Airobotics Inc. was granted an Airworthiness Type Certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for its Optimus-1EX. The FAA's Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety Mr. David Boulter has announced the grant of the Type Certificate during Commercial UAV Expo held in Las Vegas. Airobotics Optimus-1EX is
Transport
An unmanned cargo aircraft has made a first landing aboard the UK Royal Navy’s (RN’s) aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, as the service eyes the future operational use of such equipment. The W Autonomous Systems (WAS) drone flew from the Lizard Peninsula and on to the deck
Military
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) is poised to begin the flight-testing phase on the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) LongShot program. Begun in 2020, General Atomics was competitively awarded a contract to develop DARPA’s concept for disruptive air combat operations through demonstration of an
Propulsion
DARPA is entering the first phase of the Persistent Optical Wireless Energy Relay (POWER) program, aimed at revolutionizing energy distribution through airborne wireless power transfer. Three teams -- led by RTX Corporation, Draper Laboratory, and BEAM Co. -- will design and develop wireless optical power relays. The program goals include demonstrating the
Regulations
The FAA authorized two more companies to operate drones beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS). UPS Flight Forward with its Matternet M2 can conduct small package delivery and uAvionix with its Rapace can use the Vantis Network to test its detect and avoid technology. On August 24 the agency authorized
Military
French drone manufacturer Delair sent Ukraine over 150 drones financed by France’s government, Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu reported on Sept. 6. Ukraine selected the drones itself, Lecornu said, without specifying the model. Delair, one of the world’s leading drone producers headquartered in Toulouse, France, offers fixed-wing unmanned
Military
Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak has announced that a contract has been signed for the acquisition of additional Flyeye UAV’s from WB Group for the Polish Artillery. Lieutenant Colonel Krzysztof Płatek, spokesman for the Armaments Agency, announced the contract for a quantity of Flyeye sets with a gross contract
Military
Defense technology company Anduril Industries has announced its acquisition of Blue Force Technologies, a developer of autonomous aircraft with an integrated aerostructures division that serves a wide range of defense and commercial customers. This transaction will expand Anduril's existing autonomous fleet to now include large high performance, group
Weapons Systems / Lasers
Insitu, A Boeing Company, announced a munitions program for its Integrator UAS, which adds a highly sought-after strike capability to the platform’s unmatched payload portfolio and class-leading 24-hour flight endurance. Insitu collaborated with multiple weapons developers and U.S. Government agencies to enable the Integrator to
Video
At the start of 1939, the United States Army Air Corps wanted more of its favourite aircraft, the B-17 Flying Fortress. Consolidated took one look at the B-17 and decided they could do better. They responded with a proposal for a new aircraft which could fly faster, further,
Research
Typically, the primary indicator of a burgeoning wildfire in California is a plume of hazy, gray smoke wafting through the air, seen by satellites or cameras. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or CalFire, is alerted, and mitigation and containment efforts ensue. But Zhaodan Kong, a professor in
Events
The Polish government hasrolled out a new armed, unmanned aerial vehicle concept aimed at countering smaller drones, known as the HAASTA, to kick off the annual MSPO defense trade show. In the announcement, the government stated the design draws on “insights gained from recent years of combat operations” — a not-