Featured in UCAVBYJoseph TrevithickOct 19, 2020ShareU-2 Spy Plane Got New Target Recognition Capabilities In First-Ever In-Flight Software UpdateThe ability to generate Star Wars-themed logs of software changes was another part of the recent game-changing experiment. BYJoseph TrevithickOct 19, 2020ShareBYJoseph TrevithickOct 14, 2020ShareOf Course Japan Rejected A Plan For A New Unmanned Fighter Because It Makes No SenseThe unmanned fighter proposal was just one of several options that Tokyo has studied as a replacement for the Mitsubishi F-2. BYJoseph TrevithickOct 14, 2020ShareBYThomas NewdickAug 4, 2020ShareNow Russia Wants Its First Okhotnik Combat Drone In Service By 2024Deliveries of first heavy unmanned combat air vehicle will herald a new era for Russian combat airpower and potential for a “loyal wingman” for the Su-57. BYThomas NewdickAug 4, 2020ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJul 22, 2020ShareNavy Eyes ‘Hard-Kill’ Defenses For Transport, Tanker, and Possibly Unmanned Escort PlanesThe service is looking for a system that launches interceptors at incoming missiles and could end up on more than half a dozen types of aircraft. BYJoseph TrevithickJul 22, 2020ShareBYTyler RogowayJul 3, 2020Share7 Revolutionary Hardware Changes the US Navy Should Make in the Trump EraUnder the new administration the Navy could maximize a planned budget increase and tailor its force to 21st century demands. BYTyler RogowayJul 3, 2020ShareBYTyler RogowayJul 2, 2020ShareThe Alarming Case of the USAF’s Mysteriously Missing Unmanned Combat Air VehiclesThe USAF has them but isn’t telling us they do, or they don’t. Either way we are in trouble. Here’s why. BYTyler RogowayJul 2, 2020ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 24, 2020ShareGlitzy Air Force Video Lays Out “Skyborg” Artificial Intelligence Combat Drone ProgramThe presentation outlines potential future mission sets, including air-to-air combat, and how the drones will fit into the service’s larger plans. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 24, 2020ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 4, 2020ShareManned Fighter To Face Autonomous Drone Next Year In Sci-Fi Movie-Like ShowdownThe planned test is part of a project to develop an artificial intelligence-driven drone that could change the face of air combat. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 4, 2020ShareBYJoseph TrevithickMay 22, 2020ShareThe Fight For The Air Force’s “Skyborg” Artificial Intelligence Equipped Drones Has BegunThe artificial intelligence-driven suite of systems could be flying loyal wingman type drones operationally in just a few years. BYJoseph TrevithickMay 22, 2020ShareBYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayFeb 4, 2020ShareNavy EA-18G Teamed With Two Other Growlers Flying Semi-Autonomously As Loyal WingmenAlthough the test is a promising step toward manned-unmanned air combat teaming, it is an echo of a much more promising past. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayFeb 4, 2020ShareBYTyler Rogoway and Joseph TrevithickJan 18, 2020ShareThe Pentagon May Finally Get The Fighter-Sized Stealth Aerial Target Drone It Badly NeedsWell over a decade in the making, we finally got our first look at the 5th Generation Aerial Target, or 5GAT, that is slated to fly soon. BYTyler Rogoway and Joseph TrevithickJan 18, 2020ShareBYJoseph TrevithickDec 6, 2019ShareNavy Boss Hints At A Very Different Looking Future Fleet Of Naval Combat AircraftHe also talked about the possibility of deploying those manned and unmanned aircraft on ships beyond traditional aircraft carriers. BYJoseph TrevithickDec 6, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickNov 19, 2019ShareBoeing Conducts Flight Test Of Surrogate Drones For Australia’s Loyal Wingman ProgramThe program is using lower-end jet drones to help demonstrate the concept that will eventually use stealthy fighter-sized drones. BYJoseph TrevithickNov 19, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickNov 7, 2019ShareRussian Drone “Strike Groups” Jammed And Bombed Air Defenses During Huge ExerciseUnmanned aircraft with small munitions worked closely with others carrying electronic warfare and sensor payloads to target critical enemy assets. BYJoseph TrevithickNov 7, 2019ShareBYTyler RogowayNov 5, 2019ShareAirbus’s Secret Stealth Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle Research Program Breaks Cover (Updated)The impressive-looking plane was part of a clandestine risk-reduction effort that will inform the firm’s future stealthy combat aircraft designs. BYTyler RogowayNov 5, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickOct 1, 2019ShareChina Showcases Stealthier Sharp Sword Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle ConfigurationThe rear of the design on display during a parade to mark the 70th founding of Communist China is completely different from an earlier prototype. BYJoseph TrevithickOct 1, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickSep 27, 2019ShareWatch Russia’s S-70 Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle Fly With An Su-57 For The First TimeRussia says one of the primary goals of the program is to be able to operate both of these aircraft together in manned-unmanned teams. BYJoseph TrevithickSep 27, 2019ShareBYTyler RogowaySep 25, 2019ShareChina’s Reported Plan To Deploy Weaponless Stealth Drones On Its Carriers Make Perfect SenseIt’s not about the weapons such a drone can carry, it’s about the targeting data it can reliably supply to far more powerful and longer-range weapons. BYTyler RogowaySep 25, 2019ShareBYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowaySep 6, 2019Share“B-21s With Air-To-Air Capabilities,” Drones, Not 6th Gen Fighters To Dominate Future Air CombatThe Air Force’s vision of the future of aerial combat has evolved greatly as of late and has moved away from plans for new, costly manned fighters. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowaySep 6, 2019ShareBYTyler RogowayAug 25, 2019ShareRussia’s Sukhoi Shows Off Stealthier Vision For Its “Hunter” Unmanned Combat Air VehicleWe now know that Sukhoi intends to make its unmanned combat air vehicle very stealthy, which will help overcome some of the Su-57’s shortcomings. BYTyler RogowayAug 25, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickAug 13, 2019ShareStealthy Flying Wing Jet Pin Among Others From China’s Chengdu Aircraft Corp EmergesThe pin design shares numerous similarities to an equally curious unnamed drone that China unveiled at the biennial Zhuhai Airshow in 2018. BYJoseph TrevithickAug 13, 2019ShareBYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayAug 13, 2019ShareFull Analysis Of The First Flight Of Russia’s ‘Hunter’ Unmanned Combat Air VehicleThis is a significant achievement for the program, but serious questions remain about the drone’s design and exact capabilities. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayAug 13, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJul 1, 2019ShareU.S. Air Force Is Planning Something Big in the Nevada DesertUnusually worded, multi-billion dollar drone services contract possibly points to a new, shadowy unmanned aircraft—and a lot of them. BYJoseph TrevithickJul 1, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareBAE Systems Wants Its MAGMA Drone to Maneuver Using Only Supersonic Blasts of AirThe system could eliminate the need for physical control surfaces, which could be a very big deal, especially for stealthy aircraft. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareNorthrop Grumman MQ-25 Drone Tanker Testbed Emerges At Plant 42 In CaliforniaIt’s not clear whether the company is using the X-47B aircraft as a surrogate or an actual prototype design. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareThe US Navy May Have Watered Down Its MQ-25 Drone Even MoreReported draft requirements focus almost entirely on tanking with no clear mention of intelligence missions. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareFrance and Germany Want to Build Their Own 5th Generation Fighter JetThe proposal is a big deal, but there’s still a lot the two countries will have to figure out for it to work. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareNavy Reveals Which Carriers Will First Field Their Dumbed-Down MQ-25 DroneUnfortunately, getting aircraft carriers ready to launch and control the Stingray is the easy part of program. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickMay 21, 2019ShareRussia’s ‘Hunter’ Flying Wing Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle Is A Big BeastSatellite imagery confirms that the drone has a wider wingspan than a Su-34 Fullback combat jet and a relatively aggressive wing sweep. BYJoseph TrevithickMay 21, 2019ShareBYTyler RogowayMar 6, 2019ShareAir Force’s Secretive XQ-58A Valkyrie Experimental Combat Drone Emerges After First FlightThe QX-58 may lead to a whole new class of highly-flexible and affordable unmanned combat air vehicles that could revolutionize how the USAF fights. BYTyler RogowayMar 6, 2019ShareBYTyler Rogoway and Joseph TrevithickFeb 27, 2019ShareBoeing Will Unveil This ‘Loyal Wingman’ Combat Drone For Australia’s Air Force Tomorrow (Updated)Boeing reportedly developed the all-new stealthy drone specifically for the Australians as part of a classified program. BYTyler Rogoway and Joseph TrevithickFeb 27, 2019ShareBYTyler RogowayFeb 26, 2019ShareBoeing Just Teased A Big Reveal For Australia’s Avalon Air Show, What Could It Be?A stealthy loyal wingman or target drone? A UCAV? A Light fighter T-X variant? We break down the possibilities. BYTyler RogowayFeb 26, 2019ShareBYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayFeb 12, 2019ShareLet’s Talk About The U.K.’s Sudden Move To Field A Drone Swarm SquadronThe new unit is yet another sign that high-end networked drones are going to begin taking on the toughest air combat missions. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayFeb 12, 2019ShareBYTyler RogowayFeb 6, 2019ShareExclusive: Lockheed Skunk Works’ X-44A Flying-Wing Drone RevealedThe aircraft is a missing link in a lineage of shadowy unmanned flying-wing drones built by the legendary Skunk Works. BYTyler RogowayFeb 6, 2019ShareBYTyler RogowayJan 29, 2019ShareUSAF Chief Just Said Next Air Refueling Tanker May Fly In Space… Huh?The puzzling comment comes at a time when the USAF is doing anything it can to keep its grasp on space-based capabilities. BYTyler RogowayJan 29, 2019ShareBYTyler RogowayJan 24, 2019ShareDetailed New Photos Of Russia’s ‘Hunter’ Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle Emerge: Our AnalysisRussia’s UCAV is impressive in size, but the current configuration’s empennage shows signs of major technological weaknesses. BYTyler RogowayJan 24, 2019ShareBYTyler Rogoway and Joseph TrevithickJan 24, 2019ShareIs This Russia’s ‘Hunter’ Stealthy Flying Wing Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle?The new image appeared as a specially configured Su-57 emerged with markings indicating it will be directly involved in the drone’s test program. BYTyler Rogoway and Joseph TrevithickJan 24, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJan 2, 2019ShareSpain To Pit Its Eurofighters Against France’s Stealth Unmanned Combat Air VehicleThe trials will show how well, or not, the fighter’s sensors can spot the drone, which could impact various air combat developments in both countries. BYJoseph TrevithickJan 2, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickDec 4, 2018ShareEurofighter Consortium 2.0 Takes Shape As Spain Set To Join Franco-German Stealth Jet ProgramThe Spanish Ministry of Defense also says the Italians and the Dutch have joined the United Kingdom’s Tempest program. BYJoseph TrevithickDec 4, 2018ShareBYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayNov 2, 2018ShareChina’s Biggest Airshow Offers More Evidence Of Beijing’s Stealth Drone FocusChina is investing heavily in penetrating unmanned aircraft with a possible eye toward developing a drone that will fly from one its future carriers. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayNov 2, 2018ShareBYJoseph TrevithickSep 25, 2018ShareBell Unveils V-247 Vigilant Tilt-Rotor Combat Drone Mock-Up at USMC Tech ExpoThe Marines are looking at the design as part of their own multi-role drone program, but it could be appealing to other services, as well. BYJoseph TrevithickSep 25, 2018ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJul 16, 2018ShareThe U.K.’s New ‘Tempest’ Stealth Fighter Project Already Faces Serious ChallengesThe country is eager to remain competitive militarily and economically, but it’s not clear if they can afford their own advanced fighter jet. BYJoseph TrevithickJul 16, 2018ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 7, 2018ShareMarines Want Their Multi-Role Vertical Takeoff Combat Drone To Be A Flying Radar FirstThe service wants the first examples to be sensor nodes, but after that, they could take on a host of different missions from armed escort to strike. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 7, 2018ShareBYTyler RogowayJun 5, 2018ShareImage Of China’s Stealthy ‘Dark Sword’ Fighter-Like Combat Drone EmergesThe image shows a mature design that leverages existing elements found on other Chinese tactical aircraft. BYTyler RogowayJun 5, 2018ShareBYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayApr 25, 2018ShareShedding Some Light On The Air Force’s Most Shadowy Drone SquadronWe’ve been able to uncover a lot of details about the secretive reconnaissance squadron and an obscure detachment that preceded its establishment. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayApr 25, 2018ShareBYTyler RogowayApr 11, 2018ShareLockheed Is Already Pushing A Stealthy Version Of Its MQ-25 Stingray Tanker DroneThe sad thing is, the whole idea originally was for the Navy to get a stealth drone, but it ended up getting a flying gas can. BYTyler RogowayApr 11, 2018ShareBYTyler RogowayApr 9, 2018ShareHere’s Our First Good Look At The Crazy Air Inlet Design On Boeing’s MQ-25 Tanker DroneBoeing’s MQ-25 has a classically problematic but low-observable flush-mounted intake, yet there are no low-observable requirements for the program. BYTyler RogowayApr 9, 2018ShareBYTyler RogowayApr 2, 2018ShareGeneral Atomics Isn’t Building A Flyable Prototype Of Their MQ-25 Tanker DroneThe famed drone manufacturer has come out with an impressive, no-nonsense flying gas truck. But will the lack of a prototype hurt its chances? BYTyler RogowayApr 2, 2018ShareBYTyler RogowayMar 26, 2018ShareLockheed’s MQ-25 Tanker Drone Looks Impressive, But It’s Still Just A Paper PlaneLockheed’s flying-wing ‘Stingray’ drone is said to be largely a clean sheet design, and that could help or hurt its chances of winning. BYTyler RogowayMar 26, 2018ShareBYTyler RogowayMar 13, 2018ShareWe Finally See The Wings On Boeing’s MQ-25 Drone As Details About Its Genesis EmergeAs we suspected, it was designed years ago for a more ambitious program and has since been adapted to meet the Navy’s carrier-based tanker needs. BYTyler RogowayMar 13, 2018ShareBYTyler RogowayFeb 23, 2018ShareChina Is Surging Forward With Its Development Of Advanced Stealth Combat DronesChina’s work in the high-end unmanned combat air vehicle space is accelerating while the Pentagon remains publicly uninterested in the concept. BYTyler RogowayFeb 23, 2018ShareBYTyler RogowayDec 14, 2017ShareBoeing Defense Teases Mystery Aircraft Unveiling By Hiding It Under A Black SheetThe strange teaser came on Twitter, showing a puzzling design that the company says will “change the future of air power.” BYTyler RogowayDec 14, 2017ShareBYTyler RogowayOct 24, 2017ShareThe Future Of Stealth Is “Morphing Wing” Technology, But Will The B-21 Feature It?The cutting-edge technology’s benefits read like a wishlist for stealth aircraft designers. BYTyler RogowayOct 24, 2017ShareBYTyler RogowaySep 7, 2017ShareDARPA’s “Flying Missile Rail” Seems To Be More About Manufacturing Than CombatThe idea has limited potential, but how it will be designed and manufactured will be the program’s biggest and most important challenges. BYTyler RogowaySep 7, 2017ShareBYTyler RogowayAug 20, 2017ShareNo, That Satellite Image Going Around Social Media Isn’t Of China’s New Stealth BomberChina’s new stealthy bomber could emerge at anytime, but this isn’t it. BYTyler RogowayAug 20, 2017ShareBYTyler RogowayJul 22, 2017ShareCheck Out All These Blackbird Videos NASA Just ReleasedA whole new trove of flight test videos were published by NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center. BYTyler RogowayJul 22, 2017ShareBYTyler RogowayOct 3, 2016ShareIran Unveils Fleet of Combat Drones, Claims They’re Copies of Captured RQ-170Tehran wants you to believe they have reverse-engineered the RQ-170 Sentinel. BYTyler RogowayOct 3, 2016ShareBYTyler RogowayJun 14, 2016SharePhoto Emerges Of Stealthy Avenger Drone Fitted With Advanced Multi-Spectral Sensor SuiteThe USAF’s only Avenger may have flown its last mission. BYTyler RogowayJun 14, 2016Share12
BYJoseph TrevithickOct 19, 2020ShareU-2 Spy Plane Got New Target Recognition Capabilities In First-Ever In-Flight Software UpdateThe ability to generate Star Wars-themed logs of software changes was another part of the recent game-changing experiment. BYJoseph TrevithickOct 19, 2020Share
BYJoseph TrevithickOct 14, 2020ShareOf Course Japan Rejected A Plan For A New Unmanned Fighter Because It Makes No SenseThe unmanned fighter proposal was just one of several options that Tokyo has studied as a replacement for the Mitsubishi F-2. BYJoseph TrevithickOct 14, 2020Share
BYThomas NewdickAug 4, 2020ShareNow Russia Wants Its First Okhotnik Combat Drone In Service By 2024Deliveries of first heavy unmanned combat air vehicle will herald a new era for Russian combat airpower and potential for a “loyal wingman” for the Su-57. BYThomas NewdickAug 4, 2020Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJul 22, 2020ShareNavy Eyes ‘Hard-Kill’ Defenses For Transport, Tanker, and Possibly Unmanned Escort PlanesThe service is looking for a system that launches interceptors at incoming missiles and could end up on more than half a dozen types of aircraft. BYJoseph TrevithickJul 22, 2020Share
BYTyler RogowayJul 3, 2020Share7 Revolutionary Hardware Changes the US Navy Should Make in the Trump EraUnder the new administration the Navy could maximize a planned budget increase and tailor its force to 21st century demands. BYTyler RogowayJul 3, 2020Share
BYTyler RogowayJul 2, 2020ShareThe Alarming Case of the USAF’s Mysteriously Missing Unmanned Combat Air VehiclesThe USAF has them but isn’t telling us they do, or they don’t. Either way we are in trouble. Here’s why. BYTyler RogowayJul 2, 2020Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 24, 2020ShareGlitzy Air Force Video Lays Out “Skyborg” Artificial Intelligence Combat Drone ProgramThe presentation outlines potential future mission sets, including air-to-air combat, and how the drones will fit into the service’s larger plans. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 24, 2020Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 4, 2020ShareManned Fighter To Face Autonomous Drone Next Year In Sci-Fi Movie-Like ShowdownThe planned test is part of a project to develop an artificial intelligence-driven drone that could change the face of air combat. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 4, 2020Share
BYJoseph TrevithickMay 22, 2020ShareThe Fight For The Air Force’s “Skyborg” Artificial Intelligence Equipped Drones Has BegunThe artificial intelligence-driven suite of systems could be flying loyal wingman type drones operationally in just a few years. BYJoseph TrevithickMay 22, 2020Share
BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayFeb 4, 2020ShareNavy EA-18G Teamed With Two Other Growlers Flying Semi-Autonomously As Loyal WingmenAlthough the test is a promising step toward manned-unmanned air combat teaming, it is an echo of a much more promising past. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayFeb 4, 2020Share
BYTyler Rogoway and Joseph TrevithickJan 18, 2020ShareThe Pentagon May Finally Get The Fighter-Sized Stealth Aerial Target Drone It Badly NeedsWell over a decade in the making, we finally got our first look at the 5th Generation Aerial Target, or 5GAT, that is slated to fly soon. BYTyler Rogoway and Joseph TrevithickJan 18, 2020Share
BYJoseph TrevithickDec 6, 2019ShareNavy Boss Hints At A Very Different Looking Future Fleet Of Naval Combat AircraftHe also talked about the possibility of deploying those manned and unmanned aircraft on ships beyond traditional aircraft carriers. BYJoseph TrevithickDec 6, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickNov 19, 2019ShareBoeing Conducts Flight Test Of Surrogate Drones For Australia’s Loyal Wingman ProgramThe program is using lower-end jet drones to help demonstrate the concept that will eventually use stealthy fighter-sized drones. BYJoseph TrevithickNov 19, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickNov 7, 2019ShareRussian Drone “Strike Groups” Jammed And Bombed Air Defenses During Huge ExerciseUnmanned aircraft with small munitions worked closely with others carrying electronic warfare and sensor payloads to target critical enemy assets. BYJoseph TrevithickNov 7, 2019Share
BYTyler RogowayNov 5, 2019ShareAirbus’s Secret Stealth Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle Research Program Breaks Cover (Updated)The impressive-looking plane was part of a clandestine risk-reduction effort that will inform the firm’s future stealthy combat aircraft designs. BYTyler RogowayNov 5, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickOct 1, 2019ShareChina Showcases Stealthier Sharp Sword Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle ConfigurationThe rear of the design on display during a parade to mark the 70th founding of Communist China is completely different from an earlier prototype. BYJoseph TrevithickOct 1, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickSep 27, 2019ShareWatch Russia’s S-70 Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle Fly With An Su-57 For The First TimeRussia says one of the primary goals of the program is to be able to operate both of these aircraft together in manned-unmanned teams. BYJoseph TrevithickSep 27, 2019Share
BYTyler RogowaySep 25, 2019ShareChina’s Reported Plan To Deploy Weaponless Stealth Drones On Its Carriers Make Perfect SenseIt’s not about the weapons such a drone can carry, it’s about the targeting data it can reliably supply to far more powerful and longer-range weapons. BYTyler RogowaySep 25, 2019Share
BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowaySep 6, 2019Share“B-21s With Air-To-Air Capabilities,” Drones, Not 6th Gen Fighters To Dominate Future Air CombatThe Air Force’s vision of the future of aerial combat has evolved greatly as of late and has moved away from plans for new, costly manned fighters. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowaySep 6, 2019Share
BYTyler RogowayAug 25, 2019ShareRussia’s Sukhoi Shows Off Stealthier Vision For Its “Hunter” Unmanned Combat Air VehicleWe now know that Sukhoi intends to make its unmanned combat air vehicle very stealthy, which will help overcome some of the Su-57’s shortcomings. BYTyler RogowayAug 25, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickAug 13, 2019ShareStealthy Flying Wing Jet Pin Among Others From China’s Chengdu Aircraft Corp EmergesThe pin design shares numerous similarities to an equally curious unnamed drone that China unveiled at the biennial Zhuhai Airshow in 2018. BYJoseph TrevithickAug 13, 2019Share
BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayAug 13, 2019ShareFull Analysis Of The First Flight Of Russia’s ‘Hunter’ Unmanned Combat Air VehicleThis is a significant achievement for the program, but serious questions remain about the drone’s design and exact capabilities. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayAug 13, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJul 1, 2019ShareU.S. Air Force Is Planning Something Big in the Nevada DesertUnusually worded, multi-billion dollar drone services contract possibly points to a new, shadowy unmanned aircraft—and a lot of them. BYJoseph TrevithickJul 1, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareBAE Systems Wants Its MAGMA Drone to Maneuver Using Only Supersonic Blasts of AirThe system could eliminate the need for physical control surfaces, which could be a very big deal, especially for stealthy aircraft. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareNorthrop Grumman MQ-25 Drone Tanker Testbed Emerges At Plant 42 In CaliforniaIt’s not clear whether the company is using the X-47B aircraft as a surrogate or an actual prototype design. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareThe US Navy May Have Watered Down Its MQ-25 Drone Even MoreReported draft requirements focus almost entirely on tanking with no clear mention of intelligence missions. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareFrance and Germany Want to Build Their Own 5th Generation Fighter JetThe proposal is a big deal, but there’s still a lot the two countries will have to figure out for it to work. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareNavy Reveals Which Carriers Will First Field Their Dumbed-Down MQ-25 DroneUnfortunately, getting aircraft carriers ready to launch and control the Stingray is the easy part of program. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickMay 21, 2019ShareRussia’s ‘Hunter’ Flying Wing Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle Is A Big BeastSatellite imagery confirms that the drone has a wider wingspan than a Su-34 Fullback combat jet and a relatively aggressive wing sweep. BYJoseph TrevithickMay 21, 2019Share
BYTyler RogowayMar 6, 2019ShareAir Force’s Secretive XQ-58A Valkyrie Experimental Combat Drone Emerges After First FlightThe QX-58 may lead to a whole new class of highly-flexible and affordable unmanned combat air vehicles that could revolutionize how the USAF fights. BYTyler RogowayMar 6, 2019Share
BYTyler Rogoway and Joseph TrevithickFeb 27, 2019ShareBoeing Will Unveil This ‘Loyal Wingman’ Combat Drone For Australia’s Air Force Tomorrow (Updated)Boeing reportedly developed the all-new stealthy drone specifically for the Australians as part of a classified program. BYTyler Rogoway and Joseph TrevithickFeb 27, 2019Share
BYTyler RogowayFeb 26, 2019ShareBoeing Just Teased A Big Reveal For Australia’s Avalon Air Show, What Could It Be?A stealthy loyal wingman or target drone? A UCAV? A Light fighter T-X variant? We break down the possibilities. BYTyler RogowayFeb 26, 2019Share
BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayFeb 12, 2019ShareLet’s Talk About The U.K.’s Sudden Move To Field A Drone Swarm SquadronThe new unit is yet another sign that high-end networked drones are going to begin taking on the toughest air combat missions. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayFeb 12, 2019Share
BYTyler RogowayFeb 6, 2019ShareExclusive: Lockheed Skunk Works’ X-44A Flying-Wing Drone RevealedThe aircraft is a missing link in a lineage of shadowy unmanned flying-wing drones built by the legendary Skunk Works. BYTyler RogowayFeb 6, 2019Share
BYTyler RogowayJan 29, 2019ShareUSAF Chief Just Said Next Air Refueling Tanker May Fly In Space… Huh?The puzzling comment comes at a time when the USAF is doing anything it can to keep its grasp on space-based capabilities. BYTyler RogowayJan 29, 2019Share
BYTyler RogowayJan 24, 2019ShareDetailed New Photos Of Russia’s ‘Hunter’ Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle Emerge: Our AnalysisRussia’s UCAV is impressive in size, but the current configuration’s empennage shows signs of major technological weaknesses. BYTyler RogowayJan 24, 2019Share
BYTyler Rogoway and Joseph TrevithickJan 24, 2019ShareIs This Russia’s ‘Hunter’ Stealthy Flying Wing Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle?The new image appeared as a specially configured Su-57 emerged with markings indicating it will be directly involved in the drone’s test program. BYTyler Rogoway and Joseph TrevithickJan 24, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJan 2, 2019ShareSpain To Pit Its Eurofighters Against France’s Stealth Unmanned Combat Air VehicleThe trials will show how well, or not, the fighter’s sensors can spot the drone, which could impact various air combat developments in both countries. BYJoseph TrevithickJan 2, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickDec 4, 2018ShareEurofighter Consortium 2.0 Takes Shape As Spain Set To Join Franco-German Stealth Jet ProgramThe Spanish Ministry of Defense also says the Italians and the Dutch have joined the United Kingdom’s Tempest program. BYJoseph TrevithickDec 4, 2018Share
BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayNov 2, 2018ShareChina’s Biggest Airshow Offers More Evidence Of Beijing’s Stealth Drone FocusChina is investing heavily in penetrating unmanned aircraft with a possible eye toward developing a drone that will fly from one its future carriers. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayNov 2, 2018Share
BYJoseph TrevithickSep 25, 2018ShareBell Unveils V-247 Vigilant Tilt-Rotor Combat Drone Mock-Up at USMC Tech ExpoThe Marines are looking at the design as part of their own multi-role drone program, but it could be appealing to other services, as well. BYJoseph TrevithickSep 25, 2018Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJul 16, 2018ShareThe U.K.’s New ‘Tempest’ Stealth Fighter Project Already Faces Serious ChallengesThe country is eager to remain competitive militarily and economically, but it’s not clear if they can afford their own advanced fighter jet. BYJoseph TrevithickJul 16, 2018Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 7, 2018ShareMarines Want Their Multi-Role Vertical Takeoff Combat Drone To Be A Flying Radar FirstThe service wants the first examples to be sensor nodes, but after that, they could take on a host of different missions from armed escort to strike. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 7, 2018Share
BYTyler RogowayJun 5, 2018ShareImage Of China’s Stealthy ‘Dark Sword’ Fighter-Like Combat Drone EmergesThe image shows a mature design that leverages existing elements found on other Chinese tactical aircraft. BYTyler RogowayJun 5, 2018Share
BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayApr 25, 2018ShareShedding Some Light On The Air Force’s Most Shadowy Drone SquadronWe’ve been able to uncover a lot of details about the secretive reconnaissance squadron and an obscure detachment that preceded its establishment. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayApr 25, 2018Share
BYTyler RogowayApr 11, 2018ShareLockheed Is Already Pushing A Stealthy Version Of Its MQ-25 Stingray Tanker DroneThe sad thing is, the whole idea originally was for the Navy to get a stealth drone, but it ended up getting a flying gas can. BYTyler RogowayApr 11, 2018Share
BYTyler RogowayApr 9, 2018ShareHere’s Our First Good Look At The Crazy Air Inlet Design On Boeing’s MQ-25 Tanker DroneBoeing’s MQ-25 has a classically problematic but low-observable flush-mounted intake, yet there are no low-observable requirements for the program. BYTyler RogowayApr 9, 2018Share
BYTyler RogowayApr 2, 2018ShareGeneral Atomics Isn’t Building A Flyable Prototype Of Their MQ-25 Tanker DroneThe famed drone manufacturer has come out with an impressive, no-nonsense flying gas truck. But will the lack of a prototype hurt its chances? BYTyler RogowayApr 2, 2018Share
BYTyler RogowayMar 26, 2018ShareLockheed’s MQ-25 Tanker Drone Looks Impressive, But It’s Still Just A Paper PlaneLockheed’s flying-wing ‘Stingray’ drone is said to be largely a clean sheet design, and that could help or hurt its chances of winning. BYTyler RogowayMar 26, 2018Share
BYTyler RogowayMar 13, 2018ShareWe Finally See The Wings On Boeing’s MQ-25 Drone As Details About Its Genesis EmergeAs we suspected, it was designed years ago for a more ambitious program and has since been adapted to meet the Navy’s carrier-based tanker needs. BYTyler RogowayMar 13, 2018Share
BYTyler RogowayFeb 23, 2018ShareChina Is Surging Forward With Its Development Of Advanced Stealth Combat DronesChina’s work in the high-end unmanned combat air vehicle space is accelerating while the Pentagon remains publicly uninterested in the concept. BYTyler RogowayFeb 23, 2018Share
BYTyler RogowayDec 14, 2017ShareBoeing Defense Teases Mystery Aircraft Unveiling By Hiding It Under A Black SheetThe strange teaser came on Twitter, showing a puzzling design that the company says will “change the future of air power.” BYTyler RogowayDec 14, 2017Share
BYTyler RogowayOct 24, 2017ShareThe Future Of Stealth Is “Morphing Wing” Technology, But Will The B-21 Feature It?The cutting-edge technology’s benefits read like a wishlist for stealth aircraft designers. BYTyler RogowayOct 24, 2017Share
BYTyler RogowaySep 7, 2017ShareDARPA’s “Flying Missile Rail” Seems To Be More About Manufacturing Than CombatThe idea has limited potential, but how it will be designed and manufactured will be the program’s biggest and most important challenges. BYTyler RogowaySep 7, 2017Share
BYTyler RogowayAug 20, 2017ShareNo, That Satellite Image Going Around Social Media Isn’t Of China’s New Stealth BomberChina’s new stealthy bomber could emerge at anytime, but this isn’t it. BYTyler RogowayAug 20, 2017Share
BYTyler RogowayJul 22, 2017ShareCheck Out All These Blackbird Videos NASA Just ReleasedA whole new trove of flight test videos were published by NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center. BYTyler RogowayJul 22, 2017Share
BYTyler RogowayOct 3, 2016ShareIran Unveils Fleet of Combat Drones, Claims They’re Copies of Captured RQ-170Tehran wants you to believe they have reverse-engineered the RQ-170 Sentinel. BYTyler RogowayOct 3, 2016Share
BYTyler RogowayJun 14, 2016SharePhoto Emerges Of Stealthy Avenger Drone Fitted With Advanced Multi-Spectral Sensor SuiteThe USAF’s only Avenger may have flown its last mission. BYTyler RogowayJun 14, 2016Share