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VTOL
Quantum Systems Wins $246M German Army Contract as Thiel’s Reconnaissance Bet Pays Off
We have been reporting on Germany’s drone modernization push for nearly two years, and this deal represents the clearest validation yet that combat-proven reconnaissance systems are winning over Europe’s defense establishment. Peter Thiel-backed Quantum Systems is set to receive a…
Honda eVTOL Emerges From Stealth Mode: Full-Scale Prototype Flying March 2026
Honda has finally pulled back the curtain on one of aviation’s best-kept secrets. After four years in “stealth mode,” the Japanese automaker revealed at the Dubai Airshow 2025 that its hybrid eVTOL program is far more advanced than anyone outside…
Northrop Reveals Project Talon Combat Drone
Northrop Grumman has revealed a new autonomous combat drone called Project Talon, a design meant to fix the mistakes that cost the company a win in the first round of the Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, as reported by…
Chinese Drone Maker Secures Record 1,600 Orders at Dubai Airshow as China’s Aviation Tech Conquers New Markets
While US politicians debate whether to ban DJI drones and American operators face a December 23 deadline that could ground their fleets, Chinese drone manufacturers are finding eager buyers elsewhere. Shenzhen-based United Aircraft just secured 1,600 orders for industrial drones…
Record Drone Drops Into Hurricane Melissa’s Fury
Hurricane Melissa did not hold back. The Category 5 beast tore across the Caribbean and tied the record for the strongest landfalling Atlantic hurricane when it slammed western Jamaica on Oct. 28. NOAA’s Hurricane Hunters had a front row seat…
Chinese Startup Debuts $45K Drone That Tows Paragliders to 3,400 Feet
Shenzhen-based Blue Wing showcased its SkyTow-201 drone towing system at France’s Coupe Icare festival, drawing strong European interest despite facing regulatory hurdles that could delay market entry for years. A Chinese drone startup has developed a six-propeller system that tows…
French Startup Rift Raises €4.6M For ‘Surveillance-as-a-Service’ Drones That Cost 10x Less Than Helicopters
French deep-tech startup Rift has secured €4.6 million ($4.9 million USD) to build Europe’s first fully autonomous aerial surveillance network, promising 24/7 border monitoring and critical infrastructure protection at a fraction of traditional helicopter costs. The funding round includes €3…
Anduril And UAE’s EDGE Group Launch $200M Joint Venture To Mass-Produce Omen Hybrid VTOL Drone
Anduril Industries and the United Arab Emirates’ EDGE Group announced a landmark defense technology partnership on November 13, 2025, establishing the EDGE-Anduril Production Alliance to co-develop and manufacture autonomous aircraft for Middle East markets. The joint venture centers on Omen,…
DARPA Offers $6.5M For Drones That Carry 4X Their Weight In Lift Challenge
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has launched a $6.5 million competition challenging innovators across America to design drones capable of carrying payloads more than four times their own weight. The DARPA Lift Challenge, announced November 13, 2025, aims…
Shield AI’s X-BAT: SpaceX-Style Vertical Landing Meets Combat-Proven AI in $27M Fighter Drone
A jet-powered drone that launches vertically like a rocket, flies over 2,000 miles autonomously without GPS, and lands tail-first on a trailer could reshape air warfare—and it’s built by engineers who perfected SpaceX’s reusable rocket landings. Shield AI unveiled the…
XTI Aerospace Acquires Drone Nerds for $40M as Unusual Machines Invests $25M in DJI Ban Bet
XTI Aerospace closed a $40 million acquisition of Drone Nerds and secured a $25 million strategic investment from Unusual Machines on November 10, 2025, positioning both companies to capitalize on potential Chinese drone restrictions just 43 days before a critical…
University of Minnesota Drone Swarms Map Wildfire Smoke in 3D to Predict Fire Behavior
University of Minnesota researchers successfully completed their 11th field trial of autonomous AI-powered drone swarms that analyze wildfire smoke patterns in three dimensions, marking a significant step toward deploying academic research for real-world emergency response as climate change intensifies fire…