UAV Archives - Alert 5

U.S. to deploy MQ-4C in Japan for indefinite period

Posted on April 9, 2025April 9, 2025 by alert5

The United States military will deploy several MQ-4C Triton surveillance drones to Kadena Air Base in Okinawa Prefecture for an indefinite period, Japanese defense officials announced Apr. 8. The unmanned aircraft are expected to begin operations within weeks, following a previous temporary deployment last year from May to October.

A U.S. Navy MQ-4C Triton with Unmanned Patrol
Squadron 19 (VUP-19) departs Marine Corp Air Station
Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 5, 2022. Due to its geographic
location and co-located airfield and harbor, MCAS
Iwakuni is uniquely postured to provide advanced naval
integration in support of regional security. (U.S. Marine
Corps photo by Cpl. Mitchell Austin)

Ghost-X makes training debut at Salaknib 2025

Posted on April 3, 2025April 3, 2025 by alert5

The Anduril Ghost-X unmanned aircraft system made its training debut in the Philippines last week during Salaknib 2025, marking a significant milestone in both U.S. military drone deployment and Philippine-U.S. military cooperation.

Philippine Army Soldiers from the 5th and 7th Infantry Divisions and U.S. Army Soldiers from the 2nd Infantry 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, participate in a subject matter expert exchange (SMEE) focused on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) operations during Salaknib 2025 at Fort Magsaysay, Philippines, on March 26, 2025. Salaknib 2025 is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. Military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Daria Jackson, 204th Public Affairs Detachment)

Belgium marks first fight of MQ-9B

Posted on March 27, 2025March 27, 2025 by alert5

The MQ-9B SkyGuardian has taken a crucial step towards operational service with the Belgian Air Force as the first of four ordered aircraft completed its inaugural flight, which took place on Feb. 20th. The flight originated from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.’s (GA-ASI) Desert Horizon Flight Operations Facility in El Mirage, California. This event marks a crucial step in Belgium’s acquisition of a fleet of four MQ-9B aircraft.

Photo: General Atomics
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South Korean KUH-1 destroyed by Heron UAV

Posted on March 18, 2025March 18, 2025 by alert5

A South Korean Army Heron unmanned air vehicle collided with a parked KAI KUH-1 Surion helicopter at an Army aviation base in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province, on Mar. 17th, at approximately 1 p.m.. The collision ignited a fire that completely destroyed both the drone and the helicopter. Fortunately, no casualties were reported as a result of the incident. This event occurred a mere 11 days after a South Korean Air Force KF-16 fighter jet bombing mishap in Pocheon.

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Sikorsky successfully flies Rotor Blown Wing UAS

Posted on March 11, 2025 by alert5

Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, has successfully validated the advanced control laws for its ‘rotor blown wing’ uncrewed aerial system (UAS) in both helicopter and aeroplane modes. This innovative prototype, weighing 115 pounds (52kg) and powered by batteries, has demonstrated operational stability and manoeuvrability across all flight regimes, showcasing its potential for scaling to larger sizes with hybrid-electric propulsion.

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