AERONAUTICAL DRONES, PART 1: CURRENT STATUS AND TRENDS

AERONAUTICAL DRONES, PART 2: CURRENT APPLICATIONS AND TRENDS

This paper examines the current applications and emerging development trends of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), with emphasis on the technological and operational evolution of contemporary drone systems across civil and military domains. The study reviews the expanding use of UAVs in precision agriculture, infrastructure inspection, logistics, emergency response, urban air mobility, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), electronic warfare and tactical operations, highlighting the operational advantages offered by unmanned platforms in diverse mission environments. The principal challenges affecting future UAV deployment are also analyzed, including battery endurance, cybersecurity, communication reliability, regulatory compliance, airspace integration and environmental constraints. Attention is given also to the increasing role of artificial intelligence, autonomous mission execution, swarm coordination, advanced propulsion technologies and digital airspace management in shaping the next generation of unmanned aircraft systems. Current research directions indicate a transition from individually operated drones toward interconnected, intelligent and highly autonomous aerial systems capable of cooperative decision- making and large-scale deployment. The analysis shows that future progress in unmanned aviation will depend not only on improvements in aircraft performance but also on advances in systems integration, secure communications, resilient autonomy and regulatory frameworks that enable the safe and efficient operation of increasingly complex UAV ecosystems.

The Evolving Landscape of Unmanned Aircraft Systems: A Review of Current Challenges and Future Scenarios

Today (mid-2026) UASs are a mature technology, quickly expanding, with two distinct tracks: a civil/commercial ecosystem that is moving from hobbyist and line-of-sight ops toward scaled commercial BVLOS and logistics, and an advanced industrial ecosystem that is rapidly adopting increasingly autonomous, networked, and innovative drone types (from tactical ISR to loitering, delivery, and swarm concepts). Regulators (FAA, EASA, and national authorities) are actively updating rules to enable safe BVLOS and integrated operations; at the same time, demand for counter-UAS capabilities is surging. This study presents an extensive review of UAV technologies, outlining their applications in both civilian and industrial domains. It further analyzes principal use cases alongside the related technical and operational challenges. Moreover, prospective research directions are proposed with the aim of advancing the technology framework. The insights provided are intended to offer meaningful guidance and inspiration for researchers in this area. The paper also emphasizes the existing framework while discussing potential future developments.

Integration Challenges of Turbine-Powered UAVs: Thermal, Structural, Acoustic, and Operational Perspectives

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) increasingly demand higher flight speeds, longer endurance, improved payload capacity, and greater operational flexibility across a wide range of applications. While battery-electric propulsion systems dominate small UAV platforms, their limited energy density significantly constrains range and mission duration. Consequently, turbine-based propulsion systems, including micro turbojets, turboprops, turboshafts, and hybrid-electric gas turbine architectures, are attracting growing attention as alternatives for advanced UAV operations. Unlike previous reviews that primarily focus on propulsion technologies or individual subsystem performance, this review provides an integrated assessment of the multidisciplinary challenges associated with turbine-powered UAVs, encompassing thermal, structural, aerodynamic, acoustic, operational, and stealth considerations within a unified framework. The presented synthesis identifies current knowledge gaps and emerging research directions, providing a comprehensive reference for the design and development of next-generation turbine-powered unmanned aerial platforms.

A Review of Micro Gas Engines for UAV Propulsion: Fundamentals and Emerging Technologies

The rapid expansion of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) applications in both civilian and military sectors has intensified the demand for propulsion systems capable of delivering higher speed, increased endurance, and improved payload capacity. While battery-electric propulsion remains dominant for small UAV platforms, its limited energy density restricts operational range and mission flexibility. As a result, micro gas engines have emerged as a viable alternative for applications requiring high power-to-weight ratios and sustained high-speed operation. This review examines the fundamentals, scaling effects, and classification of micro gas turbine propulsion systems used in UAV applications, with emphasis on micro turbojets and related hybrid configurations. The paper discusses the thermodynamic principles governing micro gas engines and analyzes the aerodynamic, thermal, and combustion challenges associated with miniaturization, including low Reynolds number effects, tip leakage losses, thermal management limitations, and combustion instability. Furthermore, the study reviews the operational characteristics and mission suitability of different propulsion architectures for reconnaissance UAVs, high-speed UAVs, including reconnaissance and loitering platforms, target drones, and hybrid-electric aerial platforms. Recent developments involving additive manufacturing, advanced control systems, recuperated cycles, and hybrid-electric integration are also evaluated as enabling technologies for next-generation UAV propulsion. The findings demonstrate that although micro gas turbines continue to face important efficiency and manufacturing challenges at reduced scales, they remain essential for mission profiles that exceed the capabilities of purely electric propulsion systems.

Design of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle for Logistics Applications in the Low-Altitude Economy

Discussion of Key Technologies on Application of High-Payload Ducted Fan Aircraft

Against the backdrop of accelerating urbanization and diversifying social demands, aerospace technology has extensively permeated numerous fields such as logistics and transportation, emergency and disaster relief, environmental monitoring, and urban transportation. Its application scope is expanding from traditional reconnaissance and surveillance to complex scenarios like material transportation, manned operations, and precision maintenance. Within this trend, high-payload, vertical take-off and landing (VTOL), and high-safety aircraft have become key equipment for enhancing operational efficiency across multiple sectors. Among these, high-payload ducted fan aircraft, with their high safety, excellent low-speed performance, and outstanding VTOL capability, demonstrate unique advantages in tall building fire suppression, power lines and towers maintenance, and personal flight experiences. This paper first outlines the diversified application prospects of aerospace technology, then focuses on high-payload ducted fan aircraft. It discusses the technical requirements specific to such aircraft in the aforementioned key scenarios and analyzes the critical technical bottlenecks hindering their broader application, along with potential viable solutions.