Unmanned Unleashed

Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks begins her keynote speech Sept. 6, 2023, at the Defense News Conference in Pentagon City.

Replicator drone program needs no new money, Hicks says

“We’re not creating new bureaucracy, and we will not be asking for new money in [fiscal 20]24,” the deputy defense secretary says.

This undated photograph released by the Ukrainian military's Strategic Communications Directorate shows the wreckage of what Kyiv has described as an Iranian Shahed drone downed near Kupiansk, Ukraine.

How to help Kyiv go on a drone offensive

Russia and Iran are planning to build a factory within Russia to produce thousands of Shahed-136 drones.

China spy balloon moving east over US, Pentagon says

China claims balloon is weather research “airship” that blew off course.

Congress pushes DoD to rule on Gray Eagle drone delivery to Ukraine

Lawmakers are pushing Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to accelerate a review on transferring Gray Eagle drones to Ukraine.

Teledyne wins Pentagon order for hundreds of bomb disposal robots

The U.S. Armed Services placed an order for 500 robots from Teledyne FLIR Defense.

Germany shelves new anti-missile weapon and turns to drone defense

The announcement comes after months of studying options between the costly TLVS platform, aimed at destroying sophisticated missiles and aircraft, and cheaper weapons for intercepting enemy drones.

By Sebastian Sprenger

The US Navy is spending millions plotting the drone-enabled fleet of 2045

The fleet of the future will be enabled by unmanned technology, and an ongoing study is researching how the Navy can achieve it.

By David B. Larter

British Defence Ministry reveals why a drone program now costs $427M extra

The British Defence Ministry’s top civilian has identified in a letter to lawmakers the main reason why a drone acquisition program has experienced a near 40 percent hike in costs.

By Andrew Chuter

Australia commits to Triton in $5 billion deal

The first aircraft will be delivered in 2023 and the last in 2025.

By Nigel Pittaway

For the Army, a 3-D printed drone is nice. A customized, 3-D printed drone is better.

Army researchers are fine-tuning a 3D-printed drone after discovering potential end users wanted specific features.

By Adam Stone

Before drones sold to Jordan and UAE, safeguards needed [Commentary]

Members of Congress are pushing for drone sales to Jordan and the UAE.

By Rachel Stohl and Dan Mahanty

Army poised to transform ground robotics industry

The Army is poised to transform the ground robotics industry over the next year as it launches several competitions to define its future unmanned ground systems fleet.

By Jen Judson

From the sponsor: The progress and challenges in RPA pilot training

The need for training pilots on unmanned platforms is on a clear upswing, right along with the number of missions that demand support from remotely piloted aircraft. Robert Kiebler, director of international business development at CAE, has witnessed the incredible uptick.

By Jill Aitoro

The latest drone pilot challenge: Training with manned aircraft for combat missions

RPA pilots go straight from training into combat missions, often with limited live flying experience with manned platforms.

By Jill Aitoro

DoD weapons designer: Swarming teams of drones will dominate future wars

The head of the Strategic Capabilities Office says teaming will be vital.

By Aaron Mehta

Elbit offers multimission, unmanned naval robot

Seagull is fully autonomous and is controlled via line of sight or satellite communications data links for operations at unlimited ranges, according to an Elbit executive.

By Barbara Opall-Rome

Marine exercise takes aim at emerging technologies

An April exercise involving the Marine Corps and Navy will focus on identifying new technologies for future contested environments.

By Mark Pomerleau

Interview: Col. Ross Anderson talks reserve RPA pilots and why they 'don't stand alone'

Col. Ross Anderson, the commander of the 926th Wing, spoke to Defense News about the reserves' role in the remotely piloted aircraft enterprise.

By Valerie Insinna

In the fight against ISIS, Predators and Reapers prove close-air support bona-fides

The MQ-1 and MQ-9 squadrons from Creech AFB dropped more than 1,500 weapons on the Islamic State last year.

By Valerie Insinna

“We’re not creating new bureaucracy, and we will not be asking for new money in [fiscal 20]24,” the deputy defense secretary says.

Russia and Iran are planning to build a factory within Russia to produce thousands of Shahed-136 drones.

China claims balloon is weather research “airship” that blew off course.

Lawmakers are pushing Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to accelerate a review on transferring Gray Eagle drones to Ukraine.

The U.S. Armed Services placed an order for 500 robots from Teledyne FLIR Defense.

More Stories

The announcement comes after months of studying options between the costly TLVS platform, aimed at destroying sophisticated missiles and aircraft, and cheaper weapons for intercepting enemy drones.

The fleet of the future will be enabled by unmanned technology, and an ongoing study is researching how the Navy can achieve it.

The British Defence Ministry’s top civilian has identified in a letter to lawmakers the main reason why a drone acquisition program has experienced a near 40 percent hike in costs.

The first aircraft will be delivered in 2023 and the last in 2025.

Army researchers are fine-tuning a 3D-printed drone after discovering potential end users wanted specific features.

Members of Congress are pushing for drone sales to Jordan and the UAE.

The Army is poised to transform the ground robotics industry over the next year as it launches several competitions to define its future unmanned ground systems fleet.

The need for training pilots on unmanned platforms is on a clear upswing, right along with the number of missions that demand support from remotely piloted aircraft. Robert Kiebler, director of international business development at CAE, has witnessed the incredible uptick.

RPA pilots go straight from training into combat missions, often with limited live flying experience with manned platforms.

The head of the Strategic Capabilities Office says teaming will be vital.

Seagull is fully autonomous and is controlled via line of sight or satellite communications data links for operations at unlimited ranges, according to an Elbit executive.

An April exercise involving the Marine Corps and Navy will focus on identifying new technologies for future contested environments.

Col. Ross Anderson, the commander of the 926th Wing, spoke to Defense News about the reserves' role in the remotely piloted aircraft enterprise.

The MQ-1 and MQ-9 squadrons from Creech AFB dropped more than 1,500 weapons on the Islamic State last year.

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