The U.S. Air Force released new photos of the B-21 Raider on May 22, offering the first official images of the bomber since it made its first flight last year. A day later, B-21 manufacturer Northrop Grumman released a new photo of its own. The images, which
Video
In the sweltering heat of a Vietnamese afternoon, the roar of jet engines pierces the humid air as a squadron of US bombers streaks across the cloudless sky. Accompanying them on their daring mission, a lone Grumman TF-9J, the trainer version of the veteran Cougar fighter, assumes the forward
USV
Ukraine's uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) are dominating naval combat in the Black Sea. Yet they have, until now, been particularly vulnerable to aircraft. So Russian defenses have emphasized using helicopters and fighter jets to stop them. Now a version armed with two repurposed air-air missiles could change
Business
The U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC) has awarded BlueHalo a $95.4M contract for advanced Directed Energy prototype development as part of the Laser technology Research Development and Optimization (LARDO) program through the Aviation & Missile Technology Consortium . This contract enables BlueHalo’s continued work to
Military
The US Navy is preparing to deploy two Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Tritons at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa. This is the first known deployment of this high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) on Okinawa. A US Navy spokesperson confirmed to Janes on 20 May that the
Experiments with ever-larger drone swarms are revealing a need for new concepts of operations and new ways of training human operators, the Air Force Special Operations Forces Command says. In the next few months, AFSOC will expand upon a groundbreaking December experiment that saw a single drone crew guide
Events
Hundreds of university and high school students from more than 70 schools across the globe will descend on Southern Maryland to compete their self-built unmanned systems at the 22nd annual RoboNation Student Unmanned Aerial Systems (SUAS) Competition on June 25-26 at the St. Mary’s County Regional Airport.
Turkey's ANKA-3 project, the country's first vertical-tailless turbofan-powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), achieved another significant milestone with its successful maiden flight. The ANKA-3's inaugural flight lasted for 1 hour and 10 minutes. Reaching an altitude of 8,000 feet, the
Data Links & Communications
Iridium Communications Inc., a provider of global voice and data satellite communications, announced a historic development for uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) operations beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS). Iridium partner American Aerospace Technologies, Inc. was granted a first-of-its-kind waiver from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration to
Training
The Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central)’s Command Technology Data Office (CTDO) premiered a data-centric Hack-a-thon at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, April 29 to May 3, 2024. This effort focused on enabling the operationalization of the command and control solutions for complex problems sets
Drone Light Shows
Sky Elements is the first US-based drone light show company to receive FAA approval to attach fireworks to drones. Drone light shows, as we know them, will never be the same. 300 drones took flight over our test field to create a spectacle never seen in the United States.
Business
Ondas Holdings Inc., a provider of private industrial wireless networks and commercial drone and automated data solutions, announced that its wholly owned subsidiary American Robotics Inc. will host the grand opening of its Maryland headquarters with an event being held on June 12th - 13th. During this event, American Robotics will