Engineers at Boeing are building laser systems to protect troops. The US Army's High Energy Laser Mobile Demonstrator (HEL MD) directs powerful light beams that stop UAVs, mortars and artillery in midair.
Source: YouTube
“The integration of the Kratos Valkyrie aircraft system configured with the world’s best multifunction mission systems from Northrop Grumman results in a high-capability CCA at a price point that enables the unmanned systems to be deployed in mass with manned aircraft.”
France has conducted a series of experimental trials assessing the feasibility of releasing drones from a military transport aircraft, using an A400M as the test platform.
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission announced that it is exempting imports of some new models of foreign-made drones and critical components from a sweeping import ban adopted in December.
Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems of San Diego, California, has received a $142.5 million contract modification for work on the RQ-4B Global Hawk unmanned aircraft system.