Innovations
Technological and operational innovations in the UAS and counter-UAS space — what emerged first, where, and what it changes. Each entry is sourced, dated, and linked to the drones involved.
USAF plans 500 Collaborative Combat Aircraft and 500 MMA drones by 2032
The USAF is scaling plans to field at least 500 autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft (FQ-42 “Vengeance” and FQ-44 “Fury”) by 2032, alongside 500 lower-cost Massed Modular Aircraft to replace MQ-9 mission sets. The novelty is the rapid m…
Drones: MQ-9 Reaper
Anduril YFQ-44A Fury CCA flies with F-35s and demonstrates end-to-end kill chain
Anduril says its YFQ-44A Fury Collaborative Combat Aircraft has flown in formation alongside F-35s while operating under its Mission Autonomy system, indicating live manned-unmanned teaming flight testing is underway. The article also descr…
USAF fields FQ-42A/FQ-44A autonomous CCAs; first BLOS live-fire with inert AIM-120
The U.S. Air Force is advancing autonomous “Collaborative Combat Aircraft” (FQ-42A and FQ-44A) intended to perform fighter-like missions alongside manned aircraft, including a first-ever end-to-end beyond-line-of-sight live-fire test using …
Drones: MQ-9 Reaper
US Navy sets specs for carrier-based Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA)
The US Navy issued new requirements for an autonomous, carrier-capable Collaborative Combat Aircraft designed to team with manned fighters, including catapult launch/arrested recovery, MD-5 control integration, and a heavy external weapons …
Rybar claims new Geran variant can sharply maneuver in flight
The post claims a new version of the Russian Geran loitering munition can abruptly change course mid-flight, increasing survivability and complicating Ukrainian air-defense engagement. If accurate, this suggests upgraded guidance/autopilot …
Ukraine converts BRDM-2 armored cars into remotely controlled UGVs
Ukraine is adapting Soviet-era BRDM-2 armored reconnaissance vehicles into remotely controlled uncrewed ground vehicles, aiming for beyond-line-of-sight operation and integration of a remote weapon station (12.7mm+). The upgrade package inc…
Hivemind autonomy demo on SeaShark USVs with radar/AIS teaming
Shield AI and Thunder Tiger demonstrated multi-asset autonomous teaming on water using SeaShark 600/800 unmanned surface vessels running the Hivemind AI pilot. The USVs autonomously planned waypoints, searched an area, identified a vessel o…
Anduril YFQ-44A semi-autonomous CCA begins production for US Air Force
The post reports the first Anduril YFQ-44A (missionized FQ-44 “Fury”) rolling off a new production line for the USAF Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, signaling near-term fielding of semi-autonomous uncrewed wingmen. It also notes a fi…
BAE unveils Brontanax autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft prototype
BAE Systems revealed Brontanax, a UK-built autonomous uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft intended to team with crewed fighters (e.g., Typhoon) for electronic warfare and precision strike. The novelty is the UK’s first domestically desig…
Anduril unveils Thunder autonomous attack rotorcraft drone wingman
Anduril revealed “Thunder,” a Group 5 autonomous VTOL/tilt-rotor attack rotorcraft intended to team with crewed attack helicopters and operate in autonomous formations using Lattice autonomy software. Novelty is the combination of high-payl…