Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

News and issues relating to civil and military unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) of all kinds and sizes, including those used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), combat (unmanned combat air vehicles, or UCAVs), law enforcement, research and other applications. Of particular focus is the FAA's planned integration of UAS into the U.S. national airspace system.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Drone Operator Areion Confirms Aero2 VTOL Order with Dufour Aerospace

Areion is the new name for Spright, which was formerly part of helicopter operator Air Methods
Dufour Aerospace Aero2 hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft
Regulations and Government

VAI Airs BVLOS Concerns For Uncrewed Operations

Organization favors performance-based standards for UAS operations beyond a visual line of sight
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Pyka Raises $40 Million for Autonomous Electric Pelican Aircraft

Large-scale UAS has agricultural, cargo, and defense applications
Pyka's Pelican Spray aircraft is pictured spraying a field of crops.
Engines

Qdot Choses H3's Hydrogen Fuel Cells For Uncrewed VTOL Aircraft

Oxford University spinoff says propulsion technology could support eVTOL aircraft and business jets
Qdot Technology test rig for hydrogen-electric propulsion system
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

FAA Proposes Special Conditions for Skyryse One STC

Requirements address certification for items not currently covered by existing regulations
Skyryse FlightOS automated flight control system in Robinson R66 helicopter
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

U.S. Air Force Trials Autonomous Flights with Joby, Reliable Robotics

Joby and Reliable Robotics participate in “Agile Flag 24-3” logistics exercise
Joby's autonomous Cessna 208b Grand Caravan is pictured with a C-130 Hercules at the Mojave Air and Space Port in California during the Agile Flag 24-3 exercise.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Anra Demonstrates Drone Inspections of New York's Power Infrastructure

Mission Manager software coordinated a fleet of drones gathering video and data
Anra Technologies' Mission Manager system for drone inspections of power lines
Aircraft

Merlin Starts KC-135 Flight Test Campaign With the USAF

Tests support autonomous flight and aerial refueling studies with the military aircraft
KC-135
Engines

U.S. Air Force Backs Wright's Work On Rechargeable Thermal Batteries

New batteries could be used for multi-role military uncrewed air vehicles
Wright Electric's rotor for its 2.5 MW electric motor
Engines

Moya Switches to Hybrid-Electric Propulsion For Autonomous eVTOL Aircraft

The vehicle is intended for applications such as cargo deliveries and crop spraying
Moya Aero's autonomous eVTOL aircraft
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Odys Taps Honeywell for UAS Ground Control Stations in Oman

Honeywell ground control stations enable BVLOS operations
Odys evtol
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Heavy and Light Remote Carriers on Show

Airbus and Diehl Defence show mockups of remote carrier designs at Farnborough
Airbus Wingman and Diehl Defence Feanix
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Boeing and Ukraine’s Antonov Collaborate on Defense

Antonov and Boeing collaboration could support Ukraine's UAVs
Boeing Signs MoU with Ukraine’s Antonov for UAV Support
Aircraft

United Airlines Selects Honeywell Cockpit Tech for 737 Max Fleet

Honeywell will provide a range of avionics for United's 737 Max fleet
Honeywell Aerospace
Engines

GE and Kratos Pursue Affordable Small Turbofans

The partners look to capture a share of the burgeoning market for “affordable mass” engines
Kratos Defense and Security Solutions president and CEO Eric DeMarco and GE Aerospace Defense and Systems president and CEO Amy Gowder
Aircraft

Embraer Debuts E-Freighter at Farnborough

The E190F performed its maiden flight earlier this year
Embraer E190F freighter
Aircraft

New NATO Member Sweden Lifts Lid on Future Fighter Studies

The Scandinavian state could buy into the multinational GCAP or FCAS programs, or could develop its own fighter system
Sweden's Koncept för Framtida Stridsflyg program
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Joby Aviation Acquires Autonomous Flight Pioneer Xwing

Joby’s eVTOL air taxis could fly without pilots someday
Two of Joby’s prototype electric air taxi aircraft at the company’s flight test and manufacturing facilities in Marina, California.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

U.S. Marines Will Evaluate Elroy's Autonomous Resupply Drone

The Chaparral aircraft heads to the Arizona desert in July
Elroy Air Chaparral C1 prototype is pictured during a flight test at dawn
Training and Workforce

Loft Dynamics Prepares eVTOL Flight Simulator With Dufour

Dufour prepares to start flight testing with smaller Aero2 utility drone
Dufour Aero3 eVTOL aircraft
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Textron eAviation Acquires German Engineering Firm

Munich-based Amazilia Aerospace specializes in automated flight tech
Textron eAviation's Nuuva V300 cargo eVTOL
Aircraft

Textron eAviation's Nexus eVTOL Aircraft Could Fly in 2025

The company's Nuuva cargo drone is approaching its first flights, too
Textron eAviation's Nexus eVTOL aircraft
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

MightyFly Flies Autonomous Freighter in FAA-approved Corridor

The 100-pound-payload Cento is expected to have a range of up to around 522 nm
MightyFly Cento autonomous eVTOL freight aircraft
Avionics

Leasing Group Orders Reliable Robotics Flight Automation System

The customer wants to convert 30 Cessna Caravans for cargo flights
Reliable Robotics' Cessna Caravan test aircraft
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Mayman Unveils Razor Air Utility Vehicles for Military Roles

The new family builds on the company's earlier Speeder design
Mayman Aerospace Razor air utility vehicles
Avionics

MIT and Merlin To Integrate Collision Avoidance Technology

The partners are pursuing new uncrewed aircraft applications for the FAA-funded system
Merlin Pilot flight automation technology
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Robinson Helicopter Acquires UAV Maker Ascent AeroSystems

Ascent's production will now migrate across the country to Robinson's California factory
Robinson Helicopter's manufacturing facility in Torrance, California
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

International Skies Open Wider with ICAO's Latest Drone Regulations

The framework policy includes provisions for remote pilot licenses
ICAO's Council has agreed a framework policy covering operations of autonomous aircraft like MightyFly's Cento uncrewed cargo aircraft.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Reliable Robotics Gains Fresh Funding for Autonomous Flight Tech

NASA and the U.S. Air Force invest in autonomy
Reliable Robotics' Cessna 208 Caravan flying over clouds
Regulations and Government

UK Government Issues Action Plan for eVTOL and UAS Operations

Strategy document published as the country awaits a general election this year
Vertical Aerospace VX4 eVTOL aircraft