Rotor Technologies, Inc. (Rotor), a developer of autonomous vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft, has completed the first autonomous helicopter flight campaign of a full-scale civilian helicopter. Continue reading
Category Archives: Applications & Testing & Experience
Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie Completes U.S Marine Corps Test Flight
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. has announced that the Marine Corps XQ-58A Valkyrie, a highly autonomous, low-cost tactical unmanned air vehicle successfully completed its first test flight October 3, 2023, at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. Kratos partnered with the Marine Corps, the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD (R&E)), the Naval Air Systems Command and Naval Warfare Center Aircraft Division to facilitate the ongoing research, development, test and evaluation of the Marine Corps XQ-58A Valkyrie. Continue reading
Turkish UGV Test-Fires Kamikaze Drones
Turkey’s Havelsan Barkan 2 UGV demonstrated launching reconnaissance, surveillance, and kamikaze munitions on October 12. Continue reading
BAE System Australia’s Long-Range Drone STRIX Passes Critical Design Review
BAE System Australia’s ambitious long-range drone, STRIX, has passed the company’s critical design review, and though it is slightly behind schedule for first flight, the company expects to provide an operational system for the self-funded aircraft in 2026. Continue reading
US Office of Environmental Management Tests Radiation-Detecting Drone
A drone outfitted with radiation detectors recently underwent testing at the Portsmouth Site for potential future use as part of growing collaboration between EM and the state of Ohio. Continue reading
Airbus Tests Naval UAS at Sea from a French Navy Frigate
Airbus Helicopters and Naval Group, in collaboration with the French Armament General Directorate, DGA (Direction génerale de l’armement), and the French Navy, have tested the SDAM demonstrator (Système de Drone Aérien Marine/ Naval Aerial Drone System) from a multi-mission frigate (FREMM). Continue reading
First Australian Hydrogen Drone Flight
Swinburne University of Technology’s Aerostructures Innovation Research Hub (AIR Hub) has successfully completed the first flight of an Australian-developed hydrogen fuel cell electric powered VTOL drone. The flight test was achieved using AIR Hub’s innovative Small Hydrogen Aircraft Development & Evolution (SHADE) drone. Continue reading
Northrop Grumman B-21 Begins Taxi Testing
The Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider has begun taxi testing in at Northrop’s facilities at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, according to the US Air Force (USAF). Continue reading