Aviation News Daily reports Airbus Helicopters has “commenced operational maritime surveillance missions” using its U030 Flexrotor uncrewed aerial system on behalf of the European Maritime Safety Agency. The long-endurance VTOL aircraft operates from naval patrol vessels, providing real-time intelligence to national coast guards and border authorities.
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Tag: Drone
Elroy Air Demonstrates Autonomous VTOL Cargo Delivery for U.S. Army
Aviation News Daily reports, “Elroy Air has successfully demonstrated three new unattended delivery modes for its Chaparral autonomous hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft during flight testing for the U.S. Army. The milestone shows how heavy-cargo drones can supply troops in contested environments without requiring landing infrastructure or ground personnel.”
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Lockheed Martin’s Nomad 100 VTOL Drone Completes First Flight Tests
Sikorsky’s Nomad 100 has completed initial flight tests as Lockheed advances its DARPA-backed autonomous VTOL drone.
Full Story (Aerospace Global News)
Navy Clears MQ-25 Stingray for Initial Production Phase
Defense One reports, “The Navy’s drone tanker, the MQ-25A Stingray, is cleared for low-rate initial production—just weeks after a production-ready model took its first flight. “MQ-25 reached Milestone C, which is huge because now we have inflight refueling that is unmanned…it’s a great capability,” Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao said at the end of an hourslong Senate Armed Services Committee hearing Tuesday.”
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Next-Gen Supersonic Platform Targets Evolving Missile and Drone Threats
The Defense Post reports, “SNC and Specter Aerospace are entering the high-speed arena with next-gen supersonic aerial effects, designed to counter hypersonic missiles and drone swarm threats. Company officials said the system will offer greater range than current alternatives, extending operational reach and enabling more effective mission execution.”
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ParaZero’s DefendAir Intercepts Drone Traveling 70 mph in Live Test
Unmanned Systems Technology reports, “ParaZero Technologies Ltd. has successfully intercepted a fast-moving drone traveling at 70mph during internal live testing of its DefendAir system. The trial utilized patented net-launching technology to achieve the first-ever successful net-based interception of an aerial threat at such high speeds for the company.”
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Prime Air Drone Falls in Residential Area During Texas Test Operations
Aerotime reports, “An Amazon Prime Air delivery drone made contact with an apartment building in Richardson, Texas, before breaking apart and crashing to the ground, according to local authorities and shown in video recorded by a nearby resident. The incident occurred on February 4, 2026, in a residential area where Amazon has been conducting limited drone delivery operations.”
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Marine Corps Unveils First NDAA-Approved 3D-Printed UAS
Defense News reports, “The U.S. Marine Corps has pioneered a 3D-printed first-person view drone that is easy to assemble, ready for field use and conforms to national security standards. Sgt. Henry David Volpe, an automotive technician with the 2nd Marine Logistics Group, used his interest in engineering and robotics to help develop HANX, the Marine Corps’ first unmanned aircraft system built from 3D-printed parts to be approved by the National Defense Authorization Act, service officials announced last month.”
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Mississippi State University Testing Aurora’s Tactical eVTOL Drone to Aid First Responders
Unmanned Systems Technology reports, “Researchers at Mississippi State University’s Raspet Flight Research Laboratory are flying Aurora Flight Sciences drone, SKIRON-X, as part of a project designed to assist first responders. The Raspet Flight Research Laboratory is leading a groundbreaking initiative to advance Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) for emergency response operations Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS). Aurora Flight Sciences, a Boeing company, provided its Group 2 UAS, SKIRON-X, as the project’s test platform.”
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AURA AERO Unveils French Alternative to Reaper Drone
Aerotime reports, “Toulouse-based aircraft manufacturer AURA AERO has unveiled ENBATA, a new “low-cost high-performance” MALE (Medium Altitude Long Endurance) drone, marking its formal entry into the defense sector. The news was first reported by OpexNews in an exclusive interview with AURA AERO CEO and co-founder Jérémy Caussade.”
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