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Drones

UAVs, UCAVs, loitering munitions, autonomous swarms, and counter-drone systems across land, sea, and air.

10 articles indexed

◆ This Week

10 articles

The U.S. Start-Up Making Low-Cost Interceptors for the Iran War

A U.S. start-up is producing low-cost interceptor missiles being deployed in the Iran war theatre to counter the high volume of drone and missile attacks. The company is addressing the critical cost-exchange ratio problem where expensive interceptors are used to defeat cheap drones. Its manufacturing model uses commercial components and streamlined production to achieve unit costs orders of magnitude lower than legacy systems. The programme represents a new model for industrial-scale low-cost defensive munitions production.

The New York TimesAug 23

EuropeDrones

Saab's Ruby UAS Demonstrator Closing On First Flight

Saab's Ruby unmanned aerial system demonstrator is approaching its first flight, with ground testing and systems integration nearing completion. Ruby is intended to validate technologies for future loyal wingman and autonomous combat aircraft programmes. The demonstrator will assess low-observable design features, propulsion performance, and autonomous flight control systems. First flight will mark a significant milestone in Sweden's development of indigenous advanced UAS capability.

aviationweek.comAug 23

EuropeDrones

Ukraine's defence ministry says Dovbush T40 drone can strike targets beyond the Urals and remain airborne for more than 24 hours

Ukraine's Ministry of Defence has disclosed that the Dovbush T40 long-range strike drone is capable of hitting targets beyond the Ural Mountains and sustaining flight for over 24 hours. The T40 is designed as a strategic strike platform capable of reaching deep into Russian territory. Its endurance and range represent a significant upgrade over earlier Ukrainian one-way attack systems such as the Beaver and Shark. The disclosure signals a new tier of Ukrainian autonomous deep-strike capability.

Defence Industry EuropeAug 23

North AmericaDrones

U.S. Army drone sets endurance record using domestic-made motors

A U.S. Army unmanned aerial system has set a new endurance record powered entirely by domestically manufactured electric motors. The achievement is significant as it validates American-made propulsion components as viable replacements for Chinese-origin motors that dominate the commercial and military UAS supply chain. The record flight demonstrates that domestic motor technology can meet demanding military performance specifications. The result supports ongoing U.S. efforts to secure the drone supply chain against foreign component dependencies.

Defence BlogAug 23

EuropeDrones

Patria and Ukraine's General Cherry sign letter of intent on planned drone production in Finland for European defence customers

Finnish defence company Patria and Ukraine's General Cherry drone manufacturer have signed a letter of intent to establish drone production in Finland for European defence customers. The arrangement would leverage Ukrainian combat-proven UAS design expertise and Finnish manufacturing infrastructure. The partnership targets growing European demand for proven military-grade drones following extensive operational use in Ukraine. A production facility in Finland would also offer NATO supply chain security advantages.

Defence Industry EuropeAug 23

GlobalDrones

Motorola Solutions closes $1.5 billion D-Fend deal, adding RF cyber-takeover technology to global counter-drone portfolio

Motorola Solutions has completed its $1.5 billion acquisition of D-Fend Solutions, an Israeli company specialising in RF cyber-takeover counter-drone technology. D-Fend's EnforceAir system detects, identifies, and takes control of hostile drones by exploiting communication links rather than kinetic or jamming methods. The acquisition significantly expands Motorola's global counter-UAS portfolio for government and military clients. The deal positions Motorola as a major player in the rapidly growing non-kinetic counter-drone market.

Defence Industry EuropeAug 23

EuropeDrones

Russia Is Using Drones As Acoustic Sensors To Restrict Gray Zone Roads

Russia is deploying drones as distributed acoustic sensor platforms to monitor and restrict vehicle movement along contested grey zone road corridors in Ukraine. Drones equipped with acoustic detection payloads can identify vehicle types by engine signatures without requiring visual contact. The technique enables persistent area denial and targeting of supply routes even under poor visibility or electronic countermeasure conditions. This operational innovation has significant implications for counter-logistics operations in future conflicts.

forbes.comAug 22

Indo-PacificDrones

China's TB-001 Long-Endurance Reconnaissance and Attack Drone Flight Puts Japan on High Alert in East China Sea

A Chinese PLA TB-001 twin-boom long-endurance drone conducted a reconnaissance and surveillance flight in the East China Sea that triggered a Japanese Air Self-Defense Force alert response. The TB-001 is capable of carrying precision-guided munitions in addition to its sensor payload, giving it both ISR and attack roles. The incursion reflects China's increasing use of military UAS for persistent maritime domain awareness around the Japanese archipelago. Japan scrambled fighters in response, highlighting escalating aerial grey zone activity in the region.

Army RecognitionAug 22

North AmericaDrones

AEVEX wins $41 million U.S. contract for one-way attack systems, invests in drone production capacity for contested operations

AEVEX Aerospace has been awarded a $41 million U.S. government contract for one-way attack unmanned systems. The company is simultaneously investing in expanded domestic drone manufacturing capacity to meet anticipated demand for contested environment operations. One-way attack systems offer a cost-effective attritable strike capability suited to deep-strike and saturation attack missions. The contract reflects accelerating U.S. procurement of loitering munitions at scale.

Defence Industry EuropeAug 22

EuropeDrones

Royal Navy tests Malloy T-150B heavy-lift drone aboard HMS Trent to expand ship-to-shore logistics capability in Caribbean

The Royal Navy has conducted trials of the Malloy T-150B heavy-lift drone from the patrol vessel HMS Trent in Caribbean waters. The T-150B is designed to carry payloads of up to 68 kg over distances relevant to ship-to-shore resupply operations. Trials are evaluating deck launch and recovery procedures, payload handling, and operational integration with ship's company. Successful results could accelerate adoption of heavy-lift UAS for distributed maritime logistics across the Royal Navy.

Defence Industry EuropeAug 22