Science & Tech

FAA Gets Serious About Drones

If your new Christmas toy outweighs two butter sticks, you need to register it with the feds. Do it now for free.

Science & Tech

US Air Force to Ask for More Drones

Plan would add 3,500 Reaper pilots and up to five more ops centers around the country.

Ideas

Drone Strikes Are Creating Hatred Toward America That Will Last for Generations

'The resentment created by American use of unmanned strikes,' said retired four-star Gen. Stanley McChrystal, 'is much greater than the average American appreciates.'

Ideas

Why is Obama Letting China Beat the US at Global Drone Sales?

Blocking Jordan’s purchase of Reaper UAVs is just one example of unwise reticence to sell more arms abroad.

Policy

An Emerging US 'Drone Hub' Is Making New Yorkers Nervous

The unmanned-aircraft industry could help to revive a struggling region. But what are the consequences?

Science & Tech

Navy Plans To Deploy A Submarine Drone Squadron By 2020

The highly autonomous underwater vehicles could be sent to scout ahead of attack submarines, or to guard valuable undersea targets.

Business

Former Marine General Will Run US Navy’s UAV Efforts

The new deputy assistant secretary will work closely with the new rapid development, prototyping and demonstration directorate.

Ideas

How Drones Make War Too Easy

A report from the Council on Foreign Relations explores "several reasons why armed drones are unique in their ability to destabilize relations and intensify conflict."

Threats

Did NATO Forces Just Down a Russian Drone Over Turkey?

As the Internet examines pictures of an alleged Russian surveillance drone shot down by Turkish jets, Russia says, ‘What drone?’

Science & Tech

The Army’s Drone Wishlist Includes Jamming Gear and More Weapons

Electronic warfare is among several new missions under consideration for UAVs.

Science & Tech

The Military Is Creating Vampire Drones That Die in the Sun

Like meeting the one true death, the Pentagon wants a drone that dissolves by morning light—or in 4 hours, whichever comes first.

Threats

Fly Your Drone Near an Airport, and the FAA May Hijack It

New technology from CACI can wrest control of civilian UAVs, lawmaker says.

Science & Tech

Drones Armed With High-Energy Lasers May Arrive In 2017

Predator maker looks beyond Hellfire missiles to the weapons of the future.

Ideas

What Drone-Strike Data from Yemen and Pakistan Says about the ISIS Fight

Washington's drone program has cost a great deal of blood and money with little to show for it. Absent a political strategy, the effort in Syria will likely fare no better.

Science & Tech

Will Subdrones Cause World War III?

Smart, well-armed and built to operate on their own, underwater drones are becoming a dangerous wildcard.

Business

Should One US Service Rule the Military’s Drones?

Ten years ago, the Air Force lost its bid to control the Pentagon’s nascent UAV fleets. Some say it should try again.

Science & Tech

Chuck Schumer’s No-Fly-Zone Rule for Drones Won’t Work

U.S. lawmakers and the military worry about small consumer drones running afoul of planes and emergency crews. But there may be no simple fix.

Science & Tech

Predator Drone Maker General Atomics Flying Spy Missions For the Pentagon

The US military has hired General Atomics to fly some missions — just ISR so far, but what about the future?

Science & Tech

Someone At DEF CON Made a Drone That Hacks Computers

You can buy it for $2,500 — and turn it into a flying malware injector.