Quantcast

USAF explores new long-range drone for Middle East operations

Wizz Air becomes first airline to operate P&W-powered Airbus A321XLR jet
Hawaiian Airlines’ new ‘no show’ policy may make travel more expensive
BLIMP-SE OF THE FUTURE Luxury zeppelins of the future from ‘flying bum’ world’s largest aircraft to Google billionaire’s ‘impossible’ airship
Swiss Startup SmartFlyer Develops Hybrid-Electric Trainer
San Francisco-based entrepreneur takes a trip on India's worst-rated airline, his reaction will surprise you
First-Time Flyer at 81: A Grandmother's Memorable Journey
Global Airlines Launches Inaugural Flight, Aiming to Revive 'Golden Age of Travel'
Winning routes: American Airlines adds more than 22,000 seats for football fans following release of 2025–2026 pro schedule
Boeing scores Middle East plane deal during Trump visit
Air travel will be ‘worse’ this summer, lawmakers warn — as FAA gives infuriating update on system fixes, staffing issues
United Airlines CEO Reassures Passengers About Newark Airport Safety
American Testing Tech to Help Passengers Make Connecting Flights
British Airways to use AI in efforts to improve operations
American Airlines Tests New Tech to Help Passengers With Tight Connections During Summer Rush
Flight Diverted After Pregnant Woman on Board Goes into Labor and Delivers Her Baby: Report
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby says "this is the most optimistic I've been in my entire career about finally getting the FAA fixed"
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Unveils Plan to Build Brand New, State-of-the-Art Air Traffic Control System
Passenger rushing for next flight can't believe what woman next to her does
Why fuel price crash won’t make flying cheaper
Kristi Noem says travelers without Real ID will still be able to fly after deadline
Frontier Airlines Announces New Routes Launching This Summer, Connecting Baltimore With Chicago O’Hare and Trenton, N.J. With Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Airlines in North America prioritize investments in cyber, AI
The evolution of the airline uniform — a cross check
Global Airlines & HiFly Operate 1st Passenger Airbus A380 Flight Between Barcelona And Berlin
American Airlines unveils ritzy new plane suites launching this summer
Airline Stocks To Keep An Eye On - April 28th
Gatwick Airport Faces Potential Strikes
50 New Routes Starting In May 2025
Report: JetBlue, United Mulling Partnership
New First-Class Suites, Futuristic Aircraft and the Top Air Travel News From April 2025
USAF explores new long-range drone for Middle East operations
Policy
Webp gehpas32xjipe75msj720gh7ylnv
JSX Plane | Official Website

The U.S. Air Force is exploring options for a new long-range/endurance drone for its Task Force 99, based in Qatar at El Udeid Air Base. Established in October 2022, Task Force 99 performs intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, as well as experimenting with new technologies.

According to a post on the Defense Scoop online news service, the task force falls under Air Force Central (AFCENT) in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility in the Middle East. Its duties include increasing air domain awareness, locating hard-to-detect targets, and “creating dilemmas” for adversaries, according to officials.

Requirements projected for the new drone are a range of 1,550 miles (2,500 kilometers) and 24 hours’ endurance. That compares with the current MQ-9A Reaper’s range of 1,150 miles and 27 hours’ endurance. The new drone is expected to have a payload of 10 kilograms (22 pounds), cruise speed of 120 mph and service ceiling of 18,000 feet.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

Lt. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, then-commander of AFCENT, said last fall, “We’ve got either on-order or on-hand now 98 different UASs across 13 types with ranges from 20 kilometers out to 900 miles. They can do a variety of things from ISR to potential uses for attack and things of that nature. So it’s exciting to me to see the department focusing on this. And I think we’ve got a role to play in advancing that technology and kind of looking at the changes of warfare.”

Organizations Included in this History
More News

On June 2, Edelweiss, a Swiss leisure airline, launched its inaugural flight from Zurich to Seattle.

Jun 5, 2025

In early June, Etihad Airways launched two new European destinations, expanding its network to Prague, Czechia, and Warsaw, Poland.

Jun 5, 2025

Around half of the over 1,000 Boeing 757s produced remain in service worldwide.

Jun 5, 2025

Allegiant Air, an ultra-low-cost carrier, has rapidly expanded its operations with the Boeing 737 MAX 8-200 aircraft.

Jun 5, 2025

The Airbus A321 and Boeing 757 are both key players in the long-range, high-capacity twin-engine aircraft market.

Jun 5, 2025

Alaska Airlines has announced plans to launch a new direct flight route from Seattle, Washington, to Rome, Italy.

Jun 5, 2025