By Garth Calitz A rocket-assisted combat drone, artificial intelligence and an ambitious 2029 operational deadline are bringing Europe closer to a new era of air warfare, in which uncrewed aircraft could fly alongside conventional fighters, undertake high-risk missions and provide additional combat capability without placing another pilot in harm’s way. The future of air combat is increasingly looking like a team effort in which one pilot may command several aircraft, some of

By Garth Calitz A 3,199-mile autonomous flight raises an uncomfortable question for the aviation industry: if computers can fly aircraft from take-off to landing, how long before airlines decide they no longer need pilots in the cockpit? For more than a century, pilots have occupied a privileged position in aviation. They have trained for years, accumulated thousands of flying hours and accepted responsibility for the lives of everyone aboard their aircraft. Now, increasingly

After three years of testing, Airbus UpNext’s Optimate demonstrator has completed its campaign, exploring how automation, artificial intelligence and advanced sensors could make aircraft taxiing and flight operations more efficient. The technology may be promising, but the final decision-maker in the cockpit remains reassuringly human. For three years, airports in Toulouse and Paris witnessed an unusual sight: an electric truck cruising around taxiways carrying a virtual repl

By Garth Calitz Northrop Grumman’s YFQ-48A Talon Blue has completed its first flight, taking another major step towards a future in which autonomous aircraft operate alongside human pilots in the world’s most advanced air forces. The age of the autonomous combat aircraft has taken another step forward – and this time there was nobody sitting in the cockpit to enjoy the view. Northrop Grumman’s YFQ-48A Talon Blue completed its first flight at Mojave Air and Space Port in Calif

Angola is taking another step into the rapidly evolving world of unmanned aviation, with the delivery of six ANAVIA HT-100 NAVAL unmanned helicopters for its new generation of naval corvettes. The six aircraft, built by Swiss manufacturer ANAVIA, have completed Factory Acceptance Trials and have been handed over to the Angolan Navy. Two systems will eventually be carried by each of Angola’s three new BR71 MK II Combattante-class corvettes, providing the ships with an organic

The idea of an artificial intelligence system controlling a fighter aircraft in combat once belonged firmly in the realm of science fiction. Today, it is becoming an increasingly practical engineering challenge, and one that the aerospace and defence industry is tackling at remarkable speed. In the latest demonstration, Lockheed Martin Skunk Works®, working with the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School (TPS) and industry partners, has taken another significant step towards autono

Two of the aerospace industry's fastest-growing innovators have joined forces to unveil an ambitious new vertical lift platform that aims to bridge the gap between commercial aviation and modern military operations. At the 2026 Farnborough International Airshow, Anduril Industries and Archer Aviation introduced a jointly developed autonomous hybrid-electric vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft platform designed to support a wide range of civilian and defence missions

As wildfires become larger, more destructive and increasingly difficult to control, the aviation industry is searching for innovative ways to support traditional aerial firefighting operations. One of the most intriguing concepts currently under development is the FLYOX I, a large amphibious uncrewed aircraft developed by Spanish company Singular Aircraft. Unlike the small drones that have become commonplace for aerial photography and infrastructure inspections, the FLYOX I o

At the 2026 ILA Berlin Air Show, Boeing announced the expansion of its German industry team supporting the MQ-28 Ghost Bat collaborative combat aircraft programme. The move strengthens Boeing’s efforts to tailor the Australian-developed autonomous aircraft to the requirements of the German Air Force (Luftwaffe). Joining the programme are German defence and technology companies Diehl Defence and Rohde & Schwarz, which will work alongside strategic partner Rheinmetall. Rheinmet

Airbus Helicopters has unveiled the U145, an autonomous, uncrewed version of its widely used H145 twin-engine helicopter, marking a significant step forward in the evolution of rotary-wing aviation. Introduced at the ILA Berlin Air Show, the U145 combines the proven performance and payload capacity of the H145 with advanced autonomous flight technologies. Airbus plans to conduct the aircraft's maiden flight, initially with a safety pilot on board, before the end of 2026, with