uas Archives

U.S. Air Force Airmen attach balloons to a drone during at Camp Guernsey Joint Training Center’s North Training Area, Wyoming, May 15, 2026. The balloons served as aerial targets, allowing defenders to simulate engagements against small unmanned aircraft systems. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Michael A. Richmond)

U.S. military to host directed energy ‘shoot-off’ amid governmentwide counter-drone push

Officials leading the Joint Interagency Task Force 401 shared new details about that pilot program and other updates on recent progress.

17 hours ago By Brandi Vincent

Army Staff Sgt. Kristopher Runyon, assigned to Joint Task Force-Southern Border, aims a Dronebuster Counter-Small Unmanned Aircraft System (C-sUAS) during a patrol along the Rio Grande River near Eagle Pass, Texas, June 14, 2025. (U.S. Army photo by Pvt. Adrianna Douglas)

Top Northcom general adds to drumbeat of warnings about weak drone defenses in the homeland

“We’re seeing it used on a daily basis around the world, and we’ve got to figure out how to mitigate that threat,” Army Lt. Gen. Joseph Jarrard…

Aug 14, 2026 By Drew F. Lawrence

Low-cost Unmanned Combat Attack System (LUCAS) drones positioned on the tarmac at a base in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. (Photo by CENTCOM Public Affairs).

Centcom creates first ‘multinational’ attack drone task force after months of war with Iran

While Adm. Brad Cooper touted the task force as a boon for regional security, Centcom declined to say whether any other countries had joined the unit, even…

Aug 13, 2026 By Drew F. Lawrence

Scouts with the 4th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, fly a Rogue 1 drone by Teledyne FLIR Defense during Project Convergence Capstone 6 at Fort Irwin, California, July 22, 2026. (DefenseScoop photo by Drew F. Lawrence).

More reach, more to carry, more to learn: How soldiers wrestled with drones in the Mojave Desert

Project Convergence Capstone 6 produced lessons that soldiers measured in capability, reliability, weight and the oppressive desert conditions that pervaded all of it.

Aug 11, 2026 By Drew F. Lawrence

A rendering of the Epirus HAVOC system. (Illustration courtesy of Epirus)

Marine Corps awards Epirus $11M for high-powered microwave program, company says

After Marine Corps testing, Epirus hopes the service will adopt HAVOC “more widespread” and has prepared its facilities for low-rate production amid business with the Army and…

Aug 10, 2026 By Drew F. Lawrence

U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (Jan. 26, 2026) A mine-resistant ambush protected (MRAP) vehicle equipped with a mobile-low, slow, small-unmanned aircraft integrated defeat system (M-LIDS) launcher fires a counter-unmanned aerial system at a fixed wing target during a training exercise in Bahrain. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Iain Page)

Army seeks next-gen missile that could shoot down small drones for less than $150K a pop

The service issued an RFI on Aug. 4 to support the initiative.

Aug 4, 2026 By Jon Harper

U.S. service members and civilian contractors with CACI work at the operations center during the SkyValor Operational Demonstration at Cannon Air Defense Complex in Yuma, Arizona, May 13, 2026. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Sarah E. Foster)

Pentagon’s counter-drone task force inks $500M contract for SkyValor ‘detect and defeat’ system after border testing

The system will be deployed to “critical,” but unspecified sites, including as part of an initial task order for the Pentagon’s Domestic Shield initiative.

Jul 31, 2026 By Drew F. Lawrence

Illustration of Mayhem 10 drones. (Image courtesy of AV)

AV and Applied Intuition team up to bring collaborative autonomy to new Mayhem 10 drone

“Our Acuity ISR/Strike software brings collaborative autonomy to Mayhem 10, rapidly delivering next-generation capabilities through platform-agnostic software with operator oversight,” said Jason Brown, general manager of Applied…

Jul 29, 2026 By Drew F. Lawrence

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Brien Disbro, a crew chief assigned to the174th Attack Wing, performs post-flight maintenance on an MQ-9 Reaper on Mar. 10, 2025 at Springfield-Beckley Air National Guard Base in Springfield, Ohio. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Shane Hughes)

Air Force to begin concept refinement of MQ-9 replacement by end of year

The Air Force will select multiple vendors to conduct early analysis to help the service shape its requirements and cost for the Massed Modular Aircraft program.

Jul 28, 2026 By Mikayla Easley

A Boeing Defence Australia’s MQ-28 Ghost Bat, a production representative test aircraft, performs a flyover during Exercise Valiant Shield 2026 over Rota, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, June 25, 2026. (U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Adrien Tran)

After Valiant Shield exercise, PACAF commander says he’s ‘impressed’ with Australia’s Ghost Bat drone program

The MQ-28 Ghost Bat drone recently flew with manned fighter aircraft during a recent multinational exercise in the Pacific.

Jul 27, 2026 By Jon Harper