Since it was formed, the Northern Plains UAS Test Site (NPUASTS) has been a critical partner in Project ULTRA, a multi-entity collaboration that is bolstering the Department of Defense’s (DoD) capabilities within the National Airspace System (NAS).Just months after the public announcement, the NPUASTS has surpassed significant milestones
Military
Russian forces in Ukraine have started using drones that have received the PFM-1 anti-personnel mine dropping system. A photo of such a Russian drone was shown by radio technology specialist Serhiy Flesh. The DJI Mavic 3 drone was equipped with the anti-personnel mine drop system, which is now capable of
In order to reduce the labour required for agricultural work and to combat high summer temperatures, JA Zennoh Aomori (National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations) is testing the use of drones to spray a shading agent on agricultural greenhouses. The team will investigate the effects of high temperatures on the
Expanding its pioneering Drone as First Responder (DFR) program, Campbell Police Department (CPD) is the first in California, using optical and radar sensors, to incorporate radar in a Part 91.113(b) waiver request to conduct single-person operations, which requires only one operator for flight operations. Adding radar also allows
Propulsion
* X-Bow Systems Inc., a non-traditional supplier of advanced manufactured solid rocket motors (SRMs) and defense technologies, has announced the successful third flight of its Bolt Rocket. The XB-32 motor, part of X-Bow’s Bolt rocket family, is the largest Advanced Manufactured Solid Propellant (AMSP) motor ever flown, utilizing the company&
Data Links & Communications
* Silvus Technologies, Inc., a global supplier of advanced wireless networking communication systems, has announced its next-generation MANET radio OEM module: the StreamCaster LITE 5200 (SL5200). Designed for leading-edge unmanned systems, the SL5200 unifies C2, sensor, and telemetry data with communications relay capabilities in an ultra-low SWaP (52g), easy-to-integrate MANET radio
* Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, has received a $6 million award from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to install the company’s ALIAS/MATRIX flight autonomy system onto the U.S. Army’s experimental fly-by-wire UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter. Designated MX, the upgraded aircraft will enable the U.
Business
* Teledyne FLIR Defense, part of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, has won a five-year contract worth up to $91 million to provide its Black Hornet 4 Personal Reconnaissance Systems to the United States Army. The advanced nano-unmanned aerial systems (UAS) are being acquired under the Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) program, Phase II.
* Prodrone, a Japanese industrial drone producer, plans to supply Ukraine with its drones for humanitarian demining. Tokyo has previously assisted Kyiv in mine clearance efforts. Japan delivered four ALIS systems to search mines and 50 metal detectors. Additionally, Ukrainian experts have undergone demining training in Japan. Prodrone intends to supply
Events
The Skywolf family of unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) munitions developed by Turkish defense startup Astech is set to strengthen Turkey’s defense capabilities by joining the nation’s growing roster of UCAV munitions, a key export category in the Turkish defense industry. Astech will unveil the Skywolf Ground Attack
Military
The British Army’s most farsighted eye in the sky has taken flight in the skies of Estonia. The Watchkeeper Uncrewed Air System (UAS), flown by 47th Regiment Royal Artillery, has had a recent upgrade of the sensors it uses when flying intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions.
Leaked intelligence documents have revealed that Israel possesses a highly classified long-range unmanned surveillance drone capable of covert operations across the Middle East. The documents, which surfaced on Telegram on October 15 and 16, detail Israeli preparations for potential military strikes against Iran and point to the existence of a