unmanned aerial systems Archives

Aerosonde Mk. 4.7 VTOL UAS (Image courtesy of Textron Systems)

Textron wins Navy task orders for drone ISR services to support 7th Fleet, other forces

Textron plans to provide its Aerosonde Mk. 4.7 vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) system for its efforts under the task orders.

4 days ago By Jon Harper

U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 147th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron perform postflight checks on an MQ-9 Reaper drone assigned to the 147th Attack Wing, Texas Air National Guard, at Keflavík Air Base, Iceland, during exercise Northern Viking 26, Aug. 21, 2026. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Edgar Grimaldo)

Air Force moves to accelerate effort to replace MQ-9 Reaper after combat losses in Iran war

“We want to bring this thing forward because of the fact that, although we have plenty of MQ-9As today, we are going through them at a rate…

4 days ago By Mikayla Easley

A U.S. Army drone observes a training unit in the woods during exercise Saber Junction 26 at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center’s Hohenfels Training Area, Germany, Aug. 29, 2026. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Brandon Miles)

Lawmakers with ‘deep concerns’ press Army leadership about decision to terminate unit’s Ukraine-informed drone mission

Following an exercise in Germany set to end this month, the battalion will stop its specialized drone mission and return to its core task as an airborne…

5 days ago By Drew F. Lawrence

Navy kicks off search for first increment of CCA drones

The Navy’s request for information outlines a carrier-capable CCA drone that can be demonstrated and certified within three years of an award.

Sep 1, 2026 By Mikayla Easley

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Christian Gillham, a mortarman and team leader with 3rd Littoral Combat Team, 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, flies a first-person view unmanned aircraft system for a long-range simulated strike during the Marine Corps Attack Drone Competition at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, Aug. 11, 2026. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joshua Barker)

Marine Corps bets on techy, but human-centric ground warfare for next 15 years

The service released a new strategic blueprint called Ground Combat Element 2040.

Aug 27, 2026 By Drew F. Lawrence

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.

Aug 21, 2026 By Brandi Vincent

Army Pfc. Eric Searcy, an electronic warfare specialist assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division, searches for electronic signals using a Terrestrial Layered System Manpack (TLS Manpack) during a field training exercise at Fort Stewart, Georgia, April 19, 2026. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Rakeem Carter)

Back from Ukraine support mission, Army signal officers say service still needs to shed old GWOT spectrum mindset

The officers recently served in advisory roles for the Security Assistance Group-Ukraine, a Germany-based, U.S.-led organization founded after Russia’s invasion in 2022 that oversees support for Kyiv.

Aug 19, 2026 By Drew F. Lawrence

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