Unmanned Systems

US Southern Command stands up autonomous unit

Once fully operational, the new command will be tasked with engaging autonomous, semi-autonomous and unmanned platforms to “counter threats across domains.

5 months ago

Turkey’s Baykar tests swarm behavior of its K2 one-way attack drone

Baykar has marketed the K2 as a relatively inexpensive strike option for military forces, with unit cost low enough to permit large-scale fielding.

6 months ago

Europe

Finland seeks demining robots amid exploding focus on combat robotics

Manufacturers of unmanned ground vehicles have seen new contracts mushroom within and outside of Europe.

Opinion

America’s future advantage depends on quick adoption of advanced tech

The U.S. military must learn from Ukraine and accelerate its adoption of advanced AI and robotics, former Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper argues.

2 years ago

The U.S. Army is buying hundreds of Coyote counter-drone systems in a deal worth $75 million.

US Army’s next budget invests heavily in drones and electronic warfare

The Army plans to ask for more agile funding for drones, counter-drone and electronic warfare capabilities in its FY26 budget.

2 years ago

How the Marine Corps is testing a ‘narco-boat’ for resupply efforts

The semisubmersible unmanned vessel can deliver two Naval Strike Missiles for the Corps’ anti-ship missile system.

2 years ago

Aircraft carrier Bush gets first-ever Stingray drone control room

The carrier George H.W. Bush is now the host of an unmanned air warfare center, and more carriers are getting it soon.

2 years ago

UK launches global MQ-9B drone users’ club for allies

The drone program is growing rapidly, as it initially included six nations and now comprises ten.

2 years ago

A West Coast-based naval special warfare operator fires a Switchblade 300 Lethal Miniature Aerial Munition System during a training exercise.

Australia takes aim with US-made loitering munitions

AeroVironment's Switchblade 300 has a 3.69-pound (1.68 kg) warhead and 19-mile (30 km) range in its latest Block 20 variant.

2 years ago

Germany to help procure drones for Ukraine, Pistorius says

The country will present a plan for NATO to buy drones “from German industry” on behalf of the Ukrainian armed forces, Pistorius said.

2 years ago

Ukraine industry chief sees bumper year for land-based drones

Kyiv's head of strategic industries said that the push for ground robotics was part of a bigger bet on "defense tech."

2 years ago

NATO tests counter-drone playbook amid real-life jamming in Romania

Alliance officials encountered enemy GPS spoofing and jamming at an exercise site on the Black Sea shore.

2 years ago

Italy seizes Chinese military drones heading to Libya, authorities say

The drones were reportedly heading for Benghazi under orders from Gen. Khalifa Hifter, the military strongman controlling eastern Libya.

2 years ago

Drone crew conducts first all-Marine satellite comms launch, recovery

The capability allows Marine drones to fly farther for distributed operations.

2 years ago

Boeing’s aircraft woes drive drone focus at Leonardo facility

Leonardo had told unions in Rome that the plant at Grottaglie would need to shut down for four months.

2 years ago

European gun makers trial small arms as drone stoppers

Makers of shotguns and machine guns are finding new ways to target unmanned aerial vehicles on the cheap.

2 years ago

Chinese military’s rifle-toting robot dogs raise concerns in Congress

Lawmakers want U.S. military officials to examine the threat posed by new Chinese robot dogs armed with rifles.

2 years ago

Ground robots hauling drones into battle is a trend at Paris arms fair

Teledyne Flir and Rheinmetall have proposed combos of robots on land and in the air.

2 years ago

Robot craze in Russia-Ukraine war shines light on their drawbacks

Experts say the deployment of unmanned ground vehicles in combat remains a costly affair in terms of labor and their vulnerabilities.

2 years ago

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