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September’s most-read stories on Unmanned Systems Technology covered advances in drone battery technology, military autonomy, resilient navigation, platoon-level reconnaissance, and long-endurance Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) platforms.
The month highlighted technologies at different stages of development, from newly introduced battery and navigation capabilities to military systems undergoing assessment and an upcoming event focused on future autonomous systems. Taken together, they show the progression of uncrewed technologies, with work taking place at the component, software, system evaluation, and operational planning levels.
SES AI Relaunches Anode-Free Li-Metal Cells for Drone Applications
SES AI is relaunching its Anode-Free Li-Metal battery technology for the rapidly expanding drone market, with NDAA compliant cells set to become available from Q4 2026. The company has now modified the technology for drone applications, where high energy density, low weight and power performance can provide significant advantages for UAV manufacturers and operators.
Uncrewed & Autonomous Systems 2026 to Examine Military Autonomy
As armed forces accelerate the adoption of uncrewed and autonomous technologies, Uncrewed & Autonomous Systems 2026, taking place 2–3 December 2026 at Novotel London West, London, will bring together military leaders, capability developers, program teams and industry innovators to examine how these technologies can be integrated into operational forces and delivered at scale.
UAV Navigation Updates VNS01 Visual Navigation System with Terrain Referenced Navigation & Map Matching
UAV Navigation–Grupo Oesía has announced major software enhancements to its VNS01 Visual Navigation System, introducing advanced Terrain Referenced Navigation (TRN) and Satellite Map Matching algorithms to improve navigation accuracy during operations in GNSS-denied environments and over previously unflown routes.
U.S. Army Advances Platoon Reconnaissance Program & Selects Five Small Drone Vendors
The U.S. Army’s Capability Program Executive Aviation Project Manager for Uncrewed Aircraft Systems has selected five industry vendors, including Vantage Robotics, to advance to the Manufacturing Readiness Assessment phase of the Short Range Reconnaissance program following competitive flight demonstrations.
DeltaQuad Launches Evo-LE Long-Endurance VTOL Platform
DeltaQuad has introduced the Evo-LE, a long-endurance electric fixed-wing VTOL platform offering flight times of up to eight hours. The new platform has been developed for Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR), border surveillance and communications relay missions.
