The US and Asian partners may co-produce drones in the Indo-Pacific region as a response to China's growing technological advancements. This could involve partnerships between companies like Red Cat, Taiwan, and Japan to develop unmanned systems that can operate in contested environments.
The US Air Force conducted a live demonstration of manned-unmanned teaming between an F-22 Raptor and an MQ-20 Avenger at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The exercise explored how autonomous aircraft can support frontline fighters in future operations, according to the US Air Force and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems.
Sikorsky has proposed converting aging Black Hawks into pilotless S-70 UHawks, leveraging its Matrix autonomy kit and fly-by-wire software. The company aims to work with local industry in the Gulf region for these conversions, which could extend aircraft life and reduce costs.
As the US and allied partners push to develop, produce, and field military technologies, they are leaning on lessons learned from Ukraine and other recent global conflicts. The challenge lies in how these technologies fit into existing military operations and how warfighters can trust them.
The US Marine Corps has selected Northrop Grumman and Kratos as the sole bidder for the MUX TACAIR program, worth up to $231.5 million. The teaming arrangement will integrate mission equipment onto Kratos's XQ-58 Valkyrie aircraft with Northrop's Prism software for autonomy.
The US Marine Corps has awarded Kodiak AI a contract to integrate its autonomous driving system into the ROGUE Fires platform, which consists of mounting the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System onto Joint Light Tactical Vehicles. This deal comes after Forterra was awarded a similar contract in January 2025.
Former Airbus CEO Tom Enders has warned Germany against launching a national fighter program, citing the high costs and timeline. He argues that prioritizing uncrewed combat aircraft is crucial for the Future Combat Air System (FCAS).
Dassault Aviation has announced a strategic partnership with French defense technology company Harmattan AI to accelerate the integration of controlled autonomy and artificial intelligence into future combat aviation systems. The partnership, valued at $200 million, aims to develop embedded AI functions for Dassault's next generation of combat aircraft, including the Rafale F5 standard.
The Army is undergoing a holistic reevaluation of its approach to autonomy, particularly for ground vehicles, as part of a broader effort to streamline programs and reduce costs. According to Alex Miller, the Army Chief Technology Officer, some programs may be cut due to lack of alignment with the Army's new direction.
The US Air Force has begun flight testing with a drone wingman carrying an inert weapon underwing. Anduril's YFQ-44A and General Atomics' YFQ-42A are part of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, which aims to develop drones for future combat.