How Uncrewed Seaplanes Can Support Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations

The Sea Services have an extensive if long-dormant history with seaplanes. The first aircraft the U.S. Navy ever purchased was an amphibious seaplane, in 1911. The Marine Corps bought its first in 1913. Small single-engine float planes and large multi-engine seaplanes were widely used in World Wars I and II for fleet scouting, antisubmarine warfare (ASW), naval gunfire spotting, deploying mines, rescuing downed airmen, and attacking enemy ships. Continue reading →

Kratos and Shield AI Conduct AI-Piloted Flights on the Kratos Tactical Firejet

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc., a Technology Company in the Defense, National Security and Global Markets and a provider of high-performance, jet-powered unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and Shield AI, Inc., a defense technology company building an AI pilot, have announced the successful completion of the first phase of Shield’s AI-piloted flight-testing on-board the Kratos family of UAS as the two companies move toward productizing Shield AI’s pilot on these systems. Continue reading →

Britain’s 165-Mile Long ‘Drone Superhighway’ will be Completed this Summer

The world’s first drone superhighway will open in the UK between June and early July, allowing pilotless drones to make high-speed deliveries across the country. Developed by drone software provider Altitude Angel, the 165-mile-long Skyway network will connect Coventry in the Midlands to Milton Keynes in the Southeast. Continue reading →

Hermeus Rolls Out First Uncrewed Aircraft on Journey to Hypersonic Flight

Hermeus, the company operationalizing hypersonic aircraft, has unveiled its first aircraft — Quarterhorse Mk 1 — which will take flight later this year. Designed, built, and integrated in just seven months, this is the company’s second fully-integrated vehicle in the past year, following Quarterhorse Mk 0 which completed its test campaign in November 2023. Continue reading →