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Air · Coverage audit

North America defence drone coverage audit

3 original research topics reviewed: 0 resolved, 3 partially resolved and 0 still open. The remaining register identifies specific evidence needs.

Scope and evidence

This audit covers the original research register for North America defence drone coverage audit. The review below records work completed on 21 September 2026. Resolved means the named research task was addressed, not that every national programme or undisclosed capability is catalogued. Partially resolved topics now have published evidence but retain a narrower question.

Mexico — Partially resolved

Hydra S4 Ehécatl / S45 Báalam / E1 Gavilán. Added S45 Báalam and S50 Kukulkán using current Hydra technical pages. Older S4/E1 technical and named-operator evidence was not recovered.

United States — Partially resolved

ALTIUS, Bolt, C100 and remaining small-aircraft families. Added ALTIUS, Bolt/Bolt-M and C100; documented Bolt-M unit use and historical Shadow/Fire Scout retirement context.

Canada — Partially resolved

Wider domestic supplier and variant review. Added Commander 3XL with Canadian manufacturing evidence and an explicitly evaluation-stage military order.

Open research register

These are editorial research tasks, not confirmed capabilities. Remove or revise each row when the evidence has been published.

Mexico · Air · High priority

Hydra S4 Ehécatl / E1 Gavilán and named operators

Recover archived manufacturer sheets for S4 and E1, establish present programme status, and identify recipients behind Hydra's unnamed export announcements. Review current G3 and developmental S55 separately.

Research starting point ↗

United States · Air · High priority

ALTIUS numerical variants, newer small aircraft and retirement completion

Obtain current ALTIUS 600/700/M technical baselines, C100X and other distinct provider products, final Fire Scout transfers and overseas Shadow fleet status. Do not substitute older forecasts for acceptance.

Research starting point ↗

Canada · Air · Medium priority

Other Canadian military configurations and accepted customers

Audit Draganfly Flex FPV, Apex and hybrid models separately; establish customer acceptance and actual manufacturing attribution. Complete imported-aircraft operator links without treating purchases as Canadian-origin designs.

Research starting point ↗

View the global coverage register →

Publication history

  • — Reviewed every original topic; published supported additions and replaced broad gaps with the remaining evidence questions.
  • — Published a regional country review and editable register of remaining research gaps.

Suggest a correction to this entry →

Follow the evidence

Source types identify who makes the claim. Programme milestones and supplier statements should be read in context.

  1. S45 current product specifications (opens in a new tab)Manufacturer / programme
  2. Anduril Bolt and Bolt-M introduction, 10 October 2024 (opens in a new tab)Manufacturer / programme
  3. Draganfly Commander 3XL product page (opens in a new tab)Manufacturer / programme
  4. Hydra Technologies: aircraft programme news (opens in a new tab)Primary source
  5. Anduril launched-effects programme update, April 2026 (opens in a new tab)Manufacturer

Explore the connections

Air · Reconnaissance aircraftMexico

Hydra S45 Báalam

Mexican twin-engine tactical surveillance aircraft with a 10 kg payload baseline.

Supplier-reported statusRead
Air · Reconnaissance aircraftMexico

Hydra S50 Kukulkán

Larger Mexican development of S45 offering increased sensor capacity and endurance.

Supplier-reported statusRead
Air · Multirole aircraftUnited States

Anduril ALTIUS 600 / 700

Tube-stored launched-effects aircraft with documented Army integration trials; the larger 700 is distinct from the original 600.

Development / trialsRead
Air · Multirole aircraftUnited States

Anduril Bolt / Bolt-M

A portable VTOL family comprising the Bolt observation aircraft and Bolt-M munition; US Marine Corps Bolt-M use is documented in August 2026.

In service / use documentedRead
Air · Multirole aircraftUnited States

PDW C100

An American modular tactical quadcopter with documented Army use and configurable observation and communications payloads.

In service / use documentedRead
Air · Reconnaissance aircraftUnited States

RQ-7 Shadow

A historically important tactical reconnaissance family; the US Army ended its RQ-7B programme in 2024, while other operators need separate status checks.

See profileRead
Air · Reconnaissance aircraftUnited States

MQ-8 Fire Scout

The US Navy's historical uncrewed-helicopter family, with MQ-8B retired and MQ-8C subject to a documented divestment decision.

See profileRead
Air · Multirole aircraftCanada

Draganfly Commander 3XL

A Canadian-manufactured modular quadcopter with military evaluation orders and payload-dependent endurance.

Order / production commitmentRead
Editorial review

September 2026 global coverage review

Reviewed all 90 original research topics: 6 resolved, 80 partially resolved and 4 still open. Added 192 sourced system and family profiles across air, land and maritime domains.

Reviewed 21 Sept 2026Read
Air · Drone / systemUnited States

ScanEagle

A compact fixed-wing reconnaissance family with land and maritime applications, conventional recovery equipment and an optional FLARES VTOL support system.

Supplier-reported statusRead
Air · Drone / systemUnited States

Integrator

A modular tactical reconnaissance aircraft with multiple payload bays and optional satellite communications and VTOL support equipment.

Supplier-reported statusRead
Air · Drone / systemUnited States

RQ-21A Blackjack

A runway-independent tactical reconnaissance system with a US naval programme specification distinct from today’s commercial Integrator configuration.

In service / use documentedRead
Air · Drone / systemUnited States

MQ-25A Stingray

A carrier-based unmanned aerial-refuelling programme. Boeing announced the first low-rate production lot of three aircraft on 14 September 2026.

Order / production commitmentRead
Air · Drone / systemUnited States

Puma 3 AE

A portable reconnaissance aircraft for day/night observation, with configuration-dependent communications range and an optional VTOL conversion.

Supplier-reported statusRead
Air · Drone / systemUnited States

Raven B / RQ-11B

A hand-launched, battery-powered tactical reconnaissance family for small military units.

Supplier-reported statusRead
Air · Drone / systemUnited States

JUMP 20

A Group 3 fixed-wing reconnaissance aircraft with vertical take-off and landing and modular mission payloads.

Supplier-reported statusRead
Air · Drone / systemUnited States

JUMP 20-X

A Group 3 fixed-wing reconnaissance aircraft with vertical take-off and landing and modular mission payloads.

Supplier-reported statusRead
Air · Drone / systemUnited States

Switchblade 300 Block 20

A portable loitering munition with a current Block 20 specification distinct from early Switchblade 300 versions.

Supplier-reported statusRead
Air · Drone / systemUnited States

Switchblade 400

A newer Switchblade family member selected for a US Army LASSO prototype agreement announced in May 2026.

Development / trialsRead
Air · Drone / systemUnited States / Australia

Aerosonde Mk. 4.7 / 4.8

A tactical reconnaissance family offering conventional fixed-wing and VTOL configurations for land and maritime operations.

Supplier-reported statusRead
Air · Drone / systemCanada

SkyRanger R70

A Canadian-built multirotor with modular mission payloads. Canada’s announced Ukraine package included more than 800 R70 systems.

Order / production commitmentRead
Air · Drone / systemUnited States

Black Widow

A US small reconnaissance multirotor with US Army programme involvement and Japanese procurement announced in April 2026.

Order / production commitmentRead
Air · Drone / systemUnited States

RQ-170 Sentinel

A low-observable reconnaissance aircraft publicly acknowledged by the US Air Force, with very limited official technical disclosure.

In service / use documentedRead
Air · Drone / systemUnited States

Ghost-X

A small reconnaissance aircraft selected for a US Army company-level requirement in 2024 and documented with an Army unit in 2025.

In service / use documentedRead
Air · Drone / systemTaiwan / United States

Mighty Hornet IV

A joint Taiwanese–American development that adapts the MQM-178 Firejet lineage into a distinct mission aircraft; published specifications remain limited.

Development / trialsRead
Air · Drone / systemLatvia / United States

Penguin Mk2.5 VTOL

VTOL member of the Penguin reconnaissance family, with a 12-hour-class published endurance and Baltic military customers.

In service / use documentedRead
Air · Drone / systemUnited States

MQ-9A Reaper

A turboprop remotely piloted aircraft for persistent reconnaissance and multirole missions. MQ-9A and its extended-range retrofit are distinct from the newer MQ-9B family.

Use documentedRead
Air · Drone / systemUnited States

MQ-1C Gray Eagle

A US Army remotely piloted aircraft family for reconnaissance, communications relay and armed missions. The original Gray Eagle, ER and 25M configurations have different specifications.

Use documentedRead
Air · Drone / systemUnited States

RQ-4 Global Hawk

A high-altitude, long-endurance reconnaissance aircraft family. Its different sensor blocks and the separate MQ-4C Triton maritime programme should not be collapsed into one specification.

Use documentedRead
Air · Drone / systemUnited States

MQ-9B SkyGuardian

General Atomics' MQ-9B family combines long-duration surveillance with an emphasis on airspace integration. The RAF operates its own configuration as Protector RG Mk1; specifications and approvals should be read by variant.

Use documentedRead
Air · Drone / systemUnited States

MQ-4C Triton

Northrop Grumman's MQ-4C Triton is a large maritime surveillance aircraft operated within a wider network of crewed aircraft and ground teams. Fielding, configuration upgrades and operational testing are distinct measures of its maturity.

Use documentedRead
Air · Drone / systemUnited States

Switchblade 600

A purpose-built loitering munition family with an onboard imaging payload. Block and launch-platform differences are important when comparing announcements.

Use documentedRead
Air · Drone / systemUnited States

Skydio X10D

Skydio X10D is a portable reconnaissance multirotor with visual and thermal sensing and assisted navigation. Published specifications distinguish radio configurations; manufacturer announcements document initial Army deliveries and a later large order.

Order / production commitmentRead
Air · Drone / systemUnited States

FQ-44 Fury

Anduril’s collaborative combat aircraft programme for the US Air Force. The aircraft was previously described under the experimental YFQ-44A designation; FQ-44 Fury is the name used in the Air Force’s September 2026 update.

Order / production commitmentRead
Air · Drone / systemUnited States

V-BAT

A vertical-takeoff reconnaissance aircraft suited to compact operating locations and shipboard use. V-BAT combines fixed-wing flight with a ducted-fan layout and is offered with several observation payloads.

Development / trialsRead
Air · Drone / systemGermany / United States

Vector / Vector AI

An electric reconnaissance aircraft family combining vertical takeoff with fixed-wing observation. Its newer Vector AI configuration emphasises software integration, modular payloads and navigation assistance.

Supplier accountRead
Air · Drone / systemUnited States

XQ-58A Valkyrie

A jet-powered collaborative aircraft used to explore autonomy, mission payloads and integration with crewed aviation. The programme also examines alternatives to conventional airfield dependence.

Development / trialsRead
Support systems · Drone / systemAustralia / United States

DroneShield counter-UAS

A counter-drone supplier combining radio-frequency sensing, command software and electronic countermeasures. Its portfolio includes fixed-site and mobile systems, placing it in the protective infrastructure surrounding the aircraft market.

Supplier accountRead
Air · Drone / systemUnited States

FQ-42 Vengeance

One of the US Air Force’s two Increment 1 collaborative combat aircraft. The FQ-42 brings General Atomics into a jet-powered teaming programme alongside its established remotely piloted aircraft business.

Order / production commitmentRead