General Atomics CCA drone wingman prototype crashes in California
The company said a mishap occurred “following takeoff” today.
As Fury production starts, Anduril pledging a different production approach at Arsenal-1
Anduril’s new Arsenal-1 facility in Ohio will be producing its Fury, Roadrunner and Barracuda products, along with a classified platform, by the end of 2026.
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Answering the demand signal to move faster, field sooner, iterate continuously
As threats rapidly evolve, digital engineering, manufacturing capacity and robust supply chains are critical to meeting challenges.
Air Force taps four companies to expand engine options for loyal wingman drones
Beehive Industries, Honeywell, Pratt & Whitney and a teamup of GE Aerospace and Kratos will “mature engine designs” for future drone wingmen and other autonomous platforms, according to the Air Force.
Air Force flight tests drone wingman carrying (inert) weapons, competitors reveal new names
Anduril’s YFQ-44A drone wingman under development for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program has begun testing flights with a missile underwing, according to an Air Force press release.
Turkish Aerospace in ‘final stages’ of talks over Saudis in KAAN fighter program: Exec
Riyadh has been tightlipped about how it plans to expand or upgrade its fighter fleet, with several international options on the table.
DIU, Navy seek long-range drones for maritime strikes
A new solicitation from the Defense Innovation Unit asks for unmanned systems capable of carrying 1,000-pound-class munitions that can fly in a 600-nautical-mile radius.
Modernizing defense enterprise IT without disrupting the mission
Government can’t stop to update systems, so modernization has to happen without interruptions.
Northrop, Kratos team picked for Marine Corps drone wingmen
Northrop Grumman will serve as the prime contractor and integrate mission systems on Kratos’s XQ-58 Valkyrie for the Marine Corps’s MUX TACAIR Collaborative Combat Aircraft program.
Grok for DoD and subs for North Korea: What you missed in defense over the break
Successfully tune out the news over the holidays? We don't believe you, but just in case ...
The drone wingman race kicks into high(er) gear: 2026 preview
Sometime in 2026, the Air Force will make a decision about what designs to produce for the first round of its drone wingmen program. The service is also expected to home in on what it wants next.
Industry chaos, congressional clampdowns and secret CCA contracts: 2025 review
I didn't include Taylor Swift song recommendations this time, but if you're asking me my favorite tune off "The Life of A Showgirl," it's "Ruin the Friendship."
Breaking Defense announces Breaking Defense Europe, a new, distinct, European edition
Breaking Defense Europe will launch May 4 with Tim Martin and Elisabeth Gosselin-Malo as co-editors.
Middle East missiles, large contracts and space ambitions: 2025 review
There was no shortage of news in the Middle East in 2025.
CCA Round 2: Air Force picks 9 vendors for next batch of drone wingmen
The designs selected for the next group of Collaborative Combat Aircraft represent a “broad spectrum” of concepts, which will be narrowed down at a later date for prototyping, an Air Force spokesperson told Breaking Defense.
The AI aircraft debate rages, but both sides are wrong
In the debate of AI versus human pilots, ULA's Tory Bruno considers a compromise where AI supports warfighters rather than replace them.
General Atomics executive breaks down CCA demand, MQ-9 plans and standoff strategy
Dive into how General Atomics Aeronautical Systems plans to protect MQ-9s, adapt for peer threats and evolve its unmanned systems portfolio over the next five years.