Ukrainian War Zone Field Covered with Fiber Optic Cables
This photo of a field in the Ukrainian war zone covered with fiber optic cables left by FPV drones appeared recently in reddit. Here is the original: Source: reddit
Editor
Operation Spiderweb: Analysis of Ukraine’s Deep-Strike Drone Offensive
The success of OPERATION SPIDERWEB highly likely indicates a porous Russian front line and also that Ukraine has integrated basic artificial intelligence (AI) targeting metrics into autonomous UAS platforms, enhancing precision and responsiveness. Ukrainian swarm capabilities are likely limited to light Class I systems. These are optimised for striking vulnerable
UK/Latvia Led Drone Coalition Allocates $3BN to Support Ukraine - Turkey and Belgium to Join
On Wednesday, May 28, during the Drone Summit, Minister of Defence of Republic of Latvia Andris Sprūds announced that Turkey and Belgium have expressed their intention to join the international Drone Coalition led by Latvia and the United Kingdom in support of Ukraine. Coalition member states have also committed to
Business
QinetiQ US Wins $41M Task Order to Support Army Counter UAS
* QinetiQ US won a $41 million, three-year task order to provide software and technology integration support for a counter-UAS project under the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) C5ISR Center. The company will deliver technical and software engineering expertise to advance counter-UAS capabilities across fixed installations, vehicles, and
Propulsion
New Technology to Wirelessly Power Drones in Flight
A research group led by Takayuki Matsumuro, a researcher at the Wave Engineering Laboratory of the Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International (ATR) in Japan, has developed a new technology for wirelessly transmitting power to drones in flight. This technology forms a special beam called an "air-core beam" *1
Business
General Atomics Gets $8M USAF MQ-9A Support Contract for Spain
* General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., Poway, California, was awarded a ceiling $8,198,239 cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price, undefinitized contract for Spain MQ-9A remotely piloted aircraft systems weaponization. This contract provides for hardware and support services to weaponize Spain's MQ-9A fleet. Work will be performed at Poway, California, and
Ukraine Hits Russian Bomber Bases with FPV Drone Swarm
Ukraine has launched what appears to be its largest drone-based operation to date, striking key Russian air bases that house strategic bombers used in long-range attacks against Ukrainian cities. An operation by Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) using first-person-view (FPV) drones smuggled deep into Russian and hidden inside trucks
Weapons Systems / Lasers
Israel’s Iron Beam Laser Air Defence System Tested in Battle
Israel has used a new air defense laser to shoot down Hezbollah drones in the current conflict in the Middle East, it has been confirmed. What is described as an adapted version of the Iron Beam system made its combat debut last October, and the definitive version should be fielded
VTOL
Alpha Unmanned Systems and Airbus Helicopters España to Integrate Tactical UAVs into Next-Generation Helicopter Operations
– Alpha Unmanned Systems, a Spanish company developing unmanned helicopters, has signed a collaboration agreement with Airbus Helicopters España. This strategic alliance follows the successful joint participation of both companies in Spanish military exercises and marks a significant step toward integrating Crewed-Uncrewed Teaming capabilities, or collaboration between manned and unmanned helicopters.
Propulsion
Factorial Ships First Solid-State Battery Cells to Avidrone Aerospace
* Factorial Inc., a supplier of solid-state battery technology, announced the shipment of its first solid-state lithium-metal battery cells for drone use to Avidrone Aerospace Inc., a Canadian developer of long-range, dual-use unmanned aerial systems (UAS). This milestone marks Factorial’s first shipment in the drone sector and the first flight
Control Stations
General Atomics Gets $35M US Navy Ground Control Station Contract
* General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., Poway, California, has been awarded a $34,870,790 firm-fixed-price order (N0001925F0017) against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N0001922G0006). This order procures Air Vehicle and Ground Control Station spares in support of the successful operational capability of the Marine Air Ground Task Force Unmanned
Business
Smartshooter Gets $13M US Army Contract for Smash 2000L Fire Control Systems
* SMARTSHOOTER, a designer, developer, and manufacturer of innovative fire control systems, has announced that its U.S. subsidiary, SMARTSHOOTER Inc., has received a new order valued at $13M from the U.S. Army for SMASH 2000L fire control systems. The systems will be deployed as part of the Army’s