It’s always a big moment for an aircraft development program to get a formal designation. This means the program is progressing through the development and potential acquisition process well; however, there are still more decision points before an unmanned fighter jet takes to the skies alongside its manned counterparts.

Teledyne FLIR OEM has launched its latest technological breakthrough: radiometric versions of its Boson+ and Hadron 640R+ camera modules. These aren’t just any thermal cameras — they measure the exact temperature of every pixel in real-time, unlocking new possibilities for drones, security systems, and AI-powered industrial applications.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been going on for four years now, and just as the Spanish Civil War was a testing ground for tactics eventually used in World War II, Russia’s invasion has served as a testing ground for how drones will play a role in potential future wars (that we hope never happen). The U.S. Army has already begun taking notes and implementing changes to its brigade structures.

Spain’s Ministry of Defense announced this week that it has chosen the US drone manufacturer Skydio and its X10 drone to supply its military for UAV operations. The value of the contract is €18 million ($18.7 million).

As larger heavy-lift VTOL UAV technology evolves, it’s becoming more and more likely that the US Navy will be at the forefront of drone use of this size in real-world applications, reducing costs to taxpayers and decreasing the risk to service members needed to transport supplies between ships and shore.

Even with the F-22 still considered the most dominant fighter the US Air Force has developed, the department is already looking towards its replacement, or lack thereof. The outgoing Air Force Secretary stated that the next-generation fighter program could rely on a “F-35 follow-on” that would simply manage unmanned combat air vehicles.

Anduril, a defense drone technology company, is reportedly teaming up with other Silicon Valley tech companies to compete against defense primes for future Department of Defense contracts. The likes include Elon Musk’s SpaceX, OpenAI, Palantir, and more.

The drone tech company announced Monday that it has excised 750,000 outstanding warrants on its stock, which will bring in nearly $5 million in new funding.

A flurry of reports of unidentified drones buzzing above US cities has sparked a mix of intrigue and concern. In states like New Jersey, where mysterious lights in the sky have been described as drones, some sightings have turned out to be ordinary aircraft. Despite these reassurances, the rise of drone technology has left many residents wondering how to monitor the airspace around their homes and businesses.

Canada is ramping up its border surveillance efforts with plans to expand its use of drones and other technologies, addressing security concerns raised by US President-elect Donald Trump. This move comes as Trump threatens to impose a 25% tariff on Canadian imports, citing issues such as illegal immigration and fentanyl trafficking.

In response to the escalating challenges posed by drones, the Department of Defense (DoD) has launched a comprehensive strategy to address this evolving security threat. The initiative, detailed in an unclassified fact sheet, outlines measures to protect US interests against adversaries increasingly leveraging drones enhanced by artificial intelligence, autonomy, and networking technologies.

Geopolitical tensions are redefining global markets, with drones emerging as a focal point of strategic competition. Manufacturers in China have begun limiting the export of key drone components to the US and Europe, signaling a significant shift in global supply chains. These changes could have far-reaching implications for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the drone industry at large.

The National Football League (NFL), Justice Department, and FBI are urging Congress to act swiftly to bolster defenses against rogue drones threatening public safety at stadiums and critical facilities. Testifying before a House subcommittee on Tuesday, NFL security chief Cathy Lanier emphasized the urgency, stating, “The time to act to keep fans safe is now.”

OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, is taking a bold step into drone defense technology by partnering with Anduril Industries. This collaboration will focus on integrating artificial intelligence (AI) with national security by developing advanced counter-drone systems (C-UAS) to protect US and allied forces from evolving drone threats.

As rogue drone incidents escalate worldwide, D-Fend Solutions is stepping up to meet the challenge with cutting-edge technology and significant financial backing. The counter-drone specialist has announced a $31 million investment round led by Israel Growth Partners (IGP), alongside existing investor Vertex Ventures and new contributor Vertex Growth.

At the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of its country, Ukraine has been innovating on how drone technology can give it an upper hand. Before, it was modified DJI drones donated to it by the worldwide community, but now the country has moved to purpose-built drones, foreign and domestic, to better keep Russia on its toes.

The US Army held an anti-drone shoot out at Fort Drum, New York earlier this month to test out various systems for taking down drone attacks. This comes as every nation seems to be increasing its drone war plans as continued use of them in battle aren’t slowing down.

Ukraine’s defense department released its first video of a home built FPV drone making an attack on the much larger and way more expensive attack helicopters on the battlefield. This gives Ukraine new targets to attack as drones continue to change the way we look at war.

A wounded Ukrainian warrior found himself in a bad spot, and with no way to get off a battlefield after his unit was attacked by Russian forces. Meanwhile, drones above scanned the field for intel and inspecting anything they saw. Dmytro had an idea: show his military ID to a passing drone, and hope it’s friendly so someone can send for help.

Archer, California developer of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, has announced a contract with the US Air Force worth up to $142 million, and opening the door to deployment of its Midnight air taxi plane for operation adapted to military activities.

Despite the long and often controversial use of military UAVs in wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria, the prevalence and performance in Ukraine of drones – this time, the consumer variety – have been both a surprise and often determining factor in local forces repelling invading Russian forces. Indeed, some experts now believe the results of store-bought drones as well as military-grade craft are forcing reconsideration of decades old military strategies about waging war.

US security and defense company AeroVironment is upping its assistance to forces in Ukraine battling Russia’s invasion by donating more than 100 of its Quantrix Recon drones for intelligence gathering and monitoring movement of enemy troops.

Despite the intense and increasingly deadly invasion of their country by Russia, defense forces in Ukraine haven’t lost their sense of humor, and are now using it to mock the reputedly formidable Russian Orlan-10 drone as a DIY assemblage of foreign parts.

Utah-based security UAV specialist Teal Drones has been selected to develop a prototype craft in a final stage of the US Army’s Short Range Reconnaissance Tranche 2 (SRR T2) Program, which aims to create a powerful but portable small craft for surveillance and reconnaissance missions.