VTOL

News, deep dives, and analysis — every VTOL story, newest first.

145

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Oct 6

Last updated

United States

Record Drone Drops Into Hurricane Melissa’s Fury

The drone was launched from the NOAA WP 3D Hurricane Hunter Aircraft known as Kermit. Then the tiny uncrewed aircraft system was dropped

Rafael SuárezNov 20

Drone Service Providers

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 million in equity from New York-based AlleyCorp and Paris-based OVNI Capital, plus €1.6 million in…

Haye KestelooNov 20

Anduril

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, a hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing drone that Anduril founder Palmer Luckey has championed as…

Haye KestelooNov 14

Technology

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 to shatter current limitations in vertical lift aviation by tapping into what the agency calls…

Haye KestelooNov 13

Weaponized drones

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 X-BAT on October 21, 2025 in Washington, D.C., revealing a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL)…

Haye KestelooNov 12

White House

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 federal deadline. The dual transactions mark a significant consolidation play in the U.S. drone market…

Haye KestelooNov 12

United States

Flying Cars Have Officially Arrived—But There’s a Catch

The era of personal flying vehicles isn’t coming—it’s already here. The Pivotal BlackFly, a single-seat electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, has quietly become the first ultralight “flying car” to reach actual consumers in the United States, racking up over 1,000 crewed flights and proving that personal aviation is no longer science fiction. The…

Haye KestelooOct 17

United States

Toyota Explores Drone Integration for Off-Road Vehicles as Automotive Industry Eyes Aerial Technology

Toyota Motor has filed with the Federal Aviation Administration to explore developing a small drone system for off-road vehicles, marking the latest signal that the automotive industry sees drones as more than just delivery tools—they could become essential co-pilots for drivers navigating challenging terrain. The Japanese automaker’s Tuesday FAA filing outlines a concept where drones…

Haye KestelooOct 7

VTOL

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