Beta Technologies has enlisted Near Earth Autonomy to help bring autonomous flight capabilities to its Alia family of electric and hybrid-electric aircraft. According to Beta, the initial integration of Near Earth’s perception and guidance suite into the Alia’s fly-by-wire flight control system is now complete, and the partners intend to begin flight testing the autonomous Alia in the first half of 2026. 

General Atomics and Saab are gearing up to fly an MQ-9B medium-altitude long-endurance UAV next summer that will be equipped with an airborne early warning (AEW) radar system. The demonstration, to be undertaken at General Atomics’ Desert Horizon test center in California, will mark a major step in the program to create the world’s first uncrewed AEW platform.

Saudi Arabian companies The Helicopter Company and Red Sea Global have agreed to conduct “pre-commercial” evaluation flights with Joby’s four-passenger eVTOL aircraft. Announcing the partnership at the Dubai Airshow last week, Joby said flights could start in the country during the first half of 2026.

VerdeGo Aero has begun low-rate production of its VH-4T-RD hybrid-electric powerplant. The U.S. company announced the move on November 20, saying that during 2026 it aims to deliver batches of the propulsion system to various undisclosed customers for pre-certification ground and flight testing with hybrid-electric aircraft.

While the U.S. Air Force's Increment 1 Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program now involves two competing types—the General Atomics YFQ-42A and the Anduril YFQ-44A—Lockheed Martin is focused on another option. It says its larger and more sophisticated CCA could inform requirements for Increment 2 of the program, and also meet the need of international partners.

Cranfield Aerospace Solutions this week unveiled its ST-5 Stingray multi-role long-endurance drone at the Dubai Airshow. The UK technology group, which backed by Abu Dhabi’s Strategic Development Fund, also announced a partnership with the UK-based National Oceanographic Centre that could see the uncrewed aircraft deployed for ocean monitoring.

Florida aims to become the top user of advanced air mobility anywhere, Florida Department of Transportation secretary Jared Perdue told aviation executives last week at the Honeywell American Aviation Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C. He described an ambitious initiative to create the aerial network, digital infrastructure, technology, workforce, and policies needed to attract and retain eVTOL and drone operators.