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 conduct UAS surveillance
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 relevant to the
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. Sky
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
Loitering Munitions - One Way Effector (OWE)
When Teledyne FLIR unveiled its “new” Rogue 1 loitering munition system (LMS) on May 7, it was the first glimpse the public got of the design. But quietly, US Special Operations Command has been testing the vertical take-off/landing capability system for over two years. The company has been under
Business
The European Commission last week announced over €1 billion in funding for 54 additional defence projects through the European Defence Fund, bringing the total EU budgetary investments to more than €3 billion ($3.3BN) in collaborative defence R&D projects since the start of the EDF Regulation in May
China has built the world's first dedicated fixed-wing drone carrier. The ship has not been reported however and many of the circumstances surrounding it remain a mystery. Hidden away in a shipyard on the Yangtze, far upriver from the major yards at Shanghai, is a new aircraft carrier.
Research
In a recently published paper, researchers in New Zealand and Australia present a novel IIQC framework, which is specifically designed for rapidly evaluating the quality of UAV-captured images for UAV-enabled bridge inspection. This framework utilises a BIM of the target bridge and incorporates three key components for accurately assessing image
C-UAS
Different eras of warfare are colliding in war-torn Ukraine, highlighting a dramatic contrast between Russia and Ukraine's arsenals as Kyiv desperately awaits a new influx of weapons from the U.S. As Ukraine anticipates the arrival of its first F-16s fighter jets as part of the recent foreign
C-UAS
A new game-changing weapon that uses radio waves to disable enemy electronics and take down multiple drones at once is under development for the UK’s armed forces. This forms part of work to put the UK’s defence industry on a war footing following the Prime Minister’s announcement
Military
Yemen’s Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for shooting down an American MQ-9 Reaper. The incident was confirmed hours after footage surfaced online showing what appeared to be the wreckage of the modern combat drone. Houthi-led media later released video evidence purportedly capturing the moment the drone was struck. Houthi
Testing
The Eurodrone programme has successfully performed the Preliminary Design Review (PDR). Led by Airbus Defence and Space as prime contractor, this major programme milestone has been completed with OCCAR and representatives of the four customer nations (France, Germany, Italy and Spain) in the presence of the three Major Sub-Contractors (MSC)