drone Appears To Have Made An Emergency Landing At A Greek Air Base (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Mar 18, 2026

Despite widespread interest across the Middle East in the wake of Iranian Shahed attacks, Ukrainian companies still can't export them.
Unmanned

Ukrainian Companies Prohibited From Exporting Shahed Interceptor Drones

By Howard Altman

Posted on Mar 13, 2026

We obtained first-hand accounts of police chasing down Jersey Drones.
Unmanned

What Cops Saw Chasing Down New Jersey Drones

By Howard Altman

Updated on Mar 12, 2026

Adm. Brad Cooper, the commander of U.S. Central Command, lauds the LUCAS drone.
Unmanned

LUCAS Kamikaze Drones Lauded As “Indispensable” By U.S. Admiral In Charge Of Iran War

By Howard Altman

Posted on Mar 6, 2026

The U.S. used LUCAS kamikaze drones against Iran, the first combat deployment of these weapons.
Unmanned

U.S. Military Has Used Long-Range Kamikaze Drones In Combat For The First Time

By Howard Altman

Posted on Feb 28, 2026

Shield AI says X-Bat will start flight testing this year.
Unmanned

X-BAT Drone ‘Fighter’ Will Begin VTOL Flight Testing In Kansas This Year

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Feb 25, 2026

MQ-9 being turned into cruise missile truck.

General Atomics Is Turning The MQ-9 Reaper Family Of Drones Into “Cruise Missile Trucks”

By The War Zone staff

Posted on Feb 24, 2026

The U.S. Air Force has given us our first look at one of Anduril's YFQ-44 Fury ‘fighter drone’ prototypes carrying an inert AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM).
Loyal Wingman

Anduril’s Fury Collaborative Combat Aircraft Is Now Flying With AIM-120 AMRAAM

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Feb 24, 2026

Talon Blue drone from Northrop Grumman.
Unmanned

Talon Blue Is The New Name For Northrop Grumman’s YFQ-48A ‘Fighter Drone’

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Feb 24, 2026

YFQ-42A is now named Dark Merlin
Unmanned

Dark Merlin Is The Name Of General Atomics’ YFQ-42A Fighter Drone

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Feb 23, 2026

General Atomics' air-launched LongShort drone has made new progress toward its first flight with the completion of various tests on the ground, including a demonstration of its weapons release capabilities.
Loyal Wingman

X-68A LongShot Air-To-Air Missile-Carrying Drone Moves Closer To F-15 Launch

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 17, 2026

YFQ-42 selected for test program with the USMC.
Loyal Wingman

YFQ-42 Fighter Drone To Test USMC’s Autonomy ‘Brain’ Alongside Crewed Jets

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Feb 11, 2026

The entire U.S. military is now pushing to acquire hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of new drones, especially smaller types, in the coming years, spurred on by new direction from the Pentagon.
Swarms

Hunt For Container Launchers Packed With Drones Kicked-Off By Pentagon

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 6, 2026

An MQ-28A Ghost Bat loaded with an AIM-120 during Trial Kareela at RAAF Base Woomera, South Australia.
MQ-28

Boeing Details New MQ-28 Ghost Bat Features, Eyes Indo-Pacific Sales

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Feb 5, 2026

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

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

By James Deboer

Posted on Feb 2, 2026

The initial production representative MQ-25 Stingray tanker drone for the U.S. Navy has completed its first low-speed taxi test.
MQ-25

MQ-25 Stingray Has Begun Taxi Tests (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jan 30, 2026

Lockheed Martin has offered a very rare confirmation of the RQ-170 Sentinel stealth drone's operational exploits, in this case, in support of the recent mission to capture Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro.
RQ-170

Lockheed Confirms RQ-170 Sentinel Spy Drones Took Part In Maduro Capture Mission

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jan 29, 2026

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

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.
Q-1

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

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jan 22, 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.
XQ-58

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.
XQ-58

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.
Loitering Munitions

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

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Jan 6, 2026

RQ-170 Sentinel Stealth Drone Supported Maduro Capture Mission
RQ-170

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.
Q-9

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.
Unmanned

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.
Unmanned

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.
Q-9

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.
Loyal Wingman

Is This China’s Truck-Mounted Electromagnetic Catapult?

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Dec 30, 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.
Loyal Wingman

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.
Unmanned

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

By Howard Altman

Posted on Dec 20, 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.
Unmanned

Littoral Combat Ship Launches Shahed-136 Kamikaze Drone Clone

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Dec 18, 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).
UCAVs

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.
Unmanned

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.
Unmanned

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.
Unmanned

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

Howard Howard Altman, By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Dec 10, 2025

Abrams drone launcher
Switchblade

M1 Abrams Tank Armed With Switchblade Drones Tested By Army

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Dec 9, 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.
MQ-28

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

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 9, 2025

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

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)
Loitering Munitions

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.
Unmanned

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.
Unmanned

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

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 1, 2025

Fiber optic drone
Unmanned

FBI Wants To Add Fiber Optic Drones To Its Arsenal

By Howard Altman

Posted on Nov 21, 2025

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

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.
Loyal Wingman

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.
Loyal Wingman

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

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 17, 2025

Russia has created a new military branch, called the Unmanned Systems Forces, to oversee drone operations, development and testing.
Unmanned

Russia Creates New Military Branch Dedicated To Drone Warfare

By Howard Altman

Posted on Nov 13, 2025

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

Anduril Unveils Omen Hybrid-Electric Vertical Takeoff And Landing Drone

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Nov 13, 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.
UCAVs

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.
Unmanned

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.
Unmanned

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.
Unmanned

Strike Variant Joins Gambit Family Of Autonomous Air Combat Drones

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 6, 2025

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

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.
Unmanned

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

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Oct 30, 2025

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

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.
Loyal Wingman

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.
Unmanned

Singapore Launches Its Biggest And Most Capable Warship Ever

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Oct 21, 2025

GJ-X Chinese large flying wing drone.
UCAVs

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.
Loyal Wingman

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

Kratos ragnarok cruise missile on an XQ-58.
XQ-58

Ragnarok Mini-Cruise Missile With Big Range Targets $150K Price Tag (Updated)

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Oct 16, 2025