Drones and Unmanned Systems - Air, Sea, Land, Micro & Robot Systems

MARIGNANE, France - The French Aeronautical Maintenance Directorate (DMAé) has placed an order with Airbus Helicopters following the successful evaluation of an initial U050 Capa-X system acquired at the end of 2025. This order covers the supply of four systems, each comprising two U050 Capa-X uncrewed aerial systems (UAS), with two intended for the French Navy and two for the French Army as part of the Light Tactical Drone System (SDTL) evaluation program. Delivery of the systems is scheduled for 2027.

Following a land and sea evaluation campaign conducted with various French forces in 2025 and early 2026, the U050 Capa-X successfully met the requirements of the SDTL program. The system requires a very small logistical footprint, with the complete setup fitting onto two pickup trucks, as well as a proven seven-hour endurance, dual-payload capacity, and an operational range of 100 kilometers (54 nautical miles). With a maximum payload capacity of 20 kilograms (44 pounds), it can carry multiple payloads simultaneously and be rapidly configured to suit various missions.

In this initial configuration, it is equipped with an optronic pod dedicated to imagery intelligence (IMINT) for gathering and exploiting imagery for surveillance, reconnaissance, and operational analysis. It also integrates a signals intelligence (SIGINT) capability. This baseline architecture is designed to evolve, allowing for the integration of new capabilities based on French operational requirements.

Source: Airbus
Associated URL: https://www.airbus.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2026-09-french-armed-forces-order-airbus-u050-capa-x-drone

BEIRUT - EDGE Group recently delivered six HT 100 NAVAL unmanned helicopters to the Angolan navy. The UAE-based defense company provided the UAVs to Angola as part of a wider 1 billion-euro ($1.2 billion) deal signed in 2023.

At that time, Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB), another EDGE subsidiary, contracted with the Angolan navy to provide three 71-meter (233-foot) BR71 MK II corvettes. ADSB subcontracted French shipbuilder CMN Naval to build the first and third corvettes in its shipyard in Cherbourg, France, with the second under construction in a yard in Abu Dhabi.

The HT 100 NAVAL UAVs are expected to provide an onboard rotary capability to the ships, with two air vehicles loaded on each vessel. The aircraft, built in Switzerland at facilities belonging to ANAVIA, an EDGE subsidiary, are equipped with electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensors. Control of the UAVs is fully integrated with the corvettes’ combat management systems, according to EDGE.

Source: Breaking Defense
Associated URL: https://breakingdefense.com/2026/09/emirati-edge-group-delivers-six-unmanned-helicopters-to-angolan-navy/

WASHINGTON -- The Iranian Revolutionary Guard claims to have captured a U.S. Navy unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) in the Strait of Hormuz. State-owned media reported that the vehicle was an Anduril Dive-LD, an autonomous 19-ft (5.8-m) vehicle that can operate underwater for ten days at a time in waters up to 20,000 ft (6000 m) deep. These UUVs are used for reconnaissance, mine countermeasures, and intelligence collection missions.

The Pentagon responded to the Iranian announcement with a statement that an underwater drone had malfunctioned a day prior while surveying regional waters as part of ongoing military operations. Per the statement, the drone was an older model with no sensitive equipment onboard. Anduril similarly confirmed that a Dive-LD had been lost in operation.

The U.S. has used unmanned systems across multiple domains as part of the ongoing conflict with Iran and its affiliated proxies. The U.S. is believed to have operated the Dive-LD since 2025.

Source: Reuters
Associated URL: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iran-says-it-captured-us-submarine-drone-strait-hormuz-2026-09-08/
Author: Idrees Ali, Joe Brock