UCAV
Canada formalises MQ-9B SkyGuardian purchase
Canada became the latest customer to acquire the MQ-9B SkyGuardian UCAV from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc (GA-ASI) on December 19, when it agreed to purchase 11 MQ-9Bs, six ground control stations and related support equipment and services for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) at a cost of $1.87bn
Pentagon confirms USAF MQ-9As are operating over Gaza
The Pentagon Press Secretary, Brig Gen Pat Ryder, recently confirmed that the USAF has been carrying out “unarmed UAV flights over Gaza” since October 7 in support of “hostage recovery efforts”
Turkey's Baykar kicks off Bayraktar TB3 UCAV flight testing
The new Bayraktar TB3 UCAV successfully completed its maiden flight at the Akinci Flight Training and Test Center in the Çorlu district of Tekirdağ, Turkey, on October 27, neatly presaging the nation’s 100th annual Republic Day celebrations
USMC’s first XQ-58A Valkyrie takes flight at Eglin AFB
The first of two XQ-58A Valkyrie UCAVs for the USMC successfully completed its first test flight at Eglin AFB, Florida, on October 2, closely followed by an F-16CM Fighting Falcon (88-0441/ET) from the 40th Flight Test Squadron – a component of the USAF’s 96th Test Wing – that was flying as the ‘chase’ aircraft
Kadena Air Base welcomes first of several USAF MQ-9As
On October 13, Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, greeted the first of several USAF-operated MQ-9A Reaper unmanned combat air vehicles (UCAVs) that are scheduled to deploy to the base, which is also referred to as the ‘Keystone of the Pacific’
UK's first Protector RG1 now ready for testing at RAF Waddington
The first of 16 MQ-9B Protector RG1 unmanned combat air vehicles (UCAVs) for the RAF has now been assembled at RAF Waddington, following its arrival at the Lincolnshire base in September
Everything you need to know about Iran’s new armed Mohajer-10 drone
As the Qods Mohajer-10 armed drone is unveiled in Tehran, Babak Taghvaee discusses its capabilities and its competition in Iran
Is Russia using its new S-70 Okhotnik-B UCAV against Ukraine?
While state testing of Sukhoi’s S-70 Okhotnik-B UCAV was not expected to conclude before the end of 2023, media reports have indicated that Russia may have already started using the platform to conduct operational missions over Ukraine
USAF seeks to fly unmanned aircraft from RAF Fairford from 2024
In late July, British media channels reported that the USAF had applied to the UK’s aviation regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority, to change its airspace rules in order to allow RQ-4B Global Hawk HALE UAVs and MQ-9A Reaper MALE UCAVs to fly from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire
US approves sale of more MQ-9A Reaper drones to the Netherlands
US State Department approval has been granted for the possible Foreign Military Sale of four General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9A Block 5 Reaper UCAVs and related equipment to the Netherlands for an estimated cost of $611m