Weapons Systems / Lasers
BAE Systems and Malloy Aeronautics have demonstrated the capabilities of the T-600 heavy lift uncrewed air system (UAS) during a large NATO exercise in Portugal to integrate the very latest maritime technologies across allied forces. The T-600 is an electric-powered demonstrator aircraft capable of vertical take-off and landing, can carry
Military
Iranian kamikaze drones used in the latest attacks on Ukrainian cities are filled with European components, according to a secret document sent by Kyiv to its western allies in which it appeals for long-range missiles to attack production sites in Russia, Iran and Syria. In a 47-page document submitted by
Military
The US Army has chosen Textron Systems and Griffon Aerospace to participate in the next phase of the Future Tactical UAS rapid prototyping program, the service announced Tuesday. FTUAS, part of the Army’s Future Vertical Lift portfolio, has requirements that include runway independence and a “rapidly deployable UAS capability,
VTOL
Texas A&M engineers are using machine learning to help automate the ship-landing process by mimicking a helicopter pilot’s behaviour. Landing a helicopter on a ship’s flight deck is one of the most challenging and complex maneuvers demanded of a Navy pilot. Unlike a runway, the landing
BVLOS
Skyports Drone Services has partnered with Australian drone manufacturer Carbonix to scale beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations across the country using its long-range vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft. In the first phase of the partnership, Skyports Drone Services will embed specialist international drone pilots within Carbonix. The
Military
New video shows the test launch of a Chinese made kamikaze drone, the Sunflower-200. The footage shared on Twitter shows the drone taking off with the assistance of a rocket booster, and (presumably) hitting a target some distance away. The weapon, apparently a copy of the Iranian Shahed-136, was previously
Testing
The US Air Force demonstrated artificial intelligence-enabled air combat during a successful launch of an XQ-58A Valkyrie here Aug. 22. This flight helps develop a trained tactical autonomy algorithm from simulation through flight test on a high-performance, uncrewed air vehicle. AI algorithms, developed and trained by the Air Force Research
C-UAS
NATO wants to open new lines of communication—but not between its member nations. Rather, the organization is exploring a new way for counter-uncrewed aircraft systems (C-UAS) to talk to each other. Open-source intelligence company Janes reported NATO will adopt the U.K. Ministry of Defense’s (MOD) Sensing for
Iran's armed forces paraded multiple drones, missiles and other military hardware on September 21st, as the country marked the national Army Day that falls on the anniversary of its 1980s war with Iraq. During the televised ceremony in Tehran, 16 different types of drones were paraded before President
Test Ranges
UAS Denmark Test Center, Denmark's national drone test center, and Mittarfeqarfiit A/S, Greenland Airports, are now establishing a collaboration that will contribute to the development and testing of drones under Arctic conditions at Kangerlussuaq Airport. With the Greenlandic partnership, UAS Denmark Test Center becomes the first test
Business
Taiwanese company GEOSAT Aerospace and Technology has inked an agreement with British firm Flyby Technology that paves the way for the purchase, technology transfer and production of 160 Turkish-made Jackal drones. The memorandum of understanding, signed during the Taipei Aerospace Defense Technology Exhibition this month, involves the transfer of technology
Swarms
This GAO Science & Tech Spotlight report explores drone swarm technologies, which use algorithms and local sensors to coordinate drones with minimal human intervention. Swarms could range from a few drones to possibly thousands. Advances in artificial intelligence and drone components have made swarms possible—even if they're