‘Unmanned’ drones take too many humans to operate, says top Army aviator

‘Unmanned’ drones take too many humans to operate, says top Army aviator
‘Unmanned’ drones take too many humans to operate, says top Army aviator

With experienced pilots and ground crew leaving the service in droves, the Army is struggling to balance equipment modernization and unit training for large-scale, drone-driven war.

What Pentagon leaders say they have learned one year on from the battle in Ukraine

What Pentagon leaders say they have learned one year on from the battle in Ukraine
What Pentagon leaders say they have learned one year on from the battle in Ukraine

While not disclosing everything, senior military leaders from virtually every service and specialty have spoken about how they’re incorporating lessons from the Ukraine war, from the danger of cell phones to the importance of a quick-moving industrial base.

EDGE announces $1.1B deal with Angolan navy, unveils 11 new autonomous systems

EDGE announces $1.1B deal with Angolan navy, unveils 11 new autonomous systems
EDGE announces $1.1B deal with Angolan navy, unveils 11 new autonomous systems

IDEX 2023 — It’s no surprise that the UAE’s largest defense conglomerate has the most floor space at the International Defense Exhibition (IDEX 2023), but EDGE Group also sought to make a splash with a series of announcements from day one of IDEX and its sister-show NAVDEX. Off the bat, Abu Dhabi Ship Building, an…

General Atomics signs 3D printing agreement with automotive-focused startup Divergent

General Atomics signs 3D printing agreement with automotive-focused startup Divergent
General Atomics signs 3D printing agreement with automotive-focused startup Divergent

For something like a small UAS, “instead of taking years to develop [a design] it takes months, and instead of taking weeks to manufacture by laying out carbon fiber, we take hours to assemble,” Divergent CEO Kevin Czinger told Breaking Defense.

Air Force ‘committed’ to ‘collaborative’ drones, as budgets will show: Gen. Brown

Air Force ‘committed’ to ‘collaborative’ drones, as budgets will show: Gen. Brown
Air Force ‘committed’ to ‘collaborative’ drones, as budgets will show: Gen. Brown

Going more than “PowerPoint deep,” the services also are making “a lot more progress” on Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2), Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown said today.

After Ukraine, French air force zeroes in on anti-drone strategy: Air chief

After Ukraine, French air force zeroes in on anti-drone strategy: Air chief
After Ukraine, French air force zeroes in on anti-drone strategy: Air chief

Gen. Stéphane Mille held a wide-ranging discussion with reporters, talking Ukraine, drones, nuclear deterrence and a new fighter jet strategy.

General Atomics’ Gambit moves to flight testing under AFRL’s autonomous drone project

General Atomics’ Gambit moves to flight testing under AFRL’s autonomous drone project
General Atomics’ Gambit moves to flight testing under AFRL’s autonomous drone project

AFRL is “projecting first flight in first half of FY24 [fiscal 2024],” Trenton White, OBSS program manager, told Breaking Defense.

Frustration mounts for Israeli defense firms that can’t export payloads for drones

Frustration mounts for Israeli defense firms that can’t export payloads for drones
Frustration mounts for Israeli defense firms that can’t export payloads for drones

Sources said companies expected export licenses to expand after Israel publicly admitted the use of armed UAVs.

As combat evolves, Israel’s IAI dashes for smaller, ‘tactical’ UAV market

As combat evolves, Israel’s IAI dashes for smaller, ‘tactical’ UAV market
As combat evolves, Israel’s IAI dashes for smaller, ‘tactical’ UAV market

IAI senior official Moshe Levy told Breaking Defense the company is experimenting with several designs to aid ground units in combat.

UK minister: Iran made ‘big mistake’ in giving drones to Russia for Ukraine war

UK minister: Iran made ‘big mistake’ in giving drones to Russia for Ukraine war
UK minister: Iran made ‘big mistake’ in giving drones to Russia for Ukraine war

With their deadly use, Iranian drones also reveal their weaknesses and Tehran may not get much in return, senior UK official says.

Russia goes to war but Ukrainian resistance wins hearts and minds: 2022 in Review

Russia goes to war but Ukrainian resistance wins hearts and minds: 2022 in Review
Russia goes to war but Ukrainian resistance wins hearts and minds: 2022 in Review

From Germany’s defense investment to the coming expansion of NATO, Russia’s invasion sent paradigm-shifting shock waves through Europe.

With Xi visit, Saudi Arabia seeks economic wins, some US leverage: Analysts

With Xi visit, Saudi Arabia seeks economic wins, some US leverage: Analysts
With Xi visit, Saudi Arabia seeks economic wins, some US leverage: Analysts

Experts don’t foresee huge defense deals between Riyadh and Beijing, but drones are another story.

For UAS to operate in contested airspace, autonomy is key

For UAS to operate in contested airspace, autonomy is key
For UAS to operate in contested airspace, autonomy is key

UAVs capable of operating independently from human control will still, however, require the ability to talk to each other within a swarm while being jammed.

Israel asks industry to develop new long-range, stealthy armed drones

Israel asks industry to develop new long-range, stealthy armed drones
Israel asks industry to develop new long-range, stealthy armed drones

Special weapon systems that are light and carry “very powerful” warheads and the option of air refueling of armed UAVs are also “on the table,” according to a second source with knowledge of the discussions.