Drones & Air Force
News about military drones, UAVs, air force projects, and unmanned systems.
The Netherlands steps into the future: domestic drones for the next-generation air force (video)
On 16 October 2025, State Secretary Gijs Tuinman signed a letter of intent that makes the Netherlands part of the US Collaborative Combat Aircraft programme for ‘loyal wingman’ drones. Smaller ISR drones from General Atomics will also be built in the Netherlands by VDL Defentec.
‘Flying battery’ could dramatically extend drone flight time (video)
Researchers have developed a ‘flying battery’: a second drone that docks in mid-air and supplies power. In tests it extended a drone’s flight time by a factor of 4.7.
Allen Control Systems takes Bullfrog to sea: AI weapon station on unmanned attack boat (video)
Allen Control Systems is fitting its AI-driven Bullfrog weapon station to Red Cat’s Blue Ops Variant 7 unmanned boat, creating a mobile, sea-going defence against drones and explosive boats.
Textron’s Damocles selected by the US Army: compact attack drone for immediate use
The US Army has selected Textron’s Damocles, a compact loitering munition launched vertically from a tube on a tripod, to give small infantry units their own precision firepower.
Italy invests billions in sixth-generation fighter, surpassing its F-35 spending
Italy’s parliament has approved €8.8 billion for its share of the GCAP sixth-generation fighter programme with the UK and Japan, bringing Italy’s total investment to €18.6 billion — more than it spent on 90 F-35s.
General Atomics arms the MQ-9B with cruise missiles
General Atomics is integrating the JASSM, LRASM and Joint Strike Missile on the MQ-9B SkyGuardian and SeaGuardian, turning the long-endurance drone into a platform for long-range precision strikes.
American LUCAS drone found almost intact in Iraq after use against Iran (video)
An almost intact American LUCAS attack drone has been recovered in Iraq. The drone, reportedly used in US strikes on Iran, closely resembles Iran’s own Shahed-136.
Secret Israeli RA-01 drone filmed over Tehran (video)
Footage from Tehran shows what regional sources say is Israel’s secret RA-01 drone: a sleek, jet-powered aircraft flying at high altitude, probably with a stealth design.
America trains intensively with drones for tomorrow’s battlefield
The US Army has wrapped up its Best Drone Warfighter Competition, where soldiers were tested on speed, precision and tactical insight with small drones.
Russian Yolka interceptor drone appears in new aerial combat over Ukraine
Footage shows the Russian Yolka, a self-guided interceptor drone designed to bring down Ukrainian UAVs. A sign of how fast drone-versus-drone warfare is evolving.
Israel tests drone with machine gun: a new step in drone warfare
IAI and SIG Sauer are fitting the Apus 60 VTOL drone with an M250 light machine gun. The reusable armed drone is part of the Firestorm 250 concept.
Anka-3: Turkey shows its own stealth drone with cruise missiles and bombs
Turkey’s Anka-3 is a flying-wing stealth combat drone with internal weapons bays that can carry cruise missiles and precision bombs.
Germany starts mass production of HX-2 drones: 600 a month from new Helsing factory
Helsing’s second Resilience Factory in Germany now produces 600 HX-2 attack drones a month, for Ukraine and for the Bundeswehr.
America trains with a swarm of 1,000 drones: a new era on the battlefield (video)
Footage from Swarm Defense shows hundreds, possibly a thousand, drones launched from a pickup and flying as one coordinated swarm, controlled from a single device.
Taiwan puts American Altius-600 drones on trailers: a mobile swarm as a warning to China (China)
Taiwan has mounted its American Altius-600 loitering munitions on mobile trailers with four drones each, creating a dispersed, hard-to-find strike network against a possible Chinese attack.
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A figure seems to move above the water, yet every point of light flies under its own power. In a drone show, thousands of small aircraft must match position, colour and timing. EHang shows how a swarm becomes one moving image.
Robotics From Philips to Nvidia: the Dutch roots of the AI chip (video)
An AI chip with 208 billion transistors needs more than a clever design. Factories must be able to make all those tiny switches. That is where a familiar Dutch name appears: Philips helped both ASML and TSMC get started.
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Robotics Google boss Pichai praises what Elon Musk gets done (video)
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Robotics Human-shaped robot practises on a computer, then lands seven throws in a row (video)
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AI answers in front of your eye, on-screen translation and control through small finger movements. Here is how Meta Ray-Ban Display and its wristband work.