Lighter Than Air
After four years of setbacks and crashes, in 2017 Alphabet closed down its project flying solar-powered fixed-wing drones in the upper atmosphere to beam the internet to those cut-off. Now, Google parent company Alphabet, has also dropped Loon, its upper-atmosphere balloon version. CEO Alastair Westgarth wrote this farewell blog post:
Business
GKN Aerospace is helping develop the next generation of sustainable technology through three ground-breaking collaborative programmes as part of the Future Flight Challenge. GKN Aerospace will take a leading role in the programmes, delivering them from its new £32M Global Technology Centre in Bristol. The Future Flight Challenge is a
Business
Schiebel and Nordic Unmanned are both under contract with EMSA (European Maritime Safety Agency) to fulfil its Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) services
Business
Pierce Aerospace announced that it has entered into a mentor-protege relationship with Northrop Grumman through its Defense Systems Sector. Mentor-Protégé programs between small businesses and prime contractors like Northrop Grumman expand small business footprints into the defense industrial base and government marketplaces, including advancing technical development and strengthening small business
Military
Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) has posted a request for information (RFI) for an Analysis of Alternatives for what it is calling the Future Vertical Lift-Maritime Strike (FVL-MS) program. This announcement constitutes a Request for Information (RFI) for planning purposes. The Initial Capability Document (ICD) for Future Vertical Lift (FVL)
Business
Blue Bear Systems Research, a UK Small to Medium Enterprise in Bedford, has formed a seven-strong consortium to develop a next generation, all electric, propulsion module to enhance aircraft performance while reducing operating costs. The propulsion module is a scalable design and is the first in a range of products
C-UAS
Citadel Defense has received a multi-million-dollar government contract for their Titan, an AI-powered, radiofrequency (RF) based counter drone system. Citadel’s technology was selected following a competitive evaluation of two dozen competitive counter small unmanned aircraft systems (C-sUAS). Titan proved highly effective in complex urban environments and was preferred by
Electronic Sub-Systems
AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc. a drone systems and solutions provider, announced the Company has agreed to acquire MicaSense, Inc. from Parrot, Europe’s leading drone group, in a combined cash and stock transaction valued at $23 million. Based in Seattle, Washington, MicaSense has been at the forefront of advanced drone
Commercial
AE Industrial Partners, LP, a private equity firm specializing in Aerospace, Defense & Government Services, Power Generation, and Specialty Industrial markets, announced that it has acquired UAV Factory, a global player in the tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR) technology markets. UAV Factory will be a
Business
Connected insurance specialist, Flock has partnered with yet another leading aviation underwriter as it continues to expand globally. Flock’s latest partnership means European pilots can now access EASA compliant insurance in minutes.The latest deal signed with Sompo International makes it easier than ever for operators across Europe to
Business
Russia will supply Myanmar with Pantsir-S1 anti-aircraft missile and cannon systems, Orlan-10E unmanned aerial vehicles, and radar stations. The document was signed on January 22 in the presence of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, General of the Army Sergei Shoigu, who is on an official visit to
Transport
Wingcopter, the German developer, manufacturer and operator of unmanned delivery drones for commercial and humanitarian applications, has secured $22 million in Series A funding. Wingcopter will use the funds to strengthen its leadership in drone-based logistics, with a special focus on healthcare-related applications, including the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. At