sUAS News
Podcast highlighting unmanned aviation platforms, subsystems, and applications across the drone and robotics ecosystem.
Drone-Enabled Bird Management for Australian Horticulture
AERIUM Analytics and Hort Innovation have launched a three‑year, government‑backed project to develop drone‑based bird deterrence for high‑value horticultural crops in Eastern Australia. The initiative will field‑test both fixed‑wing and flapping‑wing drones, aiming to create a practical, scalable solution that integrates seamlessly into daily farm operations. By delivering a sustained predatory presence, the drones seek to reshape bird behaviour and reduce crop damage without harming wildlife. Funding comes from Hort Innovation Frontiers, with co‑investment from AERIUM and Australian government contributions.
Sensor Integration Challenges in Multi-Layered Defense Architectures
Multi‑layered defense architectures impose artificial boundaries that fragment the engagement timeline, introduce handoff latency, and force sub‑optimal resource allocation. Heterogeneous sensors—radar, EO/IR, RF, acoustic—have mismatched refresh rates, coordinate systems, and data formats, leading to data‑fusion conflicts, temporal misalignment, and transformation...
Europe’s First Drone Shot Down: A Line Crossed in Civil Airspace
A civilian in Nurmijärvi, Finland deliberately shot down a police‑operated drone during an armed‑suspect response, marking Europe’s first known incident of a drone being targeted in civil airspace. The drone was deployed to enhance officer safety and situational awareness. Police...
U-Space Implementation Handbook: Turning Early Experience Into Guidance
Europe has published the U‑space Implementation Handbook, a comprehensive guide that captures early deployment experience of the continent’s unmanned traffic management framework. Produced by the U‑ELCOME project and co‑funded by CINEA, the handbook consolidates 70 lessons learned, six technical appendices,...
Blue UAS for First Responders
First responders are increasingly adopting small unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for search‑and‑rescue, firefighting, and post‑incident analysis. The Department of Defense’s Blue UAS Cleared List now offers a vetted catalog of compliant drones, simplifying acquisition for public‑safety agencies. The SAVER AEL...
Remote Controlled Police Drones Keeping Coventry Safe
Police drones controlled from Birmingham are now operating over Coventry as part of the "Drone as First Responder" initiative, a five‑year national project funded by the Home Office via the NPCC. The drones launch from automated charging stations on a...
Quantum Systems’ Vector Recognized by Ukrainian Armed Forces with “Army of Drones 2025” Award
Quantum Systems’ Vector UAV secured third place in the Army of Drones 2025 ISR competition, a ranking driven by Ukrainian frontline units through the BRAVE1 Marketplace. The award follows the company’s August 2025 entry into the marketplace and reflects direct procurement of...
Optimizing Railway Infrastructure for Mining Using High-Resolution Drone LiDAR Survey Data
High‑resolution drone LiDAR surveys are reshaping railway infrastructure planning for mining projects. In the Northern Cape manganese mine, the dense point‑cloud enabled engineers to pinpoint track positions, elevations, and surrounding obstacles with centimeter accuracy. The rapid, safe data capture reduced...
Skylift UAV Delivers UK Aviation First with Landmark BVLOS Drone Trials in the Solent
Skylift UAV completed the United Kingdom’s first coordinated BVLOS drone operations across the congested Solent waterway, operating under a CAA‑approved Airspace Change Proposal. The June‑July 2025 trials, run from Fort Cumberland, involved multiple aircraft delivering medical supplies to the Isle...
XTI Aerospace to Host Town Hall Highlighting Strategic Inflection Point Following the Drone Nerds Acquisition
XTI Aerospace (Nasdaq:XTIA) will hold an investor town hall on February 5, 2026 at 4:30 PM EST to outline its post‑acquisition strategy after buying Drone Nerds in November 2025. Management will detail how Drone Nerds’ UAS platform and customer base give XTI clearer revenue visibility...
Scanifly and IronRidge Integrate Drone-Based PV Design with Racking Layouts
Scanifly has launched a direct API integration with IronRidge, linking its drone‑derived PV layout data to IronRidge’s Design Assistant. The connection automatically transfers panel placements into the racking and bill‑of‑materials (BOM) workflow, removing the need for manual data entry. Contractors...
Vegvisir Selected by DOK-ING to Integrate Immersive Interface Into Unmanned Systems
Vegvisir has been chosen as the winning bidder in a Croatian public tender to integrate its immersive interface solutions with DOK‑ING’s unmanned ground vehicles. The partnership will embed Vegvisir Remote and the Vegvisir Virtual Command Station into DOK‑ING’s robotic platforms,...
US Aviation Authorities Issue ‘National Security’ Warning over Drone Flights Near Sensitive Sites
The FAA issued a sweeping advisory (FDC 6/4375) that bans unmanned aircraft from flying within 3,000 ft laterally and 1,000 ft vertically of designated national‑security sites, including both fixed facilities and mobile assets such as Coast Guard vessels and military convoys. The notice...
Tekever – UAS Remote Pilot
Tekever, a European leader in unmanned technology, is hiring a Remote Pilot to support its surveillance‑as‑a‑service missions across maritime, defence, space and cyber domains. The role involves flight monitoring, safety compliance, operator training and frequent travel to customer sites in...
Introducing V-Line Pro for DJI M400
sUAS News announced V‑Line Pro, a tethered system for the DJI M400 that draws power from the ground, dramatically extending flight time and enabling continuous payload operation. The solution is officially DJI‑approved and part of the DJI Ecosystem Partner program,...
Scaling the China-Free Supply Chain: 2,500 NDAA WÅSP Drones to Be Built in Pennsylvania
Rift Dynamics announced a contract for 2,500 WÅSP One‑Way Attack drones from American Robotics/Ondas, to be manufactured on a new Pennsylvania line with Kitron Group USA. The drones are fully compatible with Nammo AS warheads, a capability co‑developed with the Norwegian...
Airspace Link Releases New Drone Alert System Ahead of 2026 World Cup
Airspace Link has launched Alert Areas within its AirHub portal, letting users define 3‑D airspace volumes and receive instant notifications when a drone enters them. The sensor‑agnostic system pulls live telemetry from any integrated detector, delivering real‑time alerts via app...
EASA and DJI Collaborate to Improve Awareness of Safe and Legal Drone Operations
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has partnered with DJI to tighten geo‑awareness compliance across Europe. Starting January 2026, DJI’s drones will draw exclusively from official UAS Geographical Zone (UGZ) data published by national aviation authorities, replacing its legacy Fly...
IdeaForge Indigenous Defence Tactical UAV ‘ZOLT’ to Be Showcased at India’s 77th Republic Day Parade
India's indigenous UAV maker ideaForge will display its tactical drone ZOLT at the 77th Republic Day Parade, highlighting the country's push for homegrown defence solutions. ZOLT is a multi‑role, VTOL‑capable platform built for long‑range ISR and precision payload delivery in...
NMITE And The British Army Unveil Detail Of The New Undergraduate Degree In Autonomous Robotics
NMITE, in partnership with the British Army, announced a new MEng (Hons) Integrated Engineering degree focused on Autonomous Robotics, set to admit its first cohort in September 2026. The three‑year programme compresses a traditional four‑year master’s timeline and emphasizes hands‑on...
Event 38 Delivers E455 Systems to Florida State Guard for Emergency Response Support
Event 38 Unmanned Systems has delivered its E455 fixed‑wing VTOL drone systems and mission payloads to the Florida State Guard (FSG). The drones will support training, evaluation, and operational readiness for emergency response, disaster relief, and public safety missions across...
Sphere Calls for Rapid, Scalable Deployment of Autonomous Drone Surveillance to Protect NSW Beachgoers
Sphere, an Australian commercial drone firm, is urging the NSW Government to fast‑track a coast‑wide autonomous drone surveillance program to mitigate shark risk after a spate of recent attacks. The company proposes its HubX and HubT "drone‑in‑a‑box" systems, which launch,...
Zero-Trust UTM: TII, VentureOne, and High Lander Join Forces at UMEX to Forge New Airspace Security Standards in the UAE
High Lander Aviation, Abu Dhabi’s Technology Innovation Institute (TII) and venture builder VentureOne announced a strategic collaboration at UMEX 2026 to develop national‑level zero‑trust security standards for unmanned traffic management (UTM) in the UAE. The partnership will focus on end‑to‑end security...
NARMA Strengthens U.S. Presence Amid FCC Covered List Expansion
NARMA is reinforcing its U.S. market strategy after the FCC added more foreign‑produced UAS to its Covered List. The company is advancing through the AUVSI Green UAS Cleared program, targeting cybersecurity, data handling, and supply‑chain validation, which will qualify its...
GA-ASI Breaks Ground on a New Hangar in El Mirage
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems broke ground on a new 85,000‑square‑foot hangar at its El Mirage Airfield on Jan 14. The facility will house testing of the MQ‑9B SkyGuardian/SeaGuardian remotely piloted aircraft and accommodate up to a dozen certifiable ground control stations....
GA-ASI Makes Another Autonomous Aerial Intercept in Company-Funded Demo with MQ-20 Avenger(r)
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA‑ASI) demonstrated its MQ‑20 Avenger executing a fully autonomous aerial intercept using government‑reference autonomy software. The jet employed an Anduril infrared search‑and‑track sensor to locate, track, and compute a simulated kill‑shot against a manned aggressor without...
Parrot – Programs Coordinator NORTH AMERICA (F/M)
Parrot, a global leader in professional drone solutions, is hiring a Programs Coordinator for North America. The role bridges customer success, technical enablement, and programme delivery, guiding high‑value defence, law‑enforcement and enterprise clients through onboarding, deployment, training and ongoing operations....
Manna Software Engineer Airspace
Manna, a fast‑growing drone‑delivery startup, is hiring a Software Engineer for its Airspace team to build the core backend that powers routing, deconfliction, and real‑time airspace management. The role involves designing, implementing, and operating services in Java, C++, and Python,...
Proteus Completes Maiden Flight
Leonardo’s Proteus, the UK’s first fully autonomous full‑size helicopter, completed its maiden flight from Predannack airfield in Cornwall. The flight validates a £60 million programme aimed at integrating uncrewed rotorcraft into the Royal Navy’s “hybrid air wing” for anti‑submarine and maritime...
GeoCue Partners with Coptrz to Expand TrueView LiDAR Across the UK Drone Market
GeoCue announced a distribution partnership with Coptrz, the UK’s leading commercial drone expert, to bring its TrueView LiDAR sensor lineup and LP360 processing software to British surveyors and engineers. The collaboration gives Coptrz access to the full range of GeoCue...
Shearwater Aerospace Joins DARPA’s Albatross Program to Advance Autonomous Soaring for UAVs
Shearwater Aerospace has been selected as a subcontractor for DARPA’s Albatross program, which aims to enable UAVs to harness atmospheric energy through weather‑informed mission planning and real‑time wind sensing. Shearwater will contribute its Smart Flight™ system, an AI‑driven micro‑weather forecasting...
Drone Industry Noise
The drone sector is being flooded with advice from consultants who lack hands‑on flight experience, creating a wave of misinformation. Rapid hardware changes, evolving regulations, and real‑world operational constraints are often ignored, leading to unrealistic project promises and inflated funding...
Hydrogen-Powered Hybrid Raybird UAV Completes Combat Missions in Ukraine
Skyeton’s hybrid Raybird UAV, powered by a hydrogen fuel‑cell electric motor, entered full‑scale combat missions with Ukrainian forces in December 2025. The redesign distributes weight for the hydrogen system while preserving the platform’s long‑range reconnaissance role. The hybrid version offers roughly...
Unifly Concludes Contribution to FAA ASSURE A68 Project on Detect-and-Avoid Well-Clear Requirements
Unifly has completed its contribution to the FAA‑sponsored ASSURE A68 research project, which aims to validate detect‑and‑avoid (DAA) well‑clear requirements for small unmanned aircraft systems. The company supplied UTM services that integrated ADS‑B, radar, cellular telemetry and Remote Identification data...
Meteomatics Brings Drone Data to NOAA’s National Weather Service
Meteomatics announced a partnership with NOAA’s National Mesonet Program to deliver operational drone‑collected weather data to the National Weather Service. Its autonomous Meteodrones will gather vertical profiles of temperature, humidity and wind between 50 and 20,000 feet, a layer where...
Kraus Hamdani Aerospace Is Redefining What’s Possible for Endurance Flights at the Pendleton Range
Kraus Hamdani Aerospace (KHA) successfully completed an 18‑km cross‑country electric UAS flight at the Pendleton UAS Range, launching from one site and recovering at another while using a relay‑extended mesh network for continuous control. The mission validated point‑to‑point endurance operations...
Virtual Surveyor Adds Local Coordinate System Functionality in Latest Release of Smart Drone Surveying Software
Virtual Surveyor’s 10.2 release introduces Local Coordinate System functionality, letting users project GPS‑based drone imagery and LiDAR directly into custom site‑specific reference frames without third‑party tools. The update also expands supported world coordinate systems (EPSG, MRWA, Landgate, ESRI) and adds...
Department of Homeland Security Launches New Office to Advance Drone and Counter-Drone Technologies
The Department of Homeland Security announced a new Program Executive Office for Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Counter‑Unmanned Aircraft Systems to accelerate acquisition of drone and counter‑drone technologies. The office is earmarking $115 million for immediate counter‑drone deployments ahead of the United...
Battle Creek Unlimited Selects ResilienX for MICH-AIR Beyond Visual Line of Sight System
Battle Creek Unlimited has chosen ResilienX to build a ground‑based sense‑and‑avoid system that will enable routine beyond‑visual‑line‑of‑sight (BVLOS) operations for the MICH‑AIR advanced air mobility hub at Battle Creek Executive Airport. The integrated physical‑digital environment will support public safety, infrastructure...
Hirth Engines and ePropelled Announce Strategic Collaboration to Advance High‑Efficiency Propulsion Systems
Hirth Engines and ePropelled have announced a strategic partnership to create hybrid propulsion systems that blend Hirth’s two‑stroke engines with ePropelled’s intelligent electric power‑management technology. The collaboration targets UAVs, advanced air‑mobility, defence, and specialized mobility markets, promising higher fuel efficiency,...
Second Front Systems and StirlingX Partner to Support UK Government with Secure, Sovereign Drone Deployments
Second Front Systems (2F) has partnered with UK drone specialist StirlingX to deliver sovereign, high‑assurance drone capabilities to the Ministry of Defence, national security agencies, and critical national infrastructure operators. The collaboration uses 2F’s Game Warden secure software deployment platform...
Germany Buys Eight MQ-9B SeaGuardian(r) RPA Through NSPA
Germany’s Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In‑Service Support, together with the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA), has signed a contract to acquire eight MQ‑9B SeaGuardian remotely piloted aircraft, plus four certifiable ground control stations, with first...
Omnisys Introduces the Next Step in BRO™ C‑UAS Counter‑Drone Mission Planning and Threat Mitigation
Omnisys has launched the next‑generation BRO™ CUAS platform, an AI‑driven digital‑twin mission‑planning tool that shifts counter‑drone defense from reactive interception to proactive prevention. The system creates physics‑accurate battlefield models to reveal low‑altitude approach corridors, coverage gaps, and sensor/effectors’ detection envelopes,...
Parry Labs Advances Modular Mission Systems in AV’s P550™ for Army LRR Program
Parry Labs has teamed with AeroVironment to embed its Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA)‑aligned mission computing into the P550 uncrewed aircraft system for the U.S. Army’s Long‑Range Reconnaissance (LRR) program. The partnership leverages Parry’s STRATIA® platform, Model‑Based Systems Engineering expertise,...
Keeping the Warfighter Safer: How Textron Systems’ New Integration Expands UAS Capability
Textron Systems has integrated a low‑size, weight, and power (SWaP) LEO beyond‑line‑of‑sight (BLOS) transceiver into its Aerosonde unmanned aircraft system. The new module enables proliferated LEO (pLEO) SATCOM, allowing the drone to operate beyond traditional line‑of‑sight constraints. This expands mission...
Trump’s Transportation Secretary Duffy & FAA Administrator Bedford Announce Two New Designated Sites for Testing Drones and Other Unmanned Aircraft...
U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford announced two new unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) test sites in the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, the first additions in nearly a decade....
Barq Group Signs Initial Agreement with Elroy Air to Set Up $200M Joint Venture for Chaparral Manufacturing and Services in...
Barq Group and U.S. drone maker Elroy Air signed an initial agreement to launch a $200 million joint venture that will build a manufacturing plant in Abu Dhabi for the Chaparral autonomous VTOL cargo aircraft. The facility will begin local production...
Maren-Go Autonomy Engineer
Maren‑go Solutions Corp, based in Vancouver, WA, is hiring an Autonomy Engineer to own critical functions of its autonomous airfield operating system. The role will define operational design domains, build testing pipelines, and lead field validation for defense‑grade robotics deployments....
Australian Tech Firm CubePilot Secures Long-Term Role in US Drone Supply Chain
Australian firm CubePilot has secured a long‑term exemption from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission’s national‑security covered lists, confirming its flight controllers and navigation modules as trusted hardware through 2027. The exemption solidifies CubePilot’s presence on the Pentagon’s Blue UAS list,...
Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Announces Exemption of Certain Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) and UAS Critical Components From FCC...
The FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau announced that, following a Department of War (DoW) determination, certain uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) and critical components are removed from the Covered List. The exemption applies to UAS and components on the...