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20 Nov 25. BETA Technologies, Inc. (“BETA”) (NYSE: BETA) is accelerating the development of autonomous capabilities to enable BETA aircraft to fly faster, further, and carry more to serve an increased scope of critical defense and commercial applications. In addition to years of internal autonomy system development, BETA is collaborating with Near Earth Autonomy (“Near Earth”) to support development and integration. BETA’s simple and reliable electric and hybrid VTOL aircraft are designed with fly-by-wire (FBW) flight control technology, providing an ideal platform to enable both crewed and uncrewed operations. BETA has been developing and flying autonomous capabilities for the past several years, conducting more than 1,000 hours of uncrewed flights on a fleet of subscale aircraft with a demonstrated range of more than 158 nautical miles (182 statute miles) on a single charge. Near Earth adds expertise in perception, guidance, path planning and certifiable autonomous systems designed for a range of mission sets from its experience supplying autonomous systems with the U.S. military and industry OEMs. BETA has successfully completed initial integration of the perception and guidance suite into the FBW flight control system with support from Near Earth. BETA anticipates flight testing will begin in the first half of 2026.
“Increasing our autonomy capabilities will deliver even greater optionality to operators, including faster speed, higher payload, longer range, and optional piloting,” said Shawn Hall, BETA’s Chief Revenue Officer. “In order to meet the demands of the defense and civil sectors today, mobility platforms must be smarter, more flexible, and ready to operate where traditional systems can’t. Recent announcements from the Department of Transportation and Department of War both point towards the accelerated fielding of autonomous aircraft. We are excited to be at the center of this effort with both civil and military customers.”
BETA’s continued development of autonomous capabilities enables expansion of BETA’s offering to military customers and commercial cargo logistics customers such as UPS, Bristow, and e-Smart Logistics, among others.
“This collaboration builds on Near Earth’s proven work of bringing Responsive Uncrewed Capability (RUC) to helicopters, such as converting the UH-60L Black Hawk to RUC-60 enabling helicopters operations without onboard pilots. By leveraging the technology foundation, operational experience, and certification groundwork established through the RUC-60 program, we will help integrate advanced autonomy into ALIA to enable safe, efficient, and scalable operations across a wide range of missions,” said Sanjiv Singh, CEO of Near Earth Autonomy. “Partnering with BETA Technologies is a natural extension of our experience and expertise in bringing autonomy to a variety of missions and aircraft. Working with a pioneer in electric aviation allows us to combine high-assurance autonomy with cutting-edge electric propulsion to help unlock sustainable, scalable autonomous air mobility.”
BETA aircraft are optimized for range, payload, and high-cadence operations across defense, cargo and logistics, medical, and passenger applications. Engineered for all-weather performance, with IFR and FIKI capability on the near-term roadmap, BETA’s piloted aircraft can carry up to 1,240 pounds or five passengers and nearly double without a pilot. Over the past several years, BETA has conducted extensive real-world operations — with flights across the U.S., Europe, and New Zealand; participation in customer demonstrations and airshows; and completing joint military exercises with a 100% dispatch rate. The Advanced Air Mobility industry has seen recent tailwinds of support from the current administration, including an executive order announcing the U.S. DOT’s Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing Integration Pilot Program (eIPP), an executive order on Modernizing Defense Acquisitions and Spurning Innovation in the Defense Industrial Base, and The War Department’s publication of six Critical Technology Areas to include contested logistics. This demand signal from Washington is further accelerating BETA’s advancement of autonomous capabilities.
ABOUT BETA TECHNOLOGIES
BETA is an aerospace company designing, manufacturing and selling high-performance electric aircraft, advanced electric propulsion systems, components and charging systems to top operators worldwide. BETA has built and flown its family of ALIA aircraft, consisting of both conventional fixed-wing electric aircraft (the “ALIA CTOL”) and electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (“ALIA VTOL”), including multiple trips across the United States. BETA is deploying a network of charging infrastructure to enable the growing industry with more than 50 sites online across the U.S. and Canada. BETA’s intentional approach to developing the enabling technologies necessary to electrify aviation unlocks lucrative aftermarket revenue opportunity over the life of each aircraft. These highly scalable enabling technologies allow BETA to serve a customer base across cargo and logistics, defense, passenger and medical end markets and unlock cost-effective and safe missions.
ABOUT NEAR EARTH AUTONOMY
Near Earth Autonomy develops high-assurance autonomy systems that enable aircraft to take off, fly, and land without onboard pilots, even in GPS-denied or degraded visual environments. By bridging aerospace and robotics, Near Earth enhances safety, performance, and efficiency across platforms ranging from small drones to helicopters. Near Earth is leading U.S. Army and Marine Corps programs to advance autonomous aerial logistics. The company also partners with leading aerospace and eVTOL manufacturers to advance certifiable autonomy for next-generation aircraft. These innovations advance cargo delivery, passenger transport, and mission-critical operations across urban and remote environments. Learn more at nearearth.aero. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
20 Nov 25. 100 new jobs created as drone factory opens in Swindon
Factory will build next-generation uncrewed systems and loitering munitions.
More than 100 highly skilled jobs will be created in Wiltshire as the UK steps up its domestic manufacturing of drones.
STARK’s new manufacturing facility in Swindon marks a major expansion of the UK’s defence industrial base – creating more than 100 jobs in the first year including in software, electronics and aerospace engineering and helping to make Defence an engine for growth. The purpose-built 40,000 sq ft factory, which was opened by the Minister for the Armed Forces Al Carns today, is STARK’s first production site outside Germany. It will begin manufacturing a range of AI-enabled uncrewed systems in the coming months. The investment directly supports the government’s Strategic Defence Review, which set out the UK’s commitment to boosting sovereign production of uncrewed systems at pace and at scale. The Virtus loitering munition, which will be built in Swindon, has already been successfully deployed in Ukraine and can be assembled in just 10 minutes. The opening reflects the growing defence partnership between the UK and Germany. Under the Trinity House Agreement, both nations are expanding industrial cooperation on next-generation battlefield technologies, from long-range strike weapons to autonomous systems. This will boost NATO’s collective security, whilst delivering on the Government’s Plan for Change through economic growth.
Minister for the Armed Forces, Al Carns MP, said: “This facility is the Strategic Defence Review in action — building UK industrial strength, creating over 100 skilled jobs, and ensuring we can produce the drones and munitions that modern conflict demands. One year on, our partnership with Germany through the Trinity House Agreement is already delivering real industrial cooperation and investment at home. This site will strengthen supply chains, accelerate innovation, and give the UK and our allies the edge to stay ahead of our adversaries. The factory will be operational by 2026, where thousands of drones will be manufactured. This investment will put the UK at an advantage, with STARK systems equipped with UK and European warheads capable of destroying even heavily armoured vehicles, whilst costing a fraction of the price.”
Managing Director of STARK UK, Mike Armstrong, said: “We are delighted to be opening our first factory in the UK – which will strengthen European supply chains, boost UK sovereign defence production, and support the shift toward affordable, scalable autonomous systems. With over a century of advanced manufacturing heritage and the presence of Army HQ and Air Command, Swindon is the ideal place to build the next generation of AI-enabled systems, shaped directly by feedback from operators in Ukraine. Our first UK site will create more than 100 highly skilled jobs in its first year and marks just the start of our investment journey in the UK, supporting the MOD, Ukraine and wider European partners.”
National Armaments Director, Rupert Pearce, said: “This is exactly what the creation of NAD Group is all about – working seamlessly with international allies and industry to deliver cutting-edge capabilities faster whilst driving economic growth across the UK. STARK’s investment demonstrates how our partnership approach under the Trinity House Agreement strengthens sovereign capability, secures supply chains and creates highly skilled jobs. This facility will help ensure our armed forces have the battle-winning technology they need. This new factory comes as figures show government investment in UK defence industries reached £31.7bn last year, a real-terms increase of 6%, and follows the launch of the Defence Industrial Strategy which will make defence an engine for growth, ensuring investment is felt by communities across the UK through new jobs and rising incomes for working people.” (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
20 Nov 25. Uzbekistan to Operate Airbus Flexrotor UAS. Airbus Helicopters has been awarded a contract by Uztechtrade, the Uzbekistan state unitary enterprise in charge of importing military and dual equipment, for the delivery of an undisclosed number of Flexrotor systems.
“Uzbekistan is a long-standing and valued partner for Airbus Helicopters, and we are proud that Uztechtrade has chosen the cutting-edge Flexrotor to advance its uncrewed capabilities,” said Olivier Michalon, Executive Vice President, head of Global Business, Airbus Helicopters. “This contract marks a pivotal moment, as Uzbekistan becomes the first customer for the Flexrotor in Central Asia. This selection underscores Uzbekistan’s commitment to adopting innovative technology and strengthens our cooperation across manned and unmanned platforms.”
The Flexrotor is designed for a broad variety of missions, primarily focused on Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR). Uzbekistan plans to utilise the Flexrotor in advanced Manned-Unmanned Teaming scenarios, integrating its operations with crewed helicopters to enhance situational awareness and mission effectiveness. The Flexrotor is Airbus’ newest addition to its UAS portfolio. A modern Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) uncrewed aircraft with a maximum launch weight of 25 kg (55 lbs), it has been designed for ISTAR missions for more than 12-14 hours in a typical operational configuration. It can integrate different types of payloads including an electro-optical system and advanced sensors to suit customers’ unique mission needs. With the ability to autonomously launch and recover from either land or sea requiring only a 3.7 by 3.7 m (12 by 12 ft.) area, the Flexrotor is ideal for expeditionary missions requiring minimal footprint. (Source: UAS VISION)
20 Nov 25. DARPA Lift Challenge Offers $6.m in Prizes. Heavy lift drone competition to revolutionize vertical lift aviation, offer $6.5m in prizes As military missions become more complicated, warfighters need more capable drones to use across diverse scenarios. The same also applies to civilian applications, like infrastructure inspection, package delivery, and disaster response. Current multirotor drones, also known as unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), provide simplicity, affordability, and ease of operation; however, their primary limitation is their low payload-to-weight ratio, which typically falls at 1:1 or less. The DARPA Lift Challenge aims to shatter the heavy lift bottleneck, seeking novel drone designs that can carry payloads more than four times their weight, which would revolutionize the way we use drones across all sectors. By offering $6.5m in prize money, the Challenge seeks to incentivize university researchers, independent innovators and industry to set a new standard in vertical lift performance. DARPA experts theorize the 4:1 payload-to-weight ratio is plausible based on recent advances in aerodynamic design, materials science, and propulsion systems. This ratio could unlock a whole new range of possibilities for both military and civilian applications.
“DARPA recognizes the best solutions often come from unexpected places,” said Phillip Smith, DARPA Lift Challenge program manager. “We’ve deliberately created an open design Challenge format to encourage out of the box thinking.”
Details
The Lift Challenge taps into the core of American innovation: the “garage inventor” spirit. Competitors must create an aircraft that is both lightweight and powerful. To compete, designs must weigh no more than 55 pounds, including fuel or power source, and be capable of lifting a minimum payload of 110 pounds across the set 5-nautical mile circuit course. This threshold encourages creativity and innovative thinking for designs at a scale that should allow widespread participation. The Challenge prioritizes safety and regulatory compliance, requiring all participating individuals and teams to strictly adhere to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations. Teams will go head-to-head in live performance trials in Summer 2026.
“The Lift Challenge isn’t just about building better UAS; it’s about securing America’s leadership in UAS technology for decades to come,” said Smith. “We’re setting ambitious goals and giving everyone a chance to compete to create new capabilities, accelerate our defense industrial base, and give the U.S. a strategic advantage.”
Registration is tentatively scheduled to open in January 2026, and close May 2026. Find additional details on the Lift Challenge site , including draft rules and prize criteria. DARPA is accepting feedback on the draft rules through Nov. 26, 2025. (Source: UAS VISION/DARPA)
19 Nov 25. Lockheed Martin Skunk Works® (NYSE: LMT), with industry partners and the U.S. Air Force, controlled an uncrewed aerial system (UAS) from the cockpit of a 5th Gen fighter while in flight. During the flight out of Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, an F-22 Raptor pilot successfully used an open interface in the cockpit to send control directions to another airborne UAS.
“This effort represents Skunk Works driving a breakthrough in air combat capability, where single-seat aircraft command and control drones with simple and intuitive interfaces in the cockpit,” said OJ Sanchez, vice president and general manager, Lockheed Martin Skunk Works.
The F-22 pilot used a pilot vehicle interface (PVI) to command the drone to execute a specific mission profile. The PVI represents a flexible system to provide integration-ready capabilities for both current and future platforms. This event demonstrates human-machine teaming capabilities and the future of air combat, today. Lockheed Martin has been focused on the transformative power of autonomous and AI-enabled operations in crewed and uncrewed systems for years, with particular focus on integrating autonomous drones with the F-22 and F-35. This flight event and other ongoing evaluations are crucial steps in realizing the Air Force’s family of systems vision. Human-machine teaming enhances situational awareness, interoperability, survivability and flexibility, unlocking a significant advantage for the U.S. Air Force. By integrating the F-22 with other advanced systems we’re bolstering the capabilities of our warfighters, ensuring American airpower dominance. Lockheed Martin’s proactive approach to building, testing and improving 5th Gen teaming capabilities is at the forefront of innovation, demonstrating the future of air combat today.
19 Nov 25. One Hundred SmartEye Systems for Croatia. Croatia has received another batch of WB GROUP’s automated traffic-monitoring systems. Solutions developed by PolCam Systems are used by the Croatian police and have been integrated with the national central management and enforcement system. In November, Hrvatska policija received the final 2025 delivery of SmartEye ST-1 units, supporting road-transport safety. In 2025, Croatian authorities took delivery of nearly one hundred advanced SmartEye ST-1 speed-enforcement systems, along with additional equipment. These devices were developed by PolCam Systems — WB GROUP’s competence center for traffic-safety technologies. PolCam Systems won the initial 2019 tender to supply fifty tripod-mounted speed-enforcement units to Croatia. Since then, Polish solutions have consistently supported Croatian police operations. In 2023, the WB GROUP company signed a framework agreement to supply over 150 additional road-safety devices. November marks the completion of another delivery of SmartEye ST-1 fixed systems and dedicated cabinet housings. All units have been integrated with Croatia’s central enforcement and management system. The WB GROUP company is also responsible for maintenance, technical support, and servicing.
SmartEye ST-1 speed-enforcement systems have repeatedly demonstrated their effectiveness in protecting road users. Strong operational performance and close cooperation with the Croatian police have led to a planned modernization of the 50 systems supplied in 2019, upgrading them to the current capability standard.
SmartEye ST-1 is an advanced device designed to detect traffic violations such as speeding and red-light running. It generates Full HD evidential material, ensuring high effectiveness in various environmental conditions.
The system complies with European standards: it supports external IP cameras, integrates with databases, and can be rapidly adapted to local procedures. The Croatian configuration includes additional video cameras providing 24/7 recording. For each recorded traffic violation, the system automatically attaches a short video clip supplementing the evidential package.
SmartEye solutions precisely recognise license plates and identify vehicle make, model, colour, and type. High-resolution imaging enables detection of unfastened seat belts or mobile-phone use while driving.
The successful deployment of another PolCam Systems traffic-safety solution confirms the effectiveness and reliability of WB GROUP technologies in international operational environments, as well as their readiness for adaptation to local organisational and infrastructure requirements. Solutions developed by PolCam Systems, MindMade, Flytronic, and other WB GROUP companies are being showcased at the WB GROUP stand in Hall 5 (5S063) at MILIPOL Paris 2025, held from 18 to 21 November in the French capital.
WB GROUP is a leading manufacturer of advanced command, communication, and integration systems, and one of Europe’s largest producers of unmanned platforms. The company develops, modernizes, and integrates innovative defense technologies in cooperation with a wide range of partners. Drawing on extensive battlefield experience, WB GROUP transforms operational insights into technological achievements and continues to demonstrate its ability to collaborate effectively in the international arena — strengthening European sovereignty and collective security.
18 Nov 25. Kolibri Defence and ESOX Group Announce Joint Venture to Develop Next-Generation High-Power Drone Motor.
* UAS specialists partner with defence technology and electrified propulsion leader on Next-Gen High-Powered drone motor
* New design will deliver increased torque, endurance and mission success
* Finnish and British companies to produce European designed and built solution, enhancing sovereign defence
Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) specialists Kolibri Defence, renowned for advanced drone design, production and pilot training, through the Kolibri Drone Academy, have formed a new joint venture with ESOX Group, leaders in intelligent defence technologies and electrified propulsion systems.
The partnership, announced at the launch of Kolibri’s flagship UAV product Kolibri-X will focus on the development of an application-specific high-power drone motor, engineered to deliver exceptional torque, efficiency and reliability for the next-generation of UAS. Combining Kolibri’s expertise in FPV and tactical drone performance with ESOX’s advanced motor technologies and defence-grade engineering capability, the collaboration aims to redefine propulsion standards in high-demand operational environments. This strategic alliance forms part of a wider programme to enhance European-sovereign defence capability through integrated innovation in automation, electrification and intelligent systems.
“Working with ESOX will help us to deliver a purpose-built, high-power motor that raises the bar for tactical UAS, delivering more torque, longer flight time and improved mission success,” said Henri Christensen, CEO, Kolibri Defence.
“This partnership will create a propulsion solution designed and built in Europe, furthering the continent’s sovereign defence capabilities and kickstarting a strategic alliance which aims to bolster users’ capabilities in a rapidly developing field,” added Dan Walmsley, CEO, ESOX Group.
19 Nov 25. 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade Builds the Future of Drone-Enabled Army Aviation. The low hum of small rotors over Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah, Georgia, may sound routine, but within that hum lies a transformation. The 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, is not discarding helicopters it is augmenting them. Apache, Black Hawk and Chinook platforms remain indispensable to the force. What is evolving is how those aircraft integrate with unmanned aerial systems and in-house manufacturing, allowing the brigade to redefine what readiness means on a complex future battlefield. The war in Ukraine offers more than cautionary tales; it offers operational proof. Ukrainian forces have used low-cost drones to strike deep inside Russian territory, harass logistics lines and force Russia’s air defense systems into constant repositioning. For example, data shows Ukraine launched at least 58 long-range UAS strikes on Russian energy infrastructure since August 2025, sending drones up to 2,000 km into Russian territory and interrupting about 17% of Russian refining capacity by mid-August. Russian forces, in turn, have launched hundreds of drones in large-scale saturation attacks. In early February 2025, one overnight strike involved 267 attack drones against Ukraine, marking the largest single drone assault of the war to date.?These developments show how unmanned systems are reshaping the way forces detect, target, sustain and make decisions on the front line. For soldiers of 3rd CAB, the lessons are not theoretical. They recently trained on the Expeditionary Manufacturing Cell, a mobile 3D-printing system that allows rapid production of drone components in the field. Working side by side, UAS operators, UAS repairers and Allied Trade Specialists printed more than 90 unique components in hours rather than waiting weeks for ordered parts. They progressed from printing and assembly to the first flights with Group1 first-person-view drones, which weigh under 20 pounds and can carry small munitions. Additionally, the team completed calibration, sensor integration and flight testing at the tactical level. Despite the transformation, the brigade also remains committed to its rotary-wing force. The difference now lies in employment: the Apache still offers deep strike and aerial firepower; the Black Hawk still performs medevac and air assault; the Chinook still delivers heavy lift and rapid repositioning. Soldiers assigned to 3rd CAB are layering unmanned systems into those missions. A Black Hawk air assault might still carry troops, but preceding it, a UAS team could scout the route, drop loitering munitions against anti-air threats, or provide a live video feed that shortens the sensor-to-shooter timeline. A Chinook heavy-lift mission might be preceded by unmanned reconnaissance of the landing zone and suppression of nearby sensors. The brigade has also taken lessons from signature management in Ukraine to heart. Drones and helicopters both leave signatures acoustic, and thermal and units that emit too much or move too slowly become visible targets. To counter this, 3rd CAB is practicing smaller command nodes, tighter emission control, decoys and adjunct UAS operations that mask or move pathways ahead of the rotary wing force. The objective: maintain the power of manned aviation while reducing its vulnerability in a contested, unmanned-dense environment. More than hardware, the change is cultural. Soldiers who once requested parts now design and print them. Aviation maintenance sections that focused on rotors and blades now also queue up small drone print runs and payload modifications. Squad level leaders who ran air-assault briefs now also schedule drone launch timelines. Innovation isn’t separate or exotic, it’s embedded in routine. The brigade is experimenting within its formations, embodying what senior leaders call “transformation in contact.” The war in Ukraine underlined the danger of being structurally rigid; 3rd CAB soldiers are proving readiness arises from speed, adaptation and integration.
“Today’s battlefield is adapting rapidly. By teaching our soldiers to understand how drones work and are built, we are giving them the skills to think creatively and apply emerging technologies to enhance mission effectiveness and readiness,” said Staff Sgt. Christian Dodson, the HAAF Innovation noncommissioned officer in charge.
The future battlefield will reward units that can build, integrate, move fast, sense fast, decide fast, and strike fast with precision. Soldiers assigned to 3rd CAB are building that future today by combining the proven might of helicopters with the distributed reach of unmanned systems and the growing capability to manufacture and sustain that capability on-site. When the next fight demands more than traditional aviation, this brigade will be ready. (Source: U.S. DoD)
19 Nov 25. UAV Navigation Enables Synchronized Autonomous Flights in Spanish M-UMT Trials. The Spanish consortium SATNUS, formed by GMV, Sener and Tecnobit-Grupo Oesía, has recently completed the third flight test campaign of the FCAS/NGWS program, successfully validating the Manned-Unmanned Teaming & Common Systems Demonstrator (MCSD), a platform based on a modified target drone. The campaign included solo flights of the platform, as well as coordinated missions involving multiple MCSD units flying autonomously. These flights enabled the integration and testing of the Next Generation Autonomy Computer (NGAC), a key component for future Remote Carrier operations.
“A key achievement was the success of end-to-end testing of functional chains on board and on land for multi-platform operations,”
stated SATNUS.
The aircraft flew in precise coordination, showcasing the capabilities of the advanced flight control systems. UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía, as a subcontractor, played a critical role in enabling synchronized autonomous flights.
This campaign is part of the activities assigned to SATNUS under Pillar 3 of the Spain-France-Germany NGWS/FCAS collaboration, which focuses on the maturation of technologies for Remote Carriers and Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUT). UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía contributes to Pillar 3 through a subcontract with SATNUS Technologies SL, supporting the development and risk reduction of remotely operated elements within the future combat air system.
Through its continued participation, UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía provides advanced technological solutions and comprehensive support in the development, integration, and operation of autopilot systems. This contribution is essential to the evolution of the program’s technological capabilities and to meeting the demanding requirements of next-generation air combat systems.
About UAV Navigation – Grupo Oesía
UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía is a company specializing in the design of guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) solutions for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) since 2004. UAV Navigation- Grupo Oesía’s flight solutions are used by a wide range of leading aerospace manufacturers for a variety of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), also known as remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) or “drones.”
UAV Navigation is part of the Grupo Oesía, a Spanish multinational company dedicated to dual- use digital and industrial engineering, which develops and implements projects in more than 40 countries. It has 3,800 professionals in 19 corporate headquarters in Europe, Latin America and Asia. Throughout almost 50 years of experience, it has innovated products and services that benefit ms of people around the world, with the aim of creating a better, more efficient, safer and sustainable world.
The industrial companies within the Grupo Oesía ecosystem are responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining cutting-edge technology for the Security, Defense, and Aerospace sectors, with a long track record of work in avionics for significant projects such as the Eurofighter EF-2000, A-400M, F-18, C-295, P3-B Orion, or MH-60R. The group is now involved in the most important UAV projects, including FCAS/NGWS, Eurodrone, and SIRTAP, among others. (Source: UAS VISION/UAV Navigation – Grupo Oesía)
18 Nov 25. Indian Army to procure domestically manufactured UAVs for ISR. The Indian Army has awarded two contracts to Mumbai-based unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) manufacturer ideaForge to procure two types of UAVs that can enhance intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). ideaForge will supply to the Indian Army its Zolt UAV under a contract worth INR750m (USD8.5m) and its Switch V2 UAV under a contract worth INR300m, the company announced on 17 November. Both these vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) UAVs were launched during the Aero India 2025 show in Bangalore in February. A spokesperson for the ideaForge told Janes that the company intends to complete deliveries of Zolt within a year and of the Switch V2 UAVs within six months. ideaForge said Zolt was selected by the Indian Army following “extensive field trials in electronic warfare (EW) environments”. In addition to ISR, Zolt can be deployed to deliver payloads, the company added. According to company specifications, Zolt has an operational range of up to 50 km, a payload capacity of 10 kg, an endurance of 180 minutes, and offers 80 km of secure data downlink. It can operate in GPS-denied environments and can be equipped with electro-optic/infrared (EO/IR), signals intelligence (SIGINT), communications intelligence (COMINT), laser rangefinders (LRFs), laser designators, or tactical resupply payloads, depending upon mission requirements. (Source: Janes)
18 Nov 25. “The challenge to mass producing hover-optimised … drones has revealed systemic vulnerabilities in the West, stemming from a heavy reliance on Chinese-origin rare earth elements … It is critical for Western governments to strengthen cooperation across supply chains.” This is according to a new RUSI research report, Drones: Decoupling Supply Chains from China, by Robert Tollast, which warns that the UK and its NATO partners face serious deficits in domestic drone-production capacity, leaving the Alliance highly dependent on Chinese-origin components to make uncrewed aerial systems (UAS). The report finds that despite the UK’s ambition to position itself at the forefront of the drone-capability coalition for Ukraine, Britain and its allies lack the industrial depth to sustain the scale of drone production which defines modern conflict. While Ukraine has demonstrated extraordinary adaptability in the mass use of drones on the battlefield, the paper notes that NATO members have yet to build a comparable supply-chain ecosystem. The report highlights that China currently supplies around 80 per cent of the global multirotor-UAS (MUAS) market, including components such as flight controllers, motors, and thermal sensors. With tightening Chinese export controls, and growing cooperation between Beijing and Moscow, NATO’s exposure to supply disruptions is acute. The UK, which took delivery of only 6,000 first person view (FPV) drones in 2025, (while Ukraine currently uses 9,000 drones a day) is singled out as emblematic of the West’s slow pace in scaling up production. The report urges policymakers to treat drone supply as a fundamental pillar of defence resilience, akin to munitions or fuel, and warns that unless the UK and NATO establish resilient, diversified manufacturing capacity, they risk entering future peer conflicts with a critical shortage of drones, drone components, and raw materials.
Key Findings
* Material shortages and related price volatility are already affecting drone production. The report says: “NATO allies seeking to develop MUAS production will be hindered in their efforts by near-term material shortages. Some dual-use material, and particularly permanent magnets made with neodymium iron boron (which are critical for motors), have extremely high and competing civilian demand.”
* UK and NATO industrial capacity falls far short of operational demand.
“Ukraine’s affordable ‘dronisation’ model … will be difficult for NATO to substitute when shortages arise. The UK- and Latvia-led Drone Capability Coalition goal of providing one m drones for Ukraine will be a major challenge to accomplish without any Chinese input.”
* Flexible, modular design is critical and places a premium on subcomponents. “The highly flexible, often modular Ukrainian drone design currently facilitates diverse roles at a low cost … This approach fuels Ukraine’s tactical innovation and allows for rapid adaptation.”
* Formalised drone construction and innovation alliances could offset UK and NATO dependence on China. “There is a potential to transform drone cooperation agreements among democracies into formal drone alliances … not only on assembly – at which Ukraine excels – but also on subcomponent fabrication, by building supply-chain resilience for key components.”
Key Recommendations
* Expand coordinated Allied production of key inputs to overcome shortages. “Allied states can build more resilient hardware supply chains for drones, mitigating the impact of a major disruption, such as a crisis in the Pacific that would interrupt shipping in East Asia.”
* Establish NATO-wide procurement frameworks. “International collaborations based on organic demand domestic production.”
* Don’t replicate Ukraine’s ‘cheap mass’ model but build economies of scale to keep prices down. “Either manufacturers will pivot towards Ukraine-style COTS [commercial off-the-shelf] generation of cheap mass … or a shift to greater standardisation and exquisite capability of drones at a high price point. Western producers must balance cost, scale, and resilience.”
* Secure raw-material inputs through multilateral policy. “Within NATO, the Multinational Capability Delivery Initiatives … require concrete action from members, and perhaps similar actions to the US DoD’s [Department of Defence] move to secure neodymium supply by guaranteeing prices.”
Conclusion
The report concludes that NATO’s current trajectory leaves it poorly equipped to meet the tactical and industrial demands of high intensity warfare where drones will play a critical role. Despite government announcements and private-sector initiatives, the UK and European allies remain heavily reliant on imported components – particularly from China – and lack the scale of secure production that would allow autonomy in a crisis. Even if we don’t fight like Ukraine, it’s certain that NATO armies will need many more drones. The report warns that the challenge extends beyond procurement and that without stronger international cooperation across the entire MUAS supply chain – from mining to unit production – NATO will remain strategically vulnerable. The UK’s Defence Drone Strategy and NATO’s drone-capability pledges must be matched by investment in raw-material extraction, microelectronics, and modular design capacity. RUSI’s analysis concludes that without decisive industrial mobilisation, the Alliance risks being technologically outpaced in the next conflict dominated by uncrewed systems.
17 Nov 25. UAE’s EDGE Group launches 42 new products at Dubai Airshow. These are the highlights. How the UAE’s EDGE is becoming a cutting-edge innovator in aerospace focusing on unmanned defence systems. EDGE, the United Arab Emirates defence company focused on developing next-generation, disruptive technology, is launching no less than 42 new products at the Dubai Airshow this week.
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EDGE’s Autonomous Systems
Last week, EDGE unveiled a new partnership with the US’s Anduril to jointly develop the tail-sitting hover-to-cruise Omen autonomous air vehicle (AAV). Anduril stated that EDGE will manufacture Omen vehicles purchased by the UAE and the region, while it would build any US orders at its new Arsenal-1 facility in Ohio. Omen uses Anduril’s advanced and continuously updated Lattice software. EDGE describes Omen (a Group 3 drone) as being designed to “pack the endurance, payload, and mission flexibility of much larger systems.” The aircraft is able to be set up by a team of two within minutes and is runway-independent. Another autonomous system being unveiled is JERNAS-M, a compact medium altitude, long endurance (MALE) UAV built for ISR missions. Then there is the precise counterdrone interceptor, VORTEX-E. Finally, EDGE is unveiling STRIKE, a “rugged fixed-wing weapon carrier” able to carry out medium altitude tactical missions.
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Smart Weapons, Propulsion & Space
EDGE is unveiling a new suite of small weapons, with the WSM-1 long-range cruise strike missile being its flagship. The missile features AI-assisted terming retargeting. Other smart weapons include the DARKWING modular air or ground-launched autonomous strike system featuring interchangeable seekers and payloads. Yet another is THUNDER-ER, which converts legacy aerial bombs into small stand-off weapons.
EDGE is also displaying its expanded propulsion portfolio at the Dubai 2025 airshow to include turbine, microjet, and piston engines. It says it has a “full range of solid, liquid, and hybrid rocket motors.” These are designed to power UAVs, loitering and smart munitions, missiles, suborbital missions, and even future space launch applications.
ZENITH is the flagship revealing from EDGE’s space sector. ZENITH is a software platform that integrates and manages data from various satellites. It unifies access to multi-sensor imagery and data from multiple space-based assets. In 2023, the UAE Space Agency selected EDGE as a strategic partner in its Sirb programme.
It can be noted that the UAE Space Agency is now a player in space exploration. 2020 saw the successful launch of the Emirates Mars Mission called Mars Hope to Mars. In 2023, its Emirates Lunar Mission failed after crashing into the moon. One upcoming mission, planned for 2028, is the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt.
Other EDGE Dubai 2025 unveils
EDGE’s unveil also includes radar and intelligence systems that combine AI, digital processing, and modular design for electronic warfare and sensing. Radars include AL HARRIS X, a next-generation AESA radar designed for short-range air defence and counterdrone operations. Another system is the complementary AMES P, to be fitted as a reconnaissance pod for aircraft. The final field of EDGE’s new products is secure communications, including the pocket-sized KATIM GATEWAY X9000M encryptor. (Source: https://aerospaceglobalnews.com/)
17 Nov 25. On October 21, 2025, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), Lockheed Martin, and L3Harris Technologies (NYSE:LHX) collaborated on a flight test that successfully demonstrated Crewed-Uncrewed Teaming using an F-22 Raptor fighter jet and a GA-ASI MQ-20 Avenger® unmanned jet. The effort integrated L3Harris’ BANSHEE™ Advanced Tactical Datalinks with its Pantera software-defined radios (SDRs) via Lockheed Martin’s open radio architectures, all integrated and shared from an F-22 Raptor. Two L3Harris Software‑Defined Radios (SDRs) supported the demonstration. The first SDR was installed into the General Atomics MQ‑20 Avenger, and the second was integrated in the Lockheed Martin F‑22 Raptor. Through the Pilot Vehicle Interface (PVI) tablet and the F‑22’s GRACE module, the system provided end‑to‑end communications, enabling the F‑22 command and control of the MQ‑20 in flight. The collaborative demonstration showcased non-proprietary, U.S. government-owned communications capabilities and the ability to fly, transition, and re-fly flight hardware that is core to the Open Mission Systems and skills based unmanned autonomy ecosystem. The demonstration took place at the Nevada Test and Training Range and is part of an ongoing series of flight demonstrations performed using internal research and development funding to showcase “the art of the possible” between manned and unmanned teaming.
17 Nov 25. Italy’s Leonardo to Co-Produce Turkey’s Baykar Tactical UAVs and Jet-Powered Combat Drones. Leonardo detailed plans to co-produce Baykar unmanned aircraft in Italy, adding final assembly lines for TB2, TB3, Akinci and the jet-powered Kizilelma under the LBA Systems venture. The move builds an EU-based supply chain and marries European certification and sensor-weapon integration with Baykar’s platforms. In its 3Q/9M 2025 Results Presentation on 5 November 2025, Leonardo outlined its alliance with Baykar. The plan shifts part of Baykar’s UAV production to Italy and pairs it with European certification and systems integration. The move elevates Italy from buyer and maintainer to co-producer across multiple classes, from tactical UAVs to jet-powered UCAVs. It matters because it creates an EU-based supply line at a time of sustained demand and regulatory tightening around uncrewed operations. It also positions Italian sites to deliver not only airframes but compliant, export-ready systems with integrated payloads. The move elevates Italy from buyer and maintainer to co-producer across multiple classes, from tactical UAVs to jet-powered UCAVs. It matters because it creates an EU-based supply line at a time of sustained demand and regulatory tightening around uncrewed operations. It also positions Italian sites to deliver not only airframes but compliant, export-ready systems with integrated payloads. Leonardo and Baykar have structured their joint venture, LBA Systems, to combine platform manufacturing with certification and mission-system integration. While regulatory approval proceeds, teams are already aligning payloads and platforms across classes, including surveillance, strike and a future loyal-wingman segment. The plan covers five lines of effort: serial production and final assembly of specific platforms, composite aerostructures, engineering certification, multi-domain command-and-control, and sustainment. The intent is to field machines that are certificable and marketable across Europe and beyond, rather than bespoke variants tied to a single national regime Production and engineering responsibilities are distributed across Italian cities with distinct roles. Ronchi dei Legionari, historically the cradle of Italian drones, continues Mirach target-drone work and adds TB3 naval-variant final assembly with on-site integration of sensors and weaponry.
Villanova d’Albenga, within the Piaggio Aerospace perimeter incorporated into Baykar since 30 June 2025, becomes the assembly base for TB2 and Akinci, turning Liguria into a European hub for combat-proven MALE platforms. Turin concentrates engineering and certification to interface with European regulators and airspace initiatives, while Rome hosts a multi-domain innovation facility focused on C2, ISR networking, autonomy and data-links.
Grottaglie, leveraging its composite manufacturing pedigree, is assigned composite fabrication and final assembly of Kizilelma, the jet UCAV aligned with loyal-wingman concepts and intended to interoperate with sixth-generation fighters such as GCAP.
This alliance structure offers clear industrial advantages. Baykar contributes a mature portfolio and rapid development cycle across TB2, TB3, Akinci and Kizilelma, alongside supply-chain scale and operational feedback from multiple user communities. Leonardo contributes European certification pathways, composite aerostructures, mission-system integration, and long-term sustainment networks inside the EU market. Local assembly shortens lead times, reduces licensing friction, and enables Europeanised variants that meet EASA and U-space rules where applicable, improving dual-use flexibility for training, logistics support and emergency response. By spreading work across Friuli Venezia Giulia, Liguria, Piedmont, Lazio and Apulia, the plan embeds skilled jobs and builds political durability around a national UAV ecosystem. The strategic implications are broad. Geopolitically, Italy consolidates a sovereign UAV supply chain within the EU, offering allies a procurement path less exposed to extra-regional export constraints. Geostrategically, an Italian network covering certification, composites, C4ISR and autonomy aligns with NATO’s push toward distributed sensing and integrated fires, supporting national and coalition readiness with interoperable platforms.
Militarily, adding Kizilelma to Grottaglie signals Europe’s entry into higher-performance UCAV classes, bridging from propeller MALE drones to jet-powered teammates designed to operate alongside future fighters.
The Rome hub’s focus on multi-domain C2 and combat-cloud experimentation indicates that the value proposition extends beyond airframes to networking and mission-software, where operational advantage increasingly resides. (Source: UAS VISION/Army Recognition)
14 Nov 25. AIRO Group Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: AIRO), through its wholly owned subsidiary AIRO Drone, LLC, and Nord-Drone LLC, through its affiliate company Nord Drone Group, LLC (‘NDG’), have executed a definitive agreement to create AIRO Nord-Drone, LLC, a transatlantic defense joint venture combining AIRO’s U.S.-based manufacturing and procurement expertise with NDG’s combat-proven technologies and European production capabilities. The joint venture will leverage existing infrastructure to accelerate deployment of drones supporting current U.S. and NATO operational requirements. The formation of the joint venture is subject to customary closing conditions, including satisfaction of applicable regulatory requirements and other conditions precedent set forth in the definitive agreement. The Nord-Drone group of companies currently produces approximately 4,000 drones per month including FPV strike units, loitering munitions, and multi-role bombers with scalability supported by established facilities and defense relationships. Its flagship models, NORD-10 and NORD-15, offer ranges up to 15 km and payloads up to 4.5 kg, featuring advanced GPS/GLONASS/BeiDou navigation and proprietary control systems. The joint venture intends to prioritize rapid production and deployment of combat-proven drones that directly support current U.S. and NATO defense directives. By combining AIRO’s advanced aerospace manufacturing capabilities with NDG’s high-volume, battlefield-tested platforms, AIRO Nord-Drone LLC will deliver interoperable, mission-ready solutions for tactical reconnaissance, loitering munitions, and advanced combat operations. “This joint venture represents a significant milestone in delivering proven, battlefield-tested technology to our allies when it matters most,” said Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria, Executive Chairman of AIRO. “Together with Nord Drone Group, we are creating a transatlantic defense platform capable of scaling rapidly to meet urgent operational requirements.” The joint venture will serve urgent operational needs across key defense markets, including the United States, Ukraine, NATO member countries, and other mutually agreed territories. It will support both immediate conflict response and modernization initiatives. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
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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.
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