By Garth Calitz A reported mid-air collision between a JetBlue Airbus A321 and an unidentified drone during approach to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport has once again drawn attention to the growing challenge that unmanned aircraft systems pose to commercial aviation. The incident occurred on 29 June when JetBlue Flight 948, operating from Harry Reid International Airport to JFK, reported what the flight crew believed was a collision with a drone while descend

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

By Rob Russell Airbus Helicopters recently held an event at the Denel Overberg Test Range to show off their multifunctional flexrotor and discuss their various UASs and what they can do and where Airbus is taking drone development. The event was hosted by Nam-Binh Hoang, MD of Airbus South Africa. After welcoming everyone, he gave a brief overview of what Airbus does in Southern Africa, the services and support it provides in the Commercial, Helicopter, Defence and Space fiel

Boeing's MQ-28 autonomous combat aircraft has successfully completed its first international flight operations, conducting a series of test missions in the United States airspace and marking a significant milestone in the programme's development. The Australia-developed aircraft recently conducted three operational test flights over the Pacific Ocean from the Point Mugu Sea Range at the U.S. Naval Base Ventura County, California. The deployment marks the first time the MQ-28

Eve Air Mobility has reached another important milestone in the development of its electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft after successfully completing the hover and low-speed phase of its flight test campaign. The achievement marks a significant step forward as the company prepares to enter the critical transition flight testing stage later this year. Backed by aerospace giant Embraer, Eve announced that its full-scale engineering prototype has now completed

A major milestone in modern military aviation has been achieved with the successful first flight of what is being described as the world’s first unmanned Airborne Early Warning (AEW) solution. Swedish defence giant Saab and American unmanned aircraft specialist General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. have successfully integrated Saab’s LoyalEye airborne radar system onto the MQ-9B unmanned aircraft platform. The landmark flight took place on 19 May at GA-ASI’s Desert Horiz

The first operational MQ-25A Stingray has successfully completed its maiden flight, marking a significant step forward in the United States Navy’s ongoing efforts to integrate unmanned systems into carrier-based operations. Conducted on April 25 over southern Illinois, the two-hour sortie represents more than just a routine test milestone; it signals the transition of the Stingray programme from development into a more advanced operational phase, bringing the Navy closer to d

Bell Textron has been selected by Near Earth Autonomy to provide a modified Bell 505 airframe for the U.S. Marine Corps’ Aerial Resupply Vehicle – Expeditionary Logistics (MARV-EL) Increment 2 programme. The initiative aims to develop a new generation of uncrewed aerial logistics platforms capable of supporting frontline operations in contested environments. Announced on April 30, 2026, the partnership will focus on prototyping a configuration to operate without a pilot while

A new collaboration between Sikorsky and Robinson Helicopter Company has produced a striking development in the world of autonomous rotorcraft. The two manufacturers recently unveiled the R66 TURBINETRUCK, an unmanned cargo helicopter that pairs Robinson’s proven light turbine platform with Sikorsky’s advanced MATRIX™ autonomy system, creating a versatile aircraft designed for both commercial and military logistics missions. Revealed in Atlanta on 10 March 2026, the new aircr