Unmanned Aircraft

Airbus demonstrated an autonomous UH-72 Lakota helicopter to the U.S. Army in Huntsville in early October 2026 and is continuing MQ-72C flight tests for the Marine Corps’ Aerial Logistics Connector program. The activity signals capability development, not an active procurement: no solicitation, award, funding amount, or schedule has been disclosed.

The U.S. Army flight-tested a Group 3 VICTOR unmanned aircraft using a 3D-printed, heavy-fuel rotary-engine series-hybrid propulsion system. The demonstration points to potential follow-on needs in propulsion development, additive manufacturing, aircraft integration, and testing, but no solicitation, award, or contract value was reported.

The Air Force’s FY2026 force-structure assessment sets a 2035 target of 1,509 combat-coded fighters for a medium-risk posture, with 1,723 required for a lower-risk posture. FY2027 plans include 24 F-15EXs and 24 F-35s in the base budget, while 14 more F-35s depend on reconciliation funding—making congressional action, multiyear agreements, and production capacity central to the demand outlook.

The Army is flight-testing four transferred Navy MQ-8C Fire Scouts to evaluate Army sensor packages, reusing aircraft and support equipment rather than buying new test platforms. The transfer reportedly avoided just over $70 million in procurement costs, but it is complete and does not represent a contract award or open solicitation.