News updates on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) including latest drone technology and use in conflicts around the world. Curated articles on the topics below are provided:
- MQ-1C Drones Added to Budget
- DoD’s Blue UAS Project
- Military Police and ISR
- Russian Shahed Drones
- Black Sea Drone Attacks
- Poland Prepares for Drone War
- Chinese Drones in Latin America
U.S. Military and Drones
MQ-1C Drones Added to Budget. Congress may be allocating $240 million to the U.S. Army’s budget for the purchase of more MQ-1C Gray Eagle drones. Last year the Army indicated it would stop buying these drones as they were considered obsolete in future near-peer conflicts. Army units use the Gray Eagles for ISR and attack missions. They work well in permissive or semi-permissive air space – but probably wouldn’t fare well in a high-threat air defense environment. Read more in “MQ-1c Drones the Army Has Called “Obsolete” Added in New Budget Plan by Congress”, The War Zone, January 22, 2026.
DoD’s Blue UAS Project. The Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit launched the Blue UAS effort in 2025 as a way to help vendors sell unmanned systems to the government. The program has now been transferred to the Defense Contract Management Agency. The program is assisting the procurement process so that drones can be more effectively delivered to the warfighter. “US-X launches Blue List UAS website”, DCMA, December 3, 2025.
Military Police and ISR. Military police combat support companies often control the intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) assets directly supporting their mission while the battalion and brigade security offices coordinate and synchronize the overall information collection picture. Commercial quadcopters offer military police a highly mobile, perceptive, and stealthy force multiplier. “Using UASs to Bridge the Military Police ISR Gap”, Line of Departure, November 1, 2025.
Drones and the Ukraine – Russia Conflict
Black Sea Drone Attacks. Shipping insurance costs are going up for oil tankers operating in the Black Sea. (NSI map) Ships appear to be more vulnerable while waiting at anchor, unlike vessels in open transit. “Drone Attacks Push Black Sea Shipping Into New High-Risk Phase”, gCaptain, January 23, 2026.
Russian Shahed Drones. The Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) has published a report entitled A Comprehensive Analytical Review of Russian Shahed-type UAVs Deployment against Ukraine in 2025. This review summarizes the use of Shahed-type type unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), both strike and decoy drones, in Russian air strikes against Ukraine in 2025. It analyzes the scale, types, and patterns of enemy air attacks using Shahed/Geran/Harpy-A1 strike UAVs and Gerbera/Parody decoy drones, among others. (January 22, 2026, PDF, 16 pages)
Poland Prepares. Details of a new anti-drone system has been revealed by the Polish. The system, named San, will be deployed along Poland’s northern and eastern borders. The San will be integrated at the lower level in a network of air defense systems. “Poland Prepares for Drone War With Russia”, CEPA, January 21, 2026.
Drones Around the World
Chinese Drones in Latin America. Numerous drones of Chinese origin are flooding into Latin America. These commercial unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are spreading rapidly in the region- many being used for agricultural purposes. However, there is a downside – not only are the drones collection assets for China but they are being used by criminal networks and cartels. “The Looming Threat: Chinese Civilian Drones in Latin America”, Dialogo-Americas, January 20, 2026.
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Image. Marine Corps Sgt. Jason Hamm, a small unmanned aircraft systems operator assigned to the 1st Marine Division Schools, prepares to catch a first-person view drone after a live-fire exercise as part of the small attack drone operator’s course at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 23, 2026.
