unmanned systems Archives

Lt. Gen. Kevin D. Admiral, Commanding General of the III Armored Corps and Fort Hood, recognized, awarded and visited with Soldiers in the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade on Fort Hood Texas, Sept. 23, 2025. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Hayden Epperley)

Pentagon announces Trump nominee to lead U.S. Army Europe and Africa

Army Lt. Gen. Kevin Admiral, currently commanding general of III Armored Corps, has been picked to command USAREUR-AF.

6 hours ago By Jon Harper

Pentagon CTO Emil Michael speaks onstage alongside Rep. Ken Calvert and Rep. Betty McCollum at an APFIT event in the Cannon House Office Building on July 21, 2026. (DOD Photo)

Pentagon’s next APFIT round will prioritize tech that ‘can be made cheaply at scale’

Applications will soon open for the next round of DOD's Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies program.

2 days ago By Brandi Vincent

Spectators at Game of Drones observed small Unmanned Aircraft Systems testing and capabilities in various different situations during Game of Drones at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., July 16, 2026. GoD is a week-long event bringing together industry partners, military members, and engineers to conduct live experimentation of emerging sUAS and associated hardware. GoD amplifies the Department of War’s call upon both service and industry to rapidly accelerate testing, acquisition, and production of unmanned systems for the warfighter, referred to as Drone Dominance. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Airman Christian Rodriguez)

Pentagon adds ‘bombers’ to Drone Dominance Program

Officials issued a new request for solutions focused on “reusable bomber/dropper platforms.”

2 days ago By Jon Harper

Screenshot of AARO logo from opening slide of Jon Kosloski’s unclassified presentation at an open congressional hearing on Nov. 19, 2024.

Pentagon investigating mysterious UAP event reported by the Navy near Virginia’s coast

The department’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office released its latest, annual UAP caseload analysis this week.

3 days ago By Brandi Vincent

A JUMP 20-X is displayed prior to takeoff during a flight launch at Service Level Training Exercise 4-26 on Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California, July 16, 2026. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Alexis French)

Marine regiment tests AeroVironment’s JUMP 20-X system for the first time, but faces lack of Group 3 drone operators

The 2nd Marine Regiment relied on the system’s vendor to employ the drone because the unit lacked trained operators.

4 days ago By Drew F. Lawrence

U.S. Coast Guard Crew members assigned to Sentinel-class Fast Response Cutter USCGC Emlen Tunnell (WPC 1145) man their battle stations as the cutter prepares for a live-fire exercise while transiting the South China Sea, June 6, 2026. The Coast Guard Expeditionary Cutter Squadron is a deployable force of Fast Response Cutters with organic command, logistics and support capabilities, enabling sustained forward operations from partner nation locations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Dakota L. David)

Coast Guard issues RFI as it considers arming vessels with high-energy lasers

Primary “targets of interest” that the service might want to zap include aerial and maritime drones.

4 days ago By Jon Harper

Anduril unveils Thunder attack helicopter, a new loyal wingman drone

Anduril believes Thunder could serve as a loyal wingman platform for the Army's helicopter fleet, including the AH-64 Apache and the next-gen MV-75 Cheyenne II.

4 days ago By Mikayla Easley

A pilot assigned to the 1st Special Operations Wing flies an AC-130J Ghostrider during a live fire training mission near Hurlburt Field, Florida, Dec. 12, 2025. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Samantha Rossi)

Air commandos seek ‘SOF-peculiar’ attack drones with automatic target recognition capabilities

SOCOM's Program Executive Office-Fixed Wing is conducting market research for the loitering munition technology.

Jul 17, 2026 By Jon Harper

Screenshot from video released by Anduril depicting a missile shot from its YFQ-44A Collaborative Combat Aircraft.

Air Force reaches CCA milestone with live-firing of missile from Anduril’s robotic fighter jet

“We’re one step closer to delivering capabilities to the warfighter,” Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach said in a statement.

Jul 15, 2026 By Jon Harper

A target is hit by a first-person view small unmanned aircraft system strike during an FPV sUAS live fire demonstration at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Jan. 29, 2026. I Marine Expeditionary Force, in partnership with Defense Innovation Unit, evaluated fiber-optic drones for use in signal-degraded environments. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joshua Bustamante)

In its next chapter, DIU aims to reduce the military’s ‘cost per kill’

In an exclusive interview with DefenseScoop, Owen West shared new details about his vision to reshape DIU’s operational structure to fit its modern mission.

Jul 15, 2026 By Brandi Vincent