Colton Jones

Colton Jones serves as Deputy Editor of Defence Blog, with a specialization in the U.S. defense industrial base. A former member of the United States Air Force, Colton brings firsthand military experience to his analysis of procurement, defense manufacturing, and Pentagon policy. He is one of the blog’s lead writers and most respected defense experts.
News

Stratolaunch, Ursa Major complete breakthrough hypersonic tests

Ursa Major has announced the successful completion of two sustained hypersonic flight tests of its Hadley liquid rocket engine. The tests, conducted since late 2024 in partnership with Stratolaunch, exceeded both flight and power expectations using the Talon-A2...
Aviation

StormShroud drones to guard British fighter jets

The Royal Air Force has introduced a new generation of British-made drones known as “StormShroud,” designed to support frontline missions by jamming enemy radar and protecting crewed aircraft such as the Typhoon and F-35. According to an official...
Aviation

US Air Force taps Ursa Major for hypersonic flight demo

The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory has awarded a $28.6 million contract to Ursa Major to advance propulsion systems for hypersonic and responsive space missions. The award, announced last week, supports continued development of storable liquid rocket engines,...
Aviation

Airbus and Shield AI transform UH-72 helicopter into drone

Airbus U.S. Space & Defense and Shield AI have entered a strategic agreement to integrate Shield AI’s Hivemind autonomy software into the Airbus MQ-72C Logistics Connector, an unmanned adaptation of the UH-72 Lakota helicopter. The partnership aims...
Maritime Security

US Navy’s expeditionary mobile base repaired at Japanese shipyard

The U.S. Navy’s expeditionary mobile base USS Miguel Keith (ESB-5) has completed a five-month Regular Overhaul (ROH) at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) in Yokohama, Japan—marking the first time a Japanese shipyard has won and executed an ROH...
Aviation

US Air Force tests AI drone for aircraft inspections

Airmen at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) were given a hands-on look at the Skydio X10D drone system during a live demonstration on April 23, as the U.S. Air Force continues exploring advanced uncrewed solutions for maintenance, security,...
Aviation

US Air Force begins testing of uncrewed combat jets

The Department of the U.S. Air Force has launched ground testing for its Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program. The program includes two prototype vehicles—the YFQ-42A by General Atomics and the YFQ-44A by Anduril—now undergoing rigorous evaluation ahead of...
Maritime Security

US Marines test new drone defense system in Philippines

The U.S. Marine Corps showcased its evolving air defense capabilities during Exercise Balikatan 25, engaging drone targets with the advanced XM914 30mm chain gun system integrated into the Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS). The live-fire event took...
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