Sponsored by EOS
www.eos-aus.com
—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
22 Oct 25. Korean Air to unveil three new unmanned aircraft at Seoul ADEX 2025. Korean Air unveiled three unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) at the Seoul International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition (ADEX) 2025, taking place from October 17 to 24 at Seoul Airport in Seongnam and KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. Seoul ADEX is one of the world’s leading defense exhibitions, featuring participation from defense companies, military officials, and buyers from around the globe. This year’s event marks its largest scale ever, with over 600 companies from 35 countries participating. The aircraft showcased were the Low Observable Wingman UAV System (LOWUS) prototype, a medium strike UAV (Loitering Munition) prototype, and a full-scale mock-up of the small unmanned collaborative aircraft (KUS-FX). The LOWUS prototype represents a key milestone in development of manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) capabilities, a core- technology being pursued by defense industries worldwide. This system enables manned fighters and unmanned aircraft to operate as a coordinated team. As Korea’s first large, jet-powered UAV designed with low-observable features, the successful development of this MUM-T system is expected to advance Korea’s unmanned combat capabilities. Developed jointly with the Agency for Defense Development (ADD), the new medium strike UAV follows the successful development and production of the company’s small strike UAV. Korean Air aims to complete the development of this medium-class system by 2026. The KUS-FX is designed for initial deployment in high-risk areas to conduct key reconnaissance missions. In addition to the new platforms, Korean Air will display its full spectrum of unmanned systems, including the KUS-FS strategic-class Medium-Altitude Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (MUAV), the KUS-FT division-level reconnaissance UAV, and the KUS-VS Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) UAV. Korean Air is also pioneering AI-based autonomous mission technologies, enabling UAVs to assess situations and execute missions independently. This approach represents a paradigm shift beyond traditional remote-piloting, moving toward fully autonomous operations. To support this, the company is actively collaborating with global AI leaders like Anduril Industries. Korean Air will highlight over 50 years of experience in military aircraft MROU (Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul, and Upgrade) services. Leveraging its expertise from projects in electronic warfare aircraft, airborne command and control platforms, and UH-60 helicopter, the company will present its roadmap for enhancing military aircraft performance. Korean Air will also emphasize its capabilities as a potential Asia-Pacific regional hub for the U.S. Department of Defense’s Regional Sustainment Framework (RSF) while exploring new opportunities in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. At the joint exhibition booth with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Korean Air will present achievements in Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) operations, including its ACROSS (Air Control & Routing Orchestrated Skyway System) traffic management system and its latest AI-powered MRO solutions. “Korean Air is solidifying its position as a global leader in unmanned aviation, backed by a diverse portfolio of advanced UAV platforms,” said a Korean Air representative. “We look forward to showcasing Korean domestic technologies on the global stage.” (Source: AMR)
23 Oct 25. Cummings Aerospace uses 3D Printing to Rapidly Iterate Hellhound S3 Drone. Cummings Aerospace is using 3D printing technology in the continued development of the Hellhound S3 drone. With the use of 3D printing and modular open systems, Cummings can rapidly iterate the design of the product, harnessing test data and soldier feedback to inform each update. Cummings Aerospace recently completed a flight test demonstrating Hellhound S3’s extended range capability. During the test, the man-portable loitering munition flew more than 30 kilometers (18 miles) with an inert warhead and landed with more than 50 percent fuel remaining, indicating a potential maximum range exceeding 60 kilometers (37 miles).
“This test validates Hellhound S3’s persistent loitering capability at extended ranges,” said Sheila Cummings, chief executive officer of Cummings Aerospace. “That range, combined with speed and modularity, makes Hellhound ideally suited for both loitering munition missions and counter-unmanned aircraft system operations against Group 2 and Group 3 threats, such as the Shahed.”
The most recent flight test is part of an ongoing test series validating Hellhound S3’s performance across a wide range of speeds and flight profiles. Cummings uses modular open systems architecture and 3D printing, allowing the company to rapidly iterate the design based on test data and Soldier feedback.
Details of the Most Recent Test:
When and where: Pendleton UAS Range, Oregon, Sept. 18, 2025
- Vertical launch from canister
- Transition to target area
- Extended loiter using tight figure-eight patterns over designated target
- Carried an inert warhead
- Flew more than 30 kilometers before engineers concluded data collection
- Flew at speeds of 80 meters per second (roughly 180 miles per hour)
- Landed with more than 50 percent fuel remaining, indicating potential maximum range exceeding 60 kilometers
- Results: All primary objectives achieved
This approach directly supports the Department of War’s initiative to unleash U.S. military drone dominance, using 3D printing to enable rapid production at lower cost.Flexible speed: Documented top speed of 384 miles per hour enables it to chase and destroy Group 2 and Group 3 UAS.
- Mission flexibility: The modular design supports warhead, Electronic Warfare, and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance payloads.
- Soldiers can field-swap payloads in less than 2 minutes without tools.
- Affordable: Combines 3D printing and U.S. Department of War-approved commercial components to reduce production costs, simplify logistics and deliver advanced capabilities at lower costs than traditional systems.
- Manportable: All-up round (vehicle, launch canister and ground control system) weighs less than 25 pounds, allowing single-Soldier deployment and enhancing Infantry mobility.
- Proven performance: Achieved Technology Readiness Level 7 (TRL-7), demonstrating reliable performance in operationally realistic conditions.
- Manufacturing ready: Achieved Manufacturing Readiness Level 7 (MRL-7), with established production processes and capability.
On the Horizon
In the coming months, Cummings Aerospace will:
- Continue flight testing to validate automatic target recognition algorithms.
- Continue developing hunter-killer concepts of operations for Hellhound.
- Conduct additional demonstrations for U.S. Army and Department of War customers across multiple mission sets.
Hellhound is a family of UAS with multiple specialized variants. The Hellhound S3 variant is a Group 1 UAS. The Hellhound S4 variant is a Group 2 UAS designed to support missions including gap-filling ISR coverage for Golden Dome.
The Hellhound S3 boasts a top speed of 384 miles per hour, enabling it to chase and destroy Group 2 and Group 3 unmanned aerial systems, and supports warhead, electronic warfare, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance payloads. (Source: UAS VISION/TCT Magazine; Cummings Aerospace)
22 Oct 25. AV and Korean Air Sign MoU to Advance Medium UAS for the ROK. AeroVironment, Inc. (“AV”) (NASDAQ: AVAV), a global leader in all-domain unmanned systems, today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that positions Korean Air as its priority partner in the Republic of Korea. This alliance will focus on integrating and adapting AV’s JUMP® 20 Group 3 vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL), fixed-wing uncrewed aircraft to meet the specific needs of the Korean Defense market. It also establishes a foundation for long-term joint research and development, sustained innovation, and local production – supporting efforts by the Korean Ministry of National Defense to grow its unmanned system infrastructure and expand manufacturing within the country.
“This agreement signals our growing international footprint, market presence, and commitment to delivering adaptable solutions in collaboration with trusted, in-country partners around the world,” said Larry Satterfield, AV’s Senior Director of Business Development for Asia Pacific. “With incredible mission flexibility and a rapidly growing global demand for the platform, JUMP 20 will anchor our partnership with Korean Air and meet Korea’s emerging defense needs.”
By leveraging AV’s operational track record and Korean Air’s defense ecosystem, the collaboration ensures Korea’s armed forces gain a mission-ready MUAS solution built to meet evolving regional and global defense challenges. With proven endurance, range, and multi-payload flexibility, JUMP 20 is the ideal platform for advanced intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations and a wide range of evolving mission demands. It has emerged as the global Group 3 platform of choice, with recently awarded contracts across Europe, including Denmark, Italy, and multiple other NATO allies. (Source: ASD Network)
22 Oct 25. Palladyne AI and Draganfly to Collaborate to Enable Advanced Autonomous Operations and Swarming Capabilities on Draganfly UAV Platforms. Palladyne continues expansion of its domestic and international initiatives with Draganfly to collectively bring trusted UAS platforms with advanced capabilities to government, defense, and commercial customers. Palladyne AI Corp. (NASDAQ: PDYN and PDYNW) (“Palladyne AI”), a developer of artificial intelligence software for robotic platforms in the defense and commercial sectors, and Draganfly Inc. (NASDAQ: DPRO) (CSE: DPRO) (FSE: 3U8) (“Draganfly”), an industry-leading developer of drone solutions and systems, today announced their intention to collaborate to further enhance the capabilities of Draganfly’s unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) platforms with Palladyne™ Pilot AI software. Palladyne™ Pilot is an edge-based, platform-agnostic, intelligent swarming and collaborative AI software designed to transform multiple UAVs into a seamlessly collaborating team, all managed by a single operator who remains “on the loop.” By employing sensor fusion from diverse sources, Pilot enables drones to independently and collaboratively track targets while dynamically interfacing with autopilots. This powerful synergy enhances detection, tracking, classification, and identification while also enabling autonomous drone swarm operations, including self-organizing collaboration. Palladyne AI and Draganfly intend to make Palladyne Pilot software available for deployment on Draganfly’s advanced drone systems. Draganfly’s professional-grade UAV systems and services have been relied upon by government, defense, and commercial organizations worldwide for more than two decades. Draganfly is an integrated manufacturer & solutions provider utilizing a modular approach which allows for mission-specific specialization and heavy-duty applications in a variety of challenging environments. By integrating Palladyne AI’s autonomy software, Draganfly’s platforms will gain expanded mission capabilities such as autonomous swarm operations, real-time intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), and enhanced operator efficiency.
“Draganfly has earned its reputation as one of the most trusted names in UAV innovation,” said Ben Wolff, President and CEO, Palladyne AI. “We are honored to collaborate with them to deliver advanced aerial intelligence solutions that meet the operational needs of government, defense, and commercial users in challenging environments.”
“Palladyne AI is enabling drone platforms to incorporate autonomy features that were even recently limited to large and costly systems,” said Cameron Chell, CEO, Draganfly. “By having Palladyne Pilot as an embedded option into our platforms, we continue to expand our modular framework and increase our adaptable, mission-critical autonomy, and swarm capabilities that reduce operator workload and extend the effectiveness of our systems across complex use cases.”
Integration of Palladyne Pilot with Draganfly systems outside the United States is subject to obtaining any necessary government approvals. (Source: ASD Network)
21 Oct 25. Shield AI launches X-BAT unmanned VTOL strike jet concept. US company Shield AI is developing an unmanned vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) ‘strike jet’ for runway-free operations. Named X-BAT, the concept revealed by the company on 21 October is billed as being a fully autonomous multirole jet that can be quickly and easily deployed at scale to bring mass to bear at short notice and in remote locations. “As defence rapidly evolves, militaries face new threats, demanding systems that deploy faster, scale easier, and perform reliably in modern combat. This shift is fuelling a market for technologies that unite powerful software, adaptable aircraft, and proven performance in the field,” Shield AI said. (Source: Janes)
17 Oct 25. Eurodrone moves to prototype production after successful CDR. Eurodrone has maximum mission payload capacity of 2.3t and an endurance of up to 40 hours. Europe’s medium altitude long endurance remotely piloted aerial system (MALE RPAS), aka Eurodrone, has advanced to the prototype production stage following the completion of its critical design review (CDR). The development concludes the design phase, allowing for the commencement of prototype manufacturing and ground tests in preparation for the initial flight. The activities “will confirm Eurodrone’s place as a cornerstone of Europe’s next-generation air power”. Preliminary design review of the aircraft was completed in May 2024. The MALE RPAS programme was launched in 2016 with Germany, France, Italy, and Spain as the primary stakeholders, and it is managed by the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR). Earlier in 2025, India joined Japan as an observer state for the programme, a status granted to non-member countries wishing to engage in the activities managed by OCCAR. Designed and developed by Airbus Defence & Space, Leonardo and Dassault Aviation, Eurodrone is an uncrewed aircraft intended for long-duration intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance missions. The system marks a significant step as the first fully European MALE RPAS. Its architecture includes advanced technologies to ensure secure transmission of mission-critical data between operational units. Certified in accordance with Nato STANAG 4671 Ed. 3 and relevant sections of civil aircraft regulations, Eurodrone will enable the system to operate unrestricted and follow optimised flight paths in non-segregated airspace. The aircraft is equipped with advanced sensors and offers a maximum mission payload capacity of 2.3 tonnes (t), excluding fuel, alongside an endurance of up to 40 hours, according to Airbus. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
17 Oct 25. The Netherlands is joining the US Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) programme, an initiative to develop autonomous unmanned air systems. Fighter pilots control these systems from their aircraft. State Secretary for Defence Gijs Tuinman signed the letter of intent today, ahead of the annual Defence Industry Days at the Netherlands embassy in Washington. By signing the letter of intent, the Netherlands is demonstrating its desire to make progress with innovation and cooperation in the field of unmanned systems. This is one of the 5 key areas of the Defence Strategy for Industry and Innovation, launched in April. By joining this US development programme at this time, the Netherlands is seizing an opportunity to assume a leading role. Integrated unmanned air systems can significantly increase the effectiveness of manned fighter aircraft such as the F-35 – for instance, by offering additional sensor range, additional weapons and by carrying out high-risk missions over enemy territory. Such capabilities are faster and cheaper to produce than traditional manned fighter aircraft.
ISR Capabilities
Defence is also set to work with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) to develop smaller unmanned systems. These drones can be used for ISR capabilities: intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. VDL will produce them. It is expected that the Defence organisation should be able to put them into service by next year. At the opening of the Defence Industry Days, the State Secretary underlined the importance of transatlantic cooperation. During this two-day session, around 150 representatives of companies and governments from both countries will be participating in panel discussions and network meetings.
First step towards cooperation
In the longer term, it will also be possible to involve Dutch knowledge institutes and companies in the American research and development programme. The signing of the letter of intent marks the beginning of the Netherlands Defence organisation’s participation in this form of cooperation. The agreements will be further developed in the coming years. US technology companies are at the forefront of global developments. The Netherlands Defence organisation therefore cooperates closely with the US in the area of high-tech military materiel and equipment. By joining forces with the US Air Force and building up a knowledge base, the Dutch industrial and technological base will also be strengthened. (Source: ASD Network)
—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–
EOS
Electro Optic Systems (EOS) is an Australian technology company with a global presence, delivering advanced solutions across defence and space. With operations in Australia, the United States, Europe, Singapore, the Middle East and New Zealand, EOS has been designing and manufacturing precision technologies for more than four decades.
In defence, EOS is a leader in remote weapon systems, with more than 2,500 delivered and proven in operational service with allied forces. The company designs, develops and manufactures highly accurate counter-drone solutions for force and asset protection. These include both kinetic and high energy laser options that defeat drone threats effectively and at a comparatively low cost per shot. In August 2025, EOS secured the world’s first export contract for a 100 kW-class high energy laser weapon, with delivery scheduled between 2025 and 2028.
In the space domain, EOS is internationally recognised for its expertise in space domain awareness and space control. Its ground-based optical systems track and characterise satellites and debris to support both defence and commercial operations worldwide. Through its New Zealand subsidiary, EOS also designs and manufactures precision optics for space and astronomy applications.
———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————