Testing
Reliable Robotics, a supplier of aircraft automation systems, announced a significant milestone in its work to bring advanced safety-enhancing technologies to market in the United States. Last month’s successful flight of a Cessna 208B Caravan with no one on board was a first for aviation. A remote pilot supervised
Loitering Munitions - One Way Effector (OWE)
This new weapon system exhibits striking similarities to the American-made Switchblade 300, indicating China’s strides in developing comparable technology within the unmanned aerial systems domain. The XS101 loitering munition, akin in design to its American counterpart, boasts an external resemblance to the U.S.-produced Switchblade 300. Like the
In 2020 a detailed Russian report warned that "… we can conclude that modern [Russian] air defense systems are very poorly adapted to combat UAVs [Uncrewed Air Vehicles, drones]." Prof. Sergey Makarenko of St. Petersburg Electrotechnical University "LETI" authored the 193-page report entitled Countering Unmanned Air Vehicles.
Research
The dynamic growth in Civil Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) over the next decade will create significant rewards for smart investment as nations open their airspace, commercial applications take off, and civil governments adopt systems for new roles in border security and public safety. At the same time, some sectors of
Loitering Munitions - One Way Effector (OWE)
Iran recently introduced its latest defense asset, unveiling the Shahin-1 kamikaze drone during a commissioning ceremony at the Deylaman helipad. Named Shahin-1, this tube-launched autonomous loitering munition is engineered to locate, acquire, and engage targets specified by the operator. Its canister-based launch system draws similarities to smaller Meraj-521 and Sina
On Nov. 9, 2023, the Italian Air Force (ItAF) made its first flight of a new MQ-9A Block 5 Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) built by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.. The new RPA was delivered to the ItAF, along with a new Mobile Ground Control Station (MGCS), as part of
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In the thick of 2022, as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sent shockwaves across the globe, a faint glimmer of hope persisted. Many believed that Putin’s vaunted hypersonic weapons couldn’t be efficiently utilized, given that the MiG-31K, their usual carrier, had become a rare sight in the post-Soviet
In two separate indictments unsealed yesterday, Hans Maria De Geetere, 61, of Knokke-Heist, Belgium, is charged with crimes related to a years-long scheme to unlawfully export sensitive, military-grade technology from the United States to end users located in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Russian Federation. Concurrent
Japan has attained official observer status on the Eurodrone project, the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) announced on 30 November. The letter of approval was presented in Berlin by OCCAR Executive Administration Director Joachim Sucker to the Japanese Ambassador to Germany, Hidenao Yanagi. Also known as the European medium-altitude
Business
American Switchblade 600 combat drones will be delivered to Lithuania next year, the Lithuanian Defence Ministry said on Saturday. Wahid Nawabi, CEO of AeroVironment, confirmed the news to Defence Minister Arvydas Anušauskas who is currently in the United States. Lithuania signed a contract for the American drones in December 2022.
Inspections
Pacific Gas and Electric Company convened hundreds of certified drone pilots, industry collaborators, community partners, and federal stakeholders in San Ramon, California for a conference exploring the usage of unmanned aerial systems for utility operations. The first-of-its-kind event for PG&E included product demonstrations and discussions with UAS hardware,
Damp, cold conditions are the enemy of wind power. If a layer of ice forms on the rotor blades, this can result in rotational imbalance and, hence, increased wear. In such cases, the turbines often have to be shut down for several days, leading to massive losses for the operators