18 Jun 25. AeroVironment, Inc. (“AV”) (NASDAQ: AVAV) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Hans Christian Andersen Aiport in Odense, Denmark–home to the UAS Denmark Test Center–to explore joint utilization of the center’s expansive airspace and advanced test facilities. The agreement aims to leverage UAS Denmark’s strategic range and infrastructure to support AV’s uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) demonstration operations, mission training, and customer integration activities across the region. The collaboration is expected to enable joint research and development (R&D) initiatives and accelerate the growth of the UAS Denmark Test Center as a regional epicenter for advanced UAS innovation, evaluation, and operational readiness.
“This MOU represents a significant milestone in expanding AV’s operational footprint in Europe,” said Shane Hastings, AV’s vice president and general manager of Medium UAS. “Our partnership with UAS Denmark positions us to deliver enhanced capabilities, mission-critical training, and integrated UAS solutions to allied defense forces and government stakeholders across the region.”
This agreement follows AV’s February 2025 Framework Agreement with the Danish Ministry of Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organization (DALO), under which AV is delivering advanced UAS, operator and maintainer training, and lifecycle support to strengthen the Danish Armed Forces’ intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. The MOU with UAS Denmark builds on this momentum and reinforces AV’s commitment to delivering tactical advantage through scalable, reliable, and combat-proven UAS platforms. By formalizing this collaboration, AV continues to expand its international partnerships and operational support capabilities—ensuring allied forces have access to the tools and training required to maintain readiness in dynamic environments. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
18 Jun 25. Shield AI Advances Combat-Ready Autonomy with 2nd MQ-20 Avenger Flight. Shield AI, the deep-tech company building state-of-the-art autonomy software products and defense aircraft, today announced the second flight demonstration of its mission autonomy software, Hivemind, on a General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) MQ-20 Avenger. Conducted in a live-virtual-constructive (LVC) environment, the demonstration showcased Hivemind executing coordinated tasks between one live aircraft and its digital twin in a realistic mission scenario. The June event follows Shield AI and GA-ASI’s successful integration earlier this year during February’s Orange Flag exercise. While the February flight focused on basic administrative tasks using a command-line interface (CLI), the June test demonstrated tactical skills such as formation flying and combat air patrol maneuvers, using A-GRA-compliant mission planning software. By testing in complex, LVC mission environments, Shield AI is accelerating the path to scalable, operational autonomy.
“Readiness means flying today, not waiting for perfect conditions. Autonomy doesn’t get better in a lab or inside a PowerPoint. It improves when it flies, when it fails, adapts, and flies again. That’s how we reach operational mission autonomy,” said Christian Gutierrez, VP of Hivemind Solutions at Shield AI. “This demonstration reflects the hard work of our engineering teams who continue to push software into real-world scenarios to accelerate learning and performance. We’re not just testing—we’re lowering the risk for fielded autonomy and proving that scalable, mission-ready autonomy is already here.”
The demonstration highlighted several key capabilities:
- Live-virtual autonomy: Hivemind commanded both a live MQ-20 and its digital twin, executing coordinated tasks across physical and virtual aircraft in a blended mission scenario.
- Integrated mission threads: Autonomy software connected seamlessly with C2 and edge systems for real-time execution.
- Open, modular architecture with A-GRA-compliant ground system layers: Enabled platform-agnostic integration and added operational realism to the test environment.
“This event reflects the kind of interoperability and adaptability we believe is essential for future autonomy efforts,” said Michael Atwood, Vice President of Advanced Programs at GA-ASI. “Being able to rapidly integrate and test autonomy elements from multiple vendors helps ensure the most effective capabilities are available to the warfighter, regardless of origin.”
Hivemind is AI-powered autonomy software that enables unmanned systems to conduct complex missions in GPS- and comms-denied environments. Built for modular integration, operator confidence, and multi-platform deployment, Hivemind delivers mission autonomy with proven adaptability and tactical relevance. (Source: ASD Network)
18 Jun 25. DARPA to Demo Revolutionary Drone Capabilities for Warfighters. Flight tests to showcase the future of VTOL unmanned aerial systems. Five cutting-edge unmanned aerial systems (UAS) are slated to begin flight testing later this month to highlight the versatility of vertical take-off and landing for UAS weighing less than 330 pounds.
The vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft for the demonstration, known as EVADE – Early VTOL Aircraft Demonstration – will boast significantly enhanced range, endurance and control compared to existing VTOL UAS of similar size. The primary objective for EVADE is to demonstrate rapid deployment of advanced UAS capabilities to the warfighter.
“With EVADE, our focus is on speed of development, not on first flight perfection,” says DARPA Program Manager Phillip Smith, who is a major in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves and was previously deployed as an AV-8B Harrier pilot. “The faster we can get these demonstration aircraft airborne, the quicker we can identify and resolve any issues, and ultimately, deliver game-changing capabilities to our warfighters in the field.”
The EVADE initiative accelerates DARPA’s AdvaNced airCraft Infrastructure-Less Launch And RecoverY (ANCILLARY) program Phase 2 plan, which the agency initially projected to conduct flight testing in late 2026. By prioritizing the integration of autonomy and payloads, EVADE aims to rapidly demonstrate the critical value of this UAS size class. Furthermore, by postponing specific requirements related to maximum physical dimensions and autonomous takeoff/landing in high sea states, the program has dramatically shortened the timeline to first flight.
Streamlining for rapid deployment
To further accelerate production timelines and maximize resource efficiency, all EVADE platforms leverage the Sikorsky MATRIX flight autonomy algorithms developed in DARPA’s Aircrew Labor In-Cockpit Automation System (ALIAS) program. The autonomy software manages flight control and navigation needs for entire missions – from takeoff to landing – and will minimize the need for user interaction during long transit flights. Having standardized autonomy software across all five performers and designs also simplifies user engagement.
Complementing this, the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division’s payload management software Battle Management System (BMS) is used across all platforms, interfacing directly with the Tactical Assault Kit available to every warfighter. The integrated suite of tools will allow ANCILLARY aircraft to immediately share relevant information to individual troops at the point of need. It also effectively eliminates the need for dedicated ground control stations, thereby reducing programmatic and operational costs.
“EVADE is designed to democratize air power across the military, empowering the smallest operational units to directly receive and control an air asset when needed,” Smith says. “We’re testing five potential mission sets and payloads to showcase the breadth of capabilities EVADE can provide: logistics, communications relay, weapons delivery, synthetic aperture radar, and ISR/RSTA (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and target acquisition).”
Building a robust ecosystem
The five ANCILLARY designs vary in their capabilities, but all have a minimum of 12 hours of endurance at 100 nautical miles with a 60-pound payload.
“I think of these aircraft as ‘flying trucks,’” Smith says. “They have a high load fraction for their size and VTOL configurations and can be readily adapted to support a wide range of missions by carrying the necessary payload.”
The five performers in EVADE – AeroVironment, Griffon Aerospace, Karem Aircraft, Method Aeronautics, and Sikorsky – show some of the ways these aircraft can be optimized for different strengths, including: VTOL control, airspeed, storage capacity, cruise altitude, time on station, powertrain configurations, and control methodologies.
“With ANCILLARY, we aim to cultivate a thriving supplier ecosystem for these drones, or similar-sized systems, that can fundamentally transform the capabilities and situational awareness available to every warfighter,” Smith says. “We’re invested in the success of each UAS we’re testing. The U.S. military requires a diverse portfolio of performers capable of maximizing design trade-offs to achieve success across an array of mission sets.”
To help accelerate transition to the field, the ANCILLARY team has worked the certification process concurrently with aircraft design and testing, while also ensuring the performers and their supply chains are ready for rapid, on-demand aircraft production.
“We’re taking a full 360 look at what it takes – considering performance, cost, usability, interoperability, certification, manufacturing, etc. – to ensure we rapidly deliver a game changing capability,” Smith says. “We’ve got five outstanding American companies we expect to be ready to accept and deliver orders at scale within the upcoming budget year.”
Broadening access to advanced capabilities
The under-330-pound (150 kilograms) maximum gross takeoff weight threshold for ANCILLARY aircraft is a pivotal factor. To date, the Department of Defense has required any drone over 55 pounds (25 kilograms) be owned by an aviation unit and operated by a fully licensed pilot, creating significant barriers to widespread fielding.
On a case-by-case basis, aircraft up to 330 pounds are now permitted to be purchased and operated by a non-aviation unit. DOD policies around drones of this size are evolving and the department is considering a policy change to allow UAS operators to fly all drones of this size without requiring special permissions.
“ANCILLARY fills a critical gap, bringing operational capabilities comparable to much larger – Group 4 and 5 – drones to smaller units, such as Army, Marine Corps, special operations units or a ship’s company,” Smith says. “These drones can be deployed without additional infrastructure or equipment, even in austere environments – offering a game-changing toolset for warfighters.”
Looking ahead
The ANCILLARY program is structured to facilitate rapid spiral development – an iterative model that reduces risk throughout the design lifecycle of the demonstration aircraft – to improve existing features and add new capabilities. Examples include additional weather hardening, adding the autonomy algorithms and sensors necessary for takeoff and landing at sea during storms, and improving engine efficiency, among other enhancements. DARPA will not necessarily carry out all the planned development spirals, but the path is in place.
Following successful flight testing this summer, DARPA intends to transition the aircraft and capabilities developed under the ANCILLARY program to the U.S. military services by the end of the 2025 calendar year. (Source: ASD Network)
18 Jun 25. Anduril and Rheinmetall partner to design and manufacture Barracuda, Fury and Solid Rocket Motors for European Defence
Rheinmetall and Anduril Industries announced a strategic partnership to co-develop and deliver a suite of software-defined autonomous systems to extend the availability of autonomous mission systems.
The partnership is starting with the development of three proven capabilities – but is about to be extended with more next generation technologies over time:
- The integration of a European variant of Anduril´s Barracuda as part of Anduril’s family of low-cost, mass-producible autonomous air vehicles into Rheinmetall´s digital sovereignty framework (“Battlesuite”).
- The inclusion of a European variant of Anduril´s Fury, a high-performance, multi-mission group 5 autonomous air vehicle (AAV), into Rheinmetall´s digital sovereignty framework (“Battlesuite”).
- The exploration of opportunities for solid rocket motors for European use leveraging Anduril’s new production approaches.
These systems will be jointly developed and produced by the two companies, incorporating sovereign suppliers and industrial partners throughout Europe.
“This is a different model of defence collaboration, one built on shared production, operational relevance, and mutual respect for sovereignty,” said Brian Schimpf, CEO of Anduril Industries. “Together with Rheinmetall, we’re building systems that can be produced quickly, deployed widely, and adapted as NATO missions evolve.”
“Rheinmetall has always stood for reliability, scale, and strategic depth in defence manufacturing,” said Armin Papperger, CEO of Rheinmetall. “By integrating Anduril`s solutions into Rheinmetall´s European production set up and digital sovereignty framework, we’re building on that foundation to bring new kinds of autonomous capabilities into service, ones that are quick to produce, modular, and aligned with NATO’s evolving requirements.”
Built in Europe, for Europe
This partnership is a long-term shared investment in co-developing easily fielded systems tailored to the specific needs of each European regional market. It reflects a “built with, not for” philosophy—one that prioritizes European sovereignty, local control, transparency, and adaptability over dependency or lock-in.
- The integration of Barracuda and Barracuda-M into Rheinmetall´s systems will provide European militaries with an affordable autonomous air vehicle designed for hyperscale production. Its modular design supports a wide range of payloads and targeting modes making it a flexible option for the unique needs of European forces.
- The inclusion of Fury, an autonomous air vehicle designed to operate as part of manned-unmanned teams of aircraft, into Rheinmetall´s ecosystem of products allows each country to configure its own command-and-control systems and operational constraints. Fury is designed to deliver advanced fighter performance with the flexibility to integrate a variety of sensors and payloads in support of mission requirements.
- The Solid Rocket Motors effort could help ensures European access to a reliable line of propulsion systems offering industrial redundancy and delivery at scale, when domestic sources are not yet sufficient.
A Shared Approach to Industrial Defence
The partnership builds on earlier collaboration between the two companies, including the development of a layer countered UAS solution and a joint pursuit of the U.S. Army’s Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV) program. Rather than slow, proprietary development pipelines that tie customers to a single vendor, this partnership embraces speed, modularity, and co-development. It’s a model that empowers allies to shape and evolve their own capabilities, while working within a shared NATO-aligned framework.
18 Jun 25. Singapore’s Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) has signed an agreement with Airbus Helicopters on crewed-uncrewed teaming capabilities with the H225M Medium Lift helicopter operated by the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) and Airbus Helicopters’ Flexrotor uncrewed aerial system (UAS). The partnership aims to explore how crewed-uncrewed teaming can enhance situational awareness and improve mission outcomes through a flight demonstration.
“Crewed-uncrewed teaming offers the great potential to support more effective air operations in complex environments. Working with Airbus Helicopters, we will be able to combine our engineering expertise to unlock new possibilities in helicopter-drone integration. This synergistic combination of manned platforms and autonomous systems will be a true force multiplier,” said DSTA’s Chief Executive Mr Ng Chad-Son.
“The collaboration between helicopters and UAS is a revolution in how we approach mission effectiveness. Synergising the strengths of highly skilled pilots with the advanced capabilities of uncrewed systems unlocks unprecedented operational flexibility,” said Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters. “Working with operators to mature these technologies and test our solutions with real life demonstrations is very important,” he explained.
“The H225M is a proven platform which has been tailored for complex missions like search and rescue by night in rough weather conditions,” he added. “The Republic of Singapore Air Force has demonstrated on multiple occasions that it masters the capabilities of this aircraft. I am sure that by working with Singapore’s DSTA and the RSAF we will be able to demonstrate the added value of teaming and how it can further extend the capabilities of the H225M.”
Airbus’ brand new crewed-uncrewed teaming system, HTeaming, will be integrated on board the RSAF’s H225M, allowing its crew to take full control of the Flexrotor. The operational demonstration will be set up to show the efficiency of Airbus’ teaming solution and the added value of cooperation between crewed helicopters and uncrewed aerial systems.
Airbus recently unveiled HTeaming, a modular crewed-uncrewed teaming system. The system currently features a modem, four antennas, a tablet and software.
17 Jun 25. Cuashub.com said today that Taiwan to employ sea drones to deter Chinese invasion. Taiwan is set on developing a sea drones that could reshape the island’s defenses against a potential Chinese invasion. These uncrewed explosive-laden vessels are being quietly developed as part of Taiwan’s growing focus on asymmetric warfare. Inspired by Ukraine’s success in deploying sea drones against Russian naval forces in the Black Sea, Taiwanese officials and engineers are rapidly advancing their own programs to adapt similar tactics for the defense of the island, according to Reuters. The initiative, still in its early stages, is part of a wider push encouraged by the United States to equip Taiwan with low-cost, high-impact capabilities that maximize mobility and surprise.
“Uncrewed boats or vehicles have played a very significant role in the Ukraine war,” said Chen Kuan-ting, a lawmaker with the ruling Democratic Progressive Party and member of Taiwan’s foreign affairs and defense committee. “They can effectively deter China because Taiwan is not the attacking side – we are the defending side.”
Dubbed the Swift and Sudden project by Taiwan’s National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology, the sea drone program currently has a modest budget of approximately NT$800 m ($26.7 m USD). But officials signal that more investment is coming.
Defence Minister Wellington Koo confirmed this week that sea drones will be included in a forthcoming special military budget later this year, although details of the package remain undisclosed.
Among the private-sector contributors to Taiwan’s sea drone efforts is Thunder Tiger, a Taiwanese technology company with growing expertise in unmanned maritime systems. Last week, reporters observed a live demonstration of their SeaShark 800 drone just offshore from Wushi. The vessel, which resembles a compact speedboat, can carry up to 1,200 kg of explosives and travel as far as 500 km.
“We can create uncertainty,” said Thunder Tiger chairman William Chen, speaking from the deck of a test vessel. “We can fill the Taiwan Strait with danger and risks. No one knows where these dangers could surface.”
Taiwan’s shift toward asymmetric capabilities – such as sea drones, loitering munitions and mobile missile systems – represents a strategic recalibration in the face of China’s overwhelming numerical advantage in ships, aircraft and troops. Unlike conventional warfighting platforms, these smaller systems are designed to be dispersed, survivable and difficult to detect – raising the costs and risks of any amphibious assault.
The sea drones, in particular, represent a low-profile yet potentially critical element of Taiwan’s defenses. If deployed effectively, they could deny Chinese ships freedom of movement in contested waters, disrupt beach landings or strike high-value targets at sea. https://cuashub.com/en/content/taiwan-to-employ-sea-drones-to-deter-chinese-invasion/ (Source: https://cuashub.com/)
16 Jun 25. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. completed a first-of-its-kind test involving multiple aircraft and advanced software on June 11 that included a successful simulated autonomous shoot-down. A GA-ASI-owned MQ-20 Avenger® unmanned jet used the latest government reference autonomy software in an exercise involving multiple live and virtual aircraft – as well as software supplied by Shield AI. Because software-defined mission capabilities are evolving so fast, it’s critical that aircraft hardware be agnostic as to the origins of these upgrades. GA-ASI’s flights have underscored how compliance with what are called “government reference architectures” enables essential interoperability for hardware and software. In the latest exercise, the MQ-20 Autonomous Collaborative Aircraft demonstrated that it could marshal; do dynamic midair station-keeping with several real aircraft; patrol a simulated combat area; make decisions autonomously; team with human command-and-control; and intercept two live aircraft autonomously – resulting in a simulated successful missile shot against the live targets. The “live-on-live” event using representative Group 5 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) proved how mature autonomy is today for future platforms.
“This event reflects the kind of interoperability and adaptability we believe is essential for future autonomy efforts,” said Michael Atwood, Vice President of Advanced Programs at GA-ASI. “Being able to rapidly integrate and test autonomy elements from multiple vendors helps ensure the most effective capabilities are available to the warfighter, regardless of origin.”
Another feature of the test was a mid-flight transition from the government-provided suite of software to Shield AI’s Hivemind autonomy software, which subsequently performed a similar mission profile. This rapid switch aboard the MQ-20 took place without affecting aircraft stability or mission continuity. This demonstrates how standardized reference architectures are streamlining hardware and software integration, even from different vendors. The test offered meaningful implications for the future of autonomy development. By adhering to a shared reference architecture, this model supports a flexible autonomy “app store” concept. It allows the government to incorporate capabilities from a broad vendor ecosystem without being tied to any single supplier. It promotes modularity, supports ongoing innovation, and enables more rapid deployment of autonomy features that align with the speed and agility often seen in commercial software development. GA-ASI has proven all this over a series of groundbreaking test events. The latest on June 11 underscored the ability of the government’s reference architecture to shorten integration timelines, avoid vendor lock-in and enable flexible autonomy solutions that can scale and adapt as mission needs evolve.
16 Jun 25. Airbus Flexrotor takes to sea in French Navy UAS demonstration. Flexrotor showed its ability to take off and land on a small, moving platform during extended missions. The French Navy has successfully conducted a three-day demonstration of the Airbus Flexrotor uncrewed aerial system (UAS) aboard a patrol vessel in the waters off France’s northwest coast. These operations have been conducted as part of the French Navy’s PERSEUS initiative, which aims to promote technological advancements by testing them under real conditions, as per Airbus Helicopters’ LinkedIn post. Designed for vertical take-off and landing (VTOL), the compact tactical Flexrotor drone can carry up to 25kg (55lb). It is suitable for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions with endurance capabilities of 12-14 hours under standard operational settings. The demonstration took place from 3 to 6 June. The Flexrotor logged more than 12 hours of flight time during this period, performing surveillance operations both during the day and at night. The system showcased its capability in executing take-offs and landings from a compact, mobile deck as well as its capacity for extended-duration tasks. Using the advanced sensors of the Flexrotor, the ship’s personnel were able to enhance their intelligence collection and situational awareness, said Airbus Helicopters. The Flexrotor can take off and land vertically in a space of 3.7 x 3.7 metres (m). Its tilt-rotor design allows it to transition from a vertical position to horizontal flight, utilising a 3m wingspan while its body measures 2m in length. (Source: naval-technology.com)
17 Jun 25. MBDA offers cheap drone swarm as door opener for its pricey missiles. MBDA, Europe’s largest missile maker, unveiled a cheap one-way drone at the Paris Air Show designed to saturate enemy air defenses en masse and clear the way for what the company calls high-value effectors such as cruise missiles. The drone, for now named simply One-Way Effector, will be mass-produced and cost a fraction of the price of a cruise missile, said Hugo Coqueret, business development manager battlefield at MBDA. The company is partnering with an undisclosed drone maker and a French automotive company to be able to ramp up production to 1,000 drones per month. The new drone was inspired by the war in Ukraine, where Russian and Ukrainian forces have been using dozens of one-way drones in single attacks to attempt to overwhelm and exhaust defenses. A lesson from the high-intensity warfare in Ukraine is the need for mass, and the new munition is one of the answers offered by MBDA, Coqueret told Defense News in a briefing on Monday
“The mission is really one of saturation,” Coqueret said. “It has been designed to meet this need for the return of mass in the armed forces, to cause saturation of enemy forces.”
The drone presented here on Monday is a new type of product for the missile maker, whose top-end products can cost ms of euros. Coqueret described the effector as “saturation munition” that complements MBDA’s existing portfolio, which includes several cruise missiles including the Scalp and the Taurus.
The jet-engine powered drone will be able to deliver a 40-kg payload at a distance of 500 kilometers, traveling at a speed of 400 kilometers per hour. Design of the new drone started from scratch in December, with the first test flight planned for September or October and a first production batch in 2027.
“It’s relatively fast and carries a significant payload,” Coqueret said. “All of that means that the enemy’s ground-based air defense is forced to destroy it with high value-added systems. Everything is designed to generate saturation.”
The design brief was for a low-cost munition that can be produced in large quantities, and “everything was designed with this in mind, from the parts to be manufactured to the operational procedures for assembly and the supply chain,” Coqueret said. The drone isn’t designed to be stealthy and many components are off-the-shelf to keep cost down.
“Once again, this is a very simple munition, there is no dialogue between munitions, but as they are fired in salvos with a grouping capability, they will be able to form a pack, and it’s this pack that will move towards the target and thus generate this attrition effect,” Coqueret said. “You’re going to use it in the same way as artillery.”
Part of keeping costs low is the production partnership with a French automotive manufacturer, according to the MBDA executive. MBDA is not naming the industrial partner at this time, though Coqueret said it’s not Renault. The French automaker said earlier this month it was expanding into the business of making unmanned aerial vehicles.
The One-Way Effector has been designed to address a need expressed by the French armed forces, and MBDA expects to start consultations with France’s Directorate General for Armament about buying the weapon “soon,” Coqueret said. (Source: Defense News)
16 Jun 25. U-ELCOME project “joins two U-space airspaces for the first time in a medical drone trial.” The ATLAS ALPHA and ATLAS BRAVO centres have marked a new milestone as part of the U-ELCOME U-space research programme: the transport of medical supplies by drone between Beas de Segura and Villacarrillo, in the province of Jaén, connecting two different U-space airspaces.
According to the project coordinators: “The project aims to demonstrate how the use of unmanned aerial systems can help provide solutions for transporting medical supplies to remote or hard-to-reach areas, improving accessibility. To this end, a live flight demonstration was conducted involving the coordinated participation of the 75-kg unmanned fixed-wing UAS TARSIS, two multirotor drones, three complete flight teams from the Spanish company AERTEC and the University of Seville, as well as medical transport personnel from the Fundación SSG, alongside CATEC, the Advanced Aerospace Technologies Centre; the company PildoLabs; and the platforms of ENAIRE and ITG, the Technology Institute of Galicia. This is also the first time in Europe that an in-flight control handover operation has been carried out for a fixed-wing drone of this size between two stations separated by 23 km. All the operations conducted during the demonstration were monitored in real time using the U-space service provision platforms (USSP) developed by ENAIRE and ITG. Additionally, ENAIRE acted as the sole Common Information Service Provider (CISP), thereby validating the safe integration of these technologies into European airspace.
“Today we have seen the opportunities presented by U-space systems in unmanned aircraft operations, as well as the possibility of transferring control of a drone between two U-space airspaces. This enables us to carry out longer flights by managing drone air traffic across different digital platforms”, said Rodrigo Benedit Pascual, technician in ENAIRE’s Drone Business Development Department and technical coordinator of the U-ELCOME project in Spain.
U-ELCOM activities are taking place in eight autonomous communities: Andalusia, Aragon, Canary Islands, Catalonia, Valencian Community, Galicia, Madrid and Navarre. The project seeks to encourage the adoption of basic U1 and U2 services, facilitating the safe integration of drones into European airspace.
For more information
https://www.enaire.es/en_GB/2025_06_10/ndp_gb_uelcome_project_joins_uspace_airspaces_drones_andalusia (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
16 Jun 25. MITRE and Gambit Partner to Advance Autonomous Systems for Homeland and National Security. MITRE and Gambit announced a strategic partnership to transform the deployment and safe use of autonomous ground and aerial vehicles for homeland security and national defense. The collaboration aims to enhance situational awareness, operational efficiency, and mission safety by integrating Gambit’s proprietary software solutions, capable of enabling groups of robotic systems to learn, adapt, and act on commands from a single operator, and MITRE’s deep expertise in advancing trusted, secure autonomous platforms. The partnership will test and prototype the usability of these systems in critical domains such as Department of Homeland Security operations while also exploring applications for Department of Defense (DoD) mission sets. Testing and development will leverage MITRE’s autonomous ground and air system teams at the MITRE MASE Lab and real-world simulations facilitated through the MITRE National Range.
“Autonomous systems have the power to reshape critical mission capabilities, from securing the border to supporting national special security events,” said Yosry Barsoum, vice president and director, Center for Securing the Homeland, MITRE. “Through our partnership with Gambit, we are advancing safe, reliable, and scalable autonomous solutions that serve as force multipliers—enabling a single operator to oversee multiple systems. Together, we aim to help meet the law enforcement community’s evolving operational needs while accelerating transformative technologies that strengthen the homeland security enterprise.”
The Gambit-developed system enables single-operator oversight of coordinated multi-domain autonomous systems, including aerial drones and ground vehicles. For example, ground vehicles can safely transport and deploy aerial drones to areas of interest, offering improved surveillance, data collection, and situational awareness for ground vehicles operating in unknown territories. This is particularly impactful in applications such as:
First responder operations: Overwatch of operational areas and enhanced officer safety during high-risk missions;
Border security: Comprehensive geographical analysis to strengthen border defense strategies;
Combat operations: Deployment of multiple autonomous platforms by a single operator, reducing manpower requirements.
“With MITRE, we’ll redefine how groups of autonomous systems operate across multiple domains,” said Josh Giegel, founder and CEO, Gambit. “Our technology reduces operator load and seamlessly integrates ground and aerial systems, placing mission-critical autonomy learning within reach of both first responders and the DoD. Together, we’re setting a new standard in trusted autonomy.”Both MITRE and Gambit are prioritizing the safe and ethical use of autonomous technology. The partnership fosters transparency and accountability while ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and maintaining human oversight of deployment in sensitive scenarios. This partnership also reinforces MITRE and Gambit’s shared commitment to engage with stakeholders across government agencies, academia, and industry to maximize the potential of autonomous systems for broader applications in public safety, defense, and humanitarian missions. (Source: UAS VISION)
17 Jun 25. Honeywell (NASDAQ: HON) and Near Earth Autonomy have successfully completed the first autonomous test flight of a Leonardo AW139 helicopter, marking a major milestone in support of the U.S. Marine Corps Aerial Logistics Connector (ALC) program. This flight demonstrates the feasibility of uncrewed, autonomous aircraft capable of operating in contested environments without an onboard pilot or remote operator. The test flight on Honeywell’s AW139 took place in Phoenix, Arizona in May and marks a critical step in efforts to deliver scalable, autonomous logistics support to the United States Marine Corps (USMC). For the first time, key autopilot modes of the AW139 were controlled directly by Near Earth’s onboard autonomy software, without pilot input, showcasing precise flight control and autonomous decision-making.
“Not only is this successful demonstration a major step in creating brand new possibilities for the USMC, but it also creates a potential pathway for use by other helicopter operators as well,” said Bob Buddecke, president, Electronic Solutions, Honeywell Aerospace Technologies. “Together with Near Earth Autonomy and Leonardo, we’re showing how existing aircraft can be adapted with trusted avionics to support the next generation of defense logistics. Uncrewed aircraft will be vital in keeping service men and women as safe as possible in contested environments, and we are one step closer to realizing that vision.”
The ALC program, managed under a Naval Aviation Systems Consortium Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) with Near Earth Autonomy as a prime performer, aims to develop and deploy autonomous aerial logistics systems that reduce risk to personnel and increase the speed and scale of supply operations. Future testing will expand autonomy capabilities, including automated obstacle avoidance, and integration into military logistics workflows, resulting in a safer, uncrewed delivery system to help boost operational readiness and improve responsiveness in theatre.
“This flight showcases Near Earth Autonomy’s leadership in developing trusted autonomy for real-world operations,” said Dr. Sanjiv Singh, CEO of Near Earth Autonomy. “By directly controlling the AW139’s flight modes with our autonomy system, we’ve shown that scalable autonomous logistics using existing platforms is not just possible — it’s happening now. This capability is essential for reducing risk to military personnel and ensuring resilient supply chains in the field.”
Honeywell’s partnership with Near Earth Autonomy seeks to develop an autonomy solution that is affordable, scalable, and certifiable for future missions. Honeywell provides mission-critical systems engineered for both retrofit and next-generation aircraft. These solutions are built to meet today’s operational demands while supporting the long-term shift to uncrewed and highly autonomous flight.
17 Jun 25. The assembly of the first SIRTAP prototype – Airbus’ high-performance tactical uncrewed aerial system – has concluded and the aircraft is ready to start the ground-tests campaign at the Airbus Defence and Space facilities in Getafe, Spain. The ground testing – comprising structural evaluations, main-systems components and software testing – is due to take place over the next months and will finish with the maiden flight, scheduled by the end of 2025 at Spain’s National Institute of Aerospace Technology’s (INTA’s) Unmanned Systems Test Centre (CEUS) in Huelva, south-west Spain. The subsequent SIRTAP flight-test campaign at CEUS will run throughout 2026 and will be essential in obtaining the airworthiness type certification and ensure that the aircraft meets the highest safety and performance standards, leading to the delivery of the first system to Spain in 2027.
“This new technical achievement for SIRTAP demonstrates Airbus’ agility to drive technological innovation with our aerospace industry partners in a timely manner in accordance with our vision,” said Jean-Brice Dumont, Head of Air Power at Airbus Defence and Space. “Designed and manufactured in Spain, SIRTAP will strengthen national sovereignty and will be a benchmark in the tactical unmanned aerial systems segment worldwide. It is another important brick in our ambition to shape a European ecosystem in defence aerospace.”
In November 2023, the Spanish Ministry of Defence acquired nine systems, each consisting of three remotely-piloted aircraft and a ground-control station. A total of 27 drones and nine ground-control stations will reinforce the tactical capabilities of the Spanish Armed Forces. In addition, Airbus Defence and Space will supply two simulators for training Spanish operators, having already passed the Critical Design Review, which marks the completion of their architecture and design. SIRTAP represents a strategic commitment to innovation and national industrial collaboration, while offering an exportable platform thanks to its ITAR-free design. Its development and potential evolution towards different versions, such as the naval version or weapons integration, will also contribute to strengthening industrial capabilities in the field of remotely-piloted vehicles.
16 Jun 25. Indonesian Army to trial Rajawali 500 cargo UAV. Indonesia’s PT Bhinneka Dwi Persada has secured an arrangement with the Indonesian Army to carry out field evaluations of the company’s Rajawali 500 tandem-rotor cargo unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Speaking to Janes at the Indo Defence 2025 exhibition in Jakarta, a representative from the company described the Rajawali 500 as a multifunctional carrier that can transport and disseminate payloads of up to 200 kg, and these can be carried in several configurations. These include underslung payloads, containerised cargo, and air-droppable payloads, said the representative. Given these capabilities, the Rajawali 500 UAV can be deployed to deliver victuals and other equipment into areas of operation that do not have access to a suitable helicopter landing site, he added. The Rajawali 500 has been developed by PT Bhinneka Dwi Persada for operations by the Indonesian National Armed Forces, but it is based on a China-sourced UAV that is available on the open market. According to the company representative who spoke to Janes , the identity of the Chinese manufacturer cannot be disclosed due to commercial sensitivity reasons. The UAV measures 3.6×1.45×1.85 m, and each of its rotors has a diameter of 5.4 m, which means that the UAV needs a much smaller landing site when compared with conventional rotor-winged aircraft. When carrying its maximum payloads, the aviation gasoline-fuelled UAV has a maximum endurance of about three hours, a top speed of about 140 km/h, and a maximum altitude of 15,000 ft. (Source: Janes)
15 Jun 25. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), the world leader in unmanned aircraft from the iconic Predator® to the YFQ-42A Collaborative Combat Aircraft, has unveiled a new small uncrewed launched effect with widespread multi-mission capabilities for the global aerospace and defense market. Inspired by Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of powerful natural forces in the Pacific, the Precision Exportable Launched Effect – PELE – is a small, attrition-tolerant, propeller-driven unmanned aircraft designed to extend the sensing and other capabilities of a mothership aircraft and its user service. PELE is a semi-autonomous unmanned aircraft system (UAS) with an 11-foot wingspan and 16-horsepower engine that extends user reach within challenging environments with potent effects. PELE also could be launched from the ground. The new PELE is optimized for use on the MQ-9B SkyGuardian®, the world’s foremost medium-altitude, long-endurance, multi-mission uncrewed aircraft. MQ-9B is in use or being considered for use by a growing number of nations around the world. PELE can fly with an onboard electro-optical infrared sensor for full-motion video as well as other integral sensors. The aircraft also has internal stowage for its own mission payloads.
“PELE brings even more versatility to growing MQ-9B fleets around the world,” said GA-ASI President David R. Alexander. “On one day, an air force might fly an MQ-9B with no external payloads to maximize its patrol time. Then on the next day, the same aircraft could take off and fly with several PELEs that would stand in against the adversary and take the immediate risks to preserve the larger aircraft.”
For example, MQ-9B might approach a contested boundary from international waters and release PELE to scout through the disputed zone to assess a hostile force’s order of battle or detect and precisely geo-locate anti-air systems. PELE is 9 feet in length, has a maximum gross takeoff weight of 250 pounds, 7 hours of endurance and range of 500 nautical miles.
12 Jun 25. Successful trial paves the way for improved reconnaissance on Army operations. Recent trial saw a single operator controlling three uncrewed vehicles, which detected and classified threats.
Uncrewed air vehicle in successful trial
- UK first comes as government doubles investment in autonomous defence technology committing an extra £2bn this parliament
- Next stage of trial will see drone swarms tested for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, delivering on recommendations set out in the Strategic Defence Review, and the Government Plan for Change.
Soldiers are set to be better protected, and Army surveillance operations enhanced, following a successful trial in which a single operator controlled three uncrewed air and land vehicles. The trials, conducted by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), proved that robotic and autonomous systems (RAS) can be integrated into and controlled from crewed command vehicles, in a UK first. Drawing on lessons from Ukraine’s battlefields, this innovative use of RAS will play a vital role in strengthening the Army’s reconnaissance capabilities while reducing risk to personnel, allowing them to operate further from the frontline. The live trial took place on Salisbury Plain with a drone operated in tandem with two uncrewed ground vehicles, commanded by a single operator in a crewed vehicle. The autonomous systems were equipped with cameras and automatic target recognition software to detect and classify threats, which were relayed to the mission operator. Following recommendations set out in the Strategic Defence Review, this government is doubling investment in autonomous technology – investing an extra £2 bn this Parliament, following the Prime Minister’s historic uplift in defence spending to 2.5% of GDP from 2027. This will see autonomous systems, including drones, improve accuracy and lethality for our Armed Forces, boost UK export potential and drive jobs and growth across the country. Thales designed and developed the trial for Dstl, supported by a number of specialist technology suppliers. Dstl’s work supports thousands of highly skilled jobs across the UK supply chain, including 7,000 staff employed by Thales directly, supporting the government’s Plan for Change. Following the success of the trial, Dstl will apply the concept to further missions, including deploying swarming drones in an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance role.
Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Rt Hon Maria Eagle MP said: “As set out in the Strategic Defence Review, we plan to use drones, data and digital warfare to ensure our Armed Forces stronger and safer, whilst boosting jobs and innovation across the UK. This trial is an example of our Government’s new partnership with industry; delivering the cutting-edge technology to our front line troops and making defence an engine for growth, as part of our Plan for Change. The trial demonstrated the extension of the UK’s Generic Vehicle Architecture standard – which has also been adopted by NATO – to autonomous systems. Through integration into an internationally recognised system, the trial could lead to enhanced interoperability between allies, with the ability to deploy autonomous systems, sensors or software between vehicles at reduced risk and cost.”
Dr Paul Hollinshead, Dstl’s Chief Executive, said: “Dstl identifies and harnesses the emerging technologies that will deliver mission success through science and technology advantage for UK forces. These technologies support highly skilled jobs and create opportunities for growth throughout our specialist industry suppliers.” (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)