unmanned aerial systems Archives

Gen. Dagvin Anderson, commander of U.S. Africa Command, participates in a small unmanned aircraft system demonstration with U.S. soldiers from the 1st Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, at Rose Barracks, Vilseck, Germany, Sept. 1, 2026. As the pace of innovation accelerates and tactics continue to evolve, sAUS integration is becoming increasingly critical to adaptation on the modern battlefield by improving how units coordinate detection, tracking and response capabilities against emerging aerial threats. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Kenneth Tucceri, AFRICOM public affairs)

U.S. Africa Command wants tech innovation to offset troops’ shrinking ground presence

Lt. Col. Jared “CLiF” Bindl was recently appointed to serve as U.S. Africa Command’s first-ever chief innovation officer.

1 day ago By Brandi Vincent

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle shakes hands with Rear Adm. Melvin Smith, commander of Submarine Group Two (COMSUBGRU 2), at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Robotic and Autonomous Systems Warfighting Development Center on Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story in Norfolk, Virginia, Sept. 24, 2026. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class John Bellino)

Navy creates warfighting development center in Virginia to determine how the sea service will employ unmanned systems in future battles

The new organization will bring “operational coherence” to the service’s drone integration efforts, according to CNO Adm. Daryl Caudle.

5 days ago By Jon Harper

(Photo source: DIU social media post on X)

Pentagon unveils top performers in latest ‘Gauntlet’ for Drone Dominance Program

The department now plans to purchase a total of about 60,000 drones from those UAS vendors.

Sep 18, 2026 By Jon Harper

Gen. Christopher C. LaNeve, U.S. Army Vice Chief of Staff, delivers a presentation on strategic focus during the first day of the annual Maneuver Warfighter Conference, Sept. 15, 2026, in Marshall Auditorium at Fort Benning, Georgia. (U.S. Army photo by Joey Rhodes II)

LaNeve tells soldiers that decision to revert experimental drone unit back to infantry roots predated his tenure as acting Army chief

“Frankly that decision to move the battalion back into an infantry one was made a long time before, you know, really I was in the seat," LaNeve…

Sep 16, 2026 By Drew F. Lawrence

U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Allen Steele III, a light armored reconnaissance master gunner with LAR Company F, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marine Division, conduct a kinetic strike rehearsal during the Marine Corps Attack Drone Competition at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, Aug. 13, 2026. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joshua Barker)

Pentagon taps USNDA to head its ‘Top Drone’ competitions

Defense officials have touted competitions as a way to test new systems, share tactics across the force, identify talent and grow an institutional focus toward small drones…

Sep 16, 2026 By Drew F. Lawrence

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.

Sep 4, 2026 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…

Sep 4, 2026 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…

Sep 3, 2026 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