sUAS News
Podcast highlighting unmanned aviation platforms, subsystems, and applications across the drone and robotics ecosystem.

Primoco UAV to Deliver Unmanned Aircraft to the Spanish Civil Guard Guardia Civil
Primoco UAV SE secured a €4 million contract with Spain's Guardia Civil to supply its One 150 medium‑weight UAV, marking the company's first major 2026 deal. The order follows a record 2025 where Primoco delivered 42 aircraft worth CZK 1.06 billion. To meet growing demand, the firm is completing a new hangar and has applied for a production hall that will lift annual capacity to 300 units. The One 150’s long endurance and NATO‑standard certification make it a strategic asset for maritime and border surveillance.

Blue UAS List Evolves and NW Blue Is Positioned for American Drone Dominance
The Department of Defense transferred stewardship of the Blue UAS Cleared List from the Defense Innovation Unit to the Defense Contract Management Agency in 2026, turning the list into a scalable procurement marketplace. DCMA’s Special Programs Unmanned Systems‑Experimental Command now...

Purdue Polytechnic Selected for FAA’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Collegiate Training Initiative
Purdue Polytechnic’s Unmanned Aerial Systems program has been chosen for the FAA’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems‑Collegiate Training Initiative (UAS‑CTI). The selection validates the school’s safety‑focused curriculum and aligns its coursework with upcoming federal regulations. Students will receive hands‑on flight, maintenance, and...

UK Civil Aviation Authority Outlines Electronic Conspicuity Plans for Uncrewed and Crewed Aircraft
The UK Civil Aviation Authority released a Technical Concept of Operations detailing electronic conspicuity (EC) requirements for integrating BVLOS unmanned aircraft into shared airspace. Uncrewed systems must broadcast a 978 MHz ADS‑B signal and carry ADS‑B IN receivers, while crewed aircraft face...

Aviation Training and Operations Readiness Lead
Wing, Alphabet’s drone‑delivery arm, is hiring a remote Aviation Training & Operations Readiness Lead to steer its rapidly expanding flight‑operations program. The role will oversee training, operational evaluations, and the transition to Part 108‑compliant, highly automated deliveries across two continents. Reporting...

Textron System’ Damocles™ Loitering Munition Selected For U.S. Army Low Altitude Stalking & Strike Ordnance (LASSO) Contract
Textron Systems won a U.S. Army prototype contract to field its Damocles™ loitering munition under the Low Altitude Stalking & Strike Ordnance (LASSO) program. The system integrates a vertical take‑off and landing (VTOL) uncrewed aircraft with a GEN2 Explosively Formed...

Irish Startup Manna Becomes the Engine for Uber’s European Aerial Ambitions
Uber Technologies has teamed up with Irish drone startup Manna to launch Europe’s first aerial food‑delivery pilot in Ireland, integrating Manna’s autonomous quadcopter system with the Uber Eats platform. The drones can transport up to 4 kg, travel 50 mph and deliver...

DeltaQuad – Design / Creative Engineer
DeltaQuad, a pioneer in long‑range electric VTOL drones, is hiring a Design / Creative Engineer for its Resilience Department. The role focuses on designing, prototyping, and validating mechanical components that improve UAV reliability and field reparability, using advanced materials and...

Teledyne FLIR OEM Launches Lepton XDS at Mobile World Congress; A Compact Thermal‑Visible Camera Module Featuring Patented MSX Technology
Teledyne FLIR OEM unveiled the Lepton XDS at Mobile World Congress, a compact dual‑thermal‑and‑visible camera module that pairs a 160 × 120 radiometric Lepton 3.5 sensor with a five‑megapixel visible imager. The device embeds FLIR’s patented MSX technology, which overlays visible‑image edges onto thermal...

Speedbird Aero Secures Investment From iFood to Scale Drone Deliveries in Brazil
Speedbird Aero announced a strategic investment from Brazil’s leading food‑delivery platform iFood to accelerate drone delivery operations across the country. The partnership leverages Speedbird’s unique ANAC certification for BVLOS cargo flights, including two approved drone models, to expand services beyond...

Finnish Defence Forces to Procure Parrot ANAFI UKR Micro-UAV Systems to Strengthen ISR Capabilities
The Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command announced a €15 million purchase of Parrot ANAFI UKR micro‑UAV systems, with deliveries slated for early 2026. The contract builds on years of Finnish experience with Parrot’s ANAFI Thermal SE and ANAFI USA platforms, extending the force’s ISR...

Four Years That Changed Drones Forever
Four years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, drones have shifted from hobbyist tools to core combat assets. Ukrainian forces rapidly adapted FPV drones for reconnaissance, targeting and defense, compressing development cycles that normally take years into weeks. The conflict spurred...

Titan Dynamics Joins Department of War’s Drone Dominance Gauntlet I
Titan Dynamics Inc. has been named one of the top 25 firms to compete in Gauntlet I of the U.S. Department of War’s Drone Dominance Program, the first live‑testing phase for small unmanned aerial systems. The initiative evaluates performance, production readiness,...

Picogrid and Guardian RF Partner to Deliver Drone Defense for Space Launch Operations at Vandenberg Space Force Base
Picogrid and Guardian RF have secured a joint contract to protect Vandenberg Space Force Base from unauthorized drone activity. The deal integrates Guardian RF’s low‑SWaP Scout passive RF sensors with Picogrid’s Expeditionary Command and Control Nodes, creating a unified, real‑time...

GA-ASI and USAF Demonstrate Manned-Unmanned Teaming With F-22 and MQ-20 In Joint Autonomy Exercise
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and the U.S. Air Force completed a joint autonomy exercise at Edwards AFB, pairing an F‑22 Raptor with the MQ‑20 Avenger unmanned jet. The test used government‑reference autonomy software and a tactical data link to let...

Schiebel to Establish a UK Entity to Support Expanding Defense Opportunities
Schiebel announced the formation of a dedicated UK legal entity to capitalize on growing British defence opportunities. The move follows the successful deployment of its Peregrine rotary‑wing UAV with the Royal Navy, delivered in partnership with Thales UK. Schiebel also...

Stride Dynamics – Flight Test Engineer
Stride Dynamics, an early‑stage robotics startup in Rajkot, India, is hiring a Flight Test Engineer to build, configure, and rigorously test UAV systems. The role spans bench, simulation, and field testing, data analysis, and client demonstrations, requiring hands‑on experience with...

Robin Radar to Support Counter-UAS Operations at FIFA World Cup 2026
Robin Radar Systems announced that its IRIS plug‑and‑play radar will be deployed by U.S. Department of Homeland Security, state agencies and FEMA for counter‑UAS operations at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. The system offers 360‑degree, 12‑km detection,...

Myanmar Passenger Plane Struck in Alleged FPV Drone Attack at Myitkyina Airport
On 20 February 2026 an ATR‑72‑600 operated by Myanmar National Airlines was struck by an alleged first‑person‑view (FPV) drone while preparing for take‑off at Myitkyina Airport. The impact caused minor damage to the nose, mid‑body and tail, but no passengers or crew...

Altomaxx RPAS Specialist – UAS/RPAS Pilot (Calgary AB)
Altomaxx Technologies, a Canadian drone‑service leader, is hiring experienced UAS/RPAS pilots for its Calgary field‑operations team. The role supports oil‑and‑gas inspections, ground‑penetrating radar, bathymetry, and confined‑space surveys across domestic and international projects. Candidates must hold a Transport Canada RPAS Pilot...

Texas AG Ken Paxton Sues Anzu Robotics Over Alleged DJI Rebranding Scheme
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against Anzu Robotics, alleging the company sells rebranded DJI drones while concealing their Chinese origin and data‑security risks. The complaint claims Anzu acts as a passthrough to bypass federal and state bans...

Should Utilities Invest in Larger Scale, Larger UAS Operations? ….maybe
Utilities are moving beyond pilot‑scale drone programs to enterprise‑level unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) that can inspect transmission lines, manage vegetation, and support emergency response. The core question now is whether to invest in larger UAS—platforms over 55 lb that operate outside...

Governor Kelly Announces $3M to Develop Unmanned Aerial Systems Technology for Agricultural Research
Governor Laura Kelly announced a $3 million state grant to Kelly Hills Unmanned Systems for developing Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) unmanned aerial systems aimed at Kansas agriculture. The funding, approved during the 2025 legislative session, builds on the state’s...

Fly at Your Own Peril: The “Zombie” App Leading UK Pilots Into a National Security Trap
Altitude Angel’s Drone Assist, once the UK’s go‑to flight‑planning app, has become effectively abandoned after the company entered administration in late 2025 and its assets were sold to Spain’s Indra Group. The app’s maps no longer reflect the Ministry of...

UNIFY.C2 and Black River Systems Announce Strategic Partnership to Integrate Ninja™ C-UAS Capabilities Into Unified Airspace C2 Platform
UNIFY.C2 has partnered with Black River Systems to embed the Ninja™ counter‑UAS sensor suite into its real‑time fusion command‑and‑control platform. The integration creates a unified interface that detects, identifies, tracks and optionally mitigates rogue drones across defense, government, public‑safety and...

Ondas’ Sentrycs Secures German State Police Contract to Enhance Airspace Protection
Ondas’ subsidiary Sentrycs has delivered its protocol‑based counter‑drone system to a German State Police office, providing non‑disruptive mitigation for unauthorized UAVs. The deployment coincides with the upcoming launch of the man‑carried Sentrycs Scout at the Enforce Tac exhibition, expanding Ondas...

AALTO Targets Australia for Zephyr’s Next Operating Site, Launching Call to National Payload Industry
AALTO HAPS, an Airbus subsidiary, announced that northern Australia will host its second Zephyr launch and landing site, dubbed AALTOPORT, following the successful 67‑day stratospheric flight in 2025. The company is calling Australian payload developers to join bilateral talks at...

Former Sales Chief at Drone Giant DJI Detained in Bribery Investigation
Former DJI sales vice‑president Yuan was detained by Chinese authorities on suspicion of accepting large bribes. The investigation, reported by Jiemian News, alleges "huge amounts of illicit gains" during his 2019‑2024 tenure overseeing global sales. This follows DJI’s 2019 internal...

NAVAIR Issues RFI for Marine Corps Medium Range Tactical UAS
The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) issued a Sources‑Sought notice seeking a Medium‑Range Tactical (MRT) unmanned aircraft system for the U.S. Marine Corps. The RFI calls for a rugged, VTOL‑capable platform under 20 lb gross weight, with at least 2.5 hours endurance,...

Build with Ukraine: Wingcopter and TAF Industries Establish Joint Venture to Scale Production of Reconnaissance Drones in Germany for Ukraine
Wingcopter and Ukraine’s TAF Industries signed an MoU at the Munich Security Conference to create a joint venture that will produce reconnaissance drones in Germany for Ukraine. The partnership combines TAF’s licensed battlefield‑proven designs with Wingcopter’s manufacturing and engineering capabilities,...

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy Receives First Ukrainian Drone Manufactured in Germany by Quantum Frontline Industries
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy received the first Linza 3.0 drone manufactured in Germany by the newly formed Quantum Frontline Industries (QFI) joint venture. The handover, attended by German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, marked the opening of a production line that aims to deliver...

GA-ASI’s YFQ-42A Platform to Support Next-Generation Expeditionary Air Operations
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA‑ASI) was chosen by the U.S. Marine Corps to evaluate its YFQ‑42A surrogate under the MUX TACAIR Collaborative Combat Aircraft program. The contract adds a government‑supplied mission kit—sensor‑rich, software‑defined, capable of kinetic and non‑kinetic effects—to the platform...

GuRu Wireless, Uniquest and Arion Advance Persistent sUAS Capability for Korean Defense and National Security Applications
GuRu Wireless, Uniquest and Arion announced a joint effort to create a wireless‑power‑enabled small UAS that can sustain untethered ISR missions for South Korea’s defense forces. The partnership leverages GuRu’s 24 GHz RF Lensing™ phased‑array transmitter, Uniquest’s local integration expertise, and...

Unifly Launches Online SORA Training Series to Support Advanced Specific Category Drone Operations
Unifly, a leading UTM provider, has introduced a live, one‑day online training series on the Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA) 2.5 methodology. The program, delivered by Unifly Consulting, aims to help UAS professionals navigate advanced Specific Category drone operations and...

Teledyne FLIR OEM Expands Neutrino ISR Series with Longest-Range SX8 ISR 50-1000 Model
Teledyne FLIR OEM introduced the Neutrino SX8 ISR 50‑1000, the longest‑range model in its Neutrino ISR lineup, featuring a 20× continuous‑zoom lens and a cooled 1280 × 1024 MWIR sensor. The system delivers vehicle detection out to 34 km, recognition at 23.5 km, and identification at 20 km, while offering...

Farmers Can Learn How to Use Drone Spraying Technology Through K-State Salina Professional Training
Kansas State University Salina is launching a two‑day professional training program on aerial applications and regulations for uncrewed aircraft systems. The course, scheduled for March 9‑10 and May 28‑29, teaches farmers hands‑on drone setup, calibration, and both manual and automated spray missions....

DroneShield Appoints Michael Powell as Chief Operating Officer to Support Global Expansion and Operational Scale
DroneShield announced Michael Powell as its new Chief Operating Officer, bolstering leadership as the company scales globally. The appointment follows accelerated growth in Europe and the United States, driven by rising demand from defense, government, and critical‑infrastructure customers. Powell, who...

Drone Operator Charged With Violating Temporary Flight Restrictions In Area Surrounding Levi’s Stadium During NFL Game
A San Francisco resident, Junwei Guo, was charged federally for operating a drone inside a temporary flight restriction around Levi’s Stadium during the Nov. 9, 2025 NFL matchup between the 49ers and Rams. The FAA’s TFR prohibits all aircraft, including unmanned systems,...

Advanced Drone Course to Prepare Pilots for Operating on High-Risk Industry Sites
The Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) has launched a free Advanced Industrial Drone Operations Course for experienced pilots, targeting high‑risk sites such as refineries, nuclear facilities, and power infrastructure. Funded by the Swansea Bay City Deal Skills and Talent...

South African Fuel Cell Milestone Signals Momentum for Hydrogen Aviation
A South African‑developed membrane electrode assembly (MEA) has been independently validated inside a commercial aviation‑grade fuel‑cell stack for unmanned aircraft, matching or exceeding the performance of incumbent commercial membranes. The test, conducted in Europe, demonstrates that the technology can operate...

Amazon’s Delivery Dreams Grounded as Texas Drone Crash Sparks Fresh Safety Fears
Amazon’s Prime Air MK30 drone collided with a Richardson, Texas apartment building on February 4, 2026, sparking renewed safety concerns. The crash follows earlier mishaps in Arizona and Waco, highlighting potential flaws in the MK30’s LiDAR‑based navigation system. Critics argue...

Norway Drone ‘Threat’ Fails to Materialise as Spy Service Finds No Link to Foreign States
Norway’s Police Security Service (PST) concluded that none of the dozens of drone sightings reported in 2025 were linked to foreign intelligence agencies. Investigations revealed that most incidents were misidentified celestial bodies, weather phenomena, or conventional aircraft. The surge in...

Paladin Unveils Knighthawk 2.0: Advancing Public Safety Infrastructure and Emergency Response Worldwide
Paladin introduced Knighthawk 2.0, an autonomous NDAA‑compliant drone built on Drone‑as‑a‑First‑Responder (DFR) technology, aimed at modernizing public‑safety infrastructure worldwide. The platform reaches incident sites in 70 seconds, offers 40 minutes of flight time, and streams 4K video plus thermal imagery via unlimited‑range 5G/LTE...

Unusual Machines Promotes Drew Camden to President
Unusual Machines announced that Drew Camden has been promoted to President while retaining his Chief Operating Officer duties. Camden will continue overseeing manufacturing, supply chain, and operational execution as the company expands its U.S. production footprint. Under his leadership, the firm...

Innovative Drone Tech Start-Up to Reach New Heights at Space Park Leicester
DroneOD, a 2025‑founded start‑up, has joined the University of Leicester’s Space Park to develop a universal, secure IoT controller for drones. Its rugged GNSS‑enabled device offers real‑time tracking, geofencing, autonomous control and fleet analytics across all major drone platforms, and includes...

AutoFlight Unveils World’s First 5-Ton Class eVTOL Aircraft
AutoFlight unveiled Matrix, the world’s first 5‑ton class eVTOL, completing a public full‑transition flight. The aircraft features a 20‑meter wingspan, 5,700 kg maximum take‑off weight, and offers both pure‑electric (250 km range) and hybrid (1,500 km range) variants. The passenger version seats up...

Moog and Echodyne Announce Collaboration to Advance Weapon Systems for Global Defense
Moog Inc. and radar‑platform specialist Echodyne have signed a partnership to fuse Moog’s precision weapon‑system technology with Echodyne’s Metamaterial Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) radars. The joint effort will target integrated air‑and‑missile defense (IAMD), airfield safety and combat‑vehicle applications, accelerating hardware‑software...

The Lightning-Fast Reflexes of a Royal Navy Drone Pilot Prevented a £2.5m Aircraft Plunging Into the Ocean
Royal Navy drone pilot Lt Cdr Adrian “AJ” Hill earned the first Green Endorsement for a UAV operator after manually rescuing a £2.5 million Peregrine camcopter that suffered a computer error and began descending toward the Gulf of Oman. The 10‑foot surveillance drone...

AVSS Successfully Completes Avalanche Product Validation Testing in Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada
AVSS announced the completion of its first on‑mountain avalanche control test of the Precision Avalanche Management System (PAMS) in Jasper National Park, Alberta. The trial deployed SnowDart hardware and flight‑planning software to drop low‑cost, eco‑friendly explosives onto a designated avalanche...

AirX Signs Firm Order Agreement with Eve Air Mobility for Two eVTOL Aircraft
Eve Air Mobility has signed a second binding order with Tokyo‑based AirX for up to 50 eVTOL aircraft, with an initial delivery of two units slated for 2029 and an option for 48 more as demand grows. The agreement expands...