Julien Mercier, Author at DEFENSE-AEROSPACE

Russia Implements Mandatory Drone Production Ratings for Regions Starting in 2026 Using 25-Indicator Evaluation System

Russian authorities have formalized a nationwide “dronification” rating that scores regions on progress in unmanned aviation. Officials presented pilot results in June, then spent the autumn refining the method for a nationwide rollout in 2026. Ministries told regional leaders to plan around

November 6, 2025

Aircraft

Army Pursues Helicopter Wingman Capability by FY26

Army aviation leaders at AUSA 2025 said they aim to field a collaborative combat aircraft–like capability within a couple of years. The effort runs beside launched effects and other unmanned projects, pairing a loyal wingman with Army rotorcraft in contested theaters. AUSA

October 17, 2025

Aircraft

AeroVironment Expands Switchblade Family with 400, 300 Block 20 Upgrades and VAPOR CLE VTOL Platform

AV announced three updates to the Switchblade line and introduced a compact VTOL helicopter UAS for longer missions with heavier payloads. The reveals at AUSA in Washington tie to Army efforts on loitering munitions and Group 2 drones. Switchblade 400 Targets LASSO

October 13, 2025

Aircraft

Anduril Founder Warns Shutdown Will Delay YFQ-44A Maiden Flight as Air Force CCA Tests Face Approval Bottlenecks

Palmer Luckey warned reporters in mid-October that the government shutdown would “certainly” set back the first flight of Anduril’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft prototype. “I can’t fund the government,” he said, pointing to approvals and support functions that pause when agencies close. The

October 13, 2025

Aircraft

Lockheed Tests Vertical Launch JAGM Quad Launcher for Naval Counter-Drone Defense

Lockheed Martin fired a Joint Air-to-Ground Missile from a new four-cell launcher built for vertical launch and shipboard counter-UAS missions, completing an initial ground test ahead of a planned intercept against a live drone. Yuma Ground Test and Planned China Lake Intercept

October 13, 2025

Defense Budgets / Policy

President Trump nominates Gen Kenneth Wilsbach for Air Force Chief of Staff

As of October 5, 2025, the nomination of Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach to be the 24th Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force is before the Senate with a confirmation hearing set for October 9. Nomination Filed Sept. 30, 2025

October 6, 2025

U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Ashunteia’ Smith, 16th Combat Aviation Brigade

Helicopters

RNZAF NH90 helicopters complete record-breaking 1,765-mile ferry across the Tasman Sea

Wellington crews brought two Royal New Zealand Air Force NH90s home from Australia on a two-day itinerary that pushed the type’s over-water range across the Tasman. Defense officials confirm 1,534 nautical miles over water from RAAF Base Amberley to RNZAF Base Auckland,

October 2, 2025

U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Larissa T. Dougherty

Joint Exercises / Special Ops Training

European Navies Test Undersea Drone Technology in REPMUS and Dynamic Messenger Trials off Portugal

SESIMBRA, Portugal — REPMUS and Dynamic Messenger 2025 ran through September off Tróia and Sesimbra. European crews, NATO commands and industry teams paired submarines, frigates and patrol craft with autonomous vehicles and trial software. The Portuguese Navy hosted with NATO organizations in

September 26, 2025

Joint Exercises / Special Ops Training

Ukraine’s Navy Leads Opposing Force at REPMUS 2025 in Portugal, Testing Naval Drones and Countermeasures

Ukrainian Navy personnel ran the opposing force during the REPMUS and Dynamic Messenger 2025 series off Tróia and Sesimbra through September, a first for the alliance-level unmanned maritime trials. The host navy concentrated the event at the Portuguese Navy’s Operational Experimentation Centre,

September 25, 2025

Naval Systems

Germany’s First P-8A Poseidon Enters Service Pipeline to Bolster Anti-Submarine Patrols in the North and Baltic Seas

Germany accepted its first P-8A Poseidon at the manufacturer’s site near Seattle on Oct 1-2. The aircraft is the first of eight on order and carries the German tail number 63+01. Delivery followed U.S. Foreign Military Sales procedures with government quality checks

September 16, 2025

Julien Mercier

Russia Implements Mandatory Drone Production Ratings for Regions Starting in 2026 Using 25-Indicator Evaluation System

Army Pursues Helicopter Wingman Capability by FY26

AeroVironment Expands Switchblade Family with 400, 300 Block 20 Upgrades and VAPOR CLE VTOL Platform

Anduril Founder Warns Shutdown Will Delay YFQ-44A Maiden Flight as Air Force CCA Tests Face Approval Bottlenecks

Lockheed Tests Vertical Launch JAGM Quad Launcher for Naval Counter-Drone Defense

President Trump nominates Gen Kenneth Wilsbach for Air Force Chief of Staff

RNZAF NH90 helicopters complete record-breaking 1,765-mile ferry across the Tasman Sea

European Navies Test Undersea Drone Technology in REPMUS and Dynamic Messenger Trials off Portugal

Ukraine’s Navy Leads Opposing Force at REPMUS 2025 in Portugal, Testing Naval Drones and Countermeasures

Germany’s First P-8A Poseidon Enters Service Pipeline to Bolster Anti-Submarine Patrols in the North and Baltic Seas

Authors

Julien Mercier

Clara Nguyen

Priya Shah

Michael Adler

Lena Kovacs

Diego Ramos

Peter Johansson

Lucas Meyer