The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) has announced changes to Blue UAS that will provide a way for companies to verify their NDAA compliance as part of a two-tiered system for Blue UAS that will allow the number of cleared systems to scale while continuing to accelerate the development and fielding
* uAvionix, a provider of low-SWaP aviation-grade communications and surveillance technologies for Unmanned Aircraft Systems, has announced a significant software update to its muLTElink product family, enabling advanced link management for assured Command and Control (C2) and payload during UAS operations. muLTElink, which integrates up to four independent radios (C-Band, LTE,
The U.S. Air Force is looking into the idea of air-launching Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) drones from other airplanes in addition to other ways of reducing dependence on traditional runways. Air-launched CCAs also fit in with the service’s larger vision of CCAs having a disruptive impact on future
* Evolve Dynamics, a British designer and manufacturer of advanced Unmanned Aerial Systems has announced the launch of two new miniaturised platforms specifically engineered to meet the rigorous demands of modern warfighters. The new platforms, Foxe and Wolfe, were spiral developed based on learnings from Ukraine battlefield deployment, and represent a
Business
* Anduril Industries UK announced that it will lead a team for upcoming programmes, including to bid for future flight opportunities. Anduril UK, building on its existing partnership with aerospace company Archer, will receive additional support from Skyports Drone Services and AtkinsRéalis, two other leading technology companies. Together, Anduril and its
Testing
* General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. is moving into the ground testing phase of development on the YFQ-42A production-representative test vehicle for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program in preparation for its planned first flight later this summer. Ground testing began May 7. “The YFQ-42A is an exciting next step for
The fourth prototype of China's Jiu Tian SS-UAV 'Drone Mothership' has completed its structural assembly and is currently undergoing installation and testing, with its maiden flight scheduled for next month. The vehicle has a 25 metre wingspan and can fly for 12 hours, with a maximum
Accidents
On a (lightly) rainy December day at the company's testing range in Oregon, not one but two Prime Air drones suddenly stopped spinning their propellers mid-flight and plummeted some 200 feet to the ground. The crashes, which destroyed both aircraft, happened within minutes of each other. According to
C-UAS
Ukrainian forces are now equipping drones to fly with metal mesh meant to protect them from other drones. The first video of an up-armoured Ukrainian drone just circulated online. [embed]https://vimeo.com/1085416819[/embed] The first anti-drone cages, which Ukrainian observers dubbed “cope cages,” began showing up on Russian
Business
Estonian company Meridein Group is set to build a high-capacity unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) production plant to bolster the Baltic region’s defense capabilities. The facility will be capable of producing up to 2,000 drones per day. The exact location of the plant has not been disclosed. The first
Once again, UAV Navigation - Grupo Oesía will participate in XPONENTIAL from May 20 to 22 in Houston, Texas. The Spanish company, hyperspecialized in Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC) systems for UAS platforms, is part of Grupo Oesía and has more than 20 years of experience in the sector. This
Software
* General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. has successfully integrated the advanced Optix software—developed by General Atomics Integrated Intelligence, Inc. (GA-i3)—into the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) Common Intelligence Picture (CIP) for a multi-service Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course. This milestone marks a significant enhancement in the USMC’s