Unmanned Vehicles

U.S. Navy’s unmanned surface push is converging with the drone revolution already reshaping land and air warfare: build cheaper platforms, accept losses, and use scale plus autonomy to destroy or neutralize assets the adversary cannot afford to trade away. If Textron can translate brochure claims into fleet-ready reliability, MMUSV offers a pragmatic bridge between today’s mission-specific mine warfare USVs and tomorrow’s larger autonomous combatants, while giving commanders a new option for persistent maritime pressure without putting sailors in the first wave.

The operational implication of this design is significant. If propulsion, braking, steering logic, and energy storage all reside within the wheels, the “vehicle” becomes whatever structure the mission demands. A simple frame, a casualty litter, a cargo pallet carrier, a sensor platform, or a launcher mount can all be rapidly turned into a mobile system without integrating axles, driveshafts, or centralized powertrains.

Cross-Country Flights at PUR Validate Distributed Mission Workflows KHA recently completed a series of cross-country eVTOL UAS flights at PUR in direct support of 1MDTF. Ahead of an upcoming deployment, KHA executed an 18 km mission to an alternate landing site for 1MDTF, validating the planned point-to-point profile the task force expects to use operationally.

EDGE Microwave’s CRPA solutions utilize multiple antenna elements to shape the GNSS signal reception pattern and suppress interference, directing nulls towards jamming devices and beams towards legitimate satellite signals. The low-SWaP and highly cost-effective systems are easy to retrofit into a wide range of drone and unmanned systems platforms, providing robust protection and ensuring safety and mission success.

In collaboration with a European cell manufacturer, the technical team will design, produce, and validate prototype cells.

Dr. Mario Paniccia, Co-Founder and CEO of ANELLO Photonics, said, “Customers flying real missions need resilient navigation when GPS isn’t reliable. By combining our SiPhOGs with our airborne-optimized sensor-fusion algorithms and integrated multi-band GNSS, the ANELLO Aerial INS delivers accurate navigation solutions in a cost-effective SWaP-friendly package. This allows UAVs to hold course through GPS jamming, multipath, spoofing, or outages using only ANELLO without the need for cameras or fiber-optic cables and allows the warfighter to complete their mission safely and successfully.”

The testing route spanned approximately 40 kilometers and was designed to evaluate endurance and data integrity in mountainous regions. Conventional small multi-rotor UAVs typically cover only 3–5 kilometers per sortie, requiring frequent repositioning and battery replacement. These repeated interruptions reduce efficiency and can result in data discontinuity.

The Flexrotor is the newest addition to the Airbus UAS portfolio, designed primarily for Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions. It is a Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) aircraft with a maximum launch weight of 25 kg (55 lbs) and is capable of remaining airborne for more than 12-14 hours in a typical operational configuration.

Approximately 40 senior military officers representing various Western European NATO countries attended the landmark demonstration to observe the system’s operational capabilities in real-world scenarios.

Kawasaki Heavy Industries and BladeRobots have established a strategic partnership to develop an automated solution for maintaining the leading edges of wind turbine blades.

Skyryse attributes the rapid integration and successful first flight to its unique testing philosophy. To date, Skyryse has completed 10,000-plus simulated flight hours including purposefully injected anomalies for added stress testing, as well as 2,800-plus crewed flight hours with SkyOS.

The drone is designed for continuous maritime surveillance, boasting an endurance of over 36 hours and the ability to operate at altitudes up to 30,000 feet.

Great video about how radio controlled FPV drones are still dominant even though there are clear weaknessess to them.

At CES 2026, Donut Lab announced what it calls the world’s first all-solid-state battery ready for OEM vehicle manufacturing now, and said it will be placed “immediately on the road” powering 2026 model Verge Motorcycles in Q1 2026.

The companies initially plan to use the Wingcopter 198 in disaster management where drone-based surveying is playing an increasingly important role,

A key focus of the trials will be hands-on evaluation by soldiers, who will test how unmanned ground drones can be integrated into everyday field operations, from logistics and surveillance to direct combat support.

Between December 15 and 16, the FlyingBasket FB3 cargo drone was deployed to transfer television production equipment and technical materials to key locations on the slopes. Designed to carry loads of up to 100 kg, the drone operated at altitudes that typically necessitate the use of heavy vehicles or intensive manual labor.