Business
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., Poway, California, was awarded a $10,845,151 Foreign Military Sale (FMS) contract for MQ-9B protector in-service sustainment support. This contract will provide for sustainment support for the United Kingdom Royal Air Force. Work will be performed in Poway, California, and is expected to be
Weapons Systems
The US Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division successfully air-launched a Solid Fuel Integral Rocket Ramjet (SFIRR) from an unmanned vehicle for the first time, one step toward modernizing missile technology. The test also integrated the use of a fire control system on a BQM-34 unmanned target vehicle for live
The UK’s Military Aviation Authority has issued a Military Type Certificate to the Royal Air Force’s Protector RG Mk1 unmanned aircraft, also designated the MQ-9B, certifying that it has passed a rigorous airworthiness assessment and verifying it’s safe to operate without geographic restrictions, including over populous areas.
Business
Singapore’s Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) and European defence group MBDA have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will pave the way for joint efforts to explore innovative and low-cost solutions for countering drone threats. The announcement was made on the sidelines of IMDEX Asia. The partnership
C-UAS
Latvian Defence tech startup Origin Robotics has launched BLAZE, an autonomous counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) interceptor designed to neutralize fast-moving aerial threats with precision and speed. As drones become an increasingly dominant force on the modern battlefield, BLAZE offers a cost-effective solution to counter them, filling the gap between traditional
Transport
* DZYNE Technologies, an innovator in autonomous defense solutions, announced the delivery of multiple “Grasshopper” expendable aerial cargo glider vehicles to the U.S. Air Force. This delivery is part of a broader ongoing program to enhance contested logistics capabilities. Designed for precision aerial logistics, Grasshopper offers a cost-effective, autonomous solution
Video
A up-close look at L3Harris' Sky Warden variant of the famed AT-802 Air Tractor that is serving as the test aircraft for Air Force Special Operation Command's OA-1K Skyraider II program. The War Zone met up with L3Harris at this year's Special Operations Forces Week
Loitering Munitions - One Way Effector (OWE)
U.S. defense technology company Anduril Industries has revealed large-scale production of its new Roadrunner loitering interceptor, a reusable drone designed to counter aerial threats with rapid-launch capabilities. The company shared an image across its social media platforms showing a substantial number of serially produced Roadrunner units, signaling that the
* Teledyne FLIR Defense, part of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, has announced a number of upgrades to its Black Hornet 4 Personal Reconnaissance System to further boost operational effectiveness for warfighters. The enhanced features are being showcased at the Special Operations Forces (SOF) Week annual conference at the Tampa Convention Center, May
Business
* HENSOLDT, a leading German provider of defence and security sensor solutions, has announced a strategic cooperation with Munich-based defence tech startup Quantum Systems. This partnership is accompanied by an investment by HENSOLDT into Quantum Systems and sets the foundation for a deeper cooperation in Software-Defined Defence (SDD). The partnership brings
Business
* TEKEVER, a European provider of AI-driven Autonomous Systems, has announced the raise of a new funding round. Fully committed by existing investors, including round leader Ventura Capital, Baillie Gifford, the NATO Innovation Fund (NIF), Iberis Capital and Crescent Cove, the round confirms TEKEVER’s valuation above £1 Billion. This milestone
News
Ukraine has recorded the first confirmed destruction of Russia’s advanced 'Zaslon' radar system, originally designed for naval use but recently deployed on land. The strike was carried out by drone operators of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems, who located and eliminated the radar despite its non-standard wheel-mounted configuration.